The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-01

nation if it could have been secretly
procured. His press was blown up with
dynamite. His friends advised him to
never be alone. Yet he went on in his
work without appealing to any one for
protection.
The Reconstruction convention he
scored without pity, and held the mis-
creants M to the scorn of the good peo-
pie of the State. and when the history
OF its doings and who did them is writ
ten. the Sentinel will furnish tho ma
terial for the work.
The conduct Of the members of the
convention both in session and out was
depicted in true colors.
When that inglorious body. the Leg
islature of 1S6S-'69 assembled. he paid
his respects to them in the same style
with such improvements as cage and
experience" had given him. 1t was to
them ne first applied the name or "the
hands which is now sometimes used III
referring to our legislators.
lie put spirit into the people. endcav-
ored to convince them that. although
they had been defeated in the war. they
were nevertheless white men, and not
poltroons to be culfed and abused by
every scoundrel, white or black, with
whom they might come in c0ntact-that
it was the duty Of q man TO be n man
under all circumstances and to stand
for mis- principles and not shape his
course TO catch the passing breeze 10
gain office or money.
When Governor Holden called into the
field Kirk and his yagabOnds in 1870
to cndeavOr to intimidatc the people mt
the polls, and for this purpose arrested
many Of the best citizens of the State
without warrant ana for no cause as
was shown at their release. il was
thought that the same spirit pcrvaded
orr courts as in former days and that
Kinks refusal to obey the writ of
"Habeas Corpus" would he resented and
the Marshall ordered TO enforce it.
Captain Turner with that expectation.
had several hundred men in Alamance.
Orange and Caswell counties, mostly
Confederate soldiers. whom he intended
to offer to the Marshall as a posse
But the Judiciary was exhausted" and
it is probable that some Of klrk's men
returned to Tennessee who would no;
have done so had our courts been in q
more robust state of health. Holden
having failed to show any cause for his
conduct or TO provoke a collision with
the people as a last resort determined
10 ~.~ost joe Turner with the hope
that he would resist This he intended
80 DO. but on consulting Governor Ora
ha'" no was persuaded that to do so
would be the very thing desired hv Hol-
den. He reluctantly consented and rode
to the railroad station Mt Hillsboro for
fear he could not control the hogS" If
he was arrested in the town. Here he
was arrested by a detail" of negroes
and whites. l doubt if he has ever full
ly persuaded himself that he ought nor
to have resisted. He was imprisoned
in Graham and Yonngville iails. end
released with the others by Judge
Brooks at Salisbury.
Space viii not permit n more detailed
account of this eventful period. The
election O" 1870 came, Holden and his
cohorts, foreign and domestic. black and
white were routed and the Legislature
Of the State restored TO the control of
the white people Of the State. Our
young men speak about the redemption
of the State in 1898. 1t was a great
and glorious triumph, but in comparison
with that Of 1870 is but as "A Il " RI
Baker" That victory was due more
TO Josiah Turner to all the State be-
side
There is much in Captain Turner'S
history since that time that does not
and did not meet the approval Of many
who were his friends and followers III
that warfare, but nothing should cause
the State to forget or cease to appreciate
his services and their result in the dark
est period she has ever known.
| humbly, YET earnestly, suggest that
the Legislature by resolution provide
that a portrait of Josiah Turner, .Tr
shall be procured and placed in the Ii
brary or Capitol, and that a suitably
ornamented piacard shall be attached
stating that the picture is placed there
by the State in recognition of his SER
vices in the redemption Of the State
from our oppressors in the days of Re
construction.
Although he has passed his eightictb
year by several, he is still with us and
this action by the State would be fit
ting tribute before he passes away.
Surely he must be an ungrateful citi
zen who would not approve such action
by our Legislature.
w. A. GRAHAM.
Machpclah, n. c.. Jan. 30, 1899.