The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-04-21
The Norfolk Murders.

The Norfolk Iirqtaida cais eSFos'''
to the fact that in the celebration 'hc'' W Wv
negroes there were men In the iine al''''" W.
I~n,,a,, S,ates muskets, and uniformed a
rr.;,sa states soldiers are uniformed, and the
,,,,o;,io, pertinently inquiries whether they
,,,or. Irnited States soldiers, or discharged men,
who had no right, according to military law
10 = present themselves in the uniform OF the
"Irnited States, which they stained with foul
and brutal murders"
The Tiro;aia, continues its intcrrogatorics,
address, ne them TO the commandment OF the
post Of Norfolk. generally rs TO how and why
All this was allowed We imagine that the
proceeding had not attracted the attention OF
that officer or if it did, he was not at all I'M
pressed with the danger it occasioned. Ne
vertheless, the Tjrgiaiaa's questions are not
out Of place
The fact il, the military commanders, save
a few, have not looked upon the matter ut all
in the right light and have been altogether
indifferent to the rcmonstrances of the South
ern people. They have not had due Percep-
ton of the true nature of negro celebrations
of events SO entirely adverse 10 the sentiments
of the entire white population. That such
events, too should he celebrated by the negro,
gave to the proceeding every possible aSgrava-
indiscriminating nature of the negro eAciie-
ment. and therefore demonstrated. Yet he is
not ONLY allowed TO make his celebration, but
10 do SO in the imposing and mcnacinE style of
military display, and to do so in 4 community
which has been itself distTmtd.
The serious turn of affairs in Norfolk, ii is
10 be hoped. will impress these matters more
thoroughly and wisely on the minds of the
rular
control our destinies at this time.
The people here are not hostile TO the negro
not half as much so rs the people of the North
are. Negroes have always been allowed more
privileges in the South than they have been II
the North. If their presence on this continent
is a crime, or ancestors hod no part in it: but
the ancestors of the people of the North did.
They made money out of their importation by
the slave trade on tie high seas-that 'oca-
ton so horrible now 10 their descendants.
Beginning with this fact, and coming to this
day, our history we are i'll no wise ashamed Of
The negroes born amongst and raised with us
have lived comfortably and happily, and if let
alone would now be content, trusting III the
Southern whites and still happily employed
and supporting themselves by better wages
and kindlier treatment than is melted out TO
the Wnlte laDOTeT III III iitius'
But these recent Observation-Disclosures the
acts of few of the more worthless and idle
of the colored population--have a bad effect
and tend 10 an alienation of feeling and TO an
instisation of war of races which are to be
dreaded above all things. We cannot believe
that the Government approves of them-we
cannot believe that the President or General
GRANT would allow any such demonstration
in, nj
and unarmed community. The last display in
: Norfolk was in celebration and reioicingat the
defeat of the President
The South may most justly complain of the
measures and the counsels which so PERM
ciously mislead the negro--poison his mind
with reference TO the temper of the white man
towards him, and fill his head with ideas of
his own consequence and importance, which
his condition and capacity will never enable
him TO realize, and he must therefore he left
discontinued and of no use TO himself or any
body else.
fit is proposed 10 take him away from the
country where he was born and reared, his
guardians might teach him anything; but
even then he had better be taken array first.
If he is to remain here, however, he should
he let alone with his former master and true
Trend. 10 make one part VI Il continuity
the enemy of another part is an evil of the
greatest magnitude - destructive TO order,
peace, and personal safety 1t is to establish
Il hell on earth. If this is what the philan-
thropists desire to erect here, they are workir5
faithfully. But what retirement Of cruelty
is that ,.si,ici, makes the beings they affect TO
love the instruments TO work mischief which
involves them, along with those they hate, in
trouble and ruin?
Let the domestic and private relations of the
Southern people alone, and in one month
peace, order, and harmony would prevail with
black and white. 1t is but fair We are con-
quered-we have sworn to support the Con-
stitution, and we will. We will pay taxes
while not represented; while we are cut off,
too, from all participation in the appropria-
tions for improvements and what not. We
Will do this and be content, if we are but let
alone at home and our society not thrown into
disorder and strife.
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