The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-03-19
The Kanawha KusKIux..-Card from
Messrs. Smith and Summers.
En-, IA Rst,,.IliAnn

Inc huuuWuu AusAIuAeseSaA0 HUN
Messrs. Smith and Summers.
From TIE Republican.
CHARLESTON, March II, 1870.
Tbbk EaitoreC ~ Ist4lNORaa: ~ q
oSyestGr dsy evening the mai brought
to US your pAper Of tho eighth Of March
1870. I've were generally astbpished a
Gcommhnicdtfon purpofting 10 be RON
our town, headed rebellion In Kanawha
County" &c.
In December Inst, there was a conflict
in the Kanawha SalineS between some
white men and negroes, not exceeding
eight or ten persons on either side. In thai
conflict aNieW persons on each side were
woundCd-nono dangerously but General
RufnGr, -who, intGrpOsed to .queli The. riot
The whites engaged In this affray were
composed 6f persons belonging to eact
party, but to which party the majority
belonged, Is not SO clearly uscertained al
to warrant Us 70 determine. 1t was not Q
political contest between the existing par.
lies, but resulted from the TACT, alleged
and believed 10 be true, that negro spit
upon q white man. ~ "a. .rJirj
Since that occurrence there has beer
no alIfay in tho county, beyond the usual
personal assaults and batteries, common
10, every county III the State.
| h Tho charge that q mob released the
prisoners u utterly untrue. There was q
prisoner in jail charged with counterfeit
Ing, and another for horse stealing
Whether they were rebels, radicals, demo
Gratis or conservatives Is unknown BY
what means they escaped is unknown.
On tho one hand it Is alleged TINT three
strangers, with pistols, vert TO the jail
and with prepared keys, opened the doors
in tho absence OF the jailOr and his fun
ily. Others say that the alleged strangers
were not there, but that they escaped by
other means. But no citizen, or armed
mob Of citizens, were In any wise concern
cd In their escape.
There Is no Ku-Klux order in our Colln'
ty. But there Is q secret order In the
county. who profess 10 act in subordina'
ton to the Constitution and the law, who
are hostile to The radical party, and by
peaceful and legitimate means, arc resOlv.
cd, ifpractiCable, TO supercede their VI
ci0lls legislation and their maladminlstra-
ton ofthe government But no act ofviO-
lencc, or measures hostile to the govern
inent Of the State, or the United States can
be truthfllly alleged against them. They
arc pledged 10 the law and the C0nstitu'
ton. RadiCalism may he in danger by
them, but the life, liberty and property OF
all are secure and beyond the fear Of mo.
lestation by them, We have resided in
the county over forty years, and have not
during that time, ever had mob, or any
thing approaching II, unless 1t may be the
atIray between the whites and blacks be-
fore alluded to. The citizens Of the cOun.
ty have ever been known rs law.loving
and law-abiding people, and tho call fol
gubernatorial aid 10 keep peace, Is On rln.
qualified SANDER Of their good name.
We ask respectfully tie name Of the
writer of the communication and his cor.
tifcrs We think 1t Is your duty to give
them. We assure you their persons and
property will he safe, but we think they
ought To be held up to the scorn and con.
tempt of the people whom they have SC
wantonly slandcred, and as We believe to
continue themselves in the offices which
they are unworthy to hold. Having pub
lishcd the assault, VIC hope you will moi
reject tho vindlCation. ~
BENZ. Fl. SMITH.
A. E. SUSDIERS