The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-13

Much has been said in the n North, and more
will doubtless be said, concerning the dis.
playing of Confederate flag in the street.
of Richmond, the Haunting Of it In the
faces of party Of Federal soldiers pass
ing by, who were treated, in addition, to Q
shower of abuse and insults, etc., etc
The story will be explained by the follow.
ing correspondence
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF HENRIco,
RICHMOND, Va, February 4, 1867.
Hon. Joseph Mayo, Mayor city Of Rich
mond, Va:
Sir,-I have been officially informed
that rebel flag was displayed before the
house of Mr.. Palmer, on Franklin street,
on Saturday evening last, and that on the
approach of some soldiers belonging to
Camp Grant, the flag was taken down by
ladies coming from Mr.. Palmer's house. AS
the action of the party displaying the flag
is calculated to bring on collision be-
tween the military and the civilians in the
city of Richmond, and thus disturb the
public peace, desire to know what course
the civil authorities Of the city propose to
take to prevent recurrence Of this insult
to the Government of the United States,
and if the parties in this case can be made
responsible for their offence. May l re-
quest an early answer to this mmunica-
ton
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
r. S. GRANGER,
Brevet Brigadier- General, U. S. A.,
Commanding District of Henrico.
To this communication the Mayor re-
piled as follows:
MAYORS OFFICE, !
RICHMOND, February 8, 1867.
General r. s. Granger, commanding District
Of Henrico:
Genera, Upon the receipt of your COM
munication of the 4th instant, as you are
already aware, l Immediately communi-
Gated with Mr.. George S. Palmer upon the
subject Of this letter, by personal inter-
view with him, when l exhibited the let
ter to him. He assured me he had no
knowledge of the occurrence alluded to-,
nor did he know Of any such thing as
Confederate flag upon his lot. 1t is true,
he informed me that there was an old flag
that had been there for considerable
time, with which his children amused
themselves in the yard Of his lot, but that
he had no recollection, nor did he believe,
that it represented any Confederate en-
blem or design.
He assured me, however, that whatever
it was, certainly, and he was sure that no
member of his family intended by the
uses made of it there to insult the United
States Government or any of its officers or
soldiers. After this he called upon me,
and desired to be introduced to you. You
are aware that / gratified himin this re-
quest, and you, as we'll as /, heard his ex-
PLANTATION to you, and what was the result
of that interview. Accordingly, he fur
nished me with written statement of the
transaction alluded to in your letter, which
now enclose to you.
You say as the action Of the party dis
playing the flag is calculated to bring on a
collision between the military and civilians
in the city of Richmond, and thus disturb
the public. peace, you desire to know what
course the civil authorities of the city pur-
pose to take to prevent recurrence of this
insult to the Government of the United
States, and if the parties in this case can
be made responsible for this offence.
This occurrence took place beyond the
corporate limits of this city, and over
which our city government has no authority
or control; and from my knowledge OF the
people of Richmond feel perfectly as
sured that no such occurrence will take
place within the limits of the authority o. f
the city government.
We are loyal and orderly people, with
no desire or intention whatever to offer
insult or indignity to the United States
Government, or any department thereof,
civil or military and thus knowing the
people of Richmond, feel assured that
/ will never be called upon to act in any
such case as the one now submitted to me.
But, inasmuch as my jurisdiction as JUS
tice OF the peace Of the Commonwealth OF
Virginia extends one mile around and
about this city, and Mr.. Palmer's resi-
dence being within that jurisdiction, /
should feel it my duty, if the facts stated
to me constituted an offence against the
laws of the State of Virginia, farther to
inquire into it; but | am decidedly OF
opinion that such case is not provided
for by the State law.
hope that the enclosed letter from Mr..
Palmer, taken in connection with his per-
sonal interview with you, will be satisfac-
tory; reassuring you that from the whole
tenor of Mr.. Palmer's character as peace
able, law-abiding, and loyal citizen, that
such an occurrence as has given rise to this
correspondence will not again take place,
and that the peaceable relations now exist
ing between the military and civil authori-
ties of this city and county of Henrico will
not be disturbed by any citizen.
am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Lc:~.aN Inrrnu M.yn Maunr