The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-17
9itl1ulond 1lspahIhl.

WEDNESDAY,. MAY II, 1871.
- =.
THE CIRCULATION or THE DISPATCH
is LARGER THAN THE CONFIRMED CIR.
CuLATIoN OF ALL THE OTHER DAILY
NEWSPAPERS OF THE CITY. ss. a':11.., D
--x-=-----------------------
The Negro and the Cars-Atterslpt OF
tho Blacks to- Board the Public
Conveyances-The Resistance and
Quarrela.i isa ~ .sgSal 1T
The excitement over the negroes riding
since the evening Of the.l1th. !. They were
at first very timid mountaineering the cars,
but nil notions or modesty were thrown
aside on yesterday. They entered the
coaches quietly and orderly, paid their fare,
and insisted upon being conveyed to their
places Of destination. Their approach,
however, was strange to the driver and pas
sengers, and caused many disturbances all
over the, city. Efforts were. always made to
induce them to leave the car, but were in
most instances unsuccessful. No force was
used by the drivers or the officers of the
company to eject the negroes from the
coaches, butthe cars were frequently driven
from the track and allowed 10 stand there
until she, obnoxious company departed. 1t
is remarkable that during tile whole day
there were fewer arrests than usual, though
at times immense crowds gathered around
the cars. The negro wants to ride inside
the Sceach with the white people. and to
fhis the company object. The abstract
questions Of right and equality, ETC., were
much discussed by all colors, but the off,
cers Of the road have taken the specific
and better.defned ground that they have
the right to make their own rules, and
that they have made one to the effect
that no negro man shall occupy the inside
OF the coach. This rule, they claim, has
been in force from the time the road was
first put into operation. The whole disturb
ance seems to have started in consequence
fof the Interpretation put upon q recent de-
10 this subject. But 1t Is said that Judge
Ballard made no decision in regard to the
right Of negro to ride upon street car :;
| that the question did not come before him
| in that shape. The counsel for the railroad
company conceded this point, and made
the question one Of damages. The negroes,
however, have Interpreted the: matter .as
terminating in their favor, and are every
where asserting their Supposed. rights.
They began yesterday BY; entering the
cars on 9Th street. The driver re-
effort to eject them. The coach was pulled
from the track and left standing there
until the negroes departed, which in some
instances was halt an hour. These disturb
ances happened several times near 9th and
Jefferson streets. Immense crowds gather
ed around, and no little excitement was
manifested, but ineYery other respect all
was quiet, Later in 1.-THE day negro got
into car on Preston street, and two men
(not passengers) pulled him out. In a short
while another black man entered the coach
at the same place. The car, was drawn to
| one. side, where it remained till the fellow
him and others who were present, and
a good deal Of excitement prevailed.
| The police were on the, ground,
ready to check the first symptom of
disorder. Similar disturbances occurred at
! the same place several times more dufine.
| the : evening, aud were conducted in the
same way, with the exception Of putting
1 the negroes out. They were not forced to
leave the cars. :, In Portland. likewise,
tthcre was q detention, caused cttbY the
Fnegsoes riding inside. AS before, the driver
eHdeavored to getrid of his new company,
and, not successful, vacated the. track for
A bSAE bbAC&~--CSkSAAcos--Iu -tAuCttS-Uf~ EuC
Main-street track say that they are ssgeing
to fight it out on that line - that they viii
not violate "a long-standing and. time
honored rule for the benefit Of the
favored class. Not so with the other
roads. They object to the new arrange
ment, but see no way at present of pre-
venting it. The negroes were asked to
leave the car, but when they did not choose
to do so the coach moved on i'll its usual
way. Many persons refused TO ride under
the circumstances, and either walked or re-
mained at home. Some persons even went
SO far as to leave the car. About 10 O'Clock
last night several colored men entered the
car near 9th and Walnut streets, and the
driver concluded to wait until they
left it. In short while crowds
representing blacks and whtes-men,
women, and children-eathered on the
corners in. such numbers that the
| police had to drive them away, which
they did as quietly and peaceably as they
could. They dispersed the white people
| first, and then, the negroes. These gather
| ings, and throwing cars from the track,
block up the streets and inconvenience a
great many people who are in no way con-
nected with the dispute between the COM
pany and the negro. It Is said that q pro-
position was made to the colored people
offering to give them separate cars, out
that they refused to accept it. The present
order of things cannot last. There must
be some change, and that very soon.-
Louisville Courier, ~ & r&s.< a H. =
r