The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-03
The New Kent Murders.


society, the evils Of which are the result Oh
m;srulc and of the baleful teachings OF parti-
san knaves and fanatics. The negro is
simple-minded, good-natured, and generous
e left TO the quiet pursuits Of life under
the auspices Of an intelligent and orderly
superior race which holds in its hands the
civil authority. But his very nature oe.
privcs him altogether Of protection against
the cunning devices of unprincipica men
ua.;s credulous and superstitious, and ne
"a easily excited to jealousy by the artful
hints of sdroit knaves. SHAKESPEARE in
His Othelo tnot negro character, how
ever, has drawn vivid picture Of Afrl-
can credulity and fiery Jealousy. The negro
was deprived by the course of events OF
his true friend and counsellor, and fel! a
victim TO the atrocious designs of the cha
racterless and penniless adventures who in
vaded the State in search Of plumber. he
was imbued with vain notions of his conse-
ouencc and wild conceits of the blessings
of freedom, which terminated in the bellef
that there was no more work for him, ana
that he was to be heir to the property OF
his late master, who was in turn to become
the mudsill-the slave laborer
Laboring under this delusion for year
or two, and drawing rations from the Radi-
cal commissary department Of the Bureau
designed to maintain the negro in a sort OF
garrison as partisan voter, it was alto
sether natural that he should not only dread
work, but avoid it as long as possible. by
disposition he very much lacks self-control
and power to resist temptation. Unem-
ployed, as he was, while the Bureau ra-
tions were gradually Withdrawn he felt the
,;--,-:..s PAINS or want, and was forced to
the alternative of working or stealing. The
daily reports, and the docket of every
county court, tell the sad story of robbery
and of violence in every part of the State
where there are many negroes. Stealing
inevitably leads to murder, and that crime
in its most horrid form has stained the
annals of Virginia in communities where,
in other days, it was hardly known IN
any shape.
Here, in New Kent, county famed for
its order, refinement, and hospitality, IN
other times, we have an intelligent widow
lady brutally murdered, with her skull
broken in, and finally burned up in her
Ln. ha,p fprn
with its ashes. The head man of her estates
shot down like hog, and, with weight
attached to his legs, is thrown into the river.
The object Of the murderers was to get pos
session of q small amount of money! This
sort of killing for the most trittlng article
of value is quite characteristic of the ne
gro. For when he wants anything, from
piece of brass jewelry to a ham Of bacon or
a fve-dollar note, he wants it with all his
mind and soul. His yearning is so great
that although he may not mediate MUIR
der, yet if that be an incident to its gratitica-
ton, why that shall not stand in the way.
Naturally, his passions are strong, his vir-
anything in the line of cruelty and bru-
tally. Restrained bygood order, kindness,
and abundance, with the quieting infu-
cnces of home and wanting nothing, he
was one of the most good-natured, peace
able, and obliging of men; deprived of
these, and at the mercy of such Wretches
as those who have been leading him to de-
struction, he may be transformed into just
such brute as he now, alas! too often ap-
pears to be.
So has our country been brought to state
of insecurity and apprehension never be-
fore dreamed of. In many parts Of Virginia,
before the war, locks were of little use.
The people feared no enemy, no thief, and
went to their beds to sleep the quiet and
invigarating sleep that comes to honest men
who feel that they are dwelling amongst
honest people. The public dignity and
virtue, the private order, the refinement,
urbanity, and generous hospitality that
prevailed, shed their sunshine on the land,
and were an honor to mankind.
This was indeed a sort of paradise; but
the tempter came, as he always does' ana
disorder, apprehension, and violence have
followed. For this sad revolution we have
to thank the ruling party in the Federal
Government. The mere setting the negro
free did not bring all this. He might have
gone on as freeman, protected by the laws
and kindly and justly treated by the whites.
But the measures taken by the dominant
party at Washington to make him politi-
Cal machine for their benefit have made him
wretched and filed the land with trouble.
In this they have committed the greatest of
national crimes. 1t may take years to
obliterate its effects; but they are SO evil
dent and 80 fearful that we think it will be
impossible that change for the better can
long be postponed. 1t is impossible that
there can be peace or thrift until the de-
mon unclaimed by Radicalism is subdued
and restrained-a work which will be
promptly achieved by the white man RE-
STORED TO AUTHORITY, with the withdrawal
Of the Bureau and the white incendiaries
! who have intruded into the South.
y The Electric Light.