Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-09-29
How ONE STATE WAS RUINED.

REPUBLICAN LEADERS-HOW NEGRO
LEGISLATORS WERE CORRUPTED,
&C. &C.. sc.
The following address of Jno. T. De-
weese, now of Cleveland, Ohio, and since
the war member of Congress from North
Carolina, is published in the Raleigh
ss.News." He was one of the carpet-baggers
who helped to misgovern that State after
the war had closed. and he was twice
elected to Congress from the Raleigh dis
trict by the aid of the negro vote. He left
the State some years ago, and processes to
have repented of his misdeeds while acting
with the Republican party. At any rate,
whether he is sincere in his repentance or
not, he has made an open confession, which
is good for his soul, but exceedingly bad
for his former associates, who have re-
presented Grants administration there,
and are now the leaders of the Hayes and
Wheeler party in North Carolina. The
James H. Harris mentioned in it, is the
leading cclored politician in the State, and
the chief manager of the Republican party
there. Holden is the impeached and dis
graced governor who desired to see Grant
made emperor and to have his son Fred
succeed him on the throne:
DEWEEsE's ADDRESS.
To the Voters of North Carolina:
When left your State, six years ago, it
was with determination to never again
mingle in politics; but, in a quiet way,
vote for and support the men and party [
thought best for my country's welfare.
I had also determined that SO far as any
matters connected with politics in your
State were to be of Il sealed nature, so far
as was concerned, to let the dead past
bury its dead-shed no tears over its grave;
but unfortunately, perhaps, for some OF the
parties concerned, they concluded they
would shift their sins on to my shoulders.
| Now, have enough of my own to bear,
and propose, in few statements, to put
the sin where it properly belongs.
In the first place was, as you know, an
officer in the regular army of the United
States stationed among you from the close
of the war until | resigned to take the ap-
pointment of Register in Bankruptcy,
which [ held until 1868, when l was elected
to Congress. When the Constitutional
Convention Of 1868 was in session, Messrs.
Soutter & Co., bankers of New York city,
were DESTROYS of getting that asSemblage
of corrupt and doubtful representation to
endorse 81, 900 900 of old State bonds, or
re-pledge the faith of the State to their
payment. was then inexperienced in all
kinds of legislation, but had quite an ex-
tensive acquaintance with the members of
that body. One of them, Gen. Joseph G.
Abbot late a Senator in Congress, On
learning what Messrs. Soutter Il Co. want
ed, told me that they would pay some con-
siderable money to get the Convention to
pass law re-endorsing the bonds; that if
I would see a Mr. Porter, then in Raleigh,
and make bargain for some definite sum,
he (Abbott) would put the bill through the
Convention, and we would divide the
money received from Messrs. Soutter Il
Co. did as he suggested. Mr.. Porter
agreed to give $4,000. Gen. Estes, then a
partner, or in some way connected with
Abbott, represented Abbott; the bill was
passed. and the money paid 10y draft on
New Y ork and cashed at the Raleigh Ma
, tional Bank. The money was divided in
Abbot's room, he and Estes taking $500
and l getting the other $500. Of this
sum, [ gave $500 to Major Rice, from
Pitt county; $3.50 to James H. Harris, and
kept the remainder.
This was the commencement OF the swim
dies that were perpetrated by the Conven-
ton and Legislature which led to the finan-
of the Convention the bill was passed Civ
ing State aid to the Chatham road. and
100000 of bonds were given to Gen. Little
field to pay the members for their votes.
LEGISLATURE FOR SALE.
The Legislature met, and the members,
ever clamorou for all kinds of Swindles
and steals, their influence and their votes
were up for sale to the highest bidder. At
that time the Ring was formed by Sweep
son. Abbott and Littlefield by which all of
these stealing laws were passed. They hal
. up to that time been friendly with me.
was, through their influence and liberal
use of money, nominated for Congress.
Mr.. James H. Harris was the only oppo-
nent had in the Convention, and he was
paid by me ST. 600 to get out of the way
and support me paid him by check on
the Raleigh National Bank, dated Feb. 2S,
1868. Abou; this time the Ring concluded
: they would make a close corporation and
shake me, but demurred, and MI. Sweep
son paid me 900 and [ released any
claim I had on them. OF the spoilS of the
Ring.
I was again nominated, when Harris
, again wanted to leach me !; and this time
the colored patriot would take no less than
$1,000, thus making me bleed $4,000 to
represent as n can and worthless a cOnStiL-
uency of whites and blacks as ever called
themselves Republicans. They should have
been called by their proper names of thieves
and leeches [ had, by this time, come to
the conclusion that Swepson, Abbott, Lit
tlefield & Co. would be tired of their shak-
ing in the way they had. So 1 saw jude
Sammy Watts; made arrangements wi h
Judge Watts to enjoin the issue of bonds
to the railroad company, and he was to
have S.. 900 of State bonds for issuing and
| ,fo; i,,;, in, md
Tennessee Railroad case. The suit was in
the name of one Kehoe of Newbern; the
case was fixed up, and Sammy got his
$4,000. There was but one railroad, [ now
remember of, that did not pay tribute to
this Ring, and that was the Salem road.
They declined to "bleed."
1t was well understood that Mr.. Sw ep-
son was to and did take care of Gov. Hol-
den, and that he was paid for his influence.
Andy Jones and Swep$on have often told
me that Swepson paid Gov. Holden some
5000. besides his stock in the Raleigh
National Bank. 1 know that Littlefeld
gave Gov. Holden $4,000 for the "Stand-
and" The price was high, but the Cover
nor gave his countenance and encourage
ment to steal his State. So it was about
even.
Gov. Holden. Bill Sloan Andy Jackson
Jones, Windy Billy Henderson, Joe Alb
bolt, Gen. Estes, Sam Watts, Jim Harris,
NJ. s. Littlefeld, r. W. Swepson. and Tim
Lee, all had a share in these steals.
AN ANXIOUS PARENT.
]. C. L. Harris wanted to lie Postmas-
ter; his daddy, G. L. Harris, offered me
81 600 to sign his recommendation. de-
cllned Harris then had Shaffer, the car
pet-bag register, who has about as much
brain as a bull calf, TO write me letter.
offering me 81 900 to sign il. I declined.
Logan then wanted to fight me in Mahlers
jewelry store for not giving him RECON-
mendatiOn.
Littlefeld, Swepson and Abbott are to
blame, one as much as the other, for the