The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-12-22
The Bill fer the Better Protection o
Lrfe and Properfy.

Life and Property.
The Senate has passed bill, looking te
the suppression of the Ku Klux, the lead
ing points of whichare very similar to thos.
commended in our editorial entitled "the
Duty of the Legislature"
The bill was of course opposed by the
Democratic" members of the Legislature
some upon one ground, sor ae upon another.
but all opposed it. The discussion was
somewhat heated, but the bill passed by a
party vote. This is as it should be. 1t is
time that the lawless DO nds which now fill
the State with the repoi It's of their wicked
deeds should be disper sed by the strong
arm of the law, and Inurderers and assas-
sins be punished. This is just what this
bill is designed to accomplish is Just
what it s0iu accomplish. Further than this
it cannot go. The arguments used by its
oppose are wes.k-or rather no arguments
at all. Their sole defence was that they be-
lievsd that the civil authorities possessed
power sufficient to suppress all disturbances.
This might be good argument were it
not. for the fact-that it has been proven un-
trre. The inability of county officers to
Pr 1T down the Ku Klux, or even to effect
d iminution of their outrages, has BEEN too
arikingly proved in Jones, Lenoir, Chatham
Alamance, Orange and other counties of
this State. Take for example Senator Ora
hams own county-Orange. The civil Of
icers have been powerless to resist the Ku
Klux, and bands of masked ASA ssins rode
through the county nightly with out moles-
tation. And the next day the bodies of
murdered men told the horrible history of
their doings.
1t has become matter of vital interest to
the State that these outrages shall be put
down. To do this the Governor must have
a sufficient degree of power to enforce the
laws against any number of criminals That
power is given him by this bill which has
just passed the Senate
Had it been passed last session many
murders would have been prevented, and
Orange and Alamance would not now be
controlled by murderers.
If crime is committed it should be pun
ished-but not by a mob. The law has the
right to punish crime.
We do not wish to see crime 90 unpun-
ished-be the criminal white or black-but
we demand that the Punishment be legally
inflicted.
If the criminal be white man let him be
dealt with according to law.
If the criminal be black man let him be
dealt with according to law.
This is what we wish and we believe
that it is what majority of tue people of
the State wish.
The House has failed to pass the bill
for the better protection of life and prop
srty. There were sixty one votes necessary
% quorum. The Democrats went out
hoping to destroy the quorum. Six Repub
leans who did not wish to vote either way
7oted against it by request, that there might
De quorum.
This made the number sixty, only one
'ote being necessary to pass the bill. This
vas looked for from Mr. Ames. But he re-
used to vote, either ,oay, and went outside
he bar of the House in order to defeat the
III.
Thus the bill failed for lack of quorum,
nd Mr.. Ames is responsible for its failure.
+ he was opposed to the bill he could have |
'oted against it. He was not satisfied to do SO.
tut prevented qorum, and thus defeated
he wishes of majority of his party. We
all upon his constituents to condemn his
ction.
The bill will certainly pass as soon as the
legislature meets after the recess, but in the
Meantime, those who defeated the bill will be
eld responsible for the outrages of the Ku
llu for they have withheld from the Cover
or the power to put down murderers. Let
hose gentlemen return home and reflect :
pom what they have done. When they .
ear OF helpless men being butchered in
Did blood, let them remember that they
'uld have prevented all this and that
ley did not. Let them remember that a
art OF the guilt will rest upon them and ;,
lat they will one day have to answer for it
sfore God. To their people We have only l.
say-these men are your servants-have ;.
icy done as you wish9 q
IL