The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-10-30
THE WAR AGAINST SOUTH CARO-.
LIMA
The Campaign In YOrkyiIle-WhO
sale Arrests or Citizens,

|
A letter to the New York San, dated
iorkville, South Carolina, October 20
says
A Government official, high in its
confidence and possessing good opportu
mites to become acquainted with its
secrets, recently remarked to citizen
OF this county, as | am informed:
There's the greatest conspiracy
brewing against your people here that
was ever Matched outside of Hadesm
This remark, SO emphatic, was hardly
thought Of until the rapid cast OF events
for the last few days made its signifi,
canoe apparent Whether the people
here ars the victims of a conspiracy or
the subjects OF open war they cannot
yet determine. The general belief is
that they are in the midst of another
revolution, but differing from all prev,
Gus ones in the singular fact that it is
the Government in revolt against the
people.
The invading force in this county is
comprised Of about three hundred men.
Its movements thus far are of such a
character that no inference can be
drawn of what they are to be in the
future. In the meantime.
THE PANIC CONTINUES
to such an extent that Of the 1900
voting population Of the county, it is
estimated that at least one thousand
have left. There seems to be no effort
made to arrest the flight OF any of these
persons; none are brought back, and
some persons are thus led to conclude
that the invasion Of the upper counties
of the State, in all OF which the same
result has been produced, was simply for
the purpose OF soaring away as many
opposition voters as possible from these
Democratic counties, and thereby assure
success in South Carolina to the Present.
Taker in 1872. That all who have left
their homes are guilty of violations of
the law, is a conclusion so unnatural
and repugnant that only the most rad
ical 60 so far as to assert it.
My respect for the energy and power
OF the Ku-Klux organization, and its
disposition to mischief, would he greatly
diminished il l could believe that it re-
quired the thousand panic-stricken in
dividuals to have abandoned their
homes two months TO slaughter three
negroes and whip some score others in
this county. II the organization, as it
is said to be, is so impoteut as this, |
am surprised that the State constabulary
did not suppress it at the time; and
still more so that two companies Of
U. S. troops in the county al summer
did not do so. The misfortune is that
there have been no KuKlux since the
military came here in February last;
and here has been a serious difficulty.
A real, genuine Ku-klux raid, at any
time within the past four or five months,
would have commanded handsome
premium.
Attorney General Alderman and his
party are still here looking after poll
tics and Ku-Klux raids. No investiga-
tons have been had up to the present,
so far as / can learn, into the barn and
house burning Of last winter, committed
by the colored Union Leaguers; and II
is probable the Attorney General will
be compelled TO defer indefinitely this
important matter by reason OF pres
sure of other duties. Out Of nearly
thirty cases Of house, gin house, barn
and mill burning occurring during the
time ofthe Kn-Klux disturbances here,
only one presumably guilty person has
been discovered and prosecuted, and
this one by the civil authorities. a
witness before the late Grand Jury o.
the county, who had been the owner OF
of a gin house and six bales OF cotton,
burned by incendiaries last February,
testified that military officer offered
to have the full value OF his loss re-
stored to him, if he would get proof
that it was done by Ku-Klux, thus re.
butting the inference against the colored
leagues. -.
If the witness stated truly, the mill
tary agents Of the Government are dis
playing more zeal in the investigation
of this incendiarism than the people OF
this locality seem disposed to credit
them with. To the view of the writer,
who avows himself an entirely impartial
man, it would seem as if the man who
burns dwelling house, even il his skin
is colored, deserves to be punished as
well AS the one OF white skin, who sus'
pecting him to have been guilty OF the
act, helps to administer whipping TO
MIN. The Fifteenth Amendment ana
Civil Rights act may have changed the
relation of things so far as to have lea
me into this erroneous view; but 1t IS
hard one to eradicate.
THE CAMPAIGN OPENED.
Its to be presumed that the military
have received instructions to open the
campaign. as since Yesterday morning
SQUADS of soldiers. each attended oy a
deputy marshal, are picking up citizens
ON the streets, while other squads nave
been dispatched to the country. Inc
county iail seems to be the ready recep-
tacle for these unfortunate men. Wheth-
or those being arrested are innocent or
guilty of crime cannot be known. II
guilty they should be fairly tried as
the Constitution directs. by a jury OF
their peers, and punished. If innocent
what shame, and how pltlable,
The incarcerated are not allowed any
com municstion with friends or cltzens
outside. A military guard holds the
Jail, and the prisoners are fed on solaler
rations Is this war or peace? 1t war;
the declaration of it has not reached
this part Of the nation, and me
neople are in ignorance OF it. II
peace, it IS the funniest sort OF a peace
t Ee has ever been experienced here. 1t
| tH"' IL. no Iity of that COM