The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-11-05
kWs a Republican Suprem.
Court That Repudiated
Carpet Bag Bonds.
DEMOCRATIC SCHEMERS
IL Was Leading Democrats Who Con-
ceiyed the Fraudulent Bills, Urged
Their Passage, and Handled the
Money. They Used Allen North
erners and Ignorant Negroes to
Accomplish Their Schemes-Read
he Facts of 1868 and 1860.
(By A. E. Holton.


the crime of 1868 and 1869-has
been the ever-present weapons with
which the Democratic party has as
sailed the Republicans of North Car
olina for all of the 40 years OF the
life of the Republican party in this
State.
The Legislature OF 1868 and 1869
was Republican, but with a few ex-
ceptions they we're dumb cattle reg
| istering the will Of Democratic lead
ers in this matter. knowing nothing
and getting nothing but their per
diem.
The men who conceived the idea,
| laid the plan, and constructed AMI
wrote the legislation, were native
| Democrats, who used the alien
/ Northerners whom the vicissitudes OF
war had cast among us and who had
| taken the initiative in organizing d
Republican party in the State, to-
gether with the ignorant negro, who
had so recently been given the ballot.
Leading Democratic members Of the
Legislature voted for these bonds.
Leading Democrats outside the Leg
islature handled nearly all Of the
bonds. Leading Democrats largely
composed the board Of railway di-
rectors and voted the mandates
which directed the sale of the bonds.
The broad Democratic assertion that
the Republican party was entirely
and altogether responsible for this
| legislation and management of the
bonds constitutes the most unjust
and cruel political crusade that any
political party has had to bear in all
the country's history. The Republt-
can party had the majority in the
| Legislature, the bonds were issued
and no roads built. Without inter-
mission the Democratic cry went
forth, "they stole the bonds, stole
| the bonds, stole the bonds" The
people would neither hear nor read
a word in defense, or explanation
against this cry, and so it has stood
for forty years.
This legislation and bond steal oc-
Cured about the time and before
| those now active in politics were
| born.
But there has been great change
in everything. Light and knowledge
has grown apace. Prejudice no
| longer usurps the mind Of the public,
political thought is comparatively
free and l believe willing to hear,
and I, therefore, wish to call your
attention to some of its history and
the men connected Herewith.
! In the case of Horn VS.. The State,
| reported in the "a n. G. 363, in
which an effort was made to sue the
State for recovery on these special
tax bonds and in which the Supreme
Court held that the State could not
| be sued thereon, w. P. Bachelor, a
prominent lawyer and a Democrat,
living in the city of Raleigh, was at
torrey for the bond-holders, and ar
eued the case before the Supreme
/ Court.
| The case of Baltzer VS.. The State,
! 1O4 n. C. 265, was a second effort to
collect these bonds. Hon. Thomas c.
Fuller, another Democratic lawyer,
brought the suit and argued the case
| before the Supreme Court of North
Carolina, as the reports of the Su-
preme Court show.
Mr.. Fuller, shortly after his effort
to collect these bonds, was unani-
mously endorsed by the Democrats
OF the State for appointment to q
| United States judgeship and was ap-
pointed and held the position for
number OF years until his death.
Judge Merrimon, who was after
wards elected to the United States
Senate as a Democrat and by the
Democratic party promoted to the
position OF chief justice OF the Su-
| preme Court OF the State, Ii Ia said.
assisted by the late Senator Ransom.
drew the bills which authorized the
issuance OF these special tax bonds.
and used his influence to secure their
passage. l am reliably informed
| that the original bills are still on
the file In the city OF Raleigh and
are in the handwriting OF Judge Mer-
rimon.
OF a number OF other leading
Democrats in the State who have
been promoted to the highest posi-
ttions in the gift OF the Democratic
party, some voted for and Others
were instrumental in Securing the
i -