The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-05
Tae Holden.kirk War.

WHAT HOLDEN CoNFESSED ~ hE'. AN. o!'i"
,ry-A CARD OF EXPLANATION FROM Mr..
r,lrY-TuE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHARGE
.B.E WITH THE MURDER OF FSTEPHENS-HoI4-
NY ~ UNWILLING INSTRUMENT. .5
The following card was published in the
pa,rjrl .TcrS of the Sd:
in the Uqiiy Ae1rS OF the Both ultimo an
or,icIe wa> published which purports to
.,iyc ;hc Substance OF 2 statement made by
7,c "a certain gentlemen at Cameron on the
r;rht oi the 18th. AS o matter OF justice to
my.eH and all the parties concerned it be-
comes necessary for ne to state the follow
ing facts;
,;on in Fayetteville was introduced to eX-
cnvnrnor Holden. During the session OF
the Convention l was invited to dine with
him and accepted the invitation. spent
th~ afternoon with him, returning to the
Egnti,t church after tea. Our intercourse
VA, free and agreeable. BE gave me ON ac-
rnrnt of his religious experience and OF
his rolj.ical troubles. He stated to me tnat
The nlan of the "Kirk war originated with
the Executive Committee OF the Republican
Marty q, Washington, in the interest OF the
marry. that he was opposed to II, but was
allowed no discretion in the matter; that II
WAS lcc,Icd bv that committee to inaugu-
rate and prosecute the campaign rs he did
il. that II he did not carry out the wishes
ci inc l,artv he and the State were to be
crushed; and that ii he was successful IN the
execution of their plans he would probably
receive a Cabinet appointme1t-the Secre-
taryship oi the Interior.
In reference to the death Of Stephens, l
understood from him that the Republicans
had much TO do with that crime; that the
,,ro,ecution Of those who were charged with
i Was discontinued because testimony was
either elected, or likely to be elected, which
would implcate or criminate prominent
members of the Republican party; that
these icars were awakened in part by the
discovery OF the coil from which the rope
wa, cut which was found on the neck OF the
murdered man.
The statements OF Governor Holden left
on me the clear and distinct impression that
he had been the unwilling instrument for
the accomplishment OF the purposes OF his
rsy.r. and that he did not merit the odium
wlSrh attached to his name all over the
state.
During the session of the late COnStitu-
tonal Convention called on Governor Hol-
den. in his office, at his own request. In
very pleasant interview, reference was made
10 the removal OF political disabilities by
Congress. and also to the removal OF his own
disabilities by the Convention, then IN ses-
sion. 50 favorably was / impressed with
statements made by him that called on Kew.
!. y. Stalings, of Duplin, and few other
members. and requested them to use their
influence 10 have Governor Holden's dlsa-
blitc> removed.
! stated these facts. or some OF them, in
the conversation referred to ir the NelcS rs
mentioned above. have also given them
in other parts OF the State where Governor
Holden happened to be the subject OF con-
lerSa;i0n. 1t was done in the free-and-easy
,'yle Of social intercourse, and though l
>tated nothing which was not true, L did
not cXp2ct 10 see it in the newspapers or in
Print
In any statement which / may have made
rancernine Judge Bond or the hanging OF
Judge Kerr I gave, or meant to give, my
own opinions, based on information received
iTom other sources, not from anything SAID
10 lie by Governor Holden. So far as J
can now recollect he has never spoken te
lie in reference to either OF those gentle
MeH.
have maze this statement in the interes
oi truth. and not OF any political party
also As Il matter Of justice to myself and al
the persons mentioned in the Meas OF thu
30th. G. L. BAILEY.
The AerS says: "We learn from tht
most credible authority that Governor
Holden denounced the story told by Mr.
Bailey as fabrication, without founda
ton in fact. He denied In the most posi-
tive manner that he had ever had any sucl
conversation with Mr.. Bailey as that re
ported b. that gentleman, and denied fur
ther that he had ever appealed to any on
10 exercise his or her influence for the re
lnoyal Of his disabilities. Thus the matter
is reduced to mere question OF yeracity
between Mr.. Bailey and Governor Holden
Mr. Bailey is a gentleman OF the highes
character and most spotless reputation. Nt
man in the State can hesitate as to which o.
the two is the more worthy Of belief"