The Hillsborough recorder., 1870-04-06
A Letter of Instructions rram Gov. IToi.
RALEIGH, March 18th, /

RALEIGH, March 18th, 1870.
To CAPT. PRIDE JONES.
Sir: Yours Of the 9th was duly received
and would have been answered sooner but
for the pressure Of other business.
!, / am gratifed at your acceptance Of the
Commission, and trust that your efforts will
result benefcially to society.
Il will readily occur to you that as the
Executive ! have no powerto proclaim am
nesty. The Solicitor may enter mol prol;
or he may not, and the Judge may then
sentence, and then power Of Communication
or pardon is with the Executive. / am
ready to do all that I can under the Consti-
tuition and laws, to compose tronble. II is
not my purpose to prosecute or to take yen-
ccance on any. What We want is snbmis-
sion to the laws. and peace in all the neigh
borhoods in the county. Public opinion
can effect this more certainly and on more
permanent basis than the ministers of the
law, under present circumstances. 1t is an
important part Of the duty assigned you to
embody and direct this public opinion. In
doing this. much must be necessarily left to
your own discretion. You are thoroughly
acquainted with the people Of the county.
You know their peculiar sentiments, their
habits, and their modes Of thought. Their
prejudice, even, should be respected.
But the object Of all this is to restore
peace and good order.
Every citizen, no matter of what color or
how poor or humble has right to labor for
a. Living without being molested, 10 express
his political opinions without let or hinde-
rance and to be absolutely at peace in his
own house, Every citizen has right to
attach himself to d secret political organiza-
ton; and these organizations are harmless.
80 long as they respect the rights Of person
and property. But. though lawful. they
are not expedient. The time has passed
when they were even expedient. They can
effect no special good at prcsert, but they
may be the cloak or the occasion for mis-
chief. Especially are they 20 when the
members disguise themselves, and take
arms. and ride through neighborhoods
breaking the peace and terrifying the inha-
bitants. You viii, therefore. mildly but
firmly discountenance and discourage all
secret political organizations. and especial
ly those that put on disguise and carry arms.
II is amisdemeanor to 90 thus diguised with
intent 10 terrify, aud Il i felony thus to
commit any act Of violence.
The authority with which yon are invest
ed i to he exercised in strict subcrdination
to the civil power.
/ take il for granted the Sheriff Of
Orange can execute any process that may
be placed il his hands. But. If resisted.
you are authorized to take men to bis aid AZ
4 posse cosif.dNs to ensure the arrest of
criminals. and if criminals enter Orange
from Alamancc they should be arrested and
held for trial.
Your attention y directed to the acts
published ID the Standard. Sentinel and
Recorder. Immediately after my prOclama-
ton of the 9Th March. Also to the ..Act
making the act of going masked, disguised
Or painted a felony laws of 1862,
Capt. 2G7. rage Gl3.
] would be glad to hear from Jon fre-
luently as to the progress you are making
IL maintaining law and order III Orange.
Very Respectfully. s..
W. w. HOLDEN, GDr.