The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-16
Grelaiag State Sullrmal.
Ex-MAY0R CHAH00N (!
IMPORTANT STATEMENT MADE BY HIM
TO THE PUBLIC.
The Mayora1ty Fight, Political Persecution,
and Rascaiity in General


1t has been my fortune, whether good or
i'll, to have held some public office almost
continuously since was old enough to vote.
During this time the public and the press
have said many kind, and many very un-
kind things about me, but | have never
thought it best to make any public explana-
ton of anything | ever did, or to contra
dict any Misrepresentation made by my
political enemies. | have never addressed
a letter to the public on matters personal to
myself, and | should not do so now if
felt that | alone were injured by the SLAM
ders that have been heaped upon me during
the last two years. Being satisfied with the
consciousness of my own integrity, and
knowing that have lost nothing in the es-
timation of my personal friends, and car
ing nothing for my enemies, | feel that
something is due to the friends that have
defended me and the party that has given
me such generous support, and but recent
ly elected me to the highest office in the city
of Richmond.
came to Richmond in December 1866,
was appointed U. S. Commissioner
in the spring of 1867, and appdsted
5th, 1868, by Major-General j. NJ.
.
State. | discharged the duties of Mayor to
the satisfaction of all parties, the criticisms
of the press Of Richmond represent the
feelings OF the people, until the appoint
ment Of Henry X. Ellyson by the City
Council in March, 1870, under the act of
the Legislature, known as the "Enabling
Act" at which time all Republicans were
summarily elected from Office and Demo-
Gratis installed in their places.
Conscientiously believing the Enabling
Act'' to be an infamous political outrage,
in direct violation of the Virginia consttu-
ton, | felt that it was the duty OF the Re-
publican party to resist its enforcement by
all lawful means, and | resolved to test its
consttutionality in the courts before sur
rendering to the Democrats the trust that
had received at the hands of Republicans.
On the night of the 18th of March, 1861,
the City Council pretended to appoint Mr..
Ellyson Mayor; he took the oath of Office
some time between IL o'clock at night and
o'clock the next morning, and attempted
to enter upon the discharge of the duties
of the office by at once swearing
in large number of policemen and at
tempting to take charge Of the city by
force. No notice was given me Of Mr..
Ellyson's appointment, or call made upon
me to peaceably turn over my office.
Colonel Egbert, then chief of police, called
at my house at 5 o'clock on the morning of
the 18th of March and told me that Mr..
Ellyson had organized a large force who
were attempting to drive the police from
the streets and take possession of the
station-houses. / went Immediately to the
Old Market and sent orders to the other
stations not to surrender.
A demand was soon after made, by
Major Poe, who pretended to have been
appointed chief OF police by the Council,
upon the officers in charge, to turn over
the city property to him. Under my in
structions this demand was refused. Mr..
Ellyson then sent demand to me to
surrender my office to him, which / de-
clined doing without due process of law,
stating that should gladly obey the order
of any court, and invited him to unite with
me in obtaining legal decision upon our
relative titles to the office.
No notice was taken of my communica-
tion, and the station-house was soon after
surrounded by three OF four hundred armed
men, Threatening to take it by storm. made
such defense as the circumstances would
permit, placed my men in the most advan-
tageous positions with orders to fire upon
any one attempting force, End telegraphed
to the other stations to make like resist
ance. The mob outside contented them
selves with cutting off the gas and water,
and firing upon unarmed colored men in the
street, but no attack was made upon the
station-house. 1t was defended by about
thirty men. am unable to state the exact
number of men under Mr.. Ellyson, but
from his official order to Major Poe, in re-
Iation to the funeral of one of his police
men who was shot on the goth of March, |
infer that his force was large. He says:
"You will make all necessary arrange
ments for the funeral of the lamented Rich
ard D, Bush. Detail two hundred
and fifty men of the police force, with
proper officers, as an escort to the remains.
You will leave one hundred
and fifty men, with the usual number of
officers, at the City Hall. The balance of
your force will be on duty elsewhere in the
city, as heretofore ordered.
III. X. ELLYSoN, Mayor"
/ obtained an injunction from the United
States District Judge, restraining MIR. Ely
son from exercising the duties of Mayor.
He disregarded this injunction, and matters
remained in this position until the 18th,
when General Candy, then commanding the
military in this State, learning that strong
force was being organized to attack the mob
outside the station-house, and fearing seri-
Gus loss of life, sent squad of soldiers to
the scene of disorder. Mr.. Ellyson's mob
went away. No disturbance, other than
the shooting of five or six men occurred,
until the controversy was formally de-
eided by the court in my favor, after a
weeks argument, which decision Mr.. Ely
son refused to obey. The judge then
issued "writ of assistance commanding
the United States Marshal to place me in
possession of all city property. The Mar
shal attempted to execute this writ upon
MIR. Ellyson in the City Hall, when his
deputies were resisted by Mr.. Ellyson's
police, and forced out of the building. See
ing that this state Of affairs was running the
city, and having undoubted confidence in
the correctness of my position, | then pro-
posed to Mr.. Ellyson to submit the ques-
ton to the Virginia Court Of Appeals, be-
iieving that though the court was elected
bya Democratic party caucus, they could
not help sustaining the position | had
taken. In this, however, was mistaken
for this court decided that Mr.. Ellyson was
the legal Mayor. Crhe Supreme Court o.
Appeals of New York State has since de.
cided the same legal question exactly con-
trarv to the decision rendered by the Vjr.