The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-07-19

YEDKRAL NTKRYERKyCE.
When was the frst federal inter
ference In North Carolina: II Was
during the Ku-Klux days OF 1879,
when Governor Holden had suspen-
ded the writ Of habeas corpus and
Chief Justice Pearson had announ-
ced that ''the State judiciary was
exhausted" and Judge John Kerr,
Josiah Turner, and many other
prominent citizens, who had been |
arrested by General Kirk under the
order Of Governor Holden, applied
to Judge Brooks, United States
District Judge at Elizabeth City for
q writ Of habeas corpus and were re-
leased from imprisonment by the
United States Judge under the au-
thority conferred upon him by the
ith amendment to the Constitution
of the United States.
To-day the Democratic press and
politicians all over North Carolina
are bowling: Federal Interference
with State Elections, after these
same politicians have through Sec
ton SO Of the Election Law, with
drawn the writ Of mandamus, closed
the doors Of justice, and paralyzed
the arm of the state judiciary to pro-
tect the liberties of citizens when
they are threatened and attacked by
one of Mr.. Simmons registrars I'M
der his instructions. If this IL "Fed-
eral Interference" then who made
federal interference necessary? Was
1t Federal interference in 1870 when
the United States Court, under the
I 4th amendment, released from pris-
on men improperly and illegally i'm.
prisoned by the States action? Yes
that was Federal interference in the
: interest of justice and liberty, AMI
this is the same kind of "Federal In
reference" we have to-day.
In the trial of Registrar ThOmp
son at Winston the other day, wht
2 was arrested under the Federal. stat
t utes for violating the law, Mr.. Man
p ley, one of ThOmpson's lawyers, il
his speech, said that this proceedin,
was outrageous, that it was "Federa
81 Interference with State Affairs" an,
i referred to the arrest of William A
: Graham, the father of Major j. w
kGraham, whom, he charged, wit
. others, had been arrested and impris
oned by the Republicans. At thi
/ point Major J. w. Graham arose an
q denied that his father had been al
Y rested as charged, but admitted tina
|. Judge John Kerr, Mr.. Josiah Tul
., ner, and other prominent citizens G
the State were arrested and impri
g oned, but that they were released III
It der a writ of habeas corpus, sued OF
II before Federal Judge under til
r 14th amendment to the Constit1
!, ton of the United States. Majt
Graham proceeding, said: ''This WI
III the first case of Federal Interferen'
in North Carolina, but Federal i
reference then saved the liberties
y a number of our leading citizens ar
, prevented a great wrong from beir
done. When justice was denied
O. the State courts this was the on
u. remedy left.
mr. It was right and proper and nc
essary to resort TO that remedy the
" Just so now, when you have deni'
ey Justice in the State courts to the
Ia citizens who are legally qualified
We register, we are appealing to the Fe
wv eral Courts on the same ground,
=, cause there is no other remedy
protect the rights of these citize
except in the Federal Court, unl'
up the Court declares Section SO of t
wv election law unconstitutional and
7 stores the writ of mandamus.