Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-10-13

honor Las known such converts. But {,
return TO the witness; one of these worth
les, by his own confession, actually init
ates hIs victims into the secret order anC
then bstrays them. Should such a crea
ture be believed on his oath?
Even after three of the accused are, t.
save appearances. acquitted, they ar,
ior'h with remanded to il TO stand tbei
| trial on other charges.
we aro as little the friend of secret DO
lItlcal societies as Judge Bond himself
and perhaps with more reason, hayipf
| never been elevated to office through the
| agency OF Que. We believe them to be sub.
vtrslve OF law and good order; but the Law
and it's mcuthpiece which pla es the Gber
ty Of the citizen at tho mercy of his secre,
foe according to Judge b. one will suf-
1cel; who ecruples not at a false oath. is
subVersive of justice and freedom, and ID
the keystone OF despctism. But why
Gentlemen, IL SO Jealous in ferretinR ont
| the oath-boand members of the <1nvisible
Empire" be not equally SO in discovering
those OF an antaGonistic order, TO correct
the abuses of which the raw head and
bloody: bones OF Ku-kluxism ostensibly
sprang into existence The fact has been
deduced and proven on divers State trials
in North Carolina that the 80 called LEA
gues," which include in their communion
nlne-tenths of all the negroes in the State,
white as we'll as black, constantly incuI.
cate and eDjoin in timidation of voters and
punishment of those blacks daring to vote
against,orders; nay, that they even employ
arson and murder in the interest of party.
Why grant them immunity for the identi-
Cal crime that white men are incarcerated
for
If actuated by worthy motives, lay YOUR
blows right aud left. on Ku-Klux and
Lacquer alike; or rather strike at the head
OF each, and you thereby kill them both.
One OF these is already known. He was
Governor of the State, as well as Chief of
the League, until outraged liberty and
law drove him like a whipped cur from his
dual emlnebce. warning and an example
for other Executives and Legislatures
Doubtless he knew his successor in the
league. and it is equally presumable that
there are thumb screws at Judge Bonds
disposal that will extort an avowal from
him: Rack him, your Honor, until he
confesses
Judge Bond says in his model charge
that the case under consideration surpass-
es In wickedness and brutality any that in
q long experience on the bench he had
ever seen. Therein, may it please your
donor. there is entire accord between US.
toFS3 judicial wickedness and brutality, it
stands to- day without o parallel in Ameri-
LOLA
In conclusion, 1 do unhesitatingly assert |
hat In court of such components, a Jury,
not packed, at least selected from individ- |
1als in acknowledged antagonism with the |
general community, a vindictive prosecu-
ion and partisan Judge, ambitious only |
If his masters approval, and thirsting for
the victims had nc more chance
If justice than has the unfortunate canine
n crowded thoroughfare against whom
raised the terrible cry Of ''mad dog."-
Jnder the circumstances, trial and convic.
ION were synonymous terms. For one,
however, had rather be of the eleven
rled than of the twelve triers, and throw
a his Honor, his witnesses and the prose-
uting attornies from which to make the
election.
l am, in conclusion, Mr.. Editor, as
udge Bond prefers, either myself or simp.
a CARoILNIAN,