Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-04-04

OAAo. VI. DROWN, SeCT.
The Case Of the Governor Of Vir-
ginia and the EmpOria Lynching.
We published in the COURIER last
week full account of the disgrace
ful conduct of the mob at Emporia.
There is not one, single pAlliating
circumstance in connection with the
entire matter. On all hands il is
conceded that the whole county of
Greensville from it's timid county
Judge aud Its drunken sheriff down
TO the lowest vsgsbond In its borders
is without excuse. Its relapse into
barbsrism apparently will not ruffi-
Greensvllle, but unfortunately the
State at large will suffer, aud the
fair escutcheon of Virginia is tar
nished. When such things happen,
people always ask, "Who is to blame
for this:" 10 searching for some one
as "scapegoat" certain newspapers
land by the way some of those that
continuously attack yellow journal
ism are conspicuous) with the aid of
the Cup to date" emotional, so called
preachers of the gospel, have fixed
upon Gov. Tyler. Dou btless the
high position he occupies and the
consequent notoriety following the
attacks upon him made him an easy
mark for such sensationslists. At
first, without full knowledge of the
facts, some may have felt disposed to
blame the Governor, but Virginians
are as a rule fond of fair play and do
not condemn a man unheard. Gov.
Tyler was elected to his position by
large majority vote of the people. He
possesses their confidence. They
know him to be thoroughly honor
able man. They believe be has al
ways acted In the interests of the
State. When be speaks they believe
him. He has given his side of the
case and his position is unassailable. |
The principle charge against him is
that be failed to declare martial law
In Greensville county, withdrew the
soldiers and then allowed the mob 10
nang Cotton and O'Grady. If the
facts supported this charge then the
Governor was guilty of grave crime.
But do they support it? Unques-
tionably they do not; on the contrary
they show that the Governor would |
have violated all the laws of Virginia,
should be have listened to the com
mandant Of the troops and disregard
ed the action of the civil authorities.
would have resulted In Vir-
glnia. Let us see what the conse-
quences would have been. The troous
are at EmpOria, sent there by the
Governor, promptly, on the demand
OF the civil authorities 10 pursuance
Of the law in such case made and
provided. The cOun.y Judge and the
sheriff, after full conference with
the leading citizeus, determined that
the machinery of the civil law is suf.
hcient to quell the threatened disor-
der, and direct the withdrawal of the
troops. In other words the same au-
thority, which called and could alone
;all for the assistance of the military.
declared that the danger was over
Ind that the soldiers were no longer
Needed. The sequel shows they were
mistaken. The Governor, however.
could not without violation of his
oath supersede their action. The law
'ests IN the local authority-the full
power for the conservation of the
'esce of the community, and there is
zone in the Governor until that pow
is exhausted. Had he nsurped bis :
then the Greensville mob G
you'd have been justified in attack
ng these soldiers and driving them 4
rom GreensSille county because they =
ere then there unlawfully. They i
ould have been invaders of Greens. v
lie county just as much as Yankee d
'ldiers were during the war. Now, C
under these circumstances Virgin. S