Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-29
CUMBERLAND.
nemocrsuc Ignorant OHicers.
/ Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
AUgtrST ~. 1885.


Correspondence ofths Richmond Dispatch.
AUGUST -, 1885.
Last Monday was our regular court
day, and there was pretty large crowd
in attendance.
The Democrats held a meeting to
elect delegates TO convention to be
held at Buckingham Courthouse on the
second Monday in September to nomi-
nate the flOater candidate for the
Two counties. 4 meeting Of the
county committee was also held to ap-
point the district committees and or
game for The election in November.
All of these purposes were accom-
plished well and tremendously. Our
best working men were selected for
these important committees. A hope
ful, confident spirit peryadcd. All
seemed to realize the great importance
Of the coming contest, and all deter
mined to go to work in earnest.
Mr.. L. 7. HUBBARD, Of Richmond,
was present, and made a very long
speech to a very moderate crowd, COM
posed mainly Of negroes. The white
people paid very little attention to his
long harsngue, remembering that only
a few years ago he ranted just as loud
and Just as long on the other side. No
reply was made. it being thought best
not to have JOINT discussion, al
though We had champion equal to
any emergency in the person Of our
excellent fellow-citizen Samuel +.
Coleman, Esq.
Some i've or six weeks ago this
writer took occasion, in the columns of
the Dispatch, to call the attention Of
the public to the miserable character Of
our local government and of the igno-
rant and corrupt officials who partly
compose it. have reason to hope
that article is having a good effect in
moving our people to take action for
the purpose Of remedying this shame
ful condition of things. On Monday last
two Of these oilicials-one white and one
black magistrate-were arraigned before
the court the one for malleasance and
the other for misfeasancc in office. and
1t is to be hoped that others will in
due time find themselves travelling in
the same direction. And here |
viii take occasion to remind our peo-
pie that in taking action Of this kind it
Is a great deal better to move before
the Judge for a rule ito show cause,
&c"' than to 20 before the
grand jury for p"cscntmcnt.
In the first instance il becomes tie
province and duty Of the judge to de.
eide upon the question Of " guilty or
not guilty. whilst in the latter in
stance the question goe, before Jury,
from whom 1t is very difficult to get
verdict Of conviction. oar excellent
Judge, on the contrary, is fully alive to
the cXigcrcicS of the case, and will dis
charge his duty faithfully, without fear,
favor. or affection.
The truth is. that the Malone party
is made up mainly Of such ignorant
and incompetent material that 1t does
not contain enough competent men TO
hll the Offices. Why, competent men
in the Malone party here in my county
are So scarce that one Of these officials
has recently been discharging the duties
of six or seven different positions at
the same timO; and there is another
who al Che last election was elected
10th magistrate AMI supervisor,
whilst he WAS not fit for either
This is the kind Of government
that awaits the whole State. Should
the Malone party regain possession Of
the State every Office viii be vacated
where 1t Is possible, and reGlled by
corrupt and incompetent men. In yeri-
fcstion Of this opinion We have only to
look to the personal and public charac-
tors Of TIE leader, of this party. They
are all alikc-are all in pursuit ofplace
and power; are all trying to get Office
bv rcgro votes. The return Of this
party TO power at this time would
prove the greatest calamity that could
lcGll the State. SOUTu SIDE.