The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-10-05
The barbour County Troubles.

The Harbour county AEoubieNs
We alluded yesterday to the fact that
a company Of United States troops had
been sent by General Grant to Phil
llppi, In Barbour county, to assist in
preserving the public peace and to aid
the officers of the State in the discharge
OF their duties under the Registry law.
1t seems from the official and private
correspondence forwarded to Governor
Foreman, that the old rebel element,
30 dsmonstrative and intolerant
in that county about the break
ing out OF the war, have I'M
dertaksn TO re-assert themselves by
inAuguratiug terrorism among the
Union people, and especially among
those oticlally connected with the Reg
fstration law. To this end returned rebel
soldiers, backed by their sympathizers,
have given out that the law shall not
be enforced, aud in order TO intimidate
and deter the Registration officers they
have resorted to actual armed hOstili-
ties. Not only have those officers been
threatened but they have been fero-
ciously attacked aud assaulted. and in
one Instance, in Glade township fired
upon by gang of four men who met
an officer on the public highway near
which they had been lying in wait. In
anoths instance two men attacked and
stoned one of the officers and COM
PEELED him to flee for his life, and the
testimony of all the writer's is that the
hostility of the rebel element 10 the law
Il such that 1t cannot be enforced ex-
cept by military power. The officers
are threatened not only AS to their
property but also az TO their lives.
A spirit of violence confronts and de-
hes them in several localities of the
county. To such an extent has this
terrorism been carried that civil
authority has found Itself pow
srless to proceed with the Regis
tration, those charged with its
duties not being willing to assume
such extraordinary risks as are called
for. This aggressive uprising has eN-
tended itself to the adjoining county of
Tucker, and to such an extent that the
execution of the law in that county is
practically at a stand-still. no attempts
being made, according to the latest adj
vices, to carry 1t into execution. A let
ter from Rowlesburg, dated the 9Th,
says that two members of the Board
have refused to qualify, one OF them
giving as his reason that he is afraid OF
his property and his life. The writer
also states that in conversations with
some OF the best citizens OF the county
they all express similar apprehen-
sion, and be encloses Il specimen OF the
kind OF notices that are served upon
Union men to deter them from at
tempting the enforcement OF the law.
Another writer, living in Barbour
county, says that the lives OF the Board
of Registration are not safe. Re
turned rebel soldiers declare that 1t
shSn not sit and that there will be a
general uprising in opposition to 1t. The
civil law cannot be enforced in this
county without the aid of the military.
Returned rebel soldiers among us, who
are without IA habitatiou or a home, are
ready to do the vile work of the cow
ardIy parties who urge them on.
write you this at the suggestion of a
number OF good citizens, who do not
know how TO proceed or what to do
under the circumstances.
Another writer says that ia crisis has
come"in Barbour county, and the issue
Is whether the loyal or disloyal men
shall rule. Present indications point
TO Imminent danger" THE rebels
are determined that the Registration
law shall not be enforced" "They are
in threatening attitude throughout
the county, SO much SO that officers re-
fuse to go into several parts of the
county to serve notices.
Another writer says that in one To-
cality, near the Randolph county line,
the Union people are so completely I'M
der the dominanay OF the rebels
that no one among them can
be induced to attempt the service
of notices. All the letters are sub
ntantialIyIof one tenor, and all unite in
the opinion that as things stand civil
authority is SO nearly powerless as to
become a reproach to the State and
Decentralization and dismay to the Union
people.
We have not thought it proper to do
more than briefly refer to the contents
of these letters. nor to give the names OF
the writers. Under the circumstances
It might be a cruel injustice to the par
ties, as tending to point them out as
marks for the vengeance OF the fero-
cious rebels who have by force