National Republican., 1883-11-14


at was deliberately planned cold -blooded
murder" said an officer of the government to
the Avenue Man yesterday, speaking f'the
affair at Danville. "The New York Tribune
alluded to 1t as riot, but it was not. lIr a
riot there must be two opposing factions, each
striving to overcome the other. At Danville,
it was simply party of white men, fully
armed, shooting down defenseless and un!
armed negroes. 1t was the same game that
have seen played in Memphis, in Vicksburg
in New Orleans--in fact, IN every southern
state--and the slaughter of these negroes was
nothing but premeditated murder" -
"When did you leave Danville?"
"Last Thursday night, and young men
were patroling the streets with loaded mus
kets to give the impression that there was
danger of an uprising of the negroes"
as there any such danger"
"No indeed. There isn't a negro to be seen
unless few may be found skulking around
on the outskirts of tho place. Those who
could get away on the cars have gone, and
others have taken to the woods. There is no
possibility of any disturbance by the negroes,
and never was"
w.
The late Matt Head, whose death was an
nounced in yesterdays REPUBLICAN,, was ad-
jutant general Of the state of New Hamp-
shire for many years during and subsequent
to the late war. Was state senator in 1876
and 1877, and president of that body. The
first time he was run for state senator he was
counted out by the democratic governor and
council on technicality but was elected the
next year by an overwhelming majority. The
state had been carried the year previous ASA
by the democrats, and the contest of 1877
was exceedingly close. The republicans had
elected majority of the lower branch of the
legislature, five of the twelve senators. will
no choice by the people in two districts, anc
no election of governor by the people. The
election of the governor and the filling O.
the senatorial vacancies devolved upor
the legislature in joint convention
Upon joint ballot tho republicans ha6
q small majority, and had they beer
permitted to proceed would have regainet
complete control of the state government
In this emergency tho democratic leader
conceived the idea of stealing tho senate" a
il was called. Matt Head had been christeneC
Nathaniel but had always signed his name a
Matt Head, been known as Matt Head, ant
voted for as Matt Head. There was a statute
which provided that tho ballots should con
tain tho full christian and surname c
the candidate voted for and al
ballots not so printed should b
treated as blanks and not counted. Their
wero enough scattering votes to defeat
choice by the people, and the governor an'
counoil. under this statute, proceeded
throw out some 1000 or 5000 votes cast ft
Matt Head and give the certificate TO h
democratic competitor James Priest L
mako things doubly sure, they threw out th
, scattering votes in another district wbel
there was no choice by the people, oh th
ground that the temperance candidate was II
eligible, not having been resident of the stat
q sufficient length of time. This gave the
seven of tho twelve senators at the organic
tion Of the senate, aud as that body is Il
, final Judge of the election and returns of II
own members, o further contest would
useless. The question was carried to u
supreme court, which had been reorganizt
the year previous by the democrats, and
majority of tho judges selected from tn
party. Pending the decision of the cou
there were two senates existing in the sta
t house, and the contest at one time SCENE
s likely to provoke strife. Cooler counse
4 prevailed, and when the court ga
its opinion, in answer to q
y call of the house of representatives that,
s could givo no opinion upon question alrea'
If settled by the governor and council, the !
d publicans took their appeal to the people, Al