The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-13

others. OF Lancaster county, praying
Executive interference for protection oi
their oystermen from marauding vessels.
| The Governor some days ago. upon re-
oeipt Of the information, asked the opinion
OF the Attorney General in the premises.
The Attorney General recommended that
the matter be brought to the attention OF
the General Assembly. That course the
Governor pursued.
The following letter is in the batch, and
as II Is OF latest date and fairly covers the
whole subject, il is given in preference to
more voluminous documents:
LANCASTER COURTHOUSE,
January Z, 1880.
DR.. Charles Pits. House Of Delegates
Dear Sir,--On the 30th Of December me-
moral signed by the county officers and
numerous citizens Of this county was sent
| to Governor Holiday reciting that the act
Of Assembly approved April Is, 1879, CON-
monty known as ",he oyster law" was
being daily violated by non-residents OF the
State by dredging; not only this. but the
crews OF the vessels engaged in this high
handed violation OF law daily fired upon
citizens OF this county when they attempt
ed to catch OVSterS toith t0ngS, rs they have
the perfect right 10 do under the law. This
communication, as | have said above, was
mailed 10 the Governor OF Virginia on the
30th OF last month. TO this communica-
tion there has been no response.
On Yesterday, have learned to-day, two
citizens OF this county were fired upon aud
killed by the crew OF one OF these vessels,
manned by nOn-reSidentS and engaged in
dredging in the Rdppdhannock ricer-two
separate and distinct violations OF the act
referred to, as you can see by referring to 1t,
and TO these there is added in their killing
these two men the crime OF murder. will
here add, parenthetically, that gentleman
of the first pectabihty-a son OF Major
Charles Lawson, deceased-only escaped
the same fate by shetering himself behind
a tree. into which as many as seven balls
were fired.
These desperadoeS could be very easily
disposed Of, could the proper authorities
once get hold OF them; but our people are
without arms sufficient to cope with them,
they being armed with the best long range
rifles.
1t seems TO me to be a case for the inter-
ference of the Executive power OF the State,
since grand iurieS and indictments Gd IN
fnittim would never avail to bring these
free-booters TO respect the laws aS long as
they are aboard their vessels in the Kappa
hammock river, with long-range rifles TO
protect themselves.
don't know that | should trouble you
with this communication at all. as 1t seems
TO be a case which demands Executive ln-
reference, but as our representative. Al
though there has been petition, signed by
our county officers and numerous citizens,
to the Governor for the exercise OF the
power invested in him by the Constitution,
YOU may be enabled TO effect what such a
petition could not.
l make a suggestion as TO what seems to
be essential and needed: \ vessel with 100
stand of arms-gOod long-range rifles
would enable the people to protect them
selves. III they had the arms they could
get the vessel, think.
Very respectfully,
WALTER X. GRESHAM.
Mr.. Pitts moved that the communication
be referred 10 the Committee on the Chesa-
peake and It's Tributaries.
The Speaker SAID that 1t would under the
rules 90 to the Committee on Militia and
Police.
Mr.. Pitts said: every WELL"
Mr. Cbamberlsyne moved to add "AIso,
that the Governor be requested at once to
take such action in the premises as he shall
consider proper, telegraphing to points near
the scene OF the violence in question orders
to militia companies or armOfies to dispatch |
promptly such guns, muskels, and ammu- |
milton as he Uhe GOyernor) may now con- |
slider necessary, or may consider necessary, |
before the Committee on Militia and Police |
shall have time to act in the premises"
All the papers went TO the committee.
Mr.. wIcKHAM's SPEECH YESTERDAY.
VootopdnC tho unuca bavino, undo, ~o.D
sderation the election OF a Judge for Han
over county, Mr.. Wickbam said:
Mr.. Speaker rise to put in nomination |
for election as Judge Of Hanover county the
name OF the present incumbent. Judge s.
C.. Redd; and | do so not of course with |
any vain expectation OF his election, but |
simply that this side OF the house may have |
the opportunity OF paying deserved tri-
butte 10 the high character and spotless in
tegrity Of a just man and an upright Judge.
1t is, of course, useless TO refer to the
fact that he possesses the confidence OF his
entire people. Of all shades OF political
color; that he has the endorsation Of his
entire bar; that he is a trained and prao-
ticed lawyer, thoroughly qualified for the
position, and that il left TO the choice Of the
people OF Hanover be would be returned
Dy an overwhelming majority. These con-
,idefa,ions would be entirely out Of place
II the present moment.
We are told that gratitude for services
rendered the party requires the displace-
nent Of Judge Redd and the choice Of his
successor Gratitude has been defined as
lively sense OF fayors to come. | omit any
On the pr0pfiety Of making iu-
licial Office the reward of partisan services
erYiees in the past; but party gratitude,
meaning as ID does a lively sense OF fayors
0 come, partisan services in the future
Commands attention for moment.
I1ear | cannot recommend the gentleman
have the honor 10 nominate 10 the favora-
lie consideration OF the opposition as pos
essingtkese peculiar virtues. :
Nothing in his past conduct gives any !
Iarrant Ter the belief that he would ever
rostitute his Office TO political purposes; c
nd ! can confidently say that when be
,aveS the bench his erEine will be un- {;
aimed by any act unworthy OF a Judge, as d
was the day he assumed the robes as the
rst county Judge OF Hanover. And | can :,
lrther say that on that day the Office +
ught him, and not he the Office; and that
The expiration Of bis first term he was \
elected through no effort Of bis, for be has =,
ver condesceaded to engage in an un-
emily personal wrangle for his Office. n
And now that be has retired from the r
nch that he bias filed so acceptabiy, ] cal h,
sure the gentlemen OF the other side that
does so to receive the sympathy OF IA
ateful people, who reflect with him that in
The Judge resolved, aad steady to his trust, oil
9nfeIible 10 I'll and resonteli just, N.
Can the rude rabble's influence despse. a.,
4 70 40 INV w