The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-10
PATRICK COUNTY.

LIVELY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. tAkE-CUTTfNG
AND FREE FIGHT-0NE KILLED AND SIZE
RAJ INJURED--THE LATE PUBLIC MEET.
INC DIVIDING THE OFFICES.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.I
PATRICK COURTHOUSE. Va.,1
january 7, 1884.
We have had quite an eventful Christmas
in this county. One man was killed, one
had his skull broken, and another was shot
and seriously wounded. The negroes had
q cake-cutting about ten miles south OF
this place. where, it seems, they bad gen.
eral fight. Several were badly wounded,
and Bob Tatum was shot and instantly
killed. A jury of inquest was held and
several arrests made, and one party was
ordered to Jail for further trial. Several
engaged in the row made their escape.
A few nights since several gentlemen OF
color proceeded by mutual agreement to
the eating-housc OF one Mr.. Garrett. OF
this place, for the purpose of "eating him
out" After enjoying themselves in a free
and-easy manner they blew out the lights.
and attempted to make their exit without
settling their bills. This the proprietor
did not relish. and a regular set.to oc-
CURED. Garrett came off victor-felled
one Harry McPeak, an eX-convict, with a
bedpost and broke his skull. and he is
thought to be MORALLY wounded. Several
OF the intruders were injured, and upon
being brought before Justices Bishop and
Powell were discharged.
| During the week past William Thomas
| (white) shot his cousin, William X. Thomas,
and seriously wounded him. This occur
red in the northern part Of this county.
The parties, it is said, were in drunken
frolic.
Thus the public officers will be remunc-
rated for all their Christmas Outlay-at the
expense OF the Commonwealth.
have not been informed OF all the petit
larcenes, such as stealing pigs. chickens,
&c.
We have heard OF a number Of real old
| fashioned eggnogs, and the fiddle and the
banjo have been kept in constant requisi-
| ton, Il the young folks with fantastic step
whiled away the merry hours. l will not
attempt 10 chronicle the number OF such
entertainments. as | am too old. II | felt
inclined, to participate in such dissipation
and amusements. ! dare say that the ma
irons and the older citizens OF our cOmmu.
nifty are satisfied il not reioiced that the
festivities Of the holidays are over.
AS faithful correspondent, | feel it my
duty to correct in part the published pro-
ceedings as reported i'm your paper OF the
9Th ultimo, purporting to be a meeting
held i'm this county at our November court.
1t Is true. ne stated, that such 4 meeting
was held, and that certain resolutions were
offered by Judge 5. G. Staples relating to
the call OF a constitutional convention, and
asking that our delegates in the Legisla-
ture be instructed to vote for the PROPOSE
ton rs mentioned in said resolutions. Ii
Is also true that the said resolutions
were advocated in lengthy speeches by
Judges staples and Lybrook; but it
is not correct that Colonel JEFF. Lawson
and Colonel 4. Staples made speeches in
opposition to the aforesaid resolutions.
Colonel Lawson was in favor OF several
changes in the present Constitution, and
did not express any opposition to Judge
Staples's resolutions. Colonel Staples was
anxious TO get rid OF the present odious
Constitution. under which the people OF
the State had lived under protest for the
last fifteen years. lie said he would like
especially TO change the mode OF voting,
and rid the country OF the unworthy and
incompetent officials that the Malone party
had placed in office; that he doubted The
propriety OF instructiDg representatives so
recently from the people; that he could
not see that any great emergency had
been sprung upon the country, max
ing such proc ceilings necessary; that
we should tread cautiously and act
prudeutly after having so recently passed
through such an exciting canvass. and that
after so great victory we should manifest
a commendable spirit OF Cancellation, and
that he would never consent to have con-
vention for the change OF the fundamental
laws OF great State, have even the appear
ance Of q political movement; that he
deprecated the agitation Of this question in
the midst OF great national canvass; that
he had the utermost confidence in our
legislators, and was willing TO trust to
their wisdom and prudence, without any
formal instruction.
1t is correct. as stated, that Mr.. John
Staples did oppose Judge Staples's resolu-
tioDs, and used almost identically the argyll
ments, as expressed in your editorial OF the
10th ultimo, that now was not the time to
discuss the question OF constitutional con-
vention: that he would like several
changes. but was not willing to subject the
State to the unnecessary expense when the
Legislature had the power to make the
changes. 1t is also incorrect, as stated,
that "the meeting was a very large one"
There was not, am sure. as many as two
hundred persons present at any one time
during the proceedings, and il Is not true
that "the resolutions were carried by
very large majority" | am sure that not
as many as fifty persons voted for or against
the resolutions, and the yeas and nays
seemed about equally divided. so nearly so
that il was thought best for harmony not
to call for q count. Well-iniormed gentle
men OF this county assure me that it is very
questionable as to how this county would
vote upon proposition at this time to call
a constitutional convention.
In your issue OF the 10Th ultimo, your
correspondent from the Ninth con-
gressional district uses pretty strong Ian
guage about the unequal distribution OF
the public offices by the present Legisla-
ture, and he makes it quite clear to my
mind that certain sections OF the State
have been neglected, and none more SO
than these mountain counties, where the
white population greatly preponderates.
| know not the cause OF the action OF
those in power. certainly do not think
that Halifax or Pittsylvania have any
right to complain; they have, as always
heretofore, been well provided for.
This end OF the Fifth district has never fed
much on public patronage, consequently
we do not feel much aggrieved. Franklin,
Henry. Patrick, Floyd, Carroll. and Gray
son asked, so far as / have been informed.
for the promotion of only one man, and
he from Grayson, and he was left out IN
the cold. Patrick is true to principle; she
expects none OF the spoils; she only de-
sires the honor OF retaining the enyiable
position of being the banner Democratic
county in the State. Our people are too
much reiolced at the near completion OF