The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-21
Another Danville investigation.


Another Danville Investigation.
The recent investigation made by a CON-
m,ttee Of the United States Senate into the
cause Of the riot In Danville last Novem-
her resulted so unsatisfactory for the enc
mics Of The South that the Mahoneites seem
20 have made up their minds to have IL all
over again. The facts Of the present case
were published by us yesterday. The
partics charged with attacking the negro
ADAMS were bound over in the sum OF
TWENTY-FIVE dollars each by the very mayor
who calls for troops. The town sergeant
testities that there is no reason Whatever
for fearing disturbance in Danville on
election day. The citizens OF that town
all concur In the same opinion. excepting
10 NAV be Mayor JOHNSTON and his few
white followers and their negro allies,
though we do not know that many even OF
these are disposed 10 justify JoHNsToS's
unwarranted act. JOHNSTON, il is evident,
took this step in order to consolidate the
negro vote IN a town in which the negroes
are in majority. 1t would be Just retrl-
bution II the result were the consolidation
Of the entire white vote and his igno-
minious defeat.
There are no more quiet and peaccable
people in the world than those OF Virginia.
There is no other State in the Union where
the negroes are more kindly and Justly
treated than they are in Virginia. There
Is no town in Virginia where the negroes
are better cared for than in Danville. 1t Is
pity, especially for them, that they ever
nut such men as JOHNSTON forward as their
leaders.
In order 10 let our readers understand
the merits OF this new Danyille case, and
because the Mahoneites have attempted to
make party capital out Of it, we reproduce
our Danville correspondents account OF
ii. He is truthful man, whose statements
may be accepted without question. Read
now what he, citizen OF Danville fully
acquainted with all the facts, says:
saturday evening Adams. who was ringleader
I'm bringing about the riot OF November 3d,ap-
pesred on the STREETS armed, ard was reported 70
have made threats. He came into town again 'hls
morning armed, and difficulty having arisen pc
he Sac'o,ies Adams was shocked down and Sc
yerely injured The cl,izens appeared peiore ne
Mayor and were admitted TO bail on their own
bond in SIS each TO appear in court of the 26th
instant. A thirty-eght-caiibre smith q Wesson
revolver and a belt of cartridges was found on
kdams's person Adams was one of the witnesses
before Senator ShcrmAn's investigating commit
"He is known here as most turbulent fellow.
He he's been engaged In one or two ATTEMPTS
against Democratic negroes: ana IL was ne thHt
ran across the street while Noel was engaged win
Hense Lawson on the Sd OF November, and threw
George Lea down and attempted to take his pistol
from him."
Now read again the certificate OF the
Town Sergeant, Mr.. JAMES WOOD. We
quote it.:
"DANvILLE, VA, May TO- 1854.
"His Rrceelency Gorernor ". E. Cameron:
"Sir.-I have reas n TO believe that application
has been made TO you for State troops 10 preserve
the peace in Danvile on the 22d instant. the Gay
OF election. desire TO say that | mlhyIe daiiy
with all classes OF people, and feel that II Is
simply nv duIy 10 say TO you that believe that
the pproach1g ell lection will pass of quietly and
peceaby, and 10 Is only necessary for me ciVli
authorities here 20 be prudent and watchiul; that
they are fully able 10 suppress any disturbance
that bad men might inst cate. feel ina, II IS dos
place myself ON record officially as being unwill-
Ing to admit that the civil authorities cannot pre-
serve the peace. JAMES "OoD'
That is the whole story. Do not over
look the fact that Mayor JOHNSTON himself
bailed the men he charges with so great
crime, and bailed them in the sum OF S2j
each Isn't that fact a complete refutation
of the charges against his own fellow-citi-
zens contained ia his appeal to Governor
CAMERON?
But all this is natural result OF the
doings Of the SHERMAN investigating COM
mittee. The parade made over this ADAMS
and other negroes; the taking them to
Washington and listening to their idle
stories; the money they received for their
services in this MATERIAL the circum-
stances were such as TO mislead the silly
negroes not only OF Danville, but Of all
Virginia and all the South, and make them
believe that UNCLE SAM kept watch and
ward over them and their interests. No
doubt ADAMS expected and expects to be
again taken to Washington and again paid
as much for weeks services as witness
as he could earn at home by honest labor
in q month.
Why does not the House OF Represents
tiyes order an investigation, and let the
ignorant negroes see that one house OF
Congress is in the hands OF men who have
some regard for the rights OF white men,
and who will believe respectable white
man in preference to an ignorant, preiu-
diced, bigoted, superstitious negro? 1t is
time that this work Of teaching the blacks
that their employers are their worst enc
mics had come to an end.
And yet there are Democratic papers in
Virginia which even to-day seem to regard
the tariff question as the one upon which
the voters ought to be divided In the next
presidential election.
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A Question Answered.