Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-03-14


pleasant affair, and passed off most agreeably.
The bountiful repast which was spread, was en-
joyed by large number. and good feeling and
harmony prevailed during the entire evening.
Prior to the entertainment, the crowd assem-
bled in front of the residence Of the Mayor,
and after repeated calls, Mr.. Latham appeared
and spoke as follows:
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
81 a,n4pleased to see you on this occasion, and
will tender you my heartfelt thanks for the hon
orof u re- election. My services for the past year
have been somewhat arduous, and at times q lit
tie embarrassing; but, thank God, l was ena-
bled to overcome every obstacle. and perform
my duties satisfactorily to the people OF Alexan-
dria. Even my opponents accord me that JUS
tice
1 know thatI entered upon the discharge ofmy
duties with Conscientious determination to act
without fear or favor; to deal out even handed
justice was my intention; and the assurances Of
my fellow citizens from time to time convinced
me that [ had succeeded. | again tender you
my thanks for this second manifestation of your
kindness. Inow turn to subject that is not so
pleasant, and I will remark here that l am per
sonaly reponsiblefor what may utter, and that
l do not intend TO compromise my fellow-cltl-
zenS l speak for myself alone. For several
days radical sheet, pu blished in this place, has
been slandering and maligning the people of this
city, and has directed several of its shafts at
me- l will notice as many of them as my mem
Dry will permit, and will commence with the
"memorial' Of Judge Underwood; that extra
ordinary literary effort, which should take rank
with Baron Munchausen" and "Gullyer's
Travels" In five of the first six paragraphs
deliberate talsehood is inserted. Tho first para
graph asserts "that the military reconstruction
bill, passed March 2, 1867, has been openly de-
fed by the authorities" &c.-falsehood No l.
Second They base the refusal upon the ground
that the laws of Virginia are paramount
Third. That the party elected Mayor is more
over disqualified by the law above referred to
from holding the otice--false No. 3.
Fourth. Moreover it was openly asserted upon
the streets that blood would be spilled if the
colored people attempted to vote-talsehood
in these words: IN othing but the presence Of q
military force prevented the murder OF good and
true men, for simply attempting to VOTE &c.
1 will now return to the fifth paragraph, which
is literary curiosity: I'VE can prove to the
world that the union men are Numerous enough
and determined enough TO do'-What? to con
troll the South, if Congress will place guard at
the polls to keep away the "rebelsn and let
them have it all their own way-and every per-
son is rebel who will not join them in their
policy Of destruction and conGscation. The
other part Of this document is taken up with
instructions to Congress, and recommendations
from the would be Senator. How modest
Very agree with the Gazette in the opinion
that some Of the signers to that memorial did
not know the full force and weight Of the Ian
guage employed and would not have affixed
their names thereto if they had read it carefully
before doing SO. I will now allude to some Of
the malicious SANDERS that appeared against
myself You have read what purports to be
the substance Of q conversation between the
editor and myself, and my card pronouncing it
I 1an
long as circumstances will justify. In this
evenings issue he reasserts the same statement,
and promises Nj Josiah Millards affidavit, if
needed J. now assert, emphatlcally, that # he
duplicates hilnsefa hundred times, and pro-
duces thousand Nilards, [ pronounce the
statement false and can sustain my denial by
every other conversation Of mine on the subject.
/ had stated to Colonel Lee that could pre-
serve the peace Of the city. l stated the
same to General Emory, who, in consequence
Of my expressed faith in my arrangements, and
at my solicitation, consented that his force
should not interfere, until | found that my
force was insufficient; and l was pleased to hear
from his lips that my record, as strict entorcer
of law and order, stood very fair in the proper
department in Washington. | will say for the
benefit of the individual who has made the as
sertion that did not start the project Of hay
ing troops" | have no concealments. J. in
the hurry to start to Washington, wrote in Col.
Lees Office IN pencil Trlting, an application for
a cooperative force. l am not at liberty, at the
present time, TO state whose ''prOjecC' it was
[ will say further that the individual (no false
courtesy will prompt me to say gentleman, for
his course in this controversy deprivcs him OF
all claims to such character would not
dare, at any other time, to assume the posi-
ton he does 10 vent his spleen, and spit his
venom against crushed and down-trodden
people feel satisfied that he desires, for par
ty purposes, to excite some member Of our COM
munity to commit some breach OF the peace Oh
his person, so that he can go whining to Con-
gress, and get a special act for his protection. -
worm may turn and he may feel its fangs. |
do not say this as threat, but as a caution. l
wish now TO hold up another person in his prop
er light I was at the First Ward polls when
Mr.. Tucker deposited his vote. He then pre-
sented a coored mans vote which the Com
peared anxious that some person should crowd
him. BE twisted his body and raised his elbows
and remarked, don't crowd me, don't push
me" when the only persons on his right we're
the colored voter alluded to and myself There
were two or three on his left waiting to vote,
who were there before he came up They were
detained, TIN ough respect to Mr.: Tucker, and
no vote was received until he withdrew. There
were about one dozen colored men in the room,
and there was not one improper word used to-
wards them. When he retired they all re-
tired with him. During the election day one of
General Emory's staff WIS in my office all day.
Three were there alternately during the day
Sometime in the afternoon Capt. Russell came
and informed me that it had been reported to
Gen Emory that the Third Ward polls were in
terfered with and that Union voters were JOS
tied &c The Captain and myself repaired
thither; everything WAS quiet; in fact the Cap
tain remarked that it was the most quiet election
he had ever witnessed. After conversation
with the Commissioners we retired, and he re-
ported to the General. | learn from Captain
Russell that the complaint was made by Mr..
George Tucker, and that nervous young man
assured the General that it was as much as q
Union mans life WAS worth to attempt to vote
at the Third Ward, and entreated him, in con-
junction with Mr. Tucker, to send guard there.
Our city is infested at this time with few (thAnk
God they are few such men, whose acts Of NAL
ice, and for the purpose of self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
would upturn the peace of the city, and destroy
every vestige of civil law. regret the necessi-
ty for speaking thus. but these are no times for
the practice of false notions Of delicacy; no
times for the soft Establishments of hattery, but
the severe language oftruth." These men should