Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-10-16
The Camilla Riot.

The Camilla 1S1Ot.
The Camilla riot, though much to be de-
plored on account of the loss of life in
yolved, may yet prove blessing in dis
guise to the poor deceived and deluded
creatures who were the principal sufferers.
It should open their eyes to the fact that
their carpet-bag leaders are not to be de-
pended on. They use the poor negro as
their cats paw, to bring on the strife they
are axious to inaugurate in the South, but
when the danger comes they secure their
own precious carcasses by taking to their
heels. Believing that
The man that fights and away,
Will live to fight another day.
they leave their poor victims to be shot
down by the indignant citizens of Camilla,
and having reached g. safe distance from
the field of the late contest, they publish
lying statements Of the affray-statemen
framed for the express purpose of infa-
ming the Northern mind and infuen
cling the pending elections This be-
ing done they are prepared for a new
campaign, and are ready with more victims
for the Radical Juggernaut, and more lies
for the preiudiced and credulous North
Such are the fruits of the Reconstruction
measures in the South, and such will al
ways be the result to the poor African when
he permits himself to be led blindly by
these unprincipled adventures, into armed
hostility to his former master and only
truly friend-the Southern man.
An officer OF the United States Army, in
a letter to the Portland Argus, gives the
true version of tho late disturbance in Ca
mila.
He says: "a meeting of Republicans was
"advertised to be held at Camilla on the
cloth instant. A few days previous to
I" this, a secret circular was issued calling
"on negroes to assemble armed. This was
t made known to the sheriff, who was re-
"quired by recent proclamation of the
"GovernOr, to prevent all armed assem-
blages. This proclamation was issued by
"Gov. Bullock, on the nth inst On the
morning of the day of the riot, the sher-
"iff learned that body of armed negroes
"were approaching the place, when he,
accompanied by several citizens, went out
"to meet them, which he did several miles
Sc from the place. He asked them what
"they were going to do and could get no
"defnite answer. He then told them they
''were violating a proclamation of the
"Governor, and that he was required to
"prevent them from assembling with arms
that if they would lay aside their arms
"they could assemble, and he would pro-
"tect them. They refused to do it and
"ridiculed his authority
eve then returned to Camilla. On the
"arrival of the procession a shot was fired
"by drunken man, either accidentally or
't,otherwise, but not in The direction of the
procession, but into the ground. The
"negroes then fired volley into crowd
"of men standing near a store and I'M
EARNED"
"The crowd dispersed, but soon return
"ed with their arms and drove the negroes
"out of town, pursuing them for quite a
"distance"
''It is believed some thirty or forty men
severe killed or wounded, principally ne
"groeS.
Such are the facts of this unfortunate
affray as furnished by an officer of the
United States Government. The Radical
party was disposed, at first, to make great
capital of it, denounoing it as another
"rebel outrage" but the facts in this case
are rather too strong for them, and they
seem now inclined to say as little as posi-
BILE about the affair.
Let us hope the negroes in this State
will take warning from the Camilla TRACE
dy, and conduct themselves with propriety
during the present exciting canvass. 1t
may be relied upon that the white people
Will not interfere with them in the exercise
OF their legal rights, but, if interfered with
by them, we think it the truest kindness
now to inform them that they will bring
upon themselves the severest punishment
We do trust, if any such difficulty should
be forced upon our people, that the car
pet-bag instigators of the strife shall not.
as In Camilla, be allowed to escape. Let
the retrlbution fall with most severity upon
those most guilty.
The Pope is said to be the on1v sovor.
eIgn In Europe who does NOT aNI1