Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-27
RUTLAND VT. THURSDAY MORNING. APRIL ~ 1871.

full at all times not to incite anger or
| jealousy. The several instructions near
him testify to his kind disposition and
discretion in saving many lives forfeited
by various crimes. and perchance the
very hand was spared which foully sent
| the bullet to his own heart. The hate
and sweet revenge of the savage seems
the only incentive to shoot down and
shoot while down a man of 80 marked
ability and kindness.
"The mills of the gods grind slow, but
they grind exceeding small" was said
anciently, and as much may be said of the
judgments of the one living and true
God. In due time their sins shall find
them out. "Their sword shall enter their
own heart and their bows shall be brok-
en-" We have thus far followed the spirit
of the text, which may have called forth
language which might seem severe, did
not we know the fitness of it. But we
hurl back no wrongs upon them in our
own name, in view of all their black
crimes and cruelty. and severity would be
doled to them "only while being cruel to
be kind" We would forgive them for
they know not what they do, in many a
sense. We would let God avenge ours
and others wrongs. How gladly would
we forget if these would repent and hold
off their bloody hands from our brothers,
and desist from this illegitimate and ne
farious kind of war. How we'll they
know that only Our kindly enlightenment
and christian culture keeps US from
dealing heavier blow upon them in re-
turn. Thus they take advantage of US,
and what compliment after all it is as
great as the temptation to revenge their
great and many cruelties.
One of their missiles of death, the like
of which has burst over thousand house
holds of orr land, has now dropped down
in our midst, and with ksenness do we
feel the smart.
On Friday, April 7th, telegram came to
this community, which startled it like
thunderbolt out of clear sky. 1t read
as follows:
" Tallahassee, Florida-John @. Dick
inson is dead. He was instantly killed
by an assassin. He fell near his house
while returning from his Office, at niue
o'clock at night. His body will receive
public funeral at Jacksonville, on Tuesday
next. n. J. PURMAN."
Political hate seems the only incentive
to this blasting crime, the assassination of
Capt. John Quincy Dickinson. He was
evidently popular, and out twardly respect
ed and to those who knew him he was
greatly endeared. His name had become
a charm to the freedmen, who loved and
trusted him like father. He had great
power over them none in the county
had greater. He had repeatedly disarmed
these exasperated freedmen as they were
rising to avenge their many wrongs, or
the death of their white friends. Capt.
Dickinson declares in letters that he acted
sincerely and earnestly in ferreting out
any who had retaliated upon the whites
of the South, and yet his own life was
sought at this very time.
Some two years since, Major Purman
and DR.. Finlayson, on their way to an
evening entertainment, called upon Capt.
Dickinson to accompany them, but being
Ill ho dvoI;Hoa going Thaaa Gentlemen
proceeding on their way were fred nnnn.
DR.. Finlayson was instantly killed and
Major Purman felled to the ground with
a bullet through the neck. On being
borne to the hospital and cared for by
his friends he recovered, and soon depart
ed from the county, but returning some
time after he wasswarned out under for
feiture of life, and bid never to return.
No effort was made to ferret ont these out
RACES. Capt Dickinson figured conspicu.
ously in seeing him out of the county,
and though fenrfully warned by this mar
row escape and repeated threats OF despe-
radoes, he still persisted in staying at his
assigned post, which he verify regarded
as his post of duty. He was one of the
many against whom no accusation could
he laid but that of being a Republican.
Yet this was enough rouse murderous
hate, but to add cowardice to cowardice,
these would try and shift our suspicious
apou some negro as the assassin and rob
Der, adding foul lying, as we sincerely
believe, TO their calender of infamy.
Capt. Dickinson was assassinated upon
the evening of April Sd, between the
hours of and 10 o'clock. He had been
transacting business at his Office with
other county and State officials, and on
passing home and over a vacant lot he
was fred upon from behind trees, IL
buokshots entered his body, then bullet
was put through his heart. The report
eff these guns gave the signal of his death
to his friends, as they had long feared
and expected this disaster. He was
hastily buried the next morning, but was
at distance, and taken to Tallahassee
where was a public reception, thence car
ried to jacksonville, Florida, where
public funeral was held From this place
his remains have been forwarded to us
under the gentle care of Gen. Varnum,
Adiutant General of Florida. BY whose
presence here to-day we are honored, and
n account of whose well advised and
lonrr ha
KIN by US. About the time of the
1erea of DR.. Finlay son and Major
'nootine Capt. Dickenson wrote the fol
Eunmah, q parents which has appeared
owing TO ~ I HERALD since his death.
az wish to pN ia this State has been
ny political action le. and that I do not
aprngns anu ainaia hon a.nnI ave taken, and that
ebre' sbi,s nasnv s citizans Of this county have
bitter noiitical hate for me, l osl,eve
md know that not one @f the II en'e,'sln
. personal dislike or want OF r. ,oua
ne. and have no ambition to ill L ~
grave than that OF man ~
alls for the sake of opinion or condn,
hat he knows ia right, even though |
else thinks it wrong.
His prophetic wish has been sadly re-
.lized. He falls "for opinions sake ana
conduct" becoming a man in whom mas
,een reposed great and enduring in teresss.
de had no doubt put unwarranted falth
n his abilitie. and virtues to ward on the
,ate of of the Rebels around him. Ills
generous heart was hardly able to COM
,rehend such villany, and bis conscious
,irtues would have melted the hearts OF
,annibals of the Southern Seas, but conl |
lot effect the hearts of those who insult
by the title of gentlemen Of the
southern States. Capt. Dickinson was
he last of the leading Republicans of
Jackson. County, in which county alone
ixty have been murdured in two years,
md n offence is offered but that of being
oval to their governmet and holder OF Of
ice under. He las for some time stood in
he wav of these plotters of treason. Mr..