The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-10-29
An Outrage in Halifax.

The following statement, taken from
the Wing of the 23d, is substantiated by Il
gentleman who conversed with Senator
Gaines. at Burkeyille, on the ed, "a meet
ing of citizens, irrespective OF party, was
held to express their Indignation at the
outrageous treatment received by Senator
Gaines at South Boston. This should not,
however, measure the expression OF the
disapproval of the people OF Virginia at
such conduct as that vouchcd for as hay-
ing occurred at South Boston towards a
gentleman of Senator Gaines high stand
ing, simply because he IS Republican.
There should be u deeper, broader, more
emphatic and penetrating condemnation
at the ballot box. Ii the rights and liberty
of the citizen are to be thus outraged
and the example pass without rebuke. then
there is no telling where it may end.
Every man, whether he be Democrat Oh
Republican, should feel it to be his duty to
speak out in condemnation and demon-l
strate to the world that free thought, free
speech and free action are yet enjoyed in
Virginia, and that party lines do not de-
signate the respect for law and individual
freedom among our people. 1t lisa serious
matter indeed, to menacea citizen in the
peaceful pursuit of his business, as Sena-
Gaines was, and when it is ayowedly done
in the interest of one Of the political par
ties, it becomes the duty of the conserva-
tive members of that party, as well as al
other men, to place upon it the stamp of
their reprobation, and no where else can
that be done so well as ut the ballot box.
The following is the article from the
Wing:
AN OUTRAGE IN HALIFAX.
We are informed that Hon. W. e..
Gaines, State Senator from Nottoway,
was the subject of a gross outrage last
Tuesday night at South Boston, in Hall
fax county. Asrelated to us, the facts are
as follows
Mr. Gaines had gone to South Boston to
confer with the Republican leaders OF Hal
flax. He put up al Garland's Hotel, and
| went in the evening with the proprietor to
| a bourbon meeting then in progress.
While there, engaged in conversation with
Mr.. Darlington, Mayor of the town, Mi.
Noblin, Bourbon candidate for the Legis-
lature, State Senator Edmunds and others,
he was approached by man named Love-
| lace, who asked for Il few moments pri-
vate conversation with him. Mr.. Gaines
went with Lovelace (who was accom-
panied by Mr.. Terry, President of a
Bourbon Club. and Terry's sony to house
near by, where, as the four entered a room,
Lovelace locked the door and put the key
in his pocket.
Then, in threatening manner, it was
demanded of Mr.. Gaines that he should
diyulge the purpose of his visit, which he
declined to do. He was then told that it
was reported that be was there to make a
Republican speech, and that they had de.
termined that no Republican should speak
there that even Wise himself, if be
should attempt it, would be seized and
thrown into the river. The Senator in
| formed them that he had come on peace
| full and lawful errand, unprepared fol
! fighting and wholly without any intention
| OF making speech
| They again demanded to know his er.
rand, and again he firmly refused to tel
| them. After some further talk. he was
| released and allowed to return to the hotel
! Later, stepping out of the hotel, he was
met by the same men, who for the third
time demanded to know his business there
| OUe OIL IHe parry cudISeu lild1 Hc Was eAeIs
to confer with Dr. Gray about the canvass
and warned him that if he met Gray il
the county it would be at the risk of his
personal safety. At this juncture, how
ever, the bolel-keeper, accompanied by
two commercial travellers from Kentucky
came up and rescued Mr.. Gaines from thu
party.
Later, some Of the Bourbons of the place
visited Mr.. Gaines and urged him to re
main until the next day, when they said
an indignation meeting' would be hele
to denonnce the treatment he had re-
ceived but he declined this delayed grace
when the outrage upon him had beer =,
practically perpetrated in the presence OF
the whole town and its authorities;
South Boston was the scene Of Bourbon
outrages in 1888, and in 1884 Republican
speakers were threatened and assaulted
there. Let us hope that on the Sd Of No
vember the people of Virginia will ex.
press their indignation in way that vii
effectually end these disgraceful Bourbof
scenes forever in this Commonwealth.
|