The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-01-22

Q Detegdtes'
Order has reigued during the year
throughout the greater part of the State
In two or three localities, however, the
peace has been disturbed, the laws have
been set at naught and the officers re-
sisted, aud, indeed, forcibly driven away
from the performance of their Duties
During the war, and since, there has
been q band of armed rebels in the
counties of Wayne and Logan, led by a
fellow known and notorious as Captain
Bill Smith," numbering, robbing and
plundering the people of taat region.
Some of this band were indicted in the
courts for various offences, and l was
urged to offer rewards for them. i
finally Tin November, 1869 did offer q
large reward for the apprehension OF
Smith himself, but the civil officers
had not force sufficient to arrest
him. and he was regarded as such
a desperate that others would
not undertake it, even for the reward Of
fercd, aud this proved unavailing. Du.
ring last winter, this band, several
times, robbed peaceful citizens and conf
mitted other depredations in Wayne
county, and near the first of March, by
force and violence, they put the officers
of the county in fear and drove them
away from the performance of their du-
ties at the court house, the latter teel-
ing themselves unsafe in resumlng their
offices without protection; and again,
this band took possession of the jail,
overpowered the jailor, put him under
,,l Of
ciates, who was confined therein on q
criminal charge.
1t was also made known to me, by
evidence that l could not disregard,
that the State and other taxes coul Id not
be safely collected in a considerable por-
ton of the county, unless the collecting
officers had protection and aid. Under
these circumstances, aud upon the ur-
gent application OF officers ard other
good citizens of the counties interested,
/ asked the proper authorities of the
United States for small body of troops,
and n company was sent into Wayne
county early in the spring-a detach-
ment being afterwards stationed at
Logan Court House. These troops have
remained in that portion of the State
until the present time, and since they
have been there the peace OF. tue COM
munity has been preserved and the of
ficers have uniuterruptedly performed
their duties. In Logan countysthere
had been no taxes collected since the
war, except few hundred dollars in q
small portion of the county. In other
portions Of the county, there were
many that had returned from the rebel
army, bringing their arms with them,
who denied the authority of the State
Government, and utterly refused to pay
taxes for its support, or for the support
of the county organization under It,
and threatened to resist with arms and
to the death, if the collection of taxes
should be attempted. The consequence
was that no officer would go into
those portions of the county, and,
indeed, no person could be induced to
hold an office in the county which de-
volved on him the collection af the
taxes. Since the troops have beep'sta-
toned in the county, the taxes of 1866
have all been collected and paid inte
the Treasury, which, am assured, opuld
not have been done had there been no
troops there. | think am not in error
when express the opinion that the. bet
ter portion of the people of the region
interested, without regard to political
parties, are now satisfied that the cir.
cumstances demanded troops, andSthat
their presence has greatly cOndueed to
the security of life aud property and to
the promotion of the peace and harmony,
and, by consequence, the prosperity of
the community.
In another section of the State-iR
the three adjoining counties of Ran.
dolph, Tucker and Barbour-there have
been very decided manifestatiOnsof of op-
position to the execution of the regis
try law during the year. In the two
former, officers and other Union men
who took an interest in and supported
the registration of voters, were threat
ened and menaced by open demonstra-
tions, and also by written communica-
tions, in which they were notified to
leave the country or they must suffer in
jury to their persons and property; in
consequence of which many officers were
intimidated and resigned, and it has
been with much difficulty that persons
could be induced to take upon them
selves the execution of the law. In the
latter part of September | was offici-
ally informed that the subordinate Off
GERS of registration in Barbour county
were opposed by such force and violence
that, unaided, they could not proceed in
the discharge of their duties; that in
three townships they had been actually
set upon and assaultcd-in some instan-
ces with tire-arms-and fOrcibly dHven
away; and threats were made that he
County Board would not be allowed TO
sit for the buoiness enjoincd upon them
by the law, with an apparent determi-
nation on the part of those making the
threats to carry them into execution.
These facts were represented to me by
the President of the Board of Registra-
tion and others of the most intelligent
and respectable citizens OF the
county, who concurred in and
expressed the opinion that with
ont the aid and protection of the
military force, the law cOuld not be ex-
ecuted. None of the militia were arm
ed, and l wished to avoid, If possible,
the arming and using of neighbors for
the purpose indicated, inasmuch as this
would probably continue the irritation
and unkind feeling among them after
the necessity for their armed assistance,
which was believed to be temporary,
should pass away. therefore called on
the proper authorities for few United
States troops for the emergency, and
they were promptly furnished, and sta
toned at Phillip. After their arrival
the execution of the law proceeded
without interruption. They remained
until after the election, when, on my
suggestion, they were ordered away
The message then states that the
troops in Monroe county ought to re
main there, and intimates that where.
ever the presence of the military may
be expedient to promote the interests oI
"loyalty" soldiers will be used.
FINANCES.
The receipts and disbursements of the
public revenue, for the fiscal year ending
September 80, 1867, are shown by the
Annual Reports of the Auditor and
Treasurer. as are also the estimated re
ceipts and Disbursements, for the current
year; from which it may be seeR that
The balance remaining in the Treas
ahar