Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-03-18

matter of doubt. That members have
been bribed is not questioned. Millions
off bonds have been spent, munifcent
appropriations have been exhausted, and
no progress has been made upon the roads
for which the bonds were issued. Investi-
CATION was demanded upon all hands. 1t
was desired to ferret out and expose the
guilty parties, without regard to their
political affiliations. For this purpose the
House resolved itself into the Committee
of the Whole, as giving a better opportu-
pity for investigation than would be afford
ed under the rigid rules of the House.
! It gives Us little pleasure to refer to the
proceedings in the Committee during the
past few days. Men who ought to hold
the good of the State above personal and
party considerations have brought to bear
every parliamentary expedient and objec-
ton, in and out OF season, to delay and
complicate the proceedings until they have
exhausted the patience of the House and
succeeded in protecting their friend, Lit
tleGeld, and possibly themselves from ex-
posture by forcing dissolution of the Com
mittee.
We are not surprised that such carpet
baggers as French should draw suspicion
to himself by the warmth and imprudence
with which he seeks to shelter Littlefeld
from detection. Mr.. French prefers the
welfare of Littlefeld to that Of North
Carolina. In fact the white washing of
Littlefield is matter of personal interest
to his fellow carpet baggers. French and
Littefeld are representative men OF this
class Too many of them have fallen by
the wayside Deweese, Estes, Foster and
others of lesser note have been stranded
upon tho beach, It would not do for one
so conspicuous as Littlefeld to be detect
ed. Therefore French naturally would
exhaust every expedient to save his friend.
What cares he if the State suffers. What
cares he if our credit is ruined. What
cares he if our Railroads are not compile
ted. He is much more concerned that ad-
venturers like himself are not forced from
Office and denied the advantage of future
spoils
But why Moore of Chowan, a native of
the State, O man of good record, of high
who is identified with North Carolina and
who should be above corruption, should
throw himself into the breach we cannotap
preciate. By what magic spell LittIefeld
has led him captive We do not know. He
has been such an orthodox Wing such an
extreme Democrat, such q violent Seces- |
sionist, such al enthusiastic war man, that
We suppose he regards it as necessary to
prove his fealty to his new party by pro
tecting its criminals whose crimes
have been committed against the honor
and welfare of his State.
Equally as shameful picture in these
proceedings, as those to which we have re-
ferred, is tho conduct of Littleield him
self upon the stand. One cannot but ad-
mire the unblushing efrontery of lis re-
plies and tho subtleness OF his eyasions. |
&c How absolute tho knave is We must
speak by the card, or equivocation will
undo US. . If Lttleficld be honest, and |
French and Moore and Sinclair equally |
honest in their defense of him, why the |
ono should desire to avoid investigation |
and the others attempt to prevent it, we
cannot for the life of us understand. This
may be good party tactics, but it is not
consistent with our ideas of honesty and
integrity. Honorable men under the cloud
OF suspicion court investigation !; crimi-
nails alone flee from Justice.
Let these matters end rs they may be-
fore the Legislature and its Committees,
tho people of North Carolina have appel
late Jurisdiction III the premises and will
hold these mon, criminals and defenders,
up to scorn. These same men will yet call
on the rocks to fall upon and hide them
from the wrath of those whom they have
so grievously wronged.