New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-04
Tw'aTUaTIOE IT N0RTH 0A10IIAA

The Raleigh Standard OF the thlrtleth Of
July devotes several columns to an expose
Of. the conspiracy recently attempted IN
Alarnance and Caswen counties, North
Carolina. Owing to the vigorous measures
resorted to by Governor Holden, a pow
| erful and widely extended organization,
self.named "The White Brotherhood,
or Constitutional Union Guard, has
about been broken up, its plans, grips,
signs and passwords exposed, and the
leaders arrested and detained in custody
for trial. Sixteen of the leading citizens
of Alamance county, who had joined the
order under the mistaken idea that it was
merely intended to secure political action
and protection to its members, have alb
jured the organization, and have pub
ished an exposition Of its true character,
as follows % a'
ALAMANcE COUNTY, July %, ls7O.-We,
the undersigned, citizens OF AIamance
County, do hereby acknowledge that we
have been members of an organization IN
salO county Known ~ JIG non"oiS "Ao
as the "White Brotherhood" or "Constitu-
tional Union Guard" This organization in
the outset, as we understood it, was purely
political and for the mutual protection OF
the members thereof and their families but
since Joining we have been panied to know
that, while the objects of the organization
were to attain certain political ends. the
means used and resOrted to were such as
would shock civilized and enlightened
people. And we hereby publicly and indie
pendently dissolve our connection with
this organization, and call upon upright,
aw-abiding citizens everywhere to do the
same thing, knowing as we do, that unless
the crimes which have been committed by
this organization can he put a stop to, and
the organization itself broken up, civil
liberty or personal safety are at an
end in this country, and life,
property or anthing else will soon be at
the mercy of an organized mob.
We intend to see that the signs, grips
and pass words Of this organization are
fully exposed, together with the plans Of
operations, ETC., 80 that people everywhere
may see with their own eyes. In making
these confessions we have implicated no one
but ourselves, but we hope that our friends
will take warning from what has TRANSFERRED
within the last few days, and Immediately
withdraw from organizations such as we
have mentioned, and assist us and all other
good citizens in restoring peace and good
order in our county.
Clement C. Curtis, James E. Boyd, Rob-
ert Hammer, John X. StOckard, Jacob Mi
chael, j. H. N. Clenendin, Henry Albright,
James w. FOust, d. p. league, A. J. Pat
tersOn, j. A. j. Patterson, John G. Albright,
Christ. c. Curtis, S. A. Curtis, w. 5. Brad
shaw, Jasper N. Wood.
James E. Boyd, one Of the signers, pub
fishes long letter, in which he states
that the White Brotherhood was organ
lied in 1865 At that time candidates for
admission were informed that the order
was in the interests of the Conserva-
tive party, and intended to defeat the re-
construction acts and to deprive the col
ored people of all privileges as citizens in
this country. One section contained an
obligation which bound the members
never to support any man for Office who
was in favor Of the civil or political I'D
yancement of the colored race.
With such a policy as foundation, it
did not take long to go on to worse, until
they began system OF whipping and out
RACES, from which the natures Of the more
honorable members revolted. But they
were tightly bound by oaths, so that any
cutlery or publicity from them would have
imperiled their own lives. Against this
order the civil tribunals were perfectly
powerless. Nothing but the stern logic Of
martial law could make the least impress
sion. To this Governor Holden, after
trying every other remedy without avail,
finally resorted. As soon as Colonel Kirk
began making arrests, the head man Of the
order and some of his more guilty asso-
ciates fed, leaving the brunt Of the con-
fict with the State authorities, to be
borne by those who were much less cul-
pable. The fight of these men will, Of
course, restore quiet. The will be NUT
terings and grumblings against Governor
Holden for daring to enforce the laws,
the same as there was against Governor
Clayton, of Arkansas. But the gallant
chief magistrate of the old North State is
not the man to swerve in the performance
of duty by the cavilng of interested par
tisans He has fairly entered upon the
work of regeneration, and will prosecute
with vigor the criminals he holds in GUS
lody, and take care that they receive the
punishment due to their deeds.
An attempt was made to obtain the re-
lease of the prisoners on habeas corpus.
But the result proves that the civil tribu-
nails, which were unable to punish the
are as powerless to rescue
them from the vise-like grasp Of that last
resort of sovereign powers-the military
arm. We regret to see SO good man as
Chief Justice Pearson undoubtedly is,
placed in such an unfortunate position.
His mandate to release the prisoners was
returned to him by Colonel Kirk, when
be decided that he could do no more, as
he could not raise posse conaitatus to exc
cute the process of his court. So there is
some faint chance of the North Carolina
aisturbers of the peace becoming ac-
quainted with justice. We hope theirs
will be the last case of the kind we shall
be called upon to record.