The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-07

Heading spirit, then just budding into Z
representative in Congress from thc
metropolitan district of the state. By
Iron Latin, who bore the title of gen
Ieral," and was the carpet-bag repre-
sentative of Pitt county, vas an able
lcoadjutor. Milton LittiefieId, also 4
federal general" who had found
tcongenial employment in robbing the
NEGRO refugees congregated near Beau
fort, $. g, had beer invited up to help
I"work the hands, and had come, the
prince of Bummers. with q fine person
land richly apparelled, lordly In his car
irage. destitute of conscience and I'M
;blushing in his C:shonor. Called to as
tsist in the contemplated iChharies, as
lsome skilled burglar might be called 10
laid village noyices in a big job, he nat
Iurally took the leadership and Don
became the central figure in republican
councils.
Knowing well how to play his role,
The bought the republican organ, the
standard, and assumed his place in the
forefront of the republican politicians.
lie was made public printer, when tho
work yielded IL clear $4,000 q year.
His power was immense. THE faith
fur of the republican party submitted
themselves to his dictation and were
Happy in his smiles. His nod was a
lIavor-and a word from him made the
fortunes of men. He set the fashion OF
living. Il fashion Of drinking and ca
Irousing, Il fashion of getting things
Without paying for them-a fash
lion altogether agreeable to his tools
land accomplices-and his power wax
led greater and greater as he drew the
Headers Of the faithful closer around
linn. With his money he was liberal.
Ian. he paid his men well. 1t was so
Ieasy TO give an order on SwepsOn, and
iSwepsOn had the entire cash of 4: BANK
Int command. Extravaganza anu cor
Eruption ruled the day, aud jobbery was
shameless. Littlefield established in a
room in the west end of the capitol a
free bar where all who chose to drink
Iand snloke caroused at his expense.
ITboSe VINO claimed bis friendship were
This perpetual guests. And. so, with
" lie and women, he and bis friends
He'd q gay life, debauching all who
IlOnSed to be Gebauched III those first
months. after the uShering in of New
North Carolina.
With the paItry steaiiogs We do not
icCncern ourselves.
In October the taxes had come in
and now the treasury was getting low
IGgain. The n. G. railroad had issued
to the state by way Of dividend $780,
1000 Of railroad bonds, and these were
sold in a job lot for $11S,OOO, and that
WAS being rapidly absorbed-and no
provision made for paying the interest
failing due in January. The state was
lOE the eve of bankruptcy. Interest
failing due and no money to pay it!
But Littlefield and DeWease and La1-
Hin and their cOnferees talked only of
progress, and internal improvements,
land OF New North Carolina! Bonds!
bonds! Bonds! Their plans fOurd
lnOre or less support among the repre-
Isentatives Of the counties interested,
laGd opposition to their adroit schemes
was abOrtive.
When their power to control the as
sembly was definitely determined the
Itriumvirate announced that no rail-
Tread bill should be allowed to pass n
LESS the road receiving the %apprOpria-
jtion should agree to pay them one
tenth of the amount. They cOntenteG
themselves with taking tithes.
SwepSOn found it necessary to apply
for an act curing the defect in the
bonds issued to his road, because they
INere not special tax bonds, and be
Iagreed to pay his ten per cent. and at
lonce began to make the payment. He
not only paid cash to the leaders in
1.-THE enterprise, but also paid their or
lders in the hands of various members
of the assembly. But while he was a
sort of paymaster in chief, the money
lcame through the ring. Littlefield was
the fountain whence the golden stream
ISSUED, the editor Of the Standard, the
public printer, the fountain of repub-
Ilican favor n honor. AS the money
began to circulate freely and the mem
Ibers who shared the loot piled the free
liar and basked in the smiles of Little
field all were vry happy. Before the
christmas holidays Swepson had dis
ibursed in cash $4,000; and before the
middle of June he had paid out $780,
1000. They had a very merry Christ
imas-and a very merry springtime-
these republican brethren who were
a new birth to old North Caro-
lima. And Littlefield, with his great
BLACK beard-the new Black Beard Pr
rate of North Carolina-waxed greater
and greater, and became the uncrOwn-
lSu Mig VI liz ICpuUl1edlo III ILLS StdtC,
Icf that era. And debauchery M cor
Eruption thrived in the purlieus of the
capitol. 1t was indeed a royal time,
money was so plentiful!
Don't I owe you $4,000" casually
asked Swepson Of DR.. Sloan, "for moi
voting against the A. T. & o. r. r.
|bill?" Eyes; give me $4,000, and hand
the balance to General Laflin."
That is but a sample. In addition to
the cash the ring obtained, received
I$6333,OOO in bonds.
Railroad bills when introduced were
kept back, and the whole batch were
known as the omnibus bill. Provision
was made for all. None We're to be
left out in the cold.
While it was given out that no bill
could pass without an agreement for
ten per cent. of the bonds, yet this
agreement was not always made by