Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-01-31
SENATE.

odS ucAL
. SENATE.
MONDAY, Jan. 81.
RULES SUSPENDED.
On motion of Mr.. Gudger, the bill
creating the Office of public guardians,
was taken from the calendar and re-
committed to the Committee.
Also, the bill to more definitely es-
tablish the State line, was taken from
the calendar and recommitted to the
Committee on Propositions aed Griev-
ances.
On motion of Harris, col, the bill
making Neuse river lawful fence from
the Johnston county line to the upper
falls of the Neuse, in Wake county.
was taken up and passed its several
readings.
SPECIAL ORDER.
The hour having arrived for the
special order, which was the consid-
Grafton of the amnesty and pardon bill.
Mr.. Welsh offered all amendment
to the amendment of Mr.. Seymour,
striking out for the crimes of muir
der and arson and the amendment
to read ''for the crimes of rape and bur-
glary-
Mr.. Welsh said that in Offering this
amendment he did it in good faith and
hoped it would be adopted.
Though he had never belonged to
any secret organization, political,
religious or otherwise, yet he knew
there was no paliation for the crimes
his amendment proposed to leave in the
bill. While he was opposed to all
crimes, no matter how, when or under
what circumstances committed, yet he
was in favor of the amnesty and pardon
asked for in the bill and should sup
/ port it.
t Mr. Norwood next addressed the
Senate In support of the bill. He bad
no expectation that discussion would
occur on second reading of the bill,
and did not expect to say anything
| himself Oh the bill. but since the dis
cussion had taken the present shape,
representing the constituency that he
does, the counties of Orange, Person
and Caswcl, he felt it duty incum-
bent upon himself to submit few re-
marks in regard to the enormous
! crimes said to have been committed.
The great question involved in the
present question WIS, whether or not
the Legislature should now do some
thing for the relief OF the citizens of
certain counties, or whether they
showed disposition to keep them
down. The speaker said he had some
complaints to make from members on
the other side of the House in their
representation of the great and enor-
nous crimes said to have been COM
mitted, but he would waive that, and
let it he admitted that the crimes are
great let the number of Ku-klux, so
termed, be estimated at 40, 600 let the
qualifications Of this order extend to
every county III the State he would
go further and say, let the concession
be made that all the crimes
committed were by this order :;
even then he was ready to meet
it and discuss the question of amnesty
and pardon upon its merits. The ques-
ton, is it for the State to offer par
don and amnesty and if SO, what are
the requisites? First Can the sover-
eigns of State do it? Is it not in the
power of the State to do SO without
conflicting with the general Govern
ment? There is no danger of a con-
hict. The general Government, sus-
tanned by the three great pillars of the
18th, 14th and 18th amendments, could
overtop all that we could 60, and
afforded n protection to its citizens
that no power could prevail against,
and it could not be weakened by any
acts of pardon or amnesty that We
could pass. The next requisite was
the manner and circumstances under
| which these acts of crime were COM
mitted, and also the numbers engaged
in the commission of these crimes.
40, 600 is the number estimated. Now
he would ask if this number of itself
was not sufficient for an act of mercy
and pardon?
! Under what circumstances were the
crimes committed? It is a most diff
cult task. and one hard to accomplish,
! to say, yet he would attempt it. The
speaker, after stating that the organi-
cations resulted from the effects of the
war ia which We were engaged, goes
On at considerable length to show that
! the war was inevitable; that neither
the North or South arc responsible for
it, but from a glowing defect i'll the
Constitution recognizing both free and
slave labor.
After the war, when those that were
engaged in it returned to their homes
and tiresi.les, they found quite changed
condition of affairs and circumstances.
He would speak of Orange county.
county that he knew more of. In that
county, soon after the war, crimes be-
came general, and to such an alarming
extent that two men by the name Of
Watson were outlawcdby the State gov
crnment. Other crimes were commit
ted by parties who :'layed' il on the
Watsons. Smoke houses were robbed.
sheep, hogs and cattle stolen; horses
taken and carried away, and it was i'm
possible for the civil law to reach Them
Even if they were arrested the jail of
tho county could not hold them. The
sympathy CT the cutr;dc was always
With those ihcatccrmted, and cyitdoers
got ont and went unwhipt Of Justice
Upon the heels of this. cnissarics filed
the county and established orders, by
what name he knew not, but they
taught the blacks to rise up and mas
saere the whites and many other acts
of lawlessaess in The gdcahulary of
crime. He wouldn't say these orders /!
were from or had any connection with the |
Union League, but he knew that such |
orders existed, the leaders of which |
taught the members hatred and ami !
mostly to the white race. He also !
knew that while these disorders were !
going ~ III oyer the county, that
armed negro sentinels we're placed on
the streets of Hillsboro', PERSONS were
threatened with their lives, and the
greatest fear and alarm perva,le,l the
whole community. 1t was at this time
that a returned Confederate soldier
suggested the idea of what was after
wards acted upon, viz: the organization
in that town of 200 minute men, organ
lied expressly for mutual protection
aud the protection of property. This
was the commencem, ut of organiza-
tja..s ~ Grauee county, and thus it
aktelIei Hltiie-ileo..s44 :. powerful and
efisctivss ss.@asisa.saa. i sR.4ty tie er
took fine aggrse s.-isss aud DID
commit otlenses through malice. The
.ltasf IN his county was NUN arous and .
smist.atf ~ seff best IdIflen in the {.
county. s