The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-13
From the Columbia Phoenix.
4 Review of the Recent husziux Ar1afs
Judge Bonds Charge.


Before Judge Bond came here, OF when he
first came, we took tie ground that 1t was not
proper to prejudice him. Although his
North Carolina career had piacea MN III II
very uncnviable light before many OF our
people, yet it was, nevertheless. proper 10
observe first his conduct here before coming
70 conclusions adverse to him in his high
office rs Judge. Colonel McMaster took the
ground that the iuries were packed juliess.
All the indications point to this rs posi-
tive fact. II seems us that even higher
ground NAV be taken. When we come
70 Judge Bonds bias, IT'S exhibited during
the late trials. and 10 his dnanlus, as
exhibited in his pumping Of the witnesses
and his reflections upon South Carolina, we
NAV say, further. that Judge Bond nli1isen
was substantially packed. As for MesslS.
Corbn and Chamberlain and their co-cotln-
sci, Major Merrill. they were also substall-
TALLY packed. And when We come, lastly, TO
the witnesses from York, upon whose testl-
monv the Government rested, that they were
| trained and packed is also evident TO any OBJ
server who may have watched the progress
of the trials. Thus we hold that the whole
piiair was a one-sidcd, partial, packed con-
Germ, including even one ct the Judges on
the bench. The purpose was to make poii1l-
cal matter, 1T all hazards, ont OF kukiuXsm.
For this purpose Judge Bond was sent
hither: for this purpose were Ne>srs. Ccrblh
and Chamberlain and Major Merrill active
and sympathetic. If the prosecution had
LEGAL rutfian. 50 had the bench a ruilian Judge.
If this be treason, make the most of it; but
if it be reason, make the most Of IL also.
And to think Of the Acknowledgement pur-
s,;inr York ktlkluX when he is himself
worse than York lyUkllix-a monetary krl-
kluy--an official outlaw, who has done his
par; in l1tkluXing the finances and credit OF
The state!
! Cut let Ia now briefly review the kukluN
trials and the charge OF Judge Bond. What
does the evidence show when fairly con-
| strucd: That there was local organization
is evident; that it was for sct-protcction is
evident: that it resulted from SCOTS armiDg
! of the negro militia, and the general laWleS5-
hess Of the counties involved, is evident;
that lvnch law was executed in some cases
! end that unjust iablc outlNIcs were also CON-
mittcd, is true. That all this was wrong,
however grcatthc provocation, we have ever
held But admitting this, and rcsrettinS
that any portion Of our people should ever
have rcsortcd to secret societies as mode OF
redress for their grieyous wrongs, we yet fail
| to discover any good reason Tor Judge
Bonds pumping Of the prisoners, ana Tor
his infamous unfair charge with which he
wound up his career on the bench IN the rc'
cent trials.
We are told that Judge Bond was leading
member Of the know-Nothinc organization
of Baltimore. Did he acquire his tiger-like
thirst for kuilux blood in that school when,
in the Monumental City, the foreigner had to
undergo so severe trial? We are told that
he rose from the position Of police judge
to the high federal judgeship he now holds
Did he acquire III the police-court room the
habit of wringing from frightened prisoners
the evidence upon which to fasten charges
well or ill-founded, upon absent persons
| What right. we ask, has Judge Bond to CUES
ton prisoners not under oath, and make them
submit to a sharp cross-eXamination from the
bench, with the view Of getting them to I'M
riicatc appointment men" and ministers ofthe
gospel in the up-country. 1t was noticeable
that "prominent men" and ministers OF the
gospel were the two classes that MesslS
Bond and Corbin-twin rutfians-were
especially keen to getinvolvcd in the lncshes OF
their kukluX net.
| And here we pause moment to inquire OF
Messrs. Corbin and Merrill as to the result OF
their efforts to iulplicate certain prominent
Carolinians in the lI,lkluX matter. 1t will be
|
all the time last summer just on the point OF
springing grand mino that was to blow up
certain eminent persons. Was it because
it was thought that such men rs Hamp-
| ton. or Kersllaw, or Butler, were to be found
at the head Of the kukluX khan as Grand
"Cvclopsn or "Centrcs?' And were Ma.
! ;or Corbin and BIajor Merrill disappointed
in not being able to connect Hampton, OF
Kershaw, or Butler, with the kuklux organ
ization? And did they make i'll York a
strenuous effort to get those men involved?
| But to return to Judge Bonds charge.
What shall be said Of this judicial perform
ance? This may be said with truth: that
Judge Hugh l.. Bond speaks with the voice
and spirit Of the prosecutor, although bear
| ing the sceptre and wearing the mantle OF
the Judge. Judge Bond said that murder
and rape were not unfrequent accOmpanl-
| ments of the raids. That life was taken and
| that outlages were committed cannot be de-
MED; but that rape was frequent accompa-
niment is not established by the evidence.
Besides, there is reason to believe that much
that was represented as having taken place
had existence only in the fancy of the wit
nesses. Whatever outragcs were commit
ted, we condemn them; but this is not the
| point now.
| The point we now make is that Judge
| Bonds charge is predicated upon the fact
| that the men who confessed acknowledged
that they had conspired against the suffrage.
| This is really not the case. He said:
"You have pleaded guilty to an indictment
which charges you with conspiring with
other men throughout this State to intmidate
certain class Of voters by means Of threats,
It'll Int x.f.