The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-04-19
WHO is RESPONSIBLE?

IapIe catastrophe OF Monday, We have been
actuated by no motives of a personal nature
against any of the authorities, civil or militia
ry, A terrible bloody tragedy was enacted
here. The blood of white people has been
wantonly and causelessly she'd by worthless
drunken and brutal negroes, after our CITY
had been disgraced by the parading through
our streets OF an armed and impudent rabble.
no Surveillance having been openly kept over
their movements, either by the civil or mill
tary authority.
Now how are we TO keep silent2 Is not
this thing to be investigated Are we not
10 know who is primarily responsible for suf-
ierlng this demonstration, and allowing it to
proceed to its bloody end?
We very cheerfully publish the note ad-
dressed to us by Mayor Tabb We will NOT
make uncharitable remarks upon it; but look
at THIS statement: Il only knew there was
10 De negro procession on Monday from ru-
NOR l would have prevented such an oc-
earrence' If l had had the power" Why
the thlng was notorious; the negroes were
making preparations for it all the week nre-
Vlous' IL was appointed for last SATURDAY
out was postponed until Monday. because
Saturday was the anniversary of Mr. lin
COINS assassination, The subject had beeo
discussed by grave and thoughtful cjtizons
apprehenslve of some evil result; and vat
y
mayor Iabb only knew of it from srnmory
Major Stanhope says, in the vj1dicati,,.
published for him in this mornings OH ~,
m'f'o''-and the writer seems very dpxir,,.
10 ezculpate him-that 1the command wac
prepared at all times, on the call Of tbe N,,
or OF Norfolk, to furnish a military sun,or.
The early demand was vaiuly looked f,r ;,
lnese differing statements are not TO be ro-
conciied' and we do not mean to discuss thon,
The point to which we desire 10 c,I, atton
'ion Is, that power resided somewhere TO pre-.
vent That procession of armed negroes az =,
control all its movements 50 rs to or, ~
against any possible disturbance. That nowa,
ought to have been exerted, and it aos ,,ot
rs 70 suppressing the riot after the people
were Killed, upon which Major stapbope evil
GENTLY pumes himself, we see no GREAT n,.rt
in that, though he has protected our nsorls
very thoroughly, We must say. ever sine. Iba
danger was over.
In pursuing this statement If Mi o..
hop0--for though reported, it came from, hin,
we ''inh there is an exceeding disposition
10 make himself an injured and aaarinvo6
party; and really the first k,lowle1oe we ba,a
OF mob composed of whites" comes from
1'in'' Not even 'rumor," which carried f.
mayor Iabb the tidings of the procassi ~
brought any such Intelligence to lis Was
MAJOR stanhope and bis command mepaccd
WIN determination by white men ," IF
however that had been So sec how he intor-
ded to act, in self-defence. I'm d,tv - w.
command shall be forced to arm the blacks
- ASSIST me IN Carrying out my orders !" ue
ios. MS temper; he spoke under great nrovo-
oatloh 1.-THE atrocious crime eommitted h.,
Tue negroes was without any Justification ,
S ~ sucn was the language used by Major
'.anhope. If there is danger of in,u,v 70
MS oiiiclal and personal character such threats
cannot avert it. ' '''' '''''
we were standing on the corner Of Main
street and Roanoke Square TODAY about .
'iock' when old Mr.. Hughes approached rs
and said that he wished to relate what took
place on Monday evening last, which was to
the following effect
He stated that he called on Mayor Tabb
on Monday, and ASKED him if a stop could not
be put to the practice of supplying the ne
groes with arms and ammunition, The Mayor
referred him to Major Stanhope, saying that
he himself did not possess the power to put
stop to it.
He Hughes then ap Piled to Major Stan
hope, who referred him to the Mayor, and
on his stating that the Mayor hal sent him
to the Major on the Grand, the Major then
told him "No, and if the practice of shooting
d2wn the innocent negroes in the streets AT
night was not stopped he would arm the ne
groes and turn them aloose on the whites,
and much more to the same effect.
Just as Mr. Hughes had finished tits con-
versatiop, Major Stanbope. or gentleman in
U. S. military uniform, who we took tt be
him, came up. and said "Mr Hughes, have
you contradicted that lie you put ont about
me yet ?" Mr. Hughes then said he had told
DO lie about him, and therefore had none to
Observation-Disclosures the Major ordered
his Orderly to take Mr.. Hughes before Major
Walker, and he was taken off accordingly
We call attention to the Card of Mayor
fabb, and the statement published in the Old