Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-22
The noxarnor and Roanoke.


Governor Is absent from the State the
IAcutcnant~Governor becomes Governor
,n his stead: but II Is not so In Virginia.
The Lieutenant Governor becomes Cover
nor here only in the event of the "Govern'
oTs death failure TO qualify, resignation
removal from the State, or inability TO
discharge the powers and duties OF
the ofice' and then "the office with Its
COMPENSATION" devolyes upon the Lieuten-
Rnt-GOYernor.
II may be that had there been urgent need
Lieutenant Governor Tyler might haVe
,,ctcd In the matter of the Roanoke =iot'
and been sustained 10y the courts. but
orr constitution would be all the better
suited 10 the times In which we live, II
II contained a provision which would al
low Of temporary absences OF the Gov
crnor from the State. and for the Lieu
tonaut-Govcrnor 10 act in his stead IN
emergencies at least.
The question, however. is not without
difficulty. Some years ago In western
State, which by a provision in its constl-
tuition authorizes the LieuteLant-GoVer-
nor 10 act In the absence Of the Governor
The former person. the Governor pro
temporr. undertook 20 pardon various
criminals and to do many other executive
nets. IN which he was not sustained by
public opinion, no matter what was the
decision Of the courts as 20 his rights and
privileges with reference thereto.
Ia this particular case we do not see
that tn, Governor could have been of any
service had ne been in Richmond. The
military were properly called out to sus'
tain the civil authorities at Roanoke. ana
were acting under the orders OF the
Mayor. The Governor, of course, would
have been powerless to avert the shoot
ing which was the Outgrowth OF the MOB
attack upon the jail. II happens rather
singularly that the most calamitous riot
that has happened in Virginia in the mem
CRY 81 men now living should have hap
pcned Just when Governor Mchinney-
who is the greatest home-staying Gov
.rnor We ever had-was absent from the
state Several times he has been to
Washington on business, but then he was
always within step, as 1t were. OF HE
state line. In the early part OF his ad'
ministration for about "A week he was ir
New Orleans, and on another occasion M
sr.-ut a night over the border, in Tennes
sea These are all of his absences We re-
,nenber, We fear this experience Will dis'
incline Governor McKinn " more than ever
IN make excursions beyond the limits OF
Virginia between now and January ], 1871
when his term OF office expires.
Intn there has been a thorough sitting
80 the facts by an official investigation
held by competent tribunal after Inc
feyer-heat that now possesses the people
Of Roanoke has passed away, 1t VIII not
DO easy 10 determine the rights ana
wrongs Of the shooting. Very often, now
ever. one hears intelligent men here say
With reference TO the firing upon the CHI
Yens by the soldiers, that 1t Is pity the>
did not deliver "a volley OF blank cartridges
before they rcsorted TO bullets" But sol
diers do not usually await an attack
with empty guns; they would MAKE
themselves ridiculous by so doing. To b'
sure. they might have fired their bullets
over the heads OF the crowd-and nc
doubt they wish now that they had don't
ao-but excitement ruled the hour. anC
when orders 20 fire were given they wer'
literally obeyed.
The contention and defence OF the mill
tary Is that they were fired upon befor'
they answered with that fatal volley o.
uusketry which killed nine and wounded
nearly "A score OF other persons. But th'
fact remains that the shooting of the cit
izens is regarded as unjustifiable by th'
populace Of Roanoke. for on yesterda,
after securing and hanging the Negro
who was the prime cause of all the uou
BILE, they would have laid violent hands
upon the Mayor and the captain OF TIT
military company. could they have foun'
them. Had they succeeded Roanoke
Gun OF misfortune would not only hav
been full. but overfowing.
The past two days will be long remem
bered In that city as days Of terror. neve
To be- recalled without shudder. Ma!
they not have other such days And ma
they not undertake 10 pass hasty Judg
mont on their Mayor or on the captain o
tho military company. Let reason nov
resume her sway. and peace enfold tn
community in its embrace.