New-York tribune., 1870-08-09
NORTH CAROLINA.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD-IIIS VIEWS OF
THE SITUATION-REBEL BIrTERNESS-A YAM
KEE BABY's EXPERIENCE.

NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD-IIs VIEWS OF
THE sITUATIoN-REBEL BIrTERNEsS-A YAM
| KEE BABY's EXPERIENCE.
GoLDsBoRo', N c.. Aug. G.-After a four
hours ride Of IS miles the North Carolina Railroad
from Raleigh, trip which pies the hours between
o'clock in the morning and early breakfast time, ma
myself in the extremely unnteresting town OF Colds
boro doomed to several hours Of waiting Tor the VII
| mingon train. The President OF tho North Carolina
Railroad, W. A. Smith, esq., happening to be at the hotel
this morning, caught him for an interview smith Is
popular man. and, strange to say Republican. He is
the only OF the party with whom have conversed
who tell that he has escaped the social ostracsn
which has cut off from association with the old ana ars-
ocratc Rebels the state those Of their former asso
ciaes who have since the taken sides with the Re
publican party As President OF the North Carolina
Railroad Mr.. Smith wields very important influence in
the politics of the State in something the same way that
Dean Richmond did few years ago in Ncw-York State,
| though for better ends, hope.
Mr. Smith has been running for the Legislature from
Aamance County. He agreed to do 80 at the earnest
persuasion OF the Republican Committee. The truth
that not another Republican in that quarter could
without being in terror Of his life, and Smith threw
himself into the breach His social relations with lead
ing Rebels and the position OF President of the North
Carolina Railroad have secured him from attacks of the
KuKlux. A friend OF his, Mr.. Smith told me- who was
KuKlux leader, and whom he had put under consider
able obligations to himself when he heard that Mr.. $.
intending to rum him assurances of safety,
went about among the KuKlux of Mr. Smiths neighbor-
hood and used his influence against any violence toward
Smith and but for these peculiar circumstances he In
his own opinion might probably have suffered assassna-
ton Mr. Smith fully approved the course OF Gov.
Holden in the present crisis, and thought his only mis-
take was in beginning The KuKlux, he be-
eyed, organized in every county in ths state ana
this military force required TO bring them TO terms
/ particularly inquired OF Mr.. Smith concerning
the frauds charged upon the State Administration in the
emphatic response. The Legislature he said, full of
id rascals Of both partes that the majority of them
among the Conservatives; that they had been
guilty of the most infamous frauds The old COnserva-
tyes who had lost their property during the war we're
eager to make something by speculation In railroad
bonds and the unprinciped in both parties united with
them, and the frauds perpetrated. The Governor
who had veto power, could not hinder the legislative
proceedings, and the frauds perpetrated on the
State There many bad men of both parties In The
legislature the responsibility for the evil deeds OF
that body unjusty saddled upon Gov Holden
and his Administration AS to the prospects Of the state
of North Carolina, Mr. Smith thought that the old Rebel
element could be converted. He knew Of no Re-
publican but himself who had broken through the crust
OF old grannyish excusveness which hedged about
the sayeLoding +. F.'s, and he plain sort of
who would stand no nonsense.
The women OF the State, he said, almost unani-
mously very bitter in their feeling against the United
States Government. The old Rebel bringing
up new generation of Government haters. His own
wife was in accord with himself, and he had all he
could do to keep his children from being thoroughly i'm
bued with the feeling of enmity toward the National
and State Government and negro political equality. He
thought that unless energetic measures were taken TO
forestal such result, another rebellion inevitable
And this to be the general feeling among the Re-
publicaus with whom have coBversed. As new conner
among North Carolina people, of course somewhat dis
trust my own Judgment but conversation with
hiatt
reconciliation between tile Government and old Rebels
Northern form conception Of the bitterness
OF spirit and hatred of this class toward the National
Government. They hate il themselves and teach their
children TO the At the immediate close OF the
Rebellion while Inundated with the consciousness OF
utter defeat, they willing and expected to be
more severely dealt with than they have been
The North could have imposed its own
terms and have carried them out. But
through the insrumentality Of Andrew Johnson, who
inspired the Southern Democracy with the hope OF re-
turn to political power the opportunity lost Said
Mr. Smith: "There ought to have been hangings
throughout the South of such could have been con
vcted murder the close Of the war; and they would
average at least for every county in the South
There should have been confscation Of eroperty OF
prominent Rebels and their influence for evil would be
now crippled 1t was mistaken magnanilny that let
the Rebels off so easily. They did not expect IL them
selves and the results Of the policy showed its error
To remedy that II would be necessary to adopt
the most stringent measures against the hu-kuG ana
lis friends who were the old aristocatc element Of the
South
Its the opinion OF most Republicans have that
thorough reorganization of the Union Leagues is
sary especially the present election Conservative
The Ku-KluX who have been temporarily suppressed by
the present military movement Will take courage again in
case of Rebel triumph at the polls, and tine reign OF
terror be renewed with increased horrors
am writing upon the piazza Of the hotel at Goldsboro
and watching the people about the establishment.
knot of barrOom Oungers have been reading aloud the
editorial in Tuesdays Times taking strong ground
against Holden, and expressing their intense sas-
faction with IT, "and from radical paper, toot as they
observe with exultaton II The Times could see its
Southern sympathizers it would not feel hOnored in the
alliance simple looking fellow, Of the baser Sort has
beep staggering around, declaring that he believed
every member Of the Ku-Kux is a id Radical" and
that all the outrages committed upon ConserYa-
yes The truth of the matter probably Is that this fell
low is a KuKlux himself. MI. smith shrewdy suspects
that he has left the military districts TO escape arrest
In nine cases out Of ten Yen VIII lind that the barroom
loungcrs the lers and vagabOnds Of society," of the
Conservative party They rail against the "ddngger"
puzzle their liquor during the day. and at night so
Ku-Klux raids, when there any unprotected par
ties they wish assai Their occupation, however is
now about gone through the movement Of the State Ex
| ecutivc
The body OF the white element in the Republican party
4. made I'D from the middle classes. The poor white
trash are all against the "ngger" also the old
arstocracy almost without exception. There is one
hone left for the South and that is the establishment and
If possible the enforcement Of education through the
South TwOthirds Of the people in North Carolina, am
| informed can neither read write. II thorough
system of education be organized by the General Gov
ernment, and money liberaly expended to carry out
the man. children Of the South be educated to