Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-06-19

StHt W IcoiuOIo O1ttIe Ny oiio DOPol eAiOIU
telegraph from the Capitol asking that no
troops be sent to Petersburg
"HOUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON, D. c., June -, 1874. s
10 has Ercelzemcy q. S. Grant, President
Dear Sir,-We, the undersigned, repre-
sentatives in Congress from Virginia, re-
spectfully ask that you will not order sol
diers to Petersburg. We believe that I'M
der the able men now acting as marshal
and district attorney the laws of our coun
try will be enforced, and if any one has
committed an outrage he will be punished.
Ordering United States soldiers there at
this time will, in our opinion, injure our
State, and do no earthly good.
With sentiments of high regard, we
remain. your Obedient servants,
J AMBLER SMITH,
JOHN T. HARRIS,
EPPA HUNToN,
THOMAS WHITEHEAD,
JAMES B. SENER.n
Judge Harris, of Virginia, called upon
the President Saturday morning to protest,
in the name of the people, against military
interference in Virginia, and to assure him
that as good order prevails in Petersburg
as any city in the Union, The President
being absent, he proceeded to the Attor-
ney-General's office, where copy of the
telegram published below was furnished,
giving the latest phase Of the situation.
Judge Harris says no troops will be sent to
Petersburg:
''ATToRNEY-G GENERALS OFFICE, !
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1874.
limited States Marshal RomsdeU, Peters
burg:
You are instructed to take necessary
steps to protect the property of the United
States from injury and the officers of the
Government in Petersburg from any vio-
lent interference with them in the perfor-
nance of their official duty; and to that
end. if you think proper, you may sum-
mons posse of the citizens to aid you, but
if these men are found inadequate for the
purpose you will be fur ishel, upon call
by you upon me, with troops from Fortress
Monroe. 1t is desirable not to use troops
if possible" '4
4 Richmond letter in the Petersburg
"News" says:
If indictments are found these. election
cases will be tried ip the United States
Circuit Court in the fall. Chief Justice
Waite and Judge Bond, or Judge Bond
and Judge Hughes will preside. The dis
'trict attorney has distinctly said that the
evidence showed 40 corrupt or fraudulent
purpose and MI. Peasants confessed that
he could see nothing showing 'smalignity, :"
and, therefore it ig not to be supposed for
moment that an honest jury would fail
to acquit all Of the accused. whose cases
are no worse than those examined yester-
day.
The Baltimore "Ameriean'' Republi-
CAM says:
Platt and Stowell, couple of Republi-
can Congressman. from Virginia, have ma
liciously raised a foolish and unnecessary
alarm at Washington that Government
officials IL Petersburg are in danger be-
cause of the arrest by Federal authority Of
State election officers on the charge of vio-
lating the Enforcement law. They have
strven to make it appear tllae the safety
OF tine Government officials required che
presence of United States troops, and en-
deavor to have them ordered out. Omitted
States Marshal Kamsdell was in Peters
burg on.Saturday, and saw 20 reason why
the troops should be brought there. AS
the question OF employing them is left to
his discretion, it may be presumed that
3
their expectations of getting up a riot, in
which they might represent their friends
as being assaulted by the 'sebels.'"
THE @44TITUDE OF PETERSBURG.
The Petersburg AIndex,'' Of Tuesday
morning, has the following
Now that the excitement among our
people has pretty well subsidized, and all
apprehensions have passed away as to FED
eral interference with ouF local affairs, we
hope the claims of Judge J. +. Harris.
member of Congress from the staHnton
district. upon the grateful recollection of
our citizens. will be properly recognized.
Judge Harris eXerted himself in a greater
degree than did a;ay Of our other friends at
Washington, TO prevent the outrage which
was Threatened, Of quaftering United
States soldiers in the community at time
when the peace was unbroken and uaSeen-
:aced. it Was to his Thoughtful considera-
ton, also, that the people are indebted for
THE prompt information With which they
Were furnished Of the Marshal's being au-
th0fized TO Summon troops from Fortress
Monroe with which to lQyerawe the city.
The receipt of THAT intelligence so directly
and promptly. sawed q great deal of anxi-
ETY. and apprehension, and whife it excited
natural indignation towards the &arbet-
bag authors of the wrong, it had 2 good
effect in Informing the people as to how
their utterances Of wrath were being per
verified to their own injury. For these ser
vices we are under obligations to Judge
J. Z. Harris, and the people of Petersburg
will not s1e swift to forget the debt.