The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-03
!; PETERSBURG EIGcTioN.cA Asses
I.ottor from Hon. ]. W. Johnston..

cent examination oil. the PETERSBURG :eleCllot
off GERS in this city, and the abominable doc
frine laid down By the Federal commission
er. and suggested that some good might pos
sibly result if the northern people could b'
induced to consider the matter. Senator
JOHNSTON thereupon wrote the following let
ter TO Attorney-General WILLIAMS. /
speaks for itself, but has not been answered
UNITED STATES SENATE CHANBER,1
WASHINGTON. June 10, 1874.
Hon. Georqe II. Williams Attorney-Gene
raj of the United States:
Sir.-As YOU are the bead Of the Depart
ment of Justice in the United States, take
the liberty of addressing you on some recent
occurrences in Virginia.
In Nav last an election was held in the city
of Petersburg for municipal officers, atwhci
the Conservative ticket was elected. Shortly
after the election warrants were prepared 81
Mr.. Wor:hington, the Assistant United
States District Attorney. and signed by Uni
ted States Commissioner Waterman, who
lives, and has his office in Petersburg, for
tie arrest Of several of the judges who had
conducted the election, on the Charge OF
having violated the provisions Of the en-
|
fore Commissioner Waterman, who was at
band. the arrested parties were put upon
the cars and transported to Richmond, and
there brought before one Pleasants, Uni
ted States Commissioner. Whether kuowl-
edge Of The opinions of Plea>ants, as subSe-
olrutIy developed, had anything to do with
this unusual movement. I am not able to say.
After hearing the evidence and arguments
is,ip
position is so important, and who ought to
know the law. held the accused party TO bail
in the sum Of $500 10 answer an indct-
maut. The Commissioner gave his views Of
law us followS--yiZ.:
cit vas his duty to ascertain if statute
of Congress had been violated, and he
thought in cI>cs before the Commissioner
that the rule which prevailed in courts was
reversed. and the party accused must prove
bis innocence. He believed that he could
produce some Virginia decisions tending to
show that some such rule had been laid
down in cases of justices. Several lawyers
SOB. no.]
Now, lest you might suppose that this is
only the report of partisan newspaper, and
that the Commissioner said nothing of the
sort. state that, incredible as it NAV seem
that any man exercising judicial functions
should make such a declaration, it can be
shown by iucontrovertible proof that he ac-
tuaIly did make it, and nearly in the exact
words given above.
After this ruling tho counsel for the other
accused persons of course waived in ex-
animation, and their clients gave the bail re.
qUired for their appearance to answer in.
uiCimentS.
In order to show who got up the charges,
and how they were sought to be maintained,
make few choice eXcerpS from the evil
deDce.
IHere follow extracts from the evidence.
which as they have appeared in the Dispatch
We deem it unnecessary TO rcpublisb.]
1t seems from this testimony that the de-
luded colored men were induced to make atf-
dayits without knowing their contents, and
without knowing nythng Of the facts about
which they were swearing.
ghe witness William Rutfin found his afli-
davt not only already prepared, but done
up in all "iDgyclup."
such representations were made touching
this matter as induced you to send tcle-
gram 10 the Marshal of the Eastern District
of Virginia. instructing him to protect the
property of the United States and the per.
sons of officials. and to summon q posse of
cilZcDs to assist, if necessary; adding that
troops would be sent to the scene OF action
if. necessary, but that the Use of troops was
to be avoided if possible.
The action OF the Government was gene
rally supposed TO be based upon statements
made by Messrs. Platt and StoweIl, two
members Of Congress from Virginia, but
neither born nor raised there. 1t seemed
however, that even they arc ashamed Of the
part attributed to them, and hasten to deny
and explain. They insist that information
came 50 the Postmaster General, by q letter
from Petersburg, stating that an armed mob
was raging, and that United States officials
and property were in danger and that the
Postmaster. General brought forward the,
matter and had action on it. But if it is
true that such letter was written, 1t shows
cOnclu,iyciy that It's own statements Werc
untrue. The writer, who was said 10 be tie
postmaster at Petersburg, sits down ard
cooNy writes q letter, deposits it in the post
Office tone of the buildings represented to ke
in danger, lets it wend its way to WashiAg-
ton, there to reach the Postmaster-GcncSa :;
and all this while All armed mob was about
to murder him and burn the post-ottice The
story is incredible.
The arrests OF the accused judges were
made in Petersburg by W. W. Caldwell, the
Assistant United States Marshal; and here is
his statement. 1t is in reply to letter from
Mr.. Hinton, which is also given:
WASHINGTON, June l., 1874.
William Cald,ceii, Esq, Assistant United
States Deputy Marshal, Richmond, Va:
"Did you meet with any resistance 10 your
arrest of the Petersburg judges of election,
on Thursday last, and were you aware OF
any armed resistance or threatening to inter-
fere with the United States property, or pre-
venting the United States officials from dis
charging their duty? Answer by boy.
[signed,l "W. Z. HINTON, JR."
[Replyl
"RlCuAoSD, VA, June 18th, 1874.
" ". E. Hinton, Jr., Metropolitan Hotel:
In answer TO your telegram | have to
say that | met with no resistance in arrest
irg the Petersburg judges Of election on
Thursday last. | was not aware of the ex-
istence of any mob, or OF any threats to i'll.
tertere with United States property, or to
interfere with United States officials in the
discharge of their duty.
[Signed,] "W. W. CALDWELL"
Ii Commissioner Pleasants really believed
that man accused of crime was to be pre-
sumed guilty, and the burden was upon
him to prove his innocence, he is grossly
and shamefully ignorant. If on the other
hand he knew better, he is corrupt. Either
way he is unfit to hold any office under the
United States, to say nothing of one of SC
much importance as that OF commissioner
| who has authority over the character, the
personal liberty, and even the lives of oul
| citizens. e.
This matter is so serious az to demand ar
| investigation. When the Government i:
informed that there is good reason to believe