The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-21
From the Washington STAR
Card from Dom Piatt.

Editor OF Star: AS my p9 Ter is not is
sued until next Sunday, Permit me to say a
word in response to me torrent of abuse
that has fallen uron my head.
TO those WHO know me it is not necessary
for 1ne to say that nothing was further from
my thought In pennins the editorial OF last
Sunday than the horrible crime OF assassina-
ton. Open resistance to revolutionary
wrong, for which there seems no other re-
sistancc, is one thing; assassination Is an
other. In the sentence so strongly COM
mented upon and denounced, it will appear,
when taken in connection with what pre-
cedes and follows, that my appeal is made
tc the people and not to the assassin. The
American neople arc not assasslns, nor Will
they submit tamely to wrong. here Is what
said and again repeat: - -.
"As We said week since, this is not
law; it is revolution, and il the people tame
| w submit we may bid long farewell to
constitutional government. Fraud no
longer vitiates. A corrupt administration
has only by its bayoncts to hold State
usurpation long enough in power for a
corrupt Returning Board to do its vile
task, and the work is done.
at man thus returned to power can ride
| in safety from the Executive Mansion to
the Capitol to be inaugurated, we are fitted
for the slavery that will follow the inaugu-
ration.
awe do not believe that the people OF
the United States are OF this servile sort.
We do not believe that they are prepared,
without blow. to part with their hard
earned, blood-stained possessions"
When the time comes that any other sentl-
ment than the above can be felt and uttered,
| I, for one, shall feel ashamed OF my country.
Rob the people of the ballot, as these con-
spirators in power intend, and what have
we left? ~.
In the above, however, have only put in
words what the President has embodied in
acts. In gathering troops at the National
Capital for the first time in the history OF
the republic to enforce an inauguration,
| he indicated the danger. Then, to make
the act the more significant when it was ap-
parent that Tilden was to be installed,
he ordered his troops away. AR. TiIden, it
seems, would need no armed support. Then,
after Justice Davis declined and Bradley
appointment revived the hopes OF Hayes,
| the order was countermanded. and addi-
tional troops summoned to Washington.
II there is assassination in my suggestion,
| there is assassination in the Presidents acts.
He appeals to his army appeal to the
people.
Let ME, in this suggestion, recall to the
horror-stricken minds OF these gentlemen
an event they seem to have forgotten.
| When the Presidents son and brother-in-
law Casey came to my house in the night
time to assault me in presence Of my family,
under circumstances that made the attempt,
had been at home, simply atrocious, assas-
sination was regarded in a very cheerful
light. 1t afforded ground for testing to the
very journals that are now so indignant.
| However, only seek to protest the mis-
construction put upon my words. None
other than an insane man, or one desperate
Iy wicked, would ever think OF assassna-
ton, let alone publicly advocate the COM
mission Of so horrible crime. Beyond this
I have nothing to say. ask no odds OF
these people. They are playing with dan
gerous element when they openly innovate
upon right sanctioned by timeand sanctltled
by the blood OF the people. They will have
enough to do in caring for themselves with
out troubling ME. DOM P1A1T.