Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-20
TION OF COL. DICKIN
SON

ASSASSINATION OF COL. DICKLN-
The assassination OF Col. Dickinson in
Florida by the Ku:Klux was a most cold
blooded and diabolical act. Let those I'M
dertake to excuse or palliate it who will,
or ridcule it as a fiction for political pur-
poses. Mr.. Dickinson was native of
Vermont, literally educated, Union sol
der, and since the war resident of Mari
anna, Florida, where he held federal and
local offices. He was 'assassinated on the
evening of the 3D. inst, while passing
quietly from his place of business to his
residence. His body was discovered the
next morning lying where he fell He
had received thirteen buckshot in his
breast and pistol bullet through his heart.
His remains arrived in New York from
Savannah few days since on their way
to be inferred in his native State. Upon
their arrival at New York public meet
ing was held in that city by his friends
and acquaintance there, all natives of
Vermont, many of them his comrades in
the army, and the following expression of
their feelings was drawn up and adopted:
We have heard with grief and horror of the
| assassination of our lamented friend The
peculiar circumstances attending the outrage
give to our sorrow and Indignation a charac-
ter other than local or private, and suggest
| considerations not confined to the circle of
his friends.
Mr.. Dickinson entered the army soon after
the commencement of the war as an officer in
the 7th Vermont Volunteers, and served
faithfully and honorably until the termination
of hostilities. On leaving the army he at
once engaged in business in Florida, where
he remained until his death, holding at the time
the offices of U. S. Commissioner and Clerk of
the County Court. He was man of refine
ment and culture, and of more than usual
ability and discretion. He was remarkably
quiet and unassuming in his ways; genial and
afectionate in disposition, and of happy
turn OF mind which attracts friends without
making enemies. He was true to the principles
in which he was educated, and for which he
had fought. He had none of the greed of the
politician; and his honor was without STAIN
| His life was threatened in Florida, and he
| lived in constant danger. A short time be-
fore his death. seemingly with presentiment
of his fate, he wrote as follows:
/ 81 wish to put on record the fact that my
political action in this State has been upright
and honorable, and that l do not regret sim
gle step that have taken; that while many
citizens of this county have a bitter political
hate for me, l believe and know that not one
of them entertain personal dislike or want
OF respect of me, and | have no ambition to
fill a more honorable grave than that of a man
who falls for the sake of opinion or conduct
that he knows to be right"
knowing him as did we believe every
word of this, his public testimony. He was
a martyr to the cause of liberty as truly as
any soldier who has died upon the battle
field. We heartily deplore the terrible relaxa-
ton of civil authority under which such men
as Mr.. Dickinson are sacrificed. We do not
presume to advise upon corrective measures,
but we desire to express in the strongest
terms our adherence of the present disorgan-
ization of society in the Southern States and
our conviction aft the imperative need of some
immediate and effective remedy. The family
and relatives of Mr.. Dickinson have our
warmest sympathy and coincidence in their sore
affection.
The report was unanimously adopted