Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-10-13
JUDGE LEWIS SENT FOR TROOPS.

JUDGE LEWIS SENT FOR TROOPS.
There are many who wonder where
J udge Lewis was during the war. Hell
was. we are told, old enough to go into
the Confederate army. and failing to
enlist must have either gone North or
gotten into some "boom proof" depart
ment. We cannot enlighten them as
to that period of the Judges life. but
there are other PERIODS where bis pres
ence was felt, and when he made him.
self prominent in public affairs La 1876
there WAS presidential election. Mr..
Hayes was the candidate of the Repub
lican party, and Mr.. Tilden of the
Democratic party. There had been a
great panic in 1873. times were never
worse, the country was full of starving
people, strikes had occurred in many
places; in Pittsburg miles of cars Of
the PENIS vlvania Ry. had been burned
by mobs, andthe country was In an
uprOar, such as never before nor since
was seen. So dissatisfied were the
people that it looked as if Tilden would
certainly be elected. The Republicans
were aroused: they regarded the gov
ernment as their 3 and were determined
not to surrender it, and for this reason
were taking extraordinary measures
to hold on to it, This was so essential
to them that it was thought there
might be civil strife. The Republicans
could not turn the books over to the
Democrats, the ''Star Route frauds"
the Credit Mobllier." and many other
gigantic steals had beef perpetrated,
and had the government been surren.
dered then it is certain that a large
contingent of those who had had charge
of affairs would have landed in the
penitentiary. In order to hold on, it
was determined to do many things to
defeat Tilden, and especially in the
South was there to be riding over of
the people because they had not the
power to resist.
Virginia was to have her share Of
the modes adopted. A pretext was
sought for to send troops into the State,
but so quiet were our people and so
orderly. that the game almost failed.
But with the affidavlts of ignorant and
vicious negroes aided by some white
people, the thing was accomplished and
troops were sent to Petersburg. They
arrived there on Nov. 4, 1876. the ele c.
tiOn was to take place ON the 7th, and
more than any other man in the State,
Yankee Allen and James D. Brady
not excepted, was Judge l.. l.. Lewis
responsible for this outrage. Read
the following affidavit which appear ed
in the Richmond Times. Dispatch OF
Oct. I'd, rs d part Ut d long article set
ting forth the whole history of the affair
and then say whether Judge Lewis is
the man for Governor:
II am from my knowledge of that
(the last State electiOn) and other cleo
lions held in Peters burg, prepared to
say that unless the marshal is furnished
with better and more reliable posse
than he will be able to summons to bis
aid from residents of the city, the cleo
ton OIL the 18th of November in that
city will be farce as gigantic as it will
be fraudulent. | ALI not now prepared
to express the OplOnion that the pres
ence of troops to act as the marshal y
posse will be essential to the preserva
tion of order and to insure fair cleo
ton at other points in the Eastern Dis
trict of Virginia, but of the necessity
of their presence to prevent blOOdshed
and SECURE A FAIR ELECTION
In PETERSBURG, leaps ours), l
think there cannot be u shadow OF
doubt. See Congressional Record,
Forty fourth Congress, second session,
p. 653.
Elk Gov. VIM. E. Cameron was then
mayor of Petersburg, and here Is what
he said in notifying the then Gov.
Kemper of the appearance of these
troops:
Petersburg. Va, Nov. A, 1876.
Gov. James l.. Kemper:
A company of artillery from Fort
FOOte arrive this P. NJ, and is station
ed at the CustomhOuse. They will re-
main until after the election. They
come in answer to the call of United
States Marshal Ramsdell, who is also
chairman of the State Republican
| Committee. There has not been even
a case of assault and battery in this
city for weeks, and there is no earthly
shadow of Justification for the presence
of troops. 1 was preparing a report to
you when your message arrived, and
will send full information by mail.
Respectfully,
VIM. E. CAMERON, Mayor.