The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1872-05-01

Il
which it is stated that "Tom Page
succeeded, through the connivance Of
John Wilson, a colored man usually
employed by Sheriff Vance to guard
prisoners, in effecting the escape Of
Thomas Smith. the prisoner who rob-
bed Perry, at Baldwin's hotel. The
same article also states that "Wilson
turned States evidence against Page,
aud when the trial came up before the
magistrate, Tom Page aud his father,
assisted by number of desperadoes,
made an attack upon the Sheriff in
the court house, and a number of shots
were interchanged, fortunately without
injury to any one, although the walls
of the house give evidence of the design
)of the scoundrels. The excitement
was great and four hundred citizens
rallied around the Sheriff to support
him in the exercise of his duties as
executor of the laws and conseTvator
of the public peace"
Now, with regard to the Republicans
highly colored statement of the affair
alluded to. we shall have very little to
say. Last week we gave what we be-
lieved to be, and what all will recog-
nize as being an impartial statement of
the affair between Vance and the Pages.
As to the latter being aided by ga
number of desperadoes," the statement
is simply false. Such a character as
a desperado, we have not in this CONS
munity. Besides which, as we stated
last week, the whole affair was consid-
cred personal and political quarrel
between Vance and the Pages, and
no citizen interferred, or so far as we
could learn, felt the least inclination
to do so. If by the "four hundred
citizens" the Republican meant the
militia that was called out, we happen
to know that the number of armed
militia in town at no time exceeded
forty-four, while we know of at
least one company, whose colored
captain, upon being informed of the
nature of the troubles, got his men out
OF town as soon as possible. And as tC
John Wilson turning States evidence
the fact is he turned his back on the
community, and left the country,as We
believe, for the country's good. So thai
three points, at least, of the statement
Of the Republican, are without founda
ton in fact. The "numbcr of despera
does" and the "four hundred citizens,
were all imaginary.
Now we wish to repeat, as we sale
last week that 1--WE the people," hav,
no dog in this fight, and that we can
be easily dragged into a participation
in it. 1t is a matter with which tn,
people, properly speaking, have nothing
to do. And although we admit tha
Sheriff Vance, or any other officer, car
get at any time, as many citizens al
may be necessary to aid him in tn,
execution of the law, without calling
on the Militia, we must at the sam,
time, state that il he ever failed t.
execute any legal process in his hands,
or ever called upon posse of citizen,
to assist him, we have never heard Of
it. We hold that the people of Hemp,
stead county are loyal and law-abiding
in true sense, and are exceedingly
desirous of seeing the law enforced, and
peace and good order permanently es-
tablished. But if the writer of the
article in the Republican, or any one
else, thinks he can drag the good peo>
pie of Hampstead county into a ku-
klux net, he is very seriously mistaken,
and wide of the mark. Ifthe same diff
Guilty or similar one. had occurred be-
tween citizens, or conservatives, and any
member or members of the radical
party, the cry of ku,klux would have
been raised before this time, and repeat
ed and echoed throughout the land.
But no such opportunity is presented.
The fight is inside the republican party,
and there it may stay. The people of
this county will take no part or lot in