The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-08-12
From the Paris Kentuckian.l
An Armed Negro Camp in Paris.

| The negro settlement Ill Clay's addl
tion is likely to prove what many pre-
dicted at its commencement-a source
of trouble, and possibly of strife
Within the last few days, the negroes
there have formed regular military
organization among themselves, armed
equipped and officered, having theil
headquarters in the school house. In
fact, the whole village is transformed
into q military camp; pickets are night,
ly placed at various points around the
place, and relieved with the regularity
of regiment on duty in the field
These pickets are supplied with
guns, and do not hesitate tc
level the cecked weapon at the
breast of any one who does not prompt
ly answer their isolcnt demands. Only
last Saturday evening a gentleman who
went to Claysville to engage man to
work on Monday, was halted by one OF
these guards, who leveled a double-bar-
relied gun at his breast and demanded
his business. After some parley he
gruffly ordered the gentleman to "go
about his business" and on being re-
monstrated with upon such treatment,
he replied with brutal insolence, "Don't
let me hear any more of yOur jaw, or
I'll shoot you aRyhow~ Since this oc-
currenee, other negroes have been
heard to regret that the threat was not
carried into execution.
1t strikes us that these negroes are
carrying it with q rather high hand,
and it is the general impression that
81 Of 0hnnt
enough. We call the attention of the
authorities to the matter. Claysville is
within the corporate limits of Paris,
and under the jurisdiction of the city
officers. The conduct of the negroes is
clearly provoking q breach of the
peace, and should be stopped at once.
To permit an armed camp of negroes to
be formed in Paris, with all the eere-
monies and regulations of an army, is
far from creditable to our city gov
ernment. Prompt and judicious action
on the part of the authorities is far bet
ter than would be the excited action of
exasperated citizens. We earnestly
hope that summary measures will be
taken to break up this camp. 1t pos
sible that some Radical emissary may
be stirring up all the trouble; but it is
far more probable that the negroes are
led into it by some of their own race
who have come from the army, and
who, desirous of making themselves
great in the eyes of their own people,
seek to do it by such foolish bluster
and bravado, and deludc others into
backing them in their game of bully.
To the negroes we would say in all
kindness, but seriously, your conduct is
altogether wrong. The course you are
pursuing is tho one most calculated to
get you into trouble. You have no
ris lit to establish rules or orders within
the city limits. That belongs to 9TH
els. You assume an attitude of defi-
ance toward the whites. You virtually
say to them, by your conduct, s'Come
on and try us. We defy you" You
must know that they will not put up
with that. We have not quite come to
that pass in this country. Some
time some more thoughtless one
of your number will waAtonly
injuro some white person, and
we dread to think of the'consequences
that will befall you. Drive out your
evil advisers from among you, and
spend the time you arc employing in
military preparations in keeping your
town and houses clean, and detecting
the depredators whose thefts injure the
reputation of the whole village-then
you will be far healthier both morally
and physically.
We hope no ono will - SO wrong
minded as to take any rash step in this
matter; but let all with one voice call
upon the city authorities to promptly
suppress the negro camp established
within the city limits.