The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-11
orr ERsBURG.

PET EhooONN'
THE scuoor.poAnD TROUBLE; TIE Mo.L W..
,,v.- rn n,,ar THE OLD BOARD AND fuT
~ Wv ASA PROBABLE MURDER.
rCo,.o.,,-.a,,,ce of the Richmond Dispatch.I
''orreSp'n''"'' AUGUST 10, 1882.
Tho 'pesd,usters have added another
chan,or 20 he history OF occurrences IN
tbis NV and have batched plot by when
thev bope r. disoualify the members OF inc
nrcsont Scbool board and replace them
with faithful selections from their own
ranks THE Constitution requires that al
State officers shall take the oath OF once
before thew enter upon the discharge OF
their functions. They allege that the men,
hers ~ the present School Board have, IN.
diyidmaIly and collectively, failed TO meet
this requirement, and have not taken the
oath. lint the Rcadjusters have 70 prove
that tbe members OF the School Board arc
state officers. The Board Is elected by the
Common Council OF the city, ana disburses
CITY funds which are supplemented by state
They further allege that the members OF
the Board have failed TO take the antl-duel,
ling oath. But the members OF the Board
say that this objection is not well made tnat
the anti-duelling clause went into operation
after the majority OF the members OF tne
Board had been elected, and its clearly
prospective in its scope. The Readiusters,
however. are jubiIant. Out OF their mighty
wisdom they have evolved two technical
objections by which they hope to overthrow
the Funder Board.
The animus OF this move is not desire
on the part Of the Mahoneites to secure
conformity with constitutional and sta
tutory requirements. Every man OF ordi-
nary intelligence knows that underlying
all these legal quips and hair-splittings IS
the bright anticipation OF securing the solici
negro vote by "giving sop to Cenbcrus,"
and by turning out the Board to crafty
the malevoencc and partisanry OF certain
political agitators. This is the motive
which prompts these proceedings, and it
cannot be magnified into anything more
dignilicd or exalted.
The negroes must be kept in the Read
ulster ranks. They are not only its back
bone, but nearly the entire structure OF the
party Of brilliant barristcrs. The negroes
want colored teachers. The Board does
not see how 1t can properly turn out tried
and experienced teachers in order that
their places may be filled by colored teach
ers who have not yet demonstrated their
fitness for such positions. Mass-meetings
are held by the negroes: insulting resolu-
tions would have been adopted at the first
but for threatened free fight IL the meet
Ing had continued. Another mass-meet-
ing, at which resolutions less Objectionable
are passed. School Board denounced.
Then came the grand consultation be-
tween the chiefs of the clans. II the negroes
want or have the faIntest desire for negro
teachers. they must have them. That was
the decision reached after the great hob
nobbing Of the faithful. The eleyerest OF
the Rcadjustcrs put their heads together to
devise some means by which the present
efficient Board might he made a sacrifice to
luminosity OF the negroes. After much
mental toll and pain, much midnight oil
and consultation, the mountain has
brought forth its mouse; the Reddiust-
or flies on the aXlc-wheel congratulate
themselves ON the huge dust they are kick
inc up, though much OF their dust is but
mud for the enjoyment OF the dear col
orcd ally, and the Board is calmly waiting
for the upshot OF the whole matter, satisfied
that il has done its duty and is supported
by the intelligent people OF the city. This
is the Petersburg Had IN nutshell.
Cain Canton, Il negro living near Wel-
don, was run over 10y afrcight train on the
Raleigh and CASTOR railroad on Tuesday
night. His body was horribly mutihtcd.
Gentlemen from Weldon who are in the
city to-day say that there is strong sus-
piciOn that he was murdered, and his body
put upon the track to create the impression
that he had been accidentally killed. Near
the spot where his body was found the
ground bore traces Of a desperate combat
Ills coat. linen du>ter, and hat were found
very much torn, in separate places. and
some distance from the point at which he
was run over. Suspicion does not attach
to any particular persons, but the authori-
ties are on the lookout. ROBIN ADAII.