Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-07-24
nas- Tur CoIoREp CELEBRATIoN AND

k6 HE COLORED CELEBRATIOS AND
RIor AT CHARLEsrowN.-The Fifteenth
Amendment Celebration of the colored
people, in Charlestown, on Thursday OF
last week, ended in riot, We regret to
learn. Rev. Mr.. Carey was invited
there to speak, and of course he should
have been protected; but we presume
all was done for his protection that could
have been done, under the circumstances.
the Spirit contains the following &C
count of the proceedings
The Fifteenth Amendment Celebration
of the colored people, in Charlestown, on
Thursday last, was during the first part
an orderly affair, but wound up, we re
gret to say, in n riot. A procession OF
culored Orders was formed in the fore
noon, headed by TOliver's Band of Shep-
herdstown, and after parading through
the principal streets, moved out 10 the
Herbert woods, where portion OF the
day was spent. The procession returned
to town in the afternoon, and speaking be-
gan at the Court House. After several
speakers had taken the stand and given
vent TO violent Republican harangues, to
which good many of our white people
listened without interrupting them, the
Rev. Jas. III. Carey, of Shepherdstown,
the colored Democrat who spoke here
few nights ago, was invited by the eoler-
ed officials to take the stand. His appear
ance ut once brought forth numerous
threatening expressions from various
- . Ia viii
we're as quickly suppressed by our etfi-
Gent town Sergeant and Policeman. At
length an encounter took place between
two men in the Courthouse yard, when
Policeman Hough arrested one of the par
ties. He was Immediately assailed by a
large body of negroes, who attempted the
release of the prisoner. Mr.. Hough, how
ever, although in an extremely perilous
position for time, held on to his prison
err. Mayor Slifer and Sergeant Simpson
were also quickly present, and bravely
faced the now bowling mob, Other white
citizens land with them visitor to our
town, a gallant citizen of Ohio, MIR. John
III. Dugan, of Toledo, agent for the Suth-
erland Falls and Rutland Marble Comps
nies) quickly came to the aid of our Off
GERS. Notwithstanding they were forced
by the mob, in its efforts TO release the
prisoner, for the distance of nearly a
block down Main street, the officers and
their assistants prominent among them
Lieut.. Z. 5. Avis, who recently graduated
at West Point maintained possession OF
their prisoner, and lodged him safely in
the lookup. Several other arrests were
made and fines imposed by the Mayor,
and the affair finally quoted. Much is
due to the GOODNESS and efficiency OF our
corporate officers that the result was not
much more serious than has been the
case, and we hope will not occur again.
Our coored people enjoy the free and UNI
trammeled right of suffrage, and are per-
mitted to have their celebrations unmo-
Tested. Whilst they have these privi-
leges they must also remember that they,
as well as the white citizens, are amena-
BILE to the law, and must answer its be-
hests. The same law that protects the
colored Republican, and gives him the
free right of thought and action, will as
surely and unreservedly protect Mr.. Ca
rev as a Democrat in the same rights ,and
ali their efforts to make it otherwise Will
prove futile. Moreover, if these gather
ings are to be annually made the occasion
of riotous and unlawful conduct, as was
the case on Thursday last, the law-aDid-
Ing citizens OF llliTlcslOMu Will NC
tempted to take such action as will pre-
vent the future recurrence of such pa
rades. In New York City and elsewhere
the parades Of the Orangemen have been
at times prohibited to prevent riots, and
the same can be done here, If necessary.
Our people do not wish TO take such ac-
tion, but we give our colOred people the
friendly warning that much will depend
on their own good behavior that it is not
done. In closing this paragraph we must
not forget to give proper credit where 1t
is due, and feel disposed to say that many
of the colored people present on Thurs
day took no active part whatever in the
unlawful acts committed. The prompt
assistance of such, however, to the officers
of the law, would have done much to-
wards Immediately quoting the tumult.
Their non action in this direction may
have been i'm a measure the result OF ig-
norance on their part, and we therefore
say to them that ever citizen, whether
white or black, is liable to be called upon
by an officer to assist in making an arrest,
and that it is his bounden duty as law
abiding citizen to obey-the law inflicting
a penalty if he does not do so. This, we
hope, our colored people will remember.
Jim Strain, the first negro man arrest
ed OH Thursday, was on Friday committed
to iail by Justice Flagg, to await the ac-
ton of the next grand jury, and Mason
Pendleton was held to bail for his appear
oncp before the same body.