Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-05-17
BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE HOLDEN,KIRK WAR

ProDOse to Give this Morning a
BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE HOLDEN KIRK WAR
aud OF Events Happening During the
Administration of William w. EHOl-
dem. Late Governor of North Caro-
lime, I'm Order that the People may
see what is i'm Store for tlrem If the
Radicals again get into Power.
Governor Holden was inaugurated as
Governor under the present Constitution
ON the 4th of July, 1868. In his Inaugural
Address on that day he dweIt at length
upon the necessity and Importance OF
strengthening the military arm OF the Gov
eminent. On the 18th of August, 1865, in
response thereto, the Legislature, at a
special session, passed a bill giving au-
thority to organize and equip - force to
be known as the detailed militia of North
Carolina Under this Act Capt. Bosher's
command was raised. On the 18th OF
November, 1865 in his first annual mes
sage, the Governor announced that he had
procured arms and again called attention
to the want of efficiency i'll the military
department, at the same time, however,
declaring that peace and quiet prevailed.
On the 18Th of February, 1869, Il bill
was passed comforting upon the Governor
unlimited power to appoint and pay spies.
From this date spies, intormers and caves
troopers infested every community in this
State. From this date the Governor had
absolute command OF the Treasury OF the
State. How he used it the Auditors books
plainly show.
In March, 1869, the Governor sent Capt
Bosher and his vagabonds to occupy Ala
nance county.
On the 24th OF March, 1869, party of
men, consisting of Jos. w. Holden, Speaker
of the House Of Representatives, various
employees and officers of the State govern
ment, and others, met JOSIAH TURNER,
Jr., at the depot in Raleigh, and i'll a body
assaulted him. Mr.. TURNER'S GOODNESS
and pistol saved his life. The parties were
arrested and carried before the Mayor.
The Governor also appeared Of his own
accord, avowed his previous knowledge OF
the conspiracy to make the assault, and his
endorsement of all that had been done.
The Mayor ordered him to keep silent
which he utterly refused to do. He could
not be silenced, nor was he punished fol-
contempt of court. A few nights thereafter
an attempt was made to assassinate Mr.
TURNER by shooting him through the
window, near which he sat writing. This
time Mr.. TURNER'S life was saved by the
change of it's direction caused by the
passage of the ball through the glass anC
window slat. This was within a few feet
Of the Court House and during Court
week, yet neither the Judge nor the jury
took any notice of the occurrence
On the 10th April, 1869, the Legislature
passed an act making it a felony -nuniSha
bic with five and ten years impf .onmen
in the penitentiary to"Isea deadly weapon
When it is remembered that good lick
DRY stick is deadly weapon i'll law, that
the Sherifs, Solicitors and Judges were
ready to force an acquittal of a party FRIEND
or in case of conviction, that the Cover
nor was ready to pardon him, the practlea
operation of this law will be readily seen.
Mr.. Turner's pistol was exercising a strong
influence. On the 18th April, 1860, two
days, thereafter, the Painting act, or the
one making the wearing disguise Tel
ony was passed. This act, as it was frs
sought to be passed, in effect legalizcd thu
shooting of men on the highway at pleas
are.
In June, 1869, the Governor sen
Captain BOshers' and other troops to oc
e~. cupy Jones and Lenoir counties. Of Wax
county be also took military possession
On the goth of October, 1869, by a forlna
proclamation, he threatened, to declare
Lenoir, Jones, Orange and Chatham coun
ties to be in state of insurrection. bc
remembered that this was tiTee month
before the passage of the Shofner Bill.
On the 30th of October, 1861 In an eoi
torial in the St4lrsgard, written ana &c
knowledged by himself, the Governor re
ferring to the last 2named prociamatlon dc
clared that under the PROSTITUTION an
laws of the State, he hadFthe right to dc
clare a county to be,in state of insured
ton, and that the effect thereof would
"to suspend all civil law as it was su'
pended in 1866"
IN the 10Th Oh NOVeAOeI, low, ~ -
second annual message to the Legislature
he again renewed his demand for MOI
military power, complaining that undo
~ the present militia law he was compar;
lively powerless to enforce the laws. @
the 18th Of December, 1869, in speci
message, he again called attention to IL
necessity for amendments to the milit
law, and again asked that the arm of Il
Executive might be strengthened. III
response to this appeal for mole militia
power was the introduction into Il
Senate, on the same day, of the infamo
Shofner Bill. This Bill attempted to a
thcrize him to declare county to be
insurection. Mr.. Cook, carpet-b
Senator from Johnston county, urged as
reason for the passage of the bill that pt
sons accused could be tried by drum-he
courts-martlal and shot. In the House
Representatives an amendment, in t
very words of the Constitution, propOs,
to the bill, declaring that the militia