Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-07-24


ernor," to organize an armed police sys-
TEN, more odious and capable Of evil than
that which ruled France in the darkest
days of the Revolution, and which, II con-
summated, will make life and property I'M
safe in North Carolina, and most assuredly
deluge our State in blood.
We have already published the message
of " Gov" Holden to the Legislature upon
this subject, and below we give re-
sponse to his recommendation, in bill In
troduced into the Legislature by the Rev.
Mr.. Welker, the (so-called) Senator from
Guilford, which is now pending ID that
body We desire to direct the careful at
tention of our readers to this bill. Whether
this, or some other equally obnoxious
measure passes the Legislature, 1t is Ger
tain that Holden will have his cowardi2
DESIGNS gratifed, in the arming, by State
and Federal aid and authority. of the most
obnoxious portions of our population he
CARELESS of the unconstitutionality OF the
proposed organization and use OF the State
militia in face of the dangers to life
and liberty of such an armed force not
outstanding the uselessness OF such al
enrolment and enlistment, other than to
control the elections by fraud and force !;
in spite of the terrible expense of this
standing army, which the impoverished
condition of the people are so lily prepared
to meet, there is no question that these
evil purposes will be carried out, and VIC
lence and blocdshed will be inaugurated
by the arming and equpping of raifians
and desperadoes, under the pretence Of
preserving the peace, but leal:y to tyran-
ize over the people and to control the bal
lot boxes.
We do not propose to show ali want of
authority in the Constitution to organize
ana particular class of the people into a
militia or police force, for that instrument
says in the most unequivocal terms that
the mi lit la shall consist Of ''uN the able-bo-
! di ed male citizens of the State between the
ages of q and 40 years, who are citizens OF
the United States, " but to deal with the fact
that the militia will be organized accord
ing to the wishes and purposes of Holden
and the Carpet baggers, and not in obedl-
ence to the demands of that instrument.
We have seen too often in the past few
months the most sacred obligations and
laws ruthlessly violated; the wishes and
nece ssities of party are now the main
springs to legislative action. Our people
may therefore make up their minds that
Holden and his disreputable associates in
all the departments of the State Govern
ment, will attempt to fortify themselves in
their positions by continuance of mill
tary force, more to be feared than that by
which they have been placed in illegal al
thority.
The startling and bold proposition q
this partisan preacher! Heaven save
the mark) following on the heels of the
recommendation of {" Governor Holden
is an earnest of the feelings which actuatt
these fellows, and we may as we'll open on
: eyes to the dangers which are gradually
} presenting themselves, and growing. day by
day, into ugly proportions. A pretended
= government, founded in I'M Justice, deriving
t all power from military force, and deter
l mined to protect itself by corruption ant
violence, will resort to any means, the
| most debased and dangerous, to crush on
all opposition. The spirit Of lawlessness
: now controlling national legislation, no
: only sanctions, but openly aids, the mis-
i creants attempting to crush the manhood
D and liberties of the people of ten States
: The cowardly creatures who have crept in
: to power in these military reorganizet
= States, the offsprings of Congressional ty
ranny and negro ignorance, will leopard
o the lives of our best people, and hazart
the liberties of the whole country, to re
8 tain possession of their ilI-gotten positions
: and power
We publish in full the Police bill nov
before the Legislature, and recommend it
4 careful perusal
: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STATE POLICE.
!; Sec. l. The General assembly Of North Caro-
! lima do enact as tollOoCS That the Governor i
hereby authorized and directed to appoint, organ
ze and equip sufficient force Of police in the va
r1ous counties OF the State, to preserve the peac
" and enfore the laws.
,; Sec. 2. That the number Of said police shall
= not exceed the proportion of fifty to each MONDE
of the House of Representatives. That one maj
Y in each hundred shall be appointed Captain O
y police and one in every twenty Sergeant Of pc
Il lice. The command of the former shall be terme,
n a division, and of the latter section.
Sec. That said police shall be provided witt
, proper arms AMI badges, and may be unforme,
; If deemed expedient. That every member of tn
force shall be entitled to two dollars per day ghel
on actual duty, and shall be allowed no other pa
! or emoument whatever Each Captain of polio
may be allowed pay for time necessarily spent il
/ organizing and supervising the force under hi
command.
Sec. 4. The Governor shall appoint Chief O
O police with two assistants. The Chief of polic
q shall receive salary twelve huDdred dollars
. and each assistant Que thousand dollars per al
t. mum. The necessary travelling expenses while or
- ganizing and supervising the police shall be al
II lowed.
If Sec. 5. No man shall be officer private il
this organic alton unless he be elector OF tn
J. State, and first take and subscribe the constitu
"a tional oath of Office
Sec. 6. Ia case it snail be necessary TO call GU
l. this force to quell any riot, or suppress or pre-
vent any violence, the expense of the same Will
" upon duty, shall be betrayed by the town, city O
e county in which such riot violence shall occu
; or be apprehended.
l. Sec Z. Every officer of police shall have powe
to call out the WHOLE any part, of the force IN
. der his command, at the written request of an
Z Judge, Justice of the Peace. Sheriff or his depu
j. ty or at the written request of any ten elector
| to keep the peace and enforce the law, anG suc
J. | request shall state the reason of the CALL and
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