The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-04-20
The Norfolk Riot and Murders.


The tragic scenes in Norfolk on Monday
forcibly exhibit the evil results of the bad
teaching of those who have taken the negro
under their peculiar favor and protection.
Unfortunately il does more, it eXcites III the
breasts of Southern people anxiety about the
future of the country. What are we to expect
if the race lately slave, and forming so large
proportion of the population of the South, is
10 be arrayed in hostility to the whites, their
former masters To this end is the teaching
of those who have stepped in between the two
races, and have gratuitously and vauntingly
put forth a shield TO protect the black man
from his very best friend-his late master
whom he is taught TO consider his enemy and
his oppressor. The ruling party in Congress,
cooperating with these emissaries OF evil,
have devoted nearly five months to the per-
lection of measures TO fasten that lawlessness
and ruin upon the country which are the plain
results of this evil instruction
But let us look at the tragic scene which
naturally energies from the wretched and
hypocritical philanthropy 10 which we have
alluded:
Following the example of that ill-iudsed
and improperly permitted display i'll this city
on the Sd of April, the deluded negroes of Nor
folk determined to celebrate the passage of the
Civil Rights law BY Congress. Monday was
fixed upon for this purpose. The procession
was formed, and marched through the tho
roughfares of the city without obstruction.
Calculated, il was, TO excite the bltterest
passions, the white people of that venerable
town looked upon the proceeding quietly, and
suppressed the sentiments which every one
must know agitated their breasts. 1t was in
sulting-it was calling to the pride of those
who beheld it.
The procession marched it's march. 1t had
somewhat the form of military display-it had
more: it had the force of military power; for
a body of men in the line were armed with
muskets Many were on horseback, uniformed,
and armed with swords. Others on foot were
uniformed and besides the muslets, many
wore pistols and dirk knives upon their per-
sons Yet this display, prima tl,cie hostile
this body of uneducated and impulsive beings,
whose impulses, when aroused, are entirely
unrestrained by any sense of propriety or feel
ings of humanity-were allowed TO proceed
entirely unmolested TO the place Of their assem-
blage, TO listen to addresses.
As il appears from the testimony, the mere
report of pistol fired by u negro ut another
negro was the occasion for q cry amongst the
blacks to rally and 10 kill every white man
they met ROBERT WHITEHuRsT is the first
Inflated victim. He is seized and dragged
through the streets, finally shot, and soon dies
of his wounds. The house of his aged mother
is assailed; his brother, u youth of sixteen,
beaten brutally with palings torn from the
fence, and shot. The venerable Mrs. WHITE
HURST in the natural anxiety of the mother,
appears among these fiends, who in their fury,
were less merciful than wolves, and is shot i'm
the face, the ball dreadfuly disfguring it,
ana lodging in the throat. She returns to her
chamber, and throwing herself i'm her chair,
presents a bloody picture of horror that
SHOCKS ana even chilis the blood to think Of
And this Old lady thus died-and for what
Was she hitting victim to this wild demon
II II must have yictimy Should the negroes
have slain this poor old feeble woman with
their deadly weapons TO appease their brutal
WRATH 1t is one Of the saddest things in life
10 behold the form of woman, At any age, in
animate and Iifeless even from casualty but
every sentiment of manhood, OF sympathy,
tenderness, and humanity, reyolts with the
strongest emotions that can excite the human
heart, at The brutal and unprovoked killing OF
4 one OF that sex. Were that needed-in the ruth
less Staying OF poor old Mrs. WHIrEHURsT
we have the fearful illustration of the danger
OF trnsting these poor creatures In scenes of
excitement. with deadly weapons, pnre-
strained and unguardsd.
ThsSs are not NIL OF the VICTIMS. In the
blind fnTy Of the war upon al whites who