The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-06

ASTONISEMENT OF THE PEOPLE At THE
| NEWS OF, A FEEDER Al INyASI0N-THE
TRAMP OF THE MILITARY IN A PEACEFUL
COMMUNICATIVE RADICALS PROFESS TO
FEAR INTIMIDATION ON EI4ECTIoN-DAY--
TELEGRAM FROM MAYOR CAMERON TO
GOVERNOR KEMPER-pROMPT ACTION OF
THE G0vERNoR-A PROCLAMATION TO
THE PEOPLE ISSUED LATE SATURDAY
NIGHT. 3.z'"} t& ..z - r
Saturday afternoon the people of Rich
mond were astonished to hear that COM
pany Of United States soldiers had passed
through the city on their way to Peters
burg. Near as we live to that goodly city
no rumor had reached us Of disturbances
there: or of any apprehended, and the
action Of the President, therefore, caused
profound wonder. AS the stay Of the SOL
diers at the depot was very brief, and they
seemed really not to know for what their
services were needed, little light was
thrown upon the mystery till Saturday
night, when the following information
reached here from our correspondent in
Petersburg:
NOVEMBER 4, 1876.
Company u, Second Regiment United
States Artillery, Major j. c.. Breckenridge
commanding, arrived in this city this after
noon on the mail train from Washington.
The company numbers twenty-eight men,
and left Fort Foote, opposite Alexandria,
this morning at s O'Clock, in obedience to q
| telegraphic order received last night from
the General commanding the Department OF
the Atlantic. Their arrival was surprise,
but they had not, been at the depot five
minutes before the news had spread through
j f1,an n,fy rhnHv nf n GO
to the request OF c. p. Ramsdell, the United
States marshal for this district, backed by
other Radicals, high and low, who profess
| to fear intimidation on election-day. And
| they are sent here with the forlorn hope
| that their presence may help to elect DR..
Jorgensen. Vain hope! r..-
A large crowd OF negroes soon collected
about the depot to see the soldiers, and the
| rejoicing among the colored people is gene
raj and open. They are in the best Of hui
mor-both males and females-and the mat
ter is discussed by them in crowds all about
| the streets.
The troops, officers and privates, were
most kindly received by the white citizens,
and friendly and courteous intercourse has
already been established, by which the Fed
eral visitors are made to feel at home. In
fact no objection is offered to the sending OF
troops to this city except this that the act
may be inferred as casting slur upon the
fair reputation the community enjoys for
peace and good order. The feeling towards
the soldiers is of the kindest, as shown in
the hospitality already shown them, for
which they express their appreciation. The
commanding officer at once reported to the
United States marshal, at the custom-house,
and the troops will be quartered in that
building tonight. Other arrangements will
be made for them tomorrow.
Major Breckenridge is from Lexington,
KY, and is said to be near relative OF the
late General John G. Breckenridge. Lieu
tenant r. G.. Howell, the second officer in
| command, is also q kentuckian. Both are
gentlemen.
Their presence here will not, Of course,
affect the result Of the election in this city
or district. 1t will indeed cause every Con-
servative to vote, and to work the harder for
the election of Tilden and Hinton.
The following is the letter OF Mayor
Cameron to Marshal Ramsdell, to which the
/ latter so irrelevantly replied through the
columns of the National Republican OF yes
terday, accompanying it with athdavltS OF
illiterate negroes as to the trifing disturb
ances at the polls in this city in May last,
and as to their fears that the negroes could
not fairly vote here unless troops We're sent
to protect them. 1t was on such afidavits
that Ramsdell made .reQuisition for SOL
diers. -. ..,.r....t
MAYOR CAMERON TO MARSHAL RAMsDELL.'
| OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, I
PETERSBURG, VA, October is, lS76.
Dear Sir,-It has been stated during the
past few days by the presses Of both parties
that committee OF residents OF Virginia
had represented to the President and Secre-
tary of War the necessity for the employ
ment of United States troops to preserve
the public peace in this congressional dis
trict. ,E o|.' .t
During the past six weeks have visited
every county in the district, and On every
court-ereen have witnessed large and mixed
assemblages of whites and blacks, OF Re-
publicanS and Democrats, and have yet to
hear of one alteration, of one blow struck,
or even OF any quarrel, having its origin In
political differences.
This healthiul and happy condition Of
affairs, furnishing so bright acontrast to the
state OF things in other parts OF the country,
must be as well known to Mr. Brady and his
reported associates as to myself; and You,
sir. doubtless well understand that any
statement to the contrary, so repugnant,to
the facts of the case, and so hurtfu to the
general reputation and interests OF the
Communities concerned, must tend, IN large
degree, to disturb those kindly feelings in
wfich peace must have its surest foundation
and most efficient guard. = t%1I 80 I
Certsinly no man or set OF men can,
without utter peryersion OF the: :trath,
assert that there is any disposition eXhlblteu
by any class OF the people OF Petersburg TO
interfere by force with the lawful rights OF
any other class, or that the authorities lack
either the determination or the power TO
prevent serious disturbances and to punish
offenders. It is hardly necessary that l
should assure you that while am, as now,
responsible for its good order, this city
shall be the scene OF neither 5unrestrnned
nor unpunished lawlessness, or that on cleo
tion-day, as at other times, shall require
neither urging nor assistance to MAINTAIN
the public peace and to protect cltlzens OF
whatever party or color, in the quiet exer-
else of their lawful rights; but am am sur
prised that any persons calling TINS Jhelr
| home, and claiming to be identified IN ln. 10.
| terest and in sympathy with any class OF
our population, should, while occupying
lipositions from which denial would be con-
/ elusive, for one moment allow sncn mis-
: representations Of their felloW-cItlzen 10
pass without rebuke. - : -,..f,i>rt;5,.,t y
/ will not attempt to discuss the motives
4 Of those who have thus sought to invoke
military protection against danger existing
nowhere except IN the Conscience of the
evil-minded; but i may property call on
! you, sir, both as high officer. OF the Federal
4 ard a eitiyaH of some Years