Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-19
The Murder of Mr.. Dickinson

firmly, " do"
The Murder of Mr.. Dickinson.
The assassination ofMr. J. Q. Dickinson
formerly Of Benson, in this State. by the Ku-
Klux in Florida, has aroused as well it may, a
strong and dem onstrstiye feeling among his
old townsmen and throughout Vermont A
statement before us says: - His assassina-
ton, however, was not unexpected to him or
his friends. He was the last remaining
white Republican in that county, and the
opposition were extremely DESTROYS to get
rid of him. His conduct all the time was
guarded and prudent, and he was noted for
/ gentlemanly department. He had from time
to time, owing to his being an earnest Re-
publican and leader of the party in Jack
son county, been threatened with death, but
having right and freedom as his motto he
bid defiance to his enemies and died at his
post. He was a good citizen and officer, and
all that could be said against him by his bit
terest political enemies was that he was
Republican" The account further says that
thirteen buckshot eutered Dckinson's side
and a pistol penetrated his heart. To
give color to the suspicion that he might
have been murdered tor the sake of robbery,
it is said that his pockets had been riled.
A telegram received Monday, says Flu
neral obsequies will be held in jacksonville
on Tuesday, after which the body of Mr..
Dickinson will be forwarded to Benson, in
charge of the Adjutant General Of the State
Of Florida.
The Rutland Herald says: g Mr.. Dickin-
sons father, Isaac Dickinson, Esq, and his
mother are living at Benson, and are greatly
weighed down by this heavy bereavement.
They desire that his body shall rest with his
kindred among his native hills
Mr. DickinsOn's life has been threatened
before, and he would have undoubtedly been
made victim Of Southern hatred some two
years since, but for illness. One evening,
Mr.. Dickinson, DR.. Finlayson, and Mr..
Purman had an engagement to attend the
theatre together. MIR. Dickinson was taken
suddenly i'll and was unable to accompany
them They started without him and before
reaching the theatre DR.. FInlayson was shot
dead upon the street. Mr.. Purman the next
day was taken to the boundary line of the
county and told to leave and never to enter
again. Both were respectable citizens, en-
terprising gentlemen, and no offence WIS
alleged but that they were Republicans. No
the wretch that committed this dastardly
outrage At the time MIR. Dickinson wrote
for the Herald a very feeling tribute to the
memory of his friend, and d vivid description
Of his tragic death, and in condemnation of
these wanton Outrages upon lnotenslve cltI-
gems for political opinion. About the same
time he wrote the following words. which
should be inscribed in enduring letters on his
tombstone:
wish to put on record the fact that my political
action in this state has been upright and honorable
and that do not regret a single step that have
taken, and that while many citizens Of this county
nave bitter political hate Tor me, believe ana
know tina not of them entertain personal dis
Ike or want of respect for me, and hare no GDsbi
ttoa 70 ~ more honorable grare ina" mat gf man
irlo j,its FOR the sake ~ opinion or conduct that h
tI0Ss Is right, ereH though erery body else tbi0kS
i~rOHg.
Mr. Dickinson was the last leading Re
publican in a county in which sixty Repub-
leans have been killed in two years. These
men emigrated 70 the South TO become per-
manent citizens and identify themselves with
the fortunes and interests of the PEOPLE
Ten thousand Southern men are to-day set
tied in homes at the North, quietly pursuing
their daily occupations Who has ever dis
turhci one Of them they not protected
IN all their rights Of property and person,
and in the pursuit Of happiness Men who
talk hippanty and lightly of the murder OF
NDILuGIu LICu III tlG oOuNLf cAlOulu LudI LAlt
contrast and make the application
The New York Tribune. of the 18th inst,
notices the arrival of the remains Of Colonel
Dickinson in that city. en- route for Yer
mont.
4 public meeting, held at the Grammercy-
Park hotel on Friday, was attended by his
acquaintance and personal friends, many of
whom had been his comrades IN the army,
and all Of whom were Vermonters. living 10
New York and Brooklyn. The Hon. Peter
Starr presided A committee, consisting of
Col. Henry NJ. Porter, Charles S. Colburn,
and Col Stephen A. Walker, was appointed
to take charge of the remains in their pas
sage through the city, and to accom- pauy
them to their destination in Vermont. Prof.
Brainerd Kellogg, Col. William c. Holbrook.
and Lieut. Col. Alden F. Walker, were re
quested to prepare a formal expression Of the
feelings awakened by the murder.
Mr. Dickinson entered the army soon af-
ter the commencement of the war as an Off
Ger in the 7Jh Vermont Volunteers, and served
faithfully and honorably until the termina-
ton of hOstilities. On leaving the army be
at once engaged in business in Florida, where
he remained until bis death, holding at the
time the Offices of L. s. Commissioner and
Clerk of the County Court. lie was a man
OF refinement ana culture, ana OF more imam
usual ability and discretion. He was re
markably quiet and unassuming in his ways ;
genial and afect:Onate in disposition, and OF
the happy turn of mind which ATTRACTS
friends without making enemies. lie was
true to the principles in which he was edu-
Gated, and for which he had fought. lie
had none Of the greed of the politician ; and
his honor was without stain. His life was
often threatened in Florida. and he lived in