Chap. 22.—JOINT RESOLUTION requesting the President of the United
States to employ forces of the United States to assist the civil officers of
this Commonwealth in enforcing the legal writs of the civil courts in
certain counties.

Agreed to March 25, 1870.

The committee on resolutions, to whom were referred the
governor’s message of the date of twenty-fourth March, in-
stant, on the subject of the late interference of the com-
manding general of the United States land forces for the
department of Virginia in the municipal affairs of Richmond
city, and of the resistance to thé enforcement of legal process
in Norfolk county, Elizabeth City county, and York county,
have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report
that they have no doubt the resistance made and threatened
by the colored people in the cases mentioned in the said mes-
sage, originates in the ignorance and misconception of their
rights by those people. Having been placed in possession of
the lands, which are the subjects of controversy, by the fede-
ral military authorities, and having been so long accustomed
to military rule alone, they will not now recognize the civil
authorities as rightful. But the committee have such infor-
mation as induces them to believe that, while any attempts to
enforce process by the use of state forces would be resisted
and lead to bloodshed, a very small force of the United States
troops placed at the disposal of the officers of the law will
enable them without difficulty to perform their duty in the
premises. The committee therefore recommend the passage
of the following preamble and resolution:

Whereas it appears that, in the counties of Norfolk, Eliza-
beth City, and York, certain persons have combined to obstruct
by force the due execution of the laws by legal process; and
whereas it is believed that the use of the state forces for the
purpose of enforcing legal process in-said counties would
probably lead to bloodshed ;

And whereas the general assembly is informed that the per-
sons s0 combined to obstruct the laws, claim that they were
placed in possession of certain lands, the subjects of contro-
versy, by the military forces, of the United States, and that
they will only sugrender these lands to the military authorities
of the United States; therefore, to the end that the laws
may be faithfully executed in the said counties, and at the
same time bloodshed averted,
Be it resolved by the general assembly, That the president
of the United States be and he is hereby requested to employ
such part of the land forces of the United States as shall be
judged necessary to assist the civil officers in enforcing the
legal writs of the civil courts, and in the due execution of the
laws in the said counties of Norfolk, Elizabeth City, and
York; and the governor of this commonwealth shall com-
municate this resolution forthwith to the president of the
United States. |