Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-22
North Carolina.


Since the publication Of our last issue,
gentleman who has taken a conspicuous
part in the campaign just closed in this
state has placed in our hands the third an
nual message Of W. W. Holden, former
governor OF North Carolina. The follow
ing extracts are somewhat after the fair "
for Vermont readers, but will serve to arm
them with the indisputable facts as to the
actual condition Of things in that state
1.-THE present government Of North Carolina
commenced Its operations on the 4th day OF July,
1868 This government is based on the political
and civil equality OF all men, and II was lawfully
and constitutlonally established by the whole
people OF the state. The state had just emerged
from protracted and desperate conflict with the
government OF our common country, In which
many valuable lives and vast amount Of prop
erty had been sacrificed II was hoped and ex-
pected that the government thus established, after
80 much suffering and so many calamites, would
be allowed to move quietly forward, protecting
all alike, dispensing its benefits with an equal
hand, and preparing the way for a realization Of
that prosperity which the state had formerly en-
joyed. But The validity Of he reconstruction acts
icds questioned and the authority Of The state tcds
represented as having been deriued in such man
ner as 10 render Il binding the people only until
an opportunity should be offered 10 hroto u Of.
Combinations ioere formed IN udrious parts Of The
state, Of a secret character The object Of tohich
,cds 10 render practically null and void he recon-
strvtction acts, and 10 set at ndught those proui-
sions Of The federal and state constitutions which
secure political and ciUa equality TO The ohole body
Of orr people
"These combinations were at first purely po-
litcal in their character, and many good citizens
were induced to join them. But gradually, under
the leadership OF ambitious and discontented
politicians, and under the pretext that society
Id In cd l.xra
or above the law, their character was changed,
and these secret Klans began TO commit murder,
TO rob- whip, scourge and mutilate unohending
citizens. This organization or these combina-
lions, were called the Ku Klux Khan, and were
revealed 10 the public, as the result OF the meas
ures which | adopted, as The Constitutional
Union Guards The White brotherhood, and
The Invisible Empire Unlike other secret pc.
litical associations, they authorized the use OF
force, with deadly weapons to influence the cleo
tons The members were united by oaths which
ignored or repudated the ordinary oaths or obi-
cations resting upon all other citizens 70 respect
the laws and uphold the government; these oaths
inculcated hatred by the white race against the
colored race the members of the Khan, as above
stated, were hostile to the PRINCIPLES on which
the government OF the state had been recon
structed, and, in many respects, hostile 10 Me
government Of The United States. They met in
secret in disguise, with arms, In dress OF GER
tain kind intended to conceal their persons ana
their horses and to terrfy those whom they me,
under their leaders they decreed judgment against
their peaceable felow-ctizens, from mere in
timidation to scourglngs mutiations, the burning
OF churches, school-houses mills, and in many
cases to murder. This organization, under dyer
ent names, but cemented By a common purpose, Is
belieued TO hare embraced not less than forty tiou-
sand rioters in North Carolina. have
information Of not less than twenty-five murders
committed by members Of this Khan, in various
counties OF the state and OF hundreds Of cases Of
scourging and whipping. Very Few, IL any, con,
vctions have followed in these cases. The civil
law was powerless. One state senator was muir
dered in the open day in county courthouse,
and another state senator was driven from the
state, solely account of their political opinions.
In neither case was bill found by grand Jury.
respectable and unoffending colored man was
taken from his bed at night, and hanged by the
neck until he was dead, within a short distance
Of county courthouse. Another coored man
was drowned, because he spoke publicly OF per-
sons who aided In the commission OF this crime
No bills were found in these cases crippled
white man, a native OF Vermont was cruelty
whipped because he was teaching coored
school, No bill was found In this case. The
sheriff OF county was waylaid, shot and killed
on public highway. and the colonel OF county
was shot and killed in the open day, while en-
gagged in his usual business. county jail was
broken open, and five men taken out and their
throats cut. Another Jail was broken open, and
men taken out and shot, one OF whom died OF his
wound. Another Jail was broken open, and
United States prisoner released. No punishment
followed in these cases. The members OF this
Klan under the orders of their Chiefs had ridden
| through many neighborhoods at night, and had
punishedjree citizens on account Of their political
opinions, and terrified many ofthen BY thredtscf
future risitdtions Of vengeance that they fed from
their houses, took refuge in the ooods and did not
dare 10 appear in public to exercise their right Of
suffrage. Some OF these victims were shot, some
Of them were whipped, some Of them were
hanged some Of them were drowned, some OF
them were tortured, some had their mouths lace
rated with gags, one of them had his ear cropped,
and Others Of both sexes, were subjected to in
dignities which were disgraceful not merely to
civilization but to humanity itself
On page 1873 of this message the decision
of Chief Justice Pearson in the state Us. F.
A. Wiley and others is given, in which the
chief justice says, d" No motive is assigned
for this murder except political animosity."
In the state Us. w. c. Tarpley and others,
charged with couspiripg and consenting to
kill Caswell Holt of Alamance, Judge Settle
put this question to John w. Long, wit
ness, and member of Ku Klux organiza-
ton known as the White Brotherhood
What Is the known purpose of the organization
| among the members OF this order
Witness-It was to prevent the colored man
| from elevating himself with the white, and to
overthrow the Republican party; to go around
before elections and Brighten the colored people to
keep them from going to the elections.
Judge Dick--IIow extensive did you say the
| organization 1.-THE ku klux klanl was
Witaess-My last understanding was that II
was forty thousand in the state.
In the same case DR.. John A. Moore, an
other of the Ku Klux, was asked by Chief
Justice Pearson:
Did they declare the purpose OF it 1.-THE Ku KIM
organizaton
| Whness--well, they told me it was to strengthen
the conservative party. That was my understand
ing OF it,
| In the case state Us. Thomas w. Gary ant
others, the following testimony appears
John W. Long being the witness:
Mr. Merrimon-Do you say this organization
was gotten up for political purposes, to overthrow
| the Republican party, and this was to be accom-
plished by killing men, burning houses, whipping
| men, and other crimes and that they swore u
protect each other at all hazards
WitneSs-Yes, sir.
Mr.. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS going around to scor
| them, whip them for little things, hang them an,
drown them ?-and for what object
Witness--For the object Of overthrowing tn
Republican party-l believe 1t Is known as tn
Radical party.
As further indication of the state o
things in North Carolina at that time W
give passage or two from proclamation
issued by Governor Holden, June 0, 1870;
Whereas, In January or February, 1869 tn
house Of Daniel Blue, colored, In the county O
Moore, was entered at night by band Of dis
guised men, known as the Ku klux Khan, an
the wife OF the said Blue, who was pregnant, an
five Of the children were murdered, and the hous
with the bodies OF the murdered persons aforesai
was burned; and
Whereas, On the 18th OF February, 1870, Wya
Outlaw, colored, a citizen OF Almance, was take
from his house in the town OF Graham by d
guised persons, known as the ku Klux, an
hanged by the neck until he was dead, on tire
, near the court house; and
Whereas, On the 2lst day Of May, 1870 job
W. Stephens, white, state senator from the count
OF Caswell, WAS murdered in open daylight in III
court house, In the village OF Yanceyville, by pc
sons unknown, supposed to belong to the Ku Klu
Khan aforesaid.
Through ten additional "whereases i
! this dismal proclamation of crimes comm
: ted, Governor Holden continues the reciti
of atrocious deeds, of which the above al
q specimens. Prior to this date he had r
u peatedly issued his proclamations recitin
+ similar deeds of violence which were
Z ing committed in defiance both of Il