Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-01-20
NORTH CAROLINA,
Baptism and Impeachment of Governor
Holden

A letter to the New York Herald, dated
Raleigh, Sd inst. says the sensation of the
hour, in the absence of more exciting
events during the holidays, is the
BAPTISM OF GOVERNOR HOLDEN,
which took place on Sunday evening. Du-
ring the morning service at the Baptist
church, the suspended Executive rose in
his seat and reviewed at length his re-
ligious experience, going over the greater
portion of his life from his sixteenth birth
day downwards. He said: ST have done
great deal of wrong in my life, but l will,
with Heavens help, endeavor to do better
hereafter. 1 will do my duty to myself,
my fellow-men, my country, and my God. .
The penitent Governor was then received
into fell membership in the Church, as
was also his estimable lady. At the even
ing service both were baptized, the text
selected for the occasion by the Rev. DIR.
Pritchard being Acts of the Apostles, xii,
16. TIE entire chapter was read by the
divine, presenting in q most striking light
the persecution of the Christians by Paul,
and the Subsequent conversion of that
Apostle to the religion of the Redeemer.
1t was remarked that the text and sermon
bore a striking analogy to the spiritual
reformation OF tho Governor, who all the
time wore a humi.iated and Christan-like
air. The sermon or text was not inten-
tionally levelled at the Governor by the
clergyman, whose sole object is the con-
version of sinners. whether they be objects
of legislative impeachment Or convicted
penitentiary felons-whether they be of
high or low degree; for the greater the
sinner the greater need of repentance, is
DIR. Pritchard's motto. There was only an
ordinary congregation present, as it was
not generally known the Governor would
no ha1N EhnY, N1.AC L..
into the baptism4l font the entire congre-
cation rose to their feet. some eagerly
climbing on the seats to obtain better
view OF the ceremony. After few re
marks In advocacy Of immersion, which
the reverend doctor never fails to make,
he said: I'm obedience to the command
of the Great Head of the church, I bap-
tie you, my brother, in the name Of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen" The Governor was then
gently lowered, and the entire body being
Immersed, he was again placed in an upo
right position, when he slowly and with
seeming difficulty assembled from the pool
dripping with the sacred water, and he
from view.
HoLDEN's IMPEACHMENT.
The comments of the northern press in
regard to the impeachment of Governor
hOANCA dLC 1Cd0 ucIc Will mOTG GudQ
binary interest, and the supposition that
there is a conspiracy on the part of the
Democrats in the Legislature is received
with more indignation than amusement,
and often a little of both. Holden was
impeached at the almost unanimous de-
mand of the people, whose liberties they
regarded, were outraged by his summary
arrests, imprisonments, tortures and the
refusal to allow them the benefit of the
writ of habeas corpus. AS far as a thor
ough investigation of the facts go, am
to say that the Legislature were
forced by outraged public opinion to their
action in the impeachment of the Gov
ernor. Anybody intimately acquainted
with the history of political events in this
State since the close of the war will agree
that the course of the Republicans who
were in power in every branch of the gov
ernment-the executive, legislative and
Judlcial-has been aggressive, corrupt and
The executive usurped
his functions the Legislature ruined the
credit Of the State and made it bankrupt,
and the judiciary were VIGOROUSLY parti-
san, from the negro magistrate to the
Chief Justice on the Supreme bench. To
such an extent had these enormities gone
that in the recent elections the State went
against the Republicans,
the finances being the main issue. There
is now scarcely chance of that party ever
again regaining their lost power, the as
5ertion of the Governor to the contrary