The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-11-15
How it Was Done.

:, If one of Pinkerton'S detectives were
put on the track, it is possible he might
find outsmore about.the Danville circular
than the countrygis.aware of.sEWe think
itluite likely il the matter was probed it
would be learned hthat it was prepared
at least month before it was circulated
among the rank and file. 1t looks like it
had been placed in the hands of the cap
tains of tens, with orders to hold until Il
few days before the election, and then to
flush it out, so as to leave no time for
reaction. Certain it isIthat a month be-
fore the election things were reported very
gloomy about Democratic headquarters
at Alexandria. But all of sudden a
change took place and the claim was con-
fidently put up. that the Democrats would
have two-thirds i'll the. Legislature, and as
consequence, impeach the Governor.
This change was-s sudden that it could
not at the time be accounted for. All that
could be learned was that something was
.going on''-some fresh and startling dis
covery had been made. the effect of which
would be to electrify the people. and cause
stampede of the white voters from the
Coalition ranks. Cotemp0raneOus with
this reported change, was the new depart
ure in the policy of some of the Democrat
ic papers Of the, Valley and the Southwest.
which had been extremely conservative
and were directing their. efforts to divide
the colored. vote land win back the Demo
cratic Readjusters. Instead of appeals for
ion-arguments to induce Read
| busters to return to the Democratic fold
and the negroes to put their trust in DEM
ocratic prOmiseS,a move was made to force
the race issue and inhame the prejudices
of the people. = The horrors of negro rule
were preached to communities which had
no apprehension of any such calamity.
| The vicious sheep were proclaimed as
about to deyour. the innocent wolves. The
women and children were stirred into a
panic for their own security. In one To-
cality, in neighboring county, a promi-
nent attorney was seen wipingi the croco-
die tears from his eyes, and in the pres
ence of mother and offspring sbemoaning
| the fate of the little innocents who were
destined for mixed schools!
These preliminaries prepared the public
mind for what. was to follow in the, order
! of arrangement In this feverish excite
ment the circular was sprecipitated upon
the public by the. captains. of tens-the
press took it up and blazoned the falsehood
in startling, head-l lines and .intlammatory
exclamation points. There was but little
time to counteract the effect; and before
the efforts put forth to do it could work
out the result, the massacre took place,
and with lightning speed the news was sent
broadcast over the State, under the imposing
caption of Negro Riot in Danville. =
Where the telegraph did not reach carriers
were brought into requisition, and riding
night and day .Ecirculated the extras" in
the remotest. .parts..of. the most inaccessible
counties of the.State. In this way was
the Danville plot made 4 success, and
Bourbon triumph achieved against the
reason and interest Of the people of the
State.
To one who willsstudy all the circum-
stances of the case and the incidents at
tending the development of the plot, it
has all the appearance of well considered
and premeditated scheme. Not that the
butchery of the negroes ut Danville was
on the programme. hut the sensational
circular was to do its work, let the conse-
quences be what they might.
The Officers to be Elected by the
Legislature.
The General Assembly which meets in
December will elect successors to the fol-
lowing State officers: S. Brown Allen,
Auditor of Public Accounts II. II. Dy-
son, Second Auditor VIM. G. Ella m, Sec
Rotary of the Commonwealth David r.
Reveley, Treasurer j. M. Broken
brough, Register of the Land Office, and
Eec odtcio Superintendent of Public Build
ings; Samuel G. Williams, Superinten-
! dent of the Penitentiary land Richard F..
| Walker, Superintendent of Public Print
ing. Numerous judges will also be elected.
The Richmond State announces that if
there is not two-thirds Democratic ma
jority on joint ballot. it will be made, as
the Democrats have the poacer and intend
to use it.
In the event of two-thirds being made
there will doubtless be changes in all of
heAsylum and State Institution Boards.
and new officers elected therefor.
The State also announces that the Gov
ernor will have to be very circumspect in
his behavior, if he would escape impeach
ment.
All the victorious party want is rope
enough and they will hang themselves.
We hope they will have the necessary
two-thirds, so that the responsibility for
i all legislation will rest with them.