Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-03-24
From the Washington Patriot
Our Diplomacy DIsgraced.

recent pretended investigation Of the con
dition Of North Carolina, have received
the rewards OF their revolving infnmy,
Our history furnishes 10 exGmpIe. urI1-
any former administration, Of public nat.
ronage being prosiituted 10 the scand Ions
purposes which are revealed in the IN.
pointments to which public attention i
now invited. Thomas Settle was known
in North Carolina az one OF tie most via
lent secessionists and enemies OF the Union
during the rebellion, When Holden and
others like him, who had dragged lie
State into secession, rocanted and made
profitable transfer or their "principleg" ia
the Union side, Settle Joined them, and
was appointed q judge Of the Supreme
Court in 1861, in consideration Of biz new
| born "IOvaIty." Bat he could not take
bis scat without being first purified in tic
crucible of = Radical Congress. This fast
was reluctantly cxtorted from him when
ho appeared before the committee, and We
cite il, in order that ais true STATUS may be
understood:
Question. Were you ever nader political
disabilities
Answer. Yes. sir.
Question. Were they removed ?
Answer. They were * in lSCS.
This person lajored throughout lis tts.
| timopy TO produce tho impression that
disorder prevailed in North Carolina. anu
no came prepared with n rehas' of all the
old caiumnios md reports which Mr.. Nor
ton had elaborated with aurh little effect
upon the public mind over year ago.
After his partisan recital, he WIS compel
led to admit that it had no present appli-
cation, as will be seen by tho following
passage:
Question. understand you 10 ray that
all these cases o/ gross OUt,-ugeS but one were
committed eighteen months aGop
Answer. Yes, sir.
In order TO understand lie interested
motive OF this witness. it ehonil bo stated
that convention TO reform the cOnetittl-
ton Of North Carolina is about 10 he
called, by which Holden's corrupt courts,
Of which Settle lisa judge, and other Official
Imrositions which now Cypress the people
will be swept away. Tie had hardly CON
plotted his testimony before the committee
when he was appointed Minister PIenipo-
tentiary to Peru.
fragrant as this case il, it bears no com
pariaon with another which has inst or-
cured. The country ia familiar with The
names of Kirk and bergen, two hired ruf-
fans whom Holden imported from East
Tennessee into North Carolina last sum
ner n"a -.I.-, A.. '.,...sl.ur sC,.Ia1 1,t,,,
dred men, perpetratcd many atrocionq
outrago3 upon the most 1csEectqb!e ana
peaceful citizens Of CasWell and Alamapce
before the Investigating Com mittee to
testify against the very people whom they
had so cruelty and barbarously treated.
and to swear III their own behalf against
the damning evidence which exists against
them and their employers.
In order that the public may have some
idea OF the character about TO be presented
to notice. a few extracts ar raken from his
own testimony
George Il. Bergen sworn and examined:
Question. Wero you, 1T any time during
he year 1870, Lieutenant Colonel under
COLONEL Kirk, in command Of tho North
Carolina State militia
Answer. L was. y
Question. Of what State sra you n
native
Answer. New Jersey.
Question. Were you over a citizen Of
North Carolina
Answer. I am not sufficiently we'll in
ormcd TO answer that question. 2 g
Question. Was tho period Of your scr,
yicc there tho only period Of your resi-
lenco in that State nj that time
Answer. Yes; / never was in tho Stat
before. K Z 4
Question. Upon what charges wero yon
rrested at Dan7ille
Answer. Upon tho charge Of larceny
# stealing pistol from f. 4. Wiley i
Such is the description which Bergen
ives Of himself. Now let rs see what IL
lid Of him by some of the people whom
10 and his gang outraged 30 shocllingly
Lucien IL. Murray, merchant, sworn
nd examined:
Answer. Colonel Bergen came to
ny tent with a candle III his hand. / had
Iot gone to sleep. L raised up nag head
aid he, "Is that You, Murray p said +,
1t IS, and he walked back to his tent
u short time he came back again with
ut any candle, touched mo on my feet.
nd told nae to get up and come out. 7
sked him If l could put on my shoes. lie
Old me, " No, you won't have any use for
hem long" went ont, and he took me
oto his teDt with three other men. They
il had pistols. He told mo / must now
lake confession ; If L did not lie would
low my damned heart out
Question. He had o pistol in bis hand ?
Answer. Yea, sir.
Question. Cooked?
Answer No, Sir ; he did not have it
Ocked then he was sitting on the bed.
Question. How many men had he /?
Answer. Three men. L told him L knew
nothing to confess.
Question. You then told him about what
on had told us
Answer. Just what / have told you
Don't the same thing. He told me then,
You arc damned liar" and got up, and
! four of them cooked their pistols, and
o told mo if / did not confess he would
ow my heart ont.
Question. Pointed the pistols at your
east
Answer. Yes, sir. Then he
1t rope around my neck, took me out
piece OF woods about seventy-fiye
rds, tied my hands behind me, and led
G up to tree, threw the rope over
ND, and asked me if was ready TO make
y confession. l told him ! had no con-
ssion to make. Then they drew me up
the ground, and lot me hang there
tie while-not long.
Question. By slip-knot?
Answer. 1t was q slip-knot.
Question. Choked you
Answer. Yes: chol1ed mo pretty bad; let
0 hang little while. Then let mo down
d asked me if / was ready to confess J.
Id him had no confession to make
Id he, eff you don't confess will break
ur damned neck, " and he gathered the