The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-09-12
Radical outrages in North Carolina,

Radical Outrnges In North Cnro1inn.J
A letter from Rocky Mount to the
New York Sun gives some idea of the
kind Of outrages daily perpetrated in
North Carolina. The writer says:
10 show up the Ku Klux bill in its
true colors as o powerful political engine
to be welded by the President for private
purposes, let us see what class Of citi-
zens ore coerced in exercising their
rights Of citizenship. That sword is
said to be o dangerous one which cuts
both ways. A large majority OF the ne
groes in North Carolina arc congregated
in'the Eastcrn Counties, where the soil
Is more fertile, cotton is grown, and
wages nro higher. The whites preponde-
rate in the Western Counties, vet
United States troops arc always sent to
Alamance and other Western Counties,
to keep straight mon who huvo always
been accustomed to tho bnllot, while in
tho East tho negro neophytes need no
protection.
Does it not occur to the most superb
cial thinker that ignorant. poor, thrift
less blacks, recently enfranchised, would
need more protection mt the ballot-box
than tho whites? Then, why are tho
troops disposed as they nre? The con
clusion is inevitable. The negroes are
swayed by the office holders, who in turn
bend the pregnant hinges Of the knee
to General Grant, that ''thrift may fol-
low fawning'" If intimidation at the
ballot-box prevails anywhere in North
Carolina, and the protecting presence Of
soldiers is required, then Eastern or no
gro Carolina is the place; for if a negro
should dare to vote the conservative
ticket in the negro country, he would do
SO at the poril of his life. Many in
stances of scourging are known. Two
only will be mentioned, MS they found
publicity through the courts, and the
trials were held in the presence Of the
writer.
One occurred near Stantonsburg, in
Wilson County. A negro with O large
family, whom his individual exertions
were inadequate to support, and who
was generously assisted by his en-
ployer, had the temerity, notwithstand-
ing the threats mnde against him by his
colored brethren, instigated by the white
othce-seekers, to vote with his employer,
q Mr.. Barnes. The next night hc was
visited by twenty-five stalwart blacks,
grotesquely painted, and bearing each
bundle of rods.
61LeOA kOAAiAJAuS Iho SACtllu b lhully,
cursing, abusing and threatening to kill
them, they stripped him Of his shirt and
drawers, and then dragged him to the
woods. Here they tied him, and then
proceeded to administer the most un-
merciful castigation on his bnre back.
The duty Of hogging WAS too onerous
for one man, SO one would whip until he
was tired, and then fresh man would
take the place OF the exhausted one and
80 on until all had played a proportion
ate part. More dead than alive, this
almost inanimate mass of human gore
finally gasped promise that lie would
henceforth vote with them, and then
these renominating agents desisted.
Near Battleboro, in Edgecombe Coun-
ty, colOred man was surrounded in his
corn-field, by select committee of
Union Leaguers. Without stating the
why's and whercfores, he was rudely
torn from his work and Carried under
arrest to Bnttlcboro. He besought his
captors to allow him to see lis family,
and tell them where ho was going, so ms
to save them all anxiety. lie was told
to ''shut up his ID mouth, or he'd get
it busted He was hanled up before
tho political inQuisition, until he was at
length intimidated into q promise to
support the Grant ticket, and released.
These instances nre now matters of re-
cord, and can be seen in the clerk s Office
Of Nash md Wilson Counties, and also
IN Edgecombo County, where the pnrties
were tried.