The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-11-22
TO the Editor:

fought to occasion more than casual no.
ticc in North Carolina. ASIDE from his
ability. the purity Of his character ana
the conspicuous services he rendered the
country ut large-he was III a special
sense the friend Of North Carolina. This
State owes TO his memory Il debt of love
and gratitude unknown to the younger
generation. As at Il later period Nirgi-
mans warmly claimed Our " Vance rs
Senator for North Carolina and Virginia.
50 in our hearts and in our histories
Bavard should be known as Senator for
Delaware and North Carolina.
In 1870 the people OF North Carolina
broke in upon the carnival of corruption
which has distinguished the Heconstruc-
ton period and elected Il Democrat c
General Assembly. An immediate result
was the restoration of quiet and good or
der. In December Impeachment pro-
ccedingS were instituted before the Sen
ate against Governor Holden. Within
less than a week the United States Sen
ate OH December Is. 1870, adopted Il
resolutions:
THAT the President be requested to
communicate to the Senate all informa-
ton that he may possess relative to or
ganized bodies of d|isloyal and eyil-dispos-
tAl III III -NoIt IL
which have i'll view or threaten resistance
To the execution of the laws Of the Uni
ted States. or denial to citizens of the
United States of the equal protection OF
the laws and the free enjoyment Of the
rights and liberties secured to them by
the constitution: and also what murders
and OutrageS for political purpose have
| been committed by such organizations of
IiSlOyal ~pprSOnS.'
On january 10. 1871, the President
having on the 18th responded to such
resolutions. a committee Of the Senate
were charged with an investigation of
the ''conditiOn of affairs in the South
| Senators John Scott. Henry Wilson. T.
Chandler. Benz. +. Rice and James w.
Nye were the Republican members, and
Senators Frank Z. Blair and Thomas +.
Bayard the Democratic. The inyestlga-
ton was confined to North Caroline and
the report of the majority indicated their
full Willingness to believe all i'll of 4 peo-
pie who failed in appreciation of Holden.
Kirk and Bergen. 1t reflected most IN
i%uriouSly upon the character of the
State.
Mr.. Rayard for himself and Mr.. Blair
submitted Il minority report, declaring
themselves 'unablc to agree with a ma,
JeIIlN u S.tll committee III liz ltl'o1t
accompanying the testimony, or in the
conclusions they have drawn from it."
Though nearly thirty years have now
passed. few men could read this report
unmoved. The following are some eX-
tracts:
we desire to attract the attention Of
the Senate to the scope of the resoluto on
under which the committee lave acted
to inquire into the truth or falsehOOd of
crimes and Outrages of Il political charac-
ter in the Southern States Here is an
unlimited field of general allegation.
qualified only by the word political, and
conveying nothing definite to the COM
munities whose domestic affairs were.
without notice or specified charges, to
have a Congressional drag-nct thrown
over them. and be hauled before the com
mittee. and the closing paragraph of the
resolution only aggravated the danger
and difficulties of such an investigation
by inquiring whether there be in those
States security for persons and proper
ty"
& y - = = - = g >
But considering the case as proposed.
find the State of North Carolina I'M
covered to these general, indefinite at
tacks upon her fidelity to the Union and
u Gnu Tx biAI civ 'iHIoSII I'll
TO protect life and property in her society.
These charges take no shape, and arc
sent broadcast against her people. There
is no process of law, 40 information pre-
scented, but an opportunity simply gwen
for any one to come forward and ASA |
the State and her people i'll any mode. by
any character of testimony, and upon any
point, without notification, that prejudice
or animostiy can suggest.
But all this is manifcStly the result of
4 plan ecu and dried by a conspiracy
formed of disappointed politicians who
have lost the confidence of their people.
and have been cast out of Office by the
almost unanimous voice of Il betrayed and
injured constituency.
At the head of this conspiracy plainly
stands William w. Holden, the Governor
of North Carolina. and now undergoing
trial by process of Impeachment for
gross abuses Of his official power. and
high misdemeanorS by him committed i'll
color Of his office: and we annex hereUn-
to the record Of the Superior court of
Chatham county. North Carolina. prov II.
his completely in the crimes of arson and
murder. He has beggared the
treasury of his State. and Murdered. out
ragged and betrayed her people: and now
looks to the strong arm of the Fcte-al
Government as the only means of res
cuing him and his followers from the Just
punishment due to their crimes. The
voice of the people Of North Carolina at
the last elections declared their OPPOSE
ton to him and his party. and his last
and desperate resort is to intiame the
party passions of Congress. and induce
an exercise of unlawful Owe in his
behalf. In furtherance of this scheme.
the present measure was instituted. and
this committee raised. The two Sena-
tors from North Carolina abbott and
Pooh have efficiently aided it. suggest
ing witnesses and supplying i~nterrogato-
rles for their examination. and sonnet mes
escortlng them in person to the door of the
commlttee-ro0m And what is the char
acter of these witnesses. found ready and
III attendance for examination? joseph
W. Holden. the son and accomplish OF
Governor w. w. Holden, heads the LIST
lie has been an oftice-holder, fattning on
tho nOrrJntinnS of his f,tho,'- ,,l,,::-4.z