The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-06-08

General Amnesty.-The recent Murders
in this State.-The action of Gov.
Holden.
The recent murder of John W. Stephens
by despcradoes in Caswell, has been followed
by the massacre of the McLeods in Cum.
berland by outlaws and murderers. Both
| of these crimes were committed in daylight,
and in the afternoon, and the assassins in
both instances are still at large.
We published recently the testimony of
| Daniel A. Graham of Moore County in rela-
ton to khan of murderers in that region.
On Saturday morning, we saw reason to
doubt its yeracIty, but we are informed from
Moore County that it is true. We have
reason to believe still further since the muir.
der of the McLeods that there is band of
organized assassins in the Cumberland re-
| gion of country, who respect neither age,
sex or party. They should be brought to
justice. t .a,1 .ei ia
It is further claimed that Daniel A. Ora
ham was of the party who murdered the
McLeods. We are informed on good au-
thority that Graham left the State soon after
giving in his testimony, which we published,
and that he fled because of the danger to
his life. After exposing the murdercrs in
that region, he could not longer live with
them in safety, nor would they have trusted
him any longer as an accomplice in their
crimes . NH
| The Sheriff of Cumberland has informed
| the Governor that the men, who committed
the murders in his County, belong to the
Lowry gang of Robson despcradocs. He
has further informed the Governor, officially
in both cases, that a negro man has been
killed in retaliation. The Governor win
issue proclamation of reward for the muir
derers in both instances, as he has done when
ever officially informed of such crimes,
calling for the arrest and incarceration Of
! the criminals. m
I And just here we would remind the Will
| mington Journal that when an official re-
| port is made to the Governor that such
crimes have been committed, that he stands
ready to issue proclamations in accordance
with law. 1t Is not his negligence, but the
negligence, and in some instances it is to be
feared the criminality of the County officers
| themselves. .rr0. Et.f D..
| Besides Gov. Holden has issued four gen.
eral proclamations, urging upon all classes
the maintenance of peace and obedience to
law We shall publish the whole of them
for future reference at an early day. So
much, therefore, for the Journals complaints,
in its last issue against the Governor.
The Sentinel of Saturday, after lame ex
istence of a few weeks past, picks up cour-
ageto charge that paid "spy" of Gov Hol
den had hand in the recent murder. In
reply, we say that this is another unmitiga-
ted calumny, and will be exposed in due
time 1t IS the gist of the Sentiners article
of Saturday, and is on a par with its other
incendiary and insurrectionary Appeals to
the very worst passions of excited mcn,
against the present State administration.
1t is, therefore, pretty well known, says
the Sheriff of Cumberland, who killed the
McLeods. 1t is not known who killed the
colored man. 1t is not known who killed
Stephens. 1t is not known who killed Out
law, and neither Is it known. who here at
Raleigh, was sent down to Lenoir County
and organized the Kuklux there. 800
The man who has excited prejudice, who
has apologised for murders. who has called
upon the people to rise up and drive the
lav-making power out of the Capitol, who
boldly announces that the King of diaboli
cal khan can only put a stop to these muir
ders by making treaty of peace and OF
general amnesty with the Governor of the
State, that is the man. to be marked and
watched, and held accountable by public
opinion, if no other court of Justice can
reach him.
He has proposed a treaty of peace with
the Governor in behalf of this organization
"a general amnesty, we suppose to the muir
derers of Stephens, Outlaw and the Nc
Leeds, as well as to all others, who may
announce that they belong to this traitorous
organization. We stand ready here and
now to oppose such Jail delivery in North
Carolina, whether proposed by the Editor OF
the Sentinel or by the King of the Kukiux
| himself. General amnesty for such crlmit
mails has gone too far aIready-it has made
them bold and bolder until they now de-
mand through threats of further infractions
OF the peace, through their organ here. that
the Leagues be dissolved and that the Gov
ernor shake hands with their King and
make peace with him.
We do not believe that such a proposi.
ton would have emanated from any other
press in NOrth-Carolina, or been repeated
by another paper in this State, save the
Raleigh Sentinel =; for even in its Saturdays
issue, after giving a false account of the
Mcleod murders, it winds up its leading
editorial by saying as follows:
| "hSu tuC OOfGIuOT anu Tue Ming OF the
Kuklux shall meet and shake hands and
agree to dissolve their hellish societies of
blood, fire and carnage, we shall have peace
and security of life and property, and not
until then" ...
We ask the friends of the Foscue family.
OF Col. Nethercutt, of the McLeods,-we
ask the friends of Mr.. Stephens, of Outlaw
and a host of Others, if they are prepared
to see this treaty of peace, proposed by the
Sentinel, go into effect. and the criminals
who have plundered, devastated, robbed,
burned and murdered, 60 scot free and I'M
whipt of justice2 1853 4.s
Turn which way it will, the Sentinel is
the friend and apologist the intercessor for
murderers and assassin. Such record will
drag down any party which supports such
an organ.