Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-04-15

gives the particulars Of another gigantic
fraud upon the people of North Carolina
recently perpetrated, and which it
has unearthed. It is proper that the
impoverished taxpayers Of the State
should know what Governor Holden and
his Administration are doing il their be-
half and that the col0red people may
know how their "frieId is using the
school fund.
1t will be remembered, says the Sentinel,
by the people that some months ago the
Board Of Education undertook to sell the
Swamp Lands" Of the State TO q carpet
Dagger 10y the name Of Bibles, for the
trifiiDg sum of thirty thousand dollars.
Ii was ascertained that Bibles, before he
had paid dollar towards tie purchase,
resold to capitalists at profit os some
one hundred thousand dollars. The fraud
was so outrageous and manifest that even
the Legislature interfered and upset the
' Ring - but the friends of the fraudulent
enterprise rallied just before the close of
the late session Of the Legislature and
passed an Act authorizing the Board of
counties of Washington, Tyrrell and Hyde
for sum not less than fifty thousand dol
lars, to actual settlers.
The member of the Legislature had
hardly got home before Governor Holden
called the Board Of Education, or part
Of them, together, and sold these lands to
this same carpet, bag Bibles and Sam. T.
Carrow, native of the State. for the sum
Of fifty thousand dollars, on q credit Of
from one to five years. Not dollar of
the money has been paid, so far as we can
learn, and no security for the purchase
money was given.
It is said by those familiar with the facts,
that there are three hundred thousand or
four hundred thousand acres of land, and
3 great deal of it the richest land in the
State. We learn that the purchasers pro-
pose to sell it to laboring men for homes, at
five dollars per acre. Pat the land at the
low price of one dollar per acre and it is
worth to the State and her Educational
interests from three hundred thousand
dollars to four hundred thousand dollars,
and yet it is sold by Governor Holden,
almost before the ink is dry on the rati-
fed Act allowing its sale, for fifty thousand
dollars ! And not dollar OF that trifling
price is paid, and no security taken.
The Sentinel promises further exposures
in regard to this stupendous Swamp land"
fraud. which we hope will be given in full
Governor Holdens connection with this
base transaction seems to be direct Tt is
q little singular that the Governors organ,
the Standard, has nothing to say in regard
to this extraordinary meeting of the Board
OF Education aud this more extraordinary
sale of lands. 1t could barely have been
kept secret from the editor OF that paper,
and as matter Of news so large q sale,
involving the welfare Of public schools so
directly, should have been 6iven to the
people.
Are these charges, in all their horrid
particulars, true ? Is Governor Holden
responsible for this great fraud upon the
people of North Carolina !? Is this man,
under the cloak of ''unmistakable loyal
ty, making war upon our people aud con-
niVing- possibly asisting-in robbing
to this nefarious transaction.
We again call the attention of the people
of all parties in this State to the terrible
condition of our financial affairs, resulting
from the ignorance and dishonesty of our
officials. North Carolina cannot stand such
another bleeding as she has gone through
with. Elect members again to the Legis-
iature who can be used by the designing
and corrupt men who controlled the last,
and we are ruined beyond hope. It will
require years to repair inroads upon our
material prosperity which have already
been made, and restore the cradit of the
State to what it formerly was, if the work
be begun Of once. Delay will be danger
GUS, while continuance of the evil will be
fatal. Men cannot be SO blinded to their