The Hillsborough recorder., 1870-03-16
nv MS ExCEILENCY THE GOVERNOR
OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Executive Department OF North Carolina
RALEIGH, March Ith, 1870.
By virtue Of authority vested Iii me BY the Consti
tuition of the State, and by virtue of mn act passed
al the present session ofthe General Assembly. en-
titled !. An Act @ secure the better protection o
uary 1870 and for the reason that the civil author
titles Of the county Of Alamance are not able to
protect the citizens Of said county In the enjoyment
Of lifo and property, hereby proclaim end declare
that the county Of Aiamanee y IN state OF iasur-
On the 26th Of November, 1869, citizen Of the
United States, who was engaged in teaching a
school in said county, was taken from his house by
a band Of men armed and disguised, and was BY
them cruelly beaten and scOurged.
ON the night Of the Goth Of February, 1870. d
citizen of said county was taken from his house by
a band of men armed and disguised, and was by
them hanged by the neck until he was dead on the
public square in the town Of Graham, near the
Court House.
And more recently the Postmaster at Company
Shops, In said county, an officer Of the government
Of the United States, was compelled TO flee the
county, and while absent a band Of men armed
and disguised visited bis house. with the purpose,
doubtless, Of taking his life and this within a
short distance Of federal troops stationed IN said
county, not 10 oyerawe orintimdate good citizens,
but TO preserve the peace and 10 protect the nno-
cent and the law-abiding.
In addition TO these eases information has been
lttttfCu tAiAl aiN htN-
abiding citizens Of the county aforesaid have been
molested in their houses, have been whipped, shot,
scourged, and threatened with further yisltatlons
Of violence and outrage unless they wonld conform
to some arbitrary standard OF conduct set up by
these disguised assassins and murderefS.
have issued proclamation aiter proclamation 10
the people Of the State, warning offenders, aud
wicked or misguided yiolat0rs Of the law 10 cease
their evil deeds and, BY leading better lives, pro-
pitiafe those whose duty u Is 70 enforce the Law.
sing these outrages and In preserving peace and
order. have waited To see II the people of Ala
nance would assemble in public meeting and ex.
press their condemnation OF such conduct by a
waited I'M vain. No meeting Of the kind has been
held. No expression Of disapproyal even of such
conduct By the great body OF the citizens has yet
reached this department but, ON the contrary, II
i believed that the lives OF citizens who have re-
ported these crimes 10 the Executive have been
thereby endangered, and il i further believed that
many of the citizens Of the county are terrified
that they dare not complain, or attempt the arrest
Of criminals m their midst. The civil officers of
the county are silent and powerless.
The laws must he maintained. These laws are
over all. Every citizen. of whichever party or co
or, must be absolutely fee 20 express his political
opinions, and must be safe In hIs own house.
These oufrnees and these violations Of law must
and SHALL cease. Criminals mnst and SHALL BE-
brought 90 justice. The whole power Of both
governments, state and Federal Is pietged ~ this
and this power win be exerted. Criminals who
may escape 20 counties adjoining Alamance VIII BE-
pursued, and Il not delivered up By the civil au-
thorities Of said counties, or u sheltered or pro-
tccted in said counties with the knowledge of thr
civil authorities the said counties win also be de-
elared 10 be In a state Of iusurrectiOn.
earnestly appeal to all good citizens 70 aid the
civil authorities In maintaining peace and good or
der, and support me in my purpose to protect iff
and property without regard 70 purity or color.
Done at the City nf Raleigh, this 18th day
T. 81 Of March, 1870, and In the 9fth year Of
our Independence.
W. w. HOLDEN, Governor.
w.R. RIcnaHDsos, Private Secretary.