The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-01-04
ADDRESS,
..t%.:.:a $tn3u-To-a orlS tot,I'e1T r
The People 0fWestWrgiilla
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ~" w. /
:I!Ee.WHEsL1No, Dec: 23, 1884. {

;GE9!wHEELISo, 'Deo:23, 1854.
Fol months. past bands 81 armed i1eH 1htnve
infested the State, stenltng,$ robbins and
numbering, and within -; short .ttneoiAeir
numbers and the frequency. Of their .outrages
havc alarmingly increased. Some. Of them
claim te be rebel soldiers; but whatever they
profess, they Mother. observe the rules Of
civilized warfare, nor regard the ciyilities pf
common thieves and robbers or the dccencies
of ordinary ndrdcfers. q They are OUTLAWS
having thrown themselves outside Of alli-alAs
or laws, military or civil, for The. government :
Of society. They rove about in gangs, taking
from the people, Mt their omessand ph :the
highways, horses, money, or other. valqHhlcs,
as they likc,-in many instance aMakipg men
from their sllmLers in fle dead hours Of
night and shooting them down ID cold blood,
in order TO plumber the =. more successfully.
They shoot and otherwise cruelty treat defesct'-
less women and children, in the ABSENCE Ct
their protectors. Phoy interrupt and ehdaDfer
asselnblagcs of people; met for the wtoshfp Of
God, by surrounding in armed force the places
Of worship, arrcsting the inmatos' and carry
ing off their property. =, They ahlpct' citizens
of our State who. are notin amy way. connect
ed with the military, and carry them into
cruel captivity. ''''.' ''"" - - T.
1t is evident that the presence Of these pro.
datory bands is known to the, disloyal Of, the
sections infested by:ihcm, when unknown 10
others md that these personsdo not disclose
their presence to those. Who would DO able TO
tl,wart.thcir dcvilish purposes, but on the con-
| trary give these outlaws food and conceal
mont with full knowledge Of. thcir purposes
and practices. i, -s J.&'&S3.H"G 49,.
=, On account Of the great numbers. of, these
banditti ond the fact that they always go
armed, it is impossible for The civil officers 70
arrest them or the civil Courts to punish them.
Indeed all tie prisons In the Stnte would hold
but o small part of,thcm., And yet the bands
are so smnll and operate with. such secrecy
and celebrity, that the regular military forces,
from the nature Of their Organization, nro
very unsuccessful in their efforts I'd capture
or rid the country Of them Nor :canAthe
troops Of the Unitod States now boo spared
from tho moro important work before them,
! III view of this anomalous and alarming
state of things, I earnestly recommend the
loyal people of tho Siatc 70 organize fhcnn-
solves into Companies Of such nHmbefs'as
| may be practicable and c1pcdicnt for tbopnr
pose Of hunting down and capturing orYEiH-
ing these outlaws wherever heS::mat lbe
found = executing summary justice. whore
found the act or where they cannot other
wise be en- ptured--and thus aiu the authorities
of the State in restoring and'prcscrVing peace,
order and security:.gha,,. s: y;yru. ~
Companies organized for this purpose, upon
proper application 20 ME, viii be furnished
with arms and ammunition. ''' 3'"'
" -21.H',. THe I'i"r2 A:I.2BoRENAT!o
[All papers in the State oopyon ,incS!;