Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-21
Col, DOnn PiatL.

The grand Jury Of the District Of Columbia
examined witnesses yesterday with reference 10
inaictiug Col. Dom Piatt Tor expressions in
certain articles il the Washington Capital
The Colonel, 10 : card 10 the Washington Star,
says
To those who know me it s not necessary Tor
mo to ssy that nothing was further from my
thought in penning tho editorial of lest Sunday
than the horrible crime OF assassination. Open
resistance to o revolutionary wrong, for which
there seems no other resistance is one thing;
assassination is another. In the sentence so
strongly commented upon and denounced it
will appear, when taken in connection with
what precedes and follows, that my appeal is
made to the people and not to the sssassins The
American people are not Gssassins, nor will they
submit tamey TO wrong. Here is what said
and again repeat
LAS we said week since, this is not law; it
is revolution, and if tho people tsmely submit
we may bid long farewell to constitutional
government Fraud no longer vitistes. 4 cor
rupt administration has only, by its bayonoti,
to hold state usurpation long enough in power
for Il corrupt returning board to do its vile task
and tho work is dono. If j man thus returned
| to power can ride in safely from the Executive
| Mansion to the Capitol, to be inaugursted, we
are lifted for the slavery that will follow the
inauguration. We do not believe the people Of
the United Statos arc Of this servilo sort. We
do not believe that they are Prepared without a
| blow, to part with their hard earned, blood
| stained possessions"
| When the time comes that any other sent!-
ment than the above can be felt and uttered, |,
| for one, shall fee! ashamed Of my country. Rob
| the people Of the ballot, IS these conspirators
in power intend, and what have we left?
In the above, however, | haye Only put in
words what tho President has embodied in acts.
In gathering troops =! tho National Capital for
the first time in tine history Of the republic to
enforce IN inauguration he indicated the dan.
ger. Then, to make the act the moro significant
| when il was apparent that Tilden was TO be IN.
stalled, he ordered his troops away. Mr.. Til
don, it seems, would neel no armed support
Thon after Justice Davis declined and Bradley:
appointment revived the hopes Of Hayes thu
order WAS countormandSd snd additional
troops summoned to Washington.
II there i; assassination in my suggestion
there Is assassination in the Presidents acts
He appeals to his army; [ appeal to the people
Let mo, in this suggestion. recall to the horro
stricken minds OF these gentlemen al event they
5oom to have forgotten. When tho President
son and brother-inlaW Casey cnmo to my hous
in tho light time to- assault me, in presence o
my family, under circumstances that made tn
attempt. had | BEEN at homo, simply atrocious
assassination was regarded in very choerlu
light 1t afforded ground for TESTING to tho yer.
journals that are now 30 indignant.
However, / only sock to protest the miscon
structiOn put upon my words. Mono other thai
an insane man, or one desperately wicked, Wou
, ever think Ct assassination, let alone puhlc!.
r advocate .he commission OF so horrible 81 crime
Beyond this have nothing to Soy. ask n
odds OF these people. They are playing with
: upon right sanctioned by time and sanctife
{ by the blood Of tho people. They will hav
{ enough to do in caring for themselves, Withou
troubling me DOM PIATT