Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-12-16

a a. - 'h0S
who advertise for three, six or twelve months.
ed States forces can be restored to the shcr
if? If so, please cause it to be done al
once,
An immediate answer by telegram is re-
quested in view of the emergency of the case
G.. G, WALKER,
Governor of Virginia"
TO this despatch received, the next day
the following reply:
"WAsHINGToN, June %, 1870.
| To his Excellency Governor G. c. Walker
Your despatch of this date has been sub
mitted to the President, and am directed
by the Secretary of War to say that the or
der Withdrawing the troops will be adhered
| to.
| E. d. TOWNSEND,
| Adjutant General,
No explanation whatever of this sxtraor-
binary transaction has ever been vouchsafed
to me. The failure to respond to my re-
spectful inquiry for the causes of this action,
aud the silence upon that subject which hiss
ever since been maintained. clearly Demon
strate that it was without justification. pail
liaton or excuse feel bound to say that,
| in view of all the circumstances, the sudden
withdrawal of these troops while in the
midst ofshe performance of the delicate
duty to which they had been assigned, in
accordance with order from the Presi-
dent himself, without any notification to or
consultation with me, endangering, as it
did, : yes of our officers and citizens,
and the peace of the community, was, in my
opinion, an act of official discourtesy, and a
manifestation of Indifference to possible con.
sequences of the gravest character, without
a parallel in. the history Of the couptry. If
the original order for the assignment of
Federal troops to this duty were right, then
its revocation, under the circumstances, was
an inexcusablo wrong. Fortunately, the
sheriff Of Norfolk county was gentleman
of nerve and discretion, who, with a posse
of citizens, under my direction, went for
ward to the completion of his duty, and sue
ceeded in removing the remainder of the
illegal occupants of Taylor's farm without
loss of life.
Two plantations in York county are in
the same condition as Tayor's farm prior to
the removal of its bureau occupants. The
sheriff of the county, and the proprietors of
the plantations, have applied to me foi as
sistance to execute the process OF the courts.
The sheriff is of opinion, and, doubt not,
correctly, that any posse he could summon
in the county would be insufficient and un-
availing. A military force is required but
until you authorize the organization of one,
| am powerless to render him the required
aid. cannot consent to subject the Com
monwealth or myself to the danger of any
further indiguity by requesting the aid OF
federal troops. Although protection
against domestic violence is one of the
guarantees of the constitution of the United
States to the several States. "on application
of the Legislature or Executive (when the
Legislature cannot DO convened and al,
though the acts OF Congress passed, in pur
suance thereof devolve upon the President
the duty Of executing this guaranty when
the necessity is made known to BIN through
the Legislature OF Executive of State, yet
the lessons taught by our recent experience
admonish us that constitutional guarantees
and statutory mandates are of little avail
when partisan zeal usurps the place and
functions Of official integrity.
Wo must rely in the future solely upon
ourselves for the maintenance of order and
the enforcement of the laws; and l have no
fears of our ability in that behalf. But a
thorough organization of our militia is moss
essential. We shall then be prepared for
any and every exigency, whenever and
wherever it may arise.
BOUNDARY LINES,
By joint resolution approved June 9Th
last, the Governor was requested to apply to
the proper officer of the United States Gov
eminent for the assignment of a competent
corps of surveyors to the duty of ascertain
lug and locating the true boundary lines be-
tween the State of Virginia and the State of
Maryland, North Carolina and Tennessee,
and authorizing him to appoint two commits
toner's on the part of the State, ''whose du-
ty it shall be to meet, confer and act With
such corps of surveyors, and like commits
sioners on behalf of other States" Before
action had been taken under this resolution.
controversy arose between our oyster po-
lice and certain citizens of Maryland as to
the right of the latter to oyster in waters
south of certain conventional line hereto
fore established by the mutual agreement
of the oyster police of the two States, and
known as the Davidson Lovits line. This
controversy has been satisfactorily settled
by mutual agreement between the Gov
errors of the two States to observe and
maiutain this conventional line until the
real boundary line between the two States
can be ascertained and finally settled. His
Excellency the Governor of Maryland has
informed me of the appointment by his
State, of three commissioners to settle this
question of boundary line,
The prompt action of Governor Bowie In
this matter, as well as the manly and statess
manlike course pursued by him in the ad-
justment of the controversy before men,
toned, deserves the highest commentator.
1t will tend to preserve and cement the
friendship which has so long existed be-
tween the people Of these States.
The joint resolution above named only
authorised the appointment of two CON-
missioners on behalf of Virginia, which, |
presume, was an oversight. The grave iu-
portance of the question at issue, and the
great magnitude of the rights and interests
involved, as we'll as a proper respect for the
authorities of our sister State, appeared to
me to demand that Virginia should be rep
resented by commission of equal number
and ability with that Of Maryland. Hence
have appointed commission of three
eminent citizens of this State, who have al
ready entered upon the discharge of the
responsible duties devolved upon them. l
trust that this action will meet with your
annroyal