Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-03-25
Governor. walker and Holden-A Contrast

aroI DANNY by what law or authority he In
.orfared IN the conflict now going on IN
the CITY of Richmond between Mayor Ell
Lyon and ex. Mayor CHAHooN is IN strlk-
ing contrast with the partisan and unnatu'
raj conduct of Governor HOLDEN IN Dis
appeaIs for military interference Win q
norton of the citizens of this State. In
Richmond there is q serious conflict OF
authority, attended with great excitement
and some riotous and violent demonstra-
tions. Blood has been shed, resulting
TINS far in the death Of one man ana the
wounding of several others. Governor
WALKER Indignantly resents General GAN
RY's illegal interference, and nobly vindi-
Gates the rights of Virginia as coequal IN
the Union with the other States. He de-
clines to interfere as Governor, for, says
he. in his second letter to General CANDY
cit is proper for me to say that expressly
decline to interfere, by advice or other
wise, with the steps taken by Mayor ELY
SON to vindicate his authority, never for
moment doubling his ability to do SO, and
to suppress any acts Of violence or laWless-
ness that might be melted by those who
were attempting to set OF defiance the law
full authorities of this city, and till he
failed to do this or calls upon me as the
chief Executive of the State for assistance,
/ did not deem it my duty to interfere,
and so expressed myself to him and to
you"
The noble stand taken by Governor
WALKER to vindicate the honor and main
tain the welfare of his adopted State is in
wonderful constrast with the false and
cowardly attack "Our Governor has
made upon the character of his fellow
citizens and upon the best interests OF his
native State. He has issued formal proc
Iamation declaring one county in state
of instruction, and has sent his conf
Dental friend and trusted official, Little
field, es bearer of dispatches to the
President, requesting Federal troops to
suppress disorders and disband the or
eanization of murderers. To show how
maliciously misrepresented our people
have been in this matter, and how much
damage this cowarlIy conduct of Governor
HOLDEN is calculated to do the whole
State, we quote the following extract from
the Washington City correspondence of
the New York Her0ld. written, doubtless,
after consultation with the Governors
ambassador, the honorable and immaculate
Littlefield
'.To-morrow General Ii. S. LittletieId, who has
arrived in this city, will present to the President
a commune alton from siOVCEDCr Holden, OF
North Carolina, requesting o force of United
States troops to assist in preserving order in that
State. Senators Pool and Abbott have had this
question under consideration for some time, and
now that the case presents itself IN the form OF
an official request, they Will renew their efforts
to put an end to the laWleesDess which prevails.
The counties in the disturbed condition are
Jones, OnslOw, Duplin. Lenoir, Alamanco,
Orange and Chatham The last are said to be
in a worse condition than others, and something
will be necessary, it is feared, more substantial
than justice, in order to restore peace and Sc
curity. In the present state of affairs it is i'm
possible to execute laws, State national, and
in addition to promiscuous murder, the revenue
laws of the United States III this section have
been rendered almost entirely nugatOry. On the
9TH instant Governor Holden issued proclama-
ton in which, having narrated large list of
infamous and unprovOked barbarities, he de.
clared Alamance county to be In q state OF iGeur
rection, and that
'"TheIaws must be maintained These laws
are over all. Every citizen of whatever party
or color must be absolutely free to express his
political opinions and must be safe III his Own
house. These OutrRges and these violations of
law shall and must cease. Criminals must and
shall be brought to Justice The whole power of
both governments, State and federal is pledged
to this, and this power will be e1erted. OrimI-
nails who may escape to counties adjoining Ala.
nance will be pursued, and if not delivered up
by the civil authorities of said counties, or if
sheltered or protected in said counties with the
knowledge Of the civil authorities, the said cOun-
ties will also be declared to be II state Of IN
eurrection."
From all accounts gangs of despcradoes have
bon nlpo
eition consists in inveterate hostility to the
United States government and tbJ negroes
Jndge Graham, man OF influence IN that sec
ton, Is much censured tor not using his con-
trolling voice in the direction Of order Gni good
behaviour. The old secession element is ram
pant and it seems if another sound drubbing
and liberal application of hemp alone will check
the evil. The President will be urged to act at
once
I'm the present state of affairs it is impos-
sible to execute the laws, State or National,
and in addition to promiscuous murder,
the revenue laws of the United States in
this section have been rendered entirely
nugatory," says this letter writer. Can
Governor HOLDEN read over these false and
slanderous statements and not shudder at
the consequences likely to spring from the
cowardly and contemplate course into
ton have led him? He knows, as do the peo-
pie of North Carolina know, that there is no
instruction in Alamance or elsewhere in
this State; the civil officers of the State and
General Government have met with no re-
sistance in the execution of the law. The Ma
tional Government has lost moro in the exc
cution of its revenue laws from the dishon-
esty of its officials than from the resistance
of our citizens, and civil law has suffered
more from the incapacity and partiality of
Radical officials than from the violence of
the people. To-day there does not exist in
Alamance or elsewhere in North Carolina
any extraordinary or unusual spirit of law
Iessness, nor is there any complaint that |
the ordinary process cannot be executed, !
or that arrests have been or are attended with |
trouble. Tho Sheriff of Alamance, 50 far |
from desiring the assistance Of the Gov
Il Nalo