The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-11-20
[Fer the Valley virsinian."l
Southern Republicans.

DEAR MAJOR The Conservative press
of Virginia, as we'll as the Democratic pres
of the North and some portions of tho nom.
inally Republican press, often give full Gre
dencs to wonderful tales of the outrages and
atrocities committed by the Republican Office
holders of the South, especially 10 th.,se
States having Republican najorties. An
incident in illustration sapps1sd TO- thi,
State, North Carolina, this fall, which is 90
very pertinent that I hays decided to give
you an opportunity to lay it before your
readers.
1t became necessary, in order to enforce
the revenue laws, IN the seventh collection
district Of the State, to call in the aid of the
military. They were sent on one occasion
to support the action Of deputy marshal in
executing processes of the U. S. district
court in that district. While out, and be-
fore the deputy marshal had com pleted
fifth Of the work he had 10 hand, the party
we're fred on before they had fred Shot
indeed it was sort of ambuscade into which
they fell The result was that the whole
party retired and the court processes were
not executed. Immediately the entire Dem
ocratlc press of the State was 1lled with &C
counts OF the outrages committed by the lit.
tie band of seven soldiers, one military Off
Ger, and two civil officers This seemed to
be we'll authenticated case for it was sup
ported by afidavits. apparently genuine. all
intended to prove serlous outrages, needless
and considerable destruction of property, the
intoxieation of all the officers in charge of
the expedition, and that the party was not
fired upon at all by the citiz.us s. plausible
tale was told that Judge Dick, of the Yves.
tern Judicial District of North Carolina,
without an application from any one. but. Oh
the strength of these published afidavits,
issued rule against the deputy marshal to
show cause why he Should net be dismissed
from Office
The rule came up for hearing at States
vile last week, and I happened to be pres
ept and heard all the testimony There were
seven witnesses summoned for those agains,
the deputy marshal, and there were two law
yers to conduct that side, both of whom
seemed to feel at least the needful amount
Of interest in the case After three of these
witnesses had testified, the lawyers declined
on account of chsgrin and disappointment
to put any Of the others on the stand but
we're obliged to summon an eighth, who had
evidently been efficient in getting up
the published afidavits, to explain away
some very bad featured Of yhe business which
the cross examination Of sheir own witnesses
had brought out. But one witness. was ex-
amined 90 the side Of the officers. The wi
dest latitude vas allowed in the testimony,
TIE object being to get at facts. The result
Was that it was conclusivelY proven that
there was no outrage, that there was no de-
stru of property beyond the throwing
down of three PANELS Of fence and the eat
ing of perhaps bushel of corn. that none Of
the officers were intoxicated, and That the
party was fred upon by parsons in am
bush-all except the last being shown hy
the witnesses summoned against the officers
The opponents eff the officers had every pos
sible opportunity giveo them to make ouS
their case and were utterly disconnected
They only succeeded 10 showing, in a
manner conclusive to every unprejudlcsd
mind, that the whole report as published 10
the conservative press was maliciousy false,
and was gotten up by intelligent persons for
very evident political purposes The judge,
from the bench. said he never saw mere
complete vlndlcation than that Of the deputy
marshal
This is the only one Of the d,screditable
tales about United States and other republi-
can, officials which have seen tested. I'll
all the others are o similar character the
government has occasion to be proud Of its
servants and the conservatives, if there is
any shame in them, have occasion to be
most thoroughly ashamed of their party
press. | believe this to be fair sample of
nearly al similar statements.
A. NJ. Crane.
Charlotte, N. G. Oct. II. 1873.