The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-05-20
PaHgent Letter.
CAPT. sHoTWELL TO GOV. CALDWELL
~ OF NORTH CAROLINA.

~ of NoHTH CAROLINA. 9 =.
) { .-.ar ~ = 81
Some time since, says the Will.
mfngton Journal, literary society
belonging to Rutherford College ell
ected Governor Caldwell On honorary
member, and he accepted. The Gov
ernor afterwards learned that Capt.
X. A. Shotwell, the associate editor
of the Southern Home, and the gen.
tleman who has suffered so much at
the hands Of the Radical party, was
also an honorary member Of the So
ciety. Thereupon he wrote to the
society, resigning his membership,
stating in the strongest terms that
he would have no utilization with a
Ru-Klux. Three years ago Govern
or Caldwell sat by the Federal pros
ecuting officer in whispered confer
ence with him in Bonds Court, upon
the trial Of Captain Shotwell, trial
from which he was carried to Jail as
convict. To-day this man Cald-
well, who by virtue Of the negro vote
writes himself Governor of North
Carolina, must content himself with
declining to remain a member of the
same literary society with Captain
Shotwell. The concluding portion
of letter from Captain Shotwell to
Governor Caldwell, published in the
Southern Home, explains ITSELF:
CHARLOTTE, N. c.,
April 10, ls74.}
To His E1cellency, Tod R. Caldwell:
II \. r. Il
There is another reason for my
not taking offence at your Excellen-
cy's refusal to affiliate with me, to-
wit: The impossibility Of knowing
whether you are sincere or not in
your refusal. Sometimes your Elk
cellency says things that you do not
mean. For example: At Valley
Mountain, in September, 1851, you
fired the hearts of the Burke "Ti.
gers" by exhorting them to fight to
the bitter end to hurl back the ruth
less invader, and Stay the last Yam
kee as though he were black snake,
and you warned them that if they de-
serted the field to sneak to the rear,
where you were, they should be held
up to the scorn and contempt which
they deserved. The poor men, who
had been persuaded by your Excel
lency to volunteer, believed your
words, and too many Of them met
death as you exhorted them to do
Alas how they were deceived. Ten
years later your Excellency, when
reminded Of your words by Captain
J. c. Mills, of Burke county, actually
confessed that your object was to
'get the SecessiOnists killed off,"
Another instance: In 1870 you
pramised Colonel 3. S. Gather and
others to do all you could to obtain
the removal Of their disabilities.
You wrote letter strongly urging
their pardon. Then YOU despatched
secret letter afterwards accident
ally published) deEouncing these
gentlemen, your next door neighhors,
as arrant rebels, who must not be
pardoned under any circumstances.
They were not pardoned until long
afterwards.
Such facts show the futility of be-
lievsng anything your Excellency
may say or of taking offence att, I
am sure that when the young gentle
man of the Platonic Society, whom
your Excellency has treated SO con-
temptuously, shall become old enough
to vote you will recall your letter to
them, as you did your Valley Noun
tain speech and neighbors' applica-
ton for pardon. .'s
In conclusion permit me to urge
your Excellency to abandon the
League and other bad company, to
cultivate decency and good manners,
truth, candor, and self-respect, to
cease to insult gentlemen unless you
intend to give them satisfaction, and
to endeavor to keep from making
yourself the object of contempt and
ridicule throughout the State. -, II
l remain at your Excellency's ser.
vice, r. A. sHoTwkLL.
How GOVERNORS GET Their AR
MES IN ARKANsAs.--A Gazette man
encountered a Brooks negro, yester'
i L L y,