The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-03-22
The Conflict at Richmond The Mil.
itary in the Wrong. {

1t Is difficult 10 say precisely what ar,
the merits of the municipal conflict q
Richmond. There may be something Ii
II known only to those on the ground or L
!, the military 4 authorities. 80 far ase W,
can perceive however tie HilitS Sfgmayo,
las bemin ths wrong Tho Estate hav
ing been restored to full relations with thC
Government, the functions q military Of
ficials exercising civil powers ceased
just us soon as civil officers could b.
chosen. The Legislature provided for thl
election Ofmunicipal ofliceYip Richmond
and they wore elected When the mayol
proposed 10 enter on his duties, the mill
tary mayor. declined to give YAy-why
we lafc at ailoss to conceive and out o.
this refusal has grown not only conflict
IOGlgpthoFitY but actual bloodshed: 4
Ssome correspondence between Gov
WALKER and Gen. CANnY shows the mCr'
It's Of the general question at issue, and
shows, as We think, the military in the
wrong. Saturday Gov. WALKER address
cd letter to Gen. CANBY npd after stating
,thcdact tlIat the military forcO.la inter,
Tered Is prevent the mayor Of The city
elected and qualified according to law
from performing the duties Of his Office in
the seeming intention ofcnnAbling II merC
prctcndcr to that Office, TO discharge It's du'
ties, lie asserts tha. this action was taken
without the request Of the legislature OF
other civil authority Of the State, and
asks by what authority General CANBY
does this! .'CkSHY replied that his inter.
ference was not 10 aid either contestant
hut only to preventa breach Of the peace
and his authority for such action was
iroM tthe Y President and Secrctary-.o Of
War, and The ,prcccdents which he had
cited 10 the Governor before His duty,
he thought was, until these matters were
adjusted by law, to interfere 10 preserve
tho public peace co1 n =.
To this Governor WALKER, replied quot.
ing oil the acts Of Congress on the subject
! 10 show that CASBY ha1 nd shadow, Of
authority for interfering in the municipal
affairs unless called on by the Legislature
or the State authorities, nor my author
ity in the orders Issued by the President
or Secretary ofWar He says it is clear
from n letter written by General CANDY
to Mayor CnAuooM on the 18th that CAN
DY Ind determined TO protect CIAIIooS in
exercising tho heaflnctions Of his office,
which, under claws of the State, he did
moi and could not hold. The Governor
says, MS the chief executive officer Of the
State, he will sec its laws faithfully per-
formed, and wien he finds the power. OF
The Statcinndequate, lie will call In the
MD Of tue United States. He contends
that in municipal difference In New
York neither General pANny nor any,m mil
litary bHlcEr would lave fhtcrfcrcd, nor
should It he done In Virginih, d State TINT
stands on the samc iooting in the Union
with any other O ,,In.-,lfEJ
| lThe'GovctRor accompanies IIq last let
ter with one from Mayor ELLISON who
says that Gen, CAEpY, ,pn the night o!
the l7th, said he wblld:gct CnAnooN's
friends to advise him to withdraw his
mca from the station house and ELLISON
should abehafse his special RqlicSsqad
takc possession 'Thc next dAS GehcFal
CANBY himself took possession.
lrthC military mayor had vacated MS he
ought when EL11soNswas elCctctlgtherc
w61ldI have been ai6 decasi69 eS CkNUy
to preserve tic peace, for It would not
have been broken; but CILAHooNlscamS
to hive held ON al tho instance Of CANBY,
Whether CASDY acts of his own motion
or By! instructions Iron Washington, we
do not know. In either CAsc We do not
sec why this attempt has been made 10
continue military municipal government
in Richmond aflcr the authority and occa-
sion for it had ceased. The people Of
Richmond arc not blanicles5 ;tthGy have
shown adspirit in the matter; hut con.
slderipg their natural antipAthy o'1httllbr
military rule and that they lhvO the law
and right in the matter, on their side, this
Is moi surprising, This affair will do IN
injury to the city and 1t will do the Gov.
crnme6t no good;l II EIG lahnd6r 80 fur
rs We can now Judge on the part Of the
military, or those directing the military.