The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-03-18
From the Kanawha Republican,
CHARLESTON, March IL, 1870
\ the wheeling Intellgencer :

Editors Of the wheeling Intelligencer:
On yesterday evening the mail
brought to us your paper Of the eighth
Of March, 1870. We were generaily as
tonished at a communication purport-
ing to be from our htowD, headed ne
bellion in Kanawha county," DC.
In December last, there was confiict
in the Kanawha Salines between some
white men and negroes, not exceeding
eight or ten persons on either side. In
that conflict few persons on each SIDE
were wounded-none dangerously put
General Ruffner, who interposed to
quell the riot.
The whites engaged in this atfray
were composed of persons belonging TO
each party, but to which party the ma
jority belonged, is not so clearly ascer-
tanned as to warrant us to determine.
1t was not a political contest between
the existing parties, but resulted from
the fact, alleged and believed to be true,
that a negro spit upon a white man.
Since that occurrence there has been
no atfray in the county, beyond the
usual personal assaults and batteries,
common in every county of the State.
The charge that mob released the
prisoners is utterly untrue. There was
a prisoner in Jail charged with counter
feiting, and another for horse stealing.
Whether they were rebels, radicals,
democrats or conservatives is unknown.
By what means they escaped is un-
known. On the one hand it is alleged
that three strangers, with pistols, went
to the Jail, and with prepared keys,
opened the doors in the absence OF the
jailor and his family. Others say that
the alleged strangers were not there,
but that they escaped by other means.
But no citizen, or armed mob of clti-
zens, were in any wise concerned IN
their escape.
TheIe is no Ku Klux order in our
count But there is secret order in
the county, who profess to act in subor-
dinati0n to tho Constitution and the
law, who are hostile to the Radical
party, and by peaceful and legitimate
means, are resolved, if practicable, to
supercede their vicious legislation and
their mal-administration of the govern
ment. But no act of violence, or meas
ures hostile to the government of the
State, or the United States can be
truthfully alleged against them. They
are pledged to the law and
Constitution. Radicalsm may be
in danger by them, but the life,
liberty and property of all are secure
and beyond the fear of mOlestation by
them. We have resided in the county
over forty years, and have not, during
that time, ever had q mob or anything
approaching it, unless it may be the
atfray between the whites and blacks
before alluded to. The citizens of the
county have ever been known as law
loving AID law-abiding people, and the
call for gubernatorial aid TO keep the
peace, is an unqualified SANDER of their
good name.
We ask respectfully the name of the
writer of the communication, and his
certifers. We think it is your duty to
give them. We assure you their per-
sons and property will be safe, but we
think they ought to be held up to the
scorn and contempt of the people whom
they have so wantonly slandered, and
as we believe to continue themselves in
the offices which they are unworthy to
hold. Having published the assault,
we hope you will not reject the vindica-
tion. BENZ. II. SMITH,
A. L SUMMERS.