The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-08


maintained at an expense very little in ex-
cess OF the cost Of our present guards.
And am inclined to believe that the State
/ guard should form part of the militia or
ganizatlon, Of the State, to be organ
f1zed, armed, and uniformed, and be sub
lject to the same regulations, and to receive
the same compensation, as the militia when
| in active service. -
The ninth article Of the Constitution is
mandatory upon the Legislature to provide
for the organization of the militia: and,
| there can be no difficulty in framing law
which will fully meet the wants and neces-
| sites of our peculiar situation.
| On the oath Of March last, in response to
resolution of the House of Delegates,
transmitted to that body communication,
from which Iquote the following language !:
| "During the late war, by authority of
the Freedmen's Bureau or other Federal
authority, q large number of colored people
were settled, and have ever since continued
to reside upon, plantation known as Tay-
lor's farm, in Norfolk county, and upon a
plantation known as Celey Smiths farm. In
Elizabeth City county. When the func-
tlons Of the Freedmen's Bureau ceased,
these people were left in possession of these
properties. supposing, as they claim, and
no doubt honestly, in their ignorance Of
right. and law, that. they had "A right
Ito the same because: of the authority
by which they had been put in posses
sion; and they were not disabused
| OF this Idea, as they ought to have been,
/ by these authorities. Several unsuccessful
attempts were made to peaceably remove
these people and restore the possession of
the property to the rightful Eowners.
Finally, ejectment suits were instituted in
II fhoN n1prfpo s,l< ,fu ,1ar-o RI
prior to the restoration of the State to re-
presentation in Congress in January last !;
but for causes to me unknown Writs of
possession were not executed, and an at
tempt lately made to execute such writs by
the sheriff of Elizabeth City county was
met with armed resistance by these colored
people, These occupants declare that they
were put in possession Of this property by
the United States, and that they will yield
possession only to the United States Gov
ernment, or by its authority. am inclined
to believe, from information have received,
that any attempt to enforce the writs of the
courts by State forces might result in blood
shed, while l have no doubt that the officers
Of the law will have no difficulty in per-
forming their duty, and will avoid blood
shed, If O small force Of United States troops
be placed at their disposal. In view of these
| facts, it would appear to be desirable that
the General Assembly should, in the mode
prescribed by the Constitution and laws Of
| the United States, request of the President
Of the United States such military force as
will enable the sheriffs of the counties
| nameu to execute the legal process OF the
courts in these casess"
| On the next day, the 25th of March, the
General Assembly passed q joint resolution
in accordance with the foregoing recon-
| mendation, and the same was promptly
| transmitted to the President Of the United
States. In due time an order came from the
| War Department to General Candy, then
| commanding this department, to furnish the
| aid requested. Al my suggestion, General
| Candy ordered troops to the assistance OF
the sheriff of elizabeth City county first,
| who, with the aid thus rendered, success
fully executed the process Of the courts.
I entertained the hope that the example
thus set would have beneficial effect upon
| the illegal occupants of Taylor's. farm, in
Norfolk county, and with this view advised
some delay in the latter case; but in this [
| was disappointed. In the meantime thi3
| state had been attached TO the Department
OF the East, and to its commander, General
Irwin Mcdowell, | applied for aid for the
! sheriff of Norfolk county, on the 31st Of
May last. In response to my application,
troops were ordered from Fortress Monroe
| to the assistance of the sheriff OF Norfolk
county on or about the 21st day OF June
| ceived from General Barry, commanding at
Fortress Monroe, telegram, of which the
following is copy.
"FT. MONROE, June 90, 1870.
| " To HIS EIcellency Gilbert G. Walker,
"Governor Of Virginia
"In obedience to a telegraphic order from
the honorable, the Secretary of War, have
this day recalled the detachment of troops
sent by me to the Taylor farm to protect the
sheriff Of Norfolk county.
civilian +. BARRY"
And at about the same time [ received
from the sheriff Of Norfolk county the fol-
lowing telegram:
"NoRFoLK, VA, June %, 1870.
{" To HIS E1cellency G. G.. Walker,
''Governor of Virginia
"Capt. Piper, commanding United States
forces, sent to assist me, has been ordered
back, and not to render the sheriff anV
further assistance. What must do; carry
out the law and execute the balance of the
writs? l have displaced two-thirds and
torn down the buildings; loops LETT at
$50 A. M. L. w. MAYHEM,
"Shcrif, (Taylor's Farm)."
lat once telegraphed the sheriff to hold his
bic. And at the same time sent telegram
to the Secretary of War, Of which the fol-
lowing is copy
COMMONWEALTH OF NIRGINIA,}
EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS. 7
RICHMOND, June %, 1870.
To the Honorable, the Secretary Of War,
have received this morning the follow
ing kilograms
[See above the telegrams.]
L have cause to believe that this with
drawal of the aid of the military forces OF
the United States will render the eXecu-
ton of the process Of the courts much more
difficult, and will tend to bloodshed, for
reasons heretofore forwarded to the Presi-
dent.
Please advise me why the late order from
YOUR Department., and the order OF the De-
partment Commander have been modified
or rescindedP Whether the aid of the
| United States forces can be restored to the
| sheriff? If so, please cause it to be done
at once.
An immediate answer by telegram is re-
ouested in view Of the emergency Of the
case. VI. y. w ALkEH,
! Governor of Virginia.
To this dispatch l received the next day
the following reply:
"WAsH1NGToN, June %, 1870.
| To HIS Erceuency Gou. G. &. Walker:
Your dispatch OF this date has been sub
| mitted to the President, and am directed
| bv the Secretary of War to say that the
order withdrawing the troops will be adj
hered to. +. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant- General"
No explanation whatever of this eXtror-
dinary transaction has ever been vouchsated
TO me. The failure to respond to nv re.
spectflll inquiry for the causes of this &C.
tton. and the silence upon that subject
| ,rLia Il ha 6 euer since been maintained clearly