Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-09-22

pecting from the representations made
to them to be attacked on the march
from the railway station to the
village. But 1t needed only very
few days however to satisfy them so
fully of the disposition of the people
that the officers of the command at
once sent for their families. The com-
mand remained there some months,
behaved themselves decentIy, quietly
and orderly; spent literally the money
the government paid them--and so
conducted themselves generally, that
when the citizens heard orders had
come to break up camp. they held a
public meeting in which the best men
and most pronounced Democrats in the
place took part, and passed a series of
resolutions complimentary to the
troops for their gentlemanly deport-
ment and regretting their departure.
These resolutions We're sent to Colonel
Ritter, the commanding officer, and
by him published to bis command
after having been acknowledged in q
handsome note to the chairman of the
meeting of citizens.
The county of Alamance was also
afterwards, in 1870, visited by Federal
troops, and there too they behaved them
selves very much as good soldiers in a
friendly coul try should do, and to-
day their stay there is we'll and kindly
remembered as period of peace and
quiet when men could once more at
tend to their private affairs unmolest-
ed by Holden and his hireling crew.
The county of Casweil during the
same year, the memorable year of
1870, entertained. two companies Of
| Federal troops, and there also, to this
day, the citizens speak kindly of them,
| gratefully remembering the protection
they afforded them against Kirk and
his savage brutes.
In Raleigh, too, there have been
Federal troops since the war ended,
and We recall no instancein which they
have come in collision with the citi.,
zens. Citizens and soldiers have alike
attended to their own affairs, meeting
aud mingling upon matters of business
or otherwise as suited them.
In Morganton, in Burke county, there
has been a like state of affairs. In.
dead there scarcely comes to us pa
per from that place that does not con-
tain some kindly and complimentary
reference to the Federal troops there.
In Brunswick, too, at Smith
Vile, we all we'll know how it is.
There is now no enmity between citi
zen and soldier at Smithville and
the money the troops spend there is
by nomeans to be despised in counting
up the gains Of the citizens during the
year. AS we said before, this is nc
new feeling in North Cal DINA. We
know the fact. that as long ago as
1869 at least, that citizens, ex-Con-
federates at that, when threatened with
"troops" would themselves petition
for their old enemies. these same
Federal soldiers, to be sent am ong then
This state of things is we'll under.
stood, and has been for years. AS
long ago as 1870, when preparing fol
clared in the United States Senate
"that they mnst have troops they could
depend on. The Federal troops would
not do" And hence it was that Kirk'e
army of cut throat was organized.
The cry of Federal troops" amounts
to nothing, and everybody knows it.
Let them come, and as many as
it may please the Government to send.
It is a waste of breath and waste OF
time to attempt to brighten us will
"troops." We have been in slough
of despond for long pears but we veri
| ly believe we are now almost safely
through it. The night has been long
and dark and dreary, but the day is at
last dawning. Governor Vance anG
President Tilden will set all matters
straight.