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


dicate that has been organized for
the purpose of Tying to compel the
state of North Carolina to pay the
Special Tax bonds, is as timely as it is
Illuminating, interesting and convlnc-
ing. 1t traces step by step the issuing
of these fraudulent bonds, shows that
they were void from the beginning,
and that the present owners took
them with notice of their illegality
and of the fact that their issue was
procured by corruption.
The full text of the letter is as FOL
low:
Raleigh, N. c., June 26, 1905.
Hon. John G. Carlyle,
New York City.
Dear Sir: The papers announce
that you are at the head of a syndicate
to force the payment of certain allcg-
ed bonds of North Carolina, known as
special tax bonds, whose validity has
not been recognized by the state fCf
a generation.
AS a part of the program, it is
stated that the aid of the state of New
York has been invoked, provision Nv
ing been made by that state to accept
donations of defaulted bonds and to
sue on the same; and this threat is
held over the state of North Carolina
as a club to beat her into acceding to
your demands.
In the role you are now playing,
you do not appear as a counsellor of
law" a sworn officer OF the court N
which you practice; but your employ
ment is such as any broker might IN
dertake; and your attitude is that of
a man who with a club in his hand
takes his victim at a disadvantage, de-
handing your none or our life.
1t is proper, therefore, to advise
you that under no conceivable circum
stances will North Carolina ever pay q
cen on those claims. You may strike
with your club. The victim of your as.
sault may fall beneath your blow; J :
that will not bring you the cash. lie
Supreme court of the United States
may take Jurisdiction; it may enter any
decree your ingenuity may devise, but
the club will be used without avail. The
people of North Carolina will never
recognize the validity of those alleged
bonds.
What they may do hereafter it does
not become me to forecast; but you
may be assured that the people OF
North Carolina, who will certainly nave
the sympathy and cooperation OF the
people of the entire south will know
how to take measures in their own be-
half.
Let me refresh your memory: The
people of the south, including those Of
North Carolina, having submitted TO
the authority of the United states en-
May 20, 1865. President Johnson ap-
pointed W. w. Holden provisioner gov
ernor of North Carolina, who convcn-
ed a convention which in October, 1869,
declared null the ordinance of seces-
sion and otherwise tOO every step re-
Quired to enter the union; and by proc
lamation of the President, and by the
action of the chief justice Of the Unit
ed States, North Carolina was again a
state in the union. An election was held
November 9, 1865, for governor and the
Legislature and the autonomy OF the
state was fully established n maln-
tanned in accord with the President or
the United States, who was charged
with the duty of enforcing the laws OF
the Union; although Congress conti1i-
ued to hold that the territories of the
several southern states had no organ
lied governments in them.
In March, 1867, Congress passed what
was known as the Reconstruction ACT,
in effect annulling the statehood OF
North Carolina, declaring that no CIV
il government existed within that ter
ritory and that North Carolina was q
disorganized military territory without
constitution, laws or government. The
act provided for the organization OF a
under the direction Of the
military, and based On the suffrage of
the negroes and of those whites not
declared disfranchised. The orders or
the major general were law; but the
major general graciOusly Tor
the existing governor and other officers
of North Carolina to continue in the
discharge of their functions and allow
ed the courts to recognize the state
laws, except so far as he might from
F.. time to time make alterations or an
nounce new laws in his general orders.
Immediately thereafter, in March,
1867, the Republican party was Or
ganized in North Carolina, and tner-
upon commanding general issued MS
orders for the registration of voters
embracing negroes, but not including
many whites.
The registration being completed, he
ordered an election to be held on NO
yember, 10, 1867, under registrars and
poll-holders of his appointment, for
delegates to a constitution conveh-
ton. the returns being made to him,
The convention met January IA, 1858,
and the major general ordered an
election, held April u, at which his
registered voters adopted h constitu-
tion and also elected officers and rep
resentativs provided for in that instru-
ment.
Against all these proceedings, Coz
ernor Worth, the governor Of the state,
fled an earnest protest.
At the election, w. W. Holden was
chosen governor, and Governor Worth