The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-24

i
the Constitution of Virginia shall never be
so amended or changed as to deprive any
citizen, or class Of citizens, Of the United
| States Of the school rights and privileges
secured by the Constitution of said State.
Special Dispatch to the Baltimore sun.
The Military Administration of Ctyfs
Affairs Ira Virsfninr-Report of Gene
raj Candy.
WAsutNGroS, January 2l.-The Score
tary OF War has submitted to the House
committee on reconstruction General Can
by's report, dated January 10, 1870, upon
the administration of civil law in Virginia,
from the creation of the first military dis
trict, March l3, 1867, to the close of 1869.
lie details the subdivision of the State into
districts. and the appointment of military
commissioners, invested with the powers
of magistrates, and says that the appcal
made 10 civil authorities was very gene
rally responded to, and during the latter
part of 1867 and the greater part of 1868,
by reason OF the increased efficiency of the
civil magistrates and other local authori-
ties, and the fact that military commits
sioncrs had become familiar with their du-
ties and acquainted with the people of the
communities in which they we're acting,
there was marked improvement in the
administration of the civil law, and
material diminution in the number of
complaints that reached district hcadQuar-
tiers, and those were in great measure con-
fined to the alleged partial or prejudiccd
action Of Juries in 'prcscntments or in the
trials where the color or the political status
(past or presently of the parties was in
voived. This evil, common to all communi-
ties when swept by the storms of passion
or pre- JUDGE, was fully developed here by
the inherited hostilities of the rebellion,
and by the common prejudice againet tho
colored race, heightened and embittered by
their emancipation and recent elevation to
an equality in legal and political rights,
md was one TINT could not be prevented,
and could ouly be mitigated by assuming
jurisdiction in cases where there was reason
to apprehend that impartial justice would
not be done, or by applying such remedies
as were within the power of the district
commander"
IN 1868 the number of commissioners
was reduced, which General Candy says
resulted in an increase of crime, and that
as q consequence "there were many nets Of
oppression" that did not come to the know
ledge of the military authorities; but
during this period, while there was q ma
tcrial increase or crime and violence, there
were but few Of the graycr disorders that
might reasonably have been apprehended
from the partial dsorganization of the
machinery for the administration Of civil
law. \ large proportion of the disorders
arose in June and July, 1869, over the
election. After the election he says that
"pcrsccution assumed the shape of pro-
curing the Indictment for perjury of per-
SONS who had been appointed to Office, and
had taken the cath of Office prescribed by
the law OF July 2, 1862, whose political
opinions differed from those Of the ma jority
in the communities in which they lived.
This WAS checked by instlucting the courts,
when advised Of the proposed action; that
the alleged action was against the laws of
the United States and not within tie jiiris-
,licivn ot the State courts, By inst:ucting
military commissioners to assume jurisdic
ZION Of all such cases and report tie facts !;
and where indictments had already been
found, by quaeE;ns the indictments. All
.: these cases were investigated, and the
evidence submitted for the artion Of The
rranar iii:;c,: States coust." In 1867. 40J
conn laints or appeals we're received and
esti@ated OF these 20S were in civil and
1875 in criminal cases of the former Go and
OF tie latter - were sustained upon iuvcs-
tisation, and the appropriate remedy ap-
Piled. The remaining cases Of each class
were dismissed. In 1868 the number was
3S4, 800 in ciyi! and 81 in criminal cases !;
Of these lGS Of the former and ii Of the
latter were sustained. In 1863 the number
was asa, $40 III civil and lt2 in criminal
cases of the former ]2l were sustained
and 81 are still undergoing investisa-
ton; of the latter IS were sustained and
g arc still under investigation. The num-
Der Of pardons granted in the period were
PA. The report alludcs to the inctiicicncy
Of the county counts, and concludes as fol-
lows:
This evil, inherent in the organization
of the courts, will be cured in great mea.
sure by the provision Of new Constitution
which substitutes for the present incongru'
Gus and imperfect system single judge
learned in the law If this be supple
mentei by the appointment OF judges VIII
arc not only learned in the law, but OF SUI
fcicnt independence of character and de
termination as to be above the influences
by which the action Of jurics is so Otter
controlled, the change will be Of great ant
immediate benefit.
"The other evil is one that cannot b
wholly cured by any legislation, but it ma,
be mitigated by providing in simple ant
inexpensive manner for the removal from
State to the United States courts case!
where, from the natural antagonism be
tween loyalty and disloyalty in the past, Of
the prejudice against the colorcl race, there
NAV be reason to apprehend that fair anc
impartial trial cannot be obtained IN tht
State courts.'' ZETA.
THE House on THE SENATE BILL
Zeta writes to the San that as the recon
struct;on bin need not be acted on in the
House till Monday, Saturdays session being
devoted to experimenting entirely, OF
Monday Mr.. Buffers programme isto move
to refer the Senate substitute to the Recon
struction Committee.
! GENERAL WILLIAMS.-lt is understood
that the forthcoming orders from the War
Department, by which several changes oil
officers now on duty in this section will be
made, by assigning them to headquarters
in the western country, will provide Tor
new assignments in the cases of breVet
Brigader Generals Williams, kelton, and
Brack, now on duty in the office of the adj
jutant General of the Army. The points
to which these officers will be assigned have
not yet been made public. The list of Off.
GERS to be transferred from the bureaus OF
the War Department in this city is being
prcparcl. but it iB hardly probable the