The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-10
The Radical Plot.

2
1t was TO be hoped that the thorough sift-
ing of the recent Radical riot at New Orleans,
and the exposure of the Internal designs of
those who inaugurated it, in and out of Con-
gress, would not only have been more than
enough to open the eyes of our people to the
dangers upon which we are rapidly drifting,
but would have so filled the plotters with dis
g may as to make any further attempt of the
kind impossible .6a1a 40
We are sorry to say that the tidings which
daily reach us, through our Southern ex-
changes, are by no means satisfactory i'll this
particular From them we learn OF an appa-
rently well understood and organized arming
and drilling of the black population under
the very noses, if not with the direct conniv-
ance or approval, of our military authorities
located among them. The Richmond papers
have, for months past teemed with cons
plants of this character, and yet the evil
seems to have been daily growing in magni-
ttlde and Importance They distinctly charge
4, that numbers of black menr--sometimes as
many as five hundred-are in the habit Of
nightly meeting in the neighborhood of the
city fully armed and regularly mustered and
drilled; that these dangerous and lawless mill
tary meetings are attended by white men,
chiefly from the North, who are conspicuous
for nothing but their intense hatred toward
the Southern whites; that the negroes en-
boldened by the possession of arms and by the
countenance they receive in responsible quar-
tiers, are daily becoming most unruly and
de.lantln their demeanor; and that all these
things areoccurrlng with the full knowledge
if not the appreciation, of Major General
Terry. Hsf
Now, we have few pertinent questions to
ask: For what purposes are these negroes
d armed, mustered, and drilled? They do not
belong to the militia they are of no legally
organized volunteer force; they are in no dam
ger from the whites. Why then, should they
meet? why should white officers of the FEEDER
al army take any part in such proceedings?
and where do the negroes get their arms from?
1t is idle to talk of any necessity for such
dangerous and revolutionary demonstrations,
for there is no city in the Union, of its size,
which can show a more orderly, peaceably
. disposed population than the City OF Rich
mond. In proof of this we have only to look
at the records of her police courts during the
past year. til5ss a -a 8hg445e
There is but one explanation of this dis
graceful manifestation of Radical intervention
in Richmond, and that is, a willfu purpose Of
goading the people there into such demon
ls STATIONS of feeling shall lead to the further
extension of military power and of Radical
rule over them. Unable to make them swerve
one iota from the loyal position they have
voluntarily and honorably accepted as the re-
suit of their defeat, the Radicals hope, by VIC
lently thrustlng the negroes against them
and by subjecting them to injuries and nsc-
lences beyond manhood to enture--by such
dabolical means they hope to lash the people
into some furious act Of self-delence. Will
our authorities at Washington permit these
internal Vaccinations to continue? Will they
stand Quietly by and see Radical emssares of
New England deluging our Southern cities
with blood-givlng over the lives of innocent
81 women and children of our own race to the
savage fury of an African mob, and bringing
home the horrors of St. Domingo to every
Southern homestead?
Major General Terry should be at once re-
quired to show by what authority these
armed African vagabonds are parading nightly
the streets of Richmond; and if he be either
unable or unwilling to peremptorily stop their
proceedings, his place should be occupied by
some other officer more capable of protecting
The lives and property of those under his con-
troll f9 FH4W
Although we are not aware that the blacks
have yet entirely ceased their unlawful
Z gatherings, 1t Is but fair to say that the fol-
lowing order was recently promulgated s
= HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VA, ~
.a.aN Richmond, Va, July 80.
General Orders No. Al. d5aa
Military organizations, or associations for
the purposes of drill or military instructions,
other than militia companies or regiments
which have been, or may be hereafter, orga-
nlzed by or under the authority of his Excel
leney the Governor of this State, will not be
permitted in this department during the ex-
istenee of martial law. - .aid .7e1
By order of .
~ s. Major General A. II . Terry.
Official Chas. H. Graves, "A! AsG. "
+ We earnestly hope that this is directly as
much against the blacks as the aohites, and
shall watch eagerly the working of this order.
We are justified in making this invidious all
fusion to his estimate of the two races be-
cause it is well known that while General
Terry has permitted hundreds of these armed
Africans for months past, to assemble and
dnll without any molestation, any squad of
only dozen white, armed Southerners, meet
ing for such a purpose, would instantly have
been dispersed as dangerous to the peace Of
the community. 3I.f.l ..f8.ib
nP iays