The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-02-27
From the Wilmington Journal

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.Outrages in the Coustry.
The recent editorial in the Journal
ON the scoundrels styling themselves
.Regulators," has been well received
by all except these desperadoes, but it
should have been written still longer.
This band who have been committing
such outrages in neighboring counties,
and apparently with IMMUNITY, are now
invading New Hanover, committing all
manner of depredations upon the freed
men, stealing their mules, money, &C.,
and exciting terror wherever they go.
No greater blow could be struck at the
labor system than this, no worse steps
could be taken to injure the value OF
property, no more effective means could
be adopted for demoralizing and under
mining society, and for running the pro-
perty of our people, than the system
now inaugurated by these midnight
robbers and Williams. 1t is believed that
their field of operations extends from
Newbern to Wilmington, and will in
crease, and that some of the lowest scum
of society in all these counties are join
ing the band. They are actuated by
the vilest motives, the worst passions
of the human heart. The contest is
now going on whether the civil law is
adequate to meet the demands of this
new and powerful disturbance of the
public peace-of these monstrous out
RACES upon society. What says the
Legislature ? What say our Magis-
trates, Sheriffs and all our officers of
the civil law What says our newly
elected Judge, Col. o. P. Meares, and
the candidates who are running for the
place of Solicitor ofthe Criminal Court ?
If these civil guardians of the public
veal answer negatively, then the atten
ton of the military authorities is most
respectfully invited to the necessity of
additional vigilance and protection
This thing must be stopped, and at
once, or the community, outside of the
towns and cities is ruined, and society
will be only a mass of dismay, dlsor
ganzation and terror. If civil law does
not avail, then let the military act, and
at once station files of soldiers at the
various places of rendezvous and of
threatened and exposed points of these
worse than vandals. The attention of
the commandant of the post at VIII
mington is invoked most respectfully
to consideration of this subject, land to
a consultation with other authorities,
military and civil, in relation to these
intolerable outrages in New Hanover
and neighboring counties.
Why are not the militia organized in
this county? If properly organized
the militia could materially aid, in con-
junction with vigilance committees that
should be formed, in putting down
these terrible robberies. Respectable
authority has advanced the opinion,
that, under the laws of the State, it is
made the duty Of the Sheriff of each
county to organize the militia of that
county. Ifthis opinion is unfounded, then
unjust complaints are made against
Sheriff Bunting. But if the opinion is
correct, that officer is assuming fear
full responsibility in emitting to carry
out, in this respect, the bchests of the
law, for that such an organization is
now loudly demanded no man can ques-
ton. If civil law will do its duty, this
devilish movement can be put down at
once but if such means are inefficient,
then the military, with powder and
bali, will have to come to the rescue,
and this question should be at once de-
termined.
This communication, prompted by
the highest motives for the public good,
will not, it is hoped, be laid aside with
merely passing comment, or sigh of
regret from our farmers and leading
men at the degencracy of the times,
and that such outrages should be al
lowed. But let each honest and patri-
otto citizen consider himself directly
called upon to bestir himself at once and
to do all in his power to regulate these
" Regulators" They are men who were
born and raised among us, and are reg
ular citizens, however low and mean
they are. The signs of the times,
as indicated by these dangerous ma
rauding parties, are ominous only of
evil, and are in every sense alarming to
the lovers of peace, order and law. At
present they only profess to depredate
on the rights and property of the freed
men, but they will soon invade the
homes and farms of the whites with
equal lust ofplunder, and their spirit of
crime, if not put down, will grow with
what it feeds upon.
In behalf, then, of the reputation of
this county, let our citizens who are
good men, at once take this important
matter in hand. In the name of justice,
law and right in the name of the sa
cred rights of person and property in
the name of all those feelings, purposes
and principles which keep society to-
gether, give security to our homes, and
render life desirable, let all our author
tiles arouse from their legarthy and
stay these violent hands of robbery,
crime and murder. BURGAW.
GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN PHoTo.
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