The Washington herald., 1913-08-17
Case Of William H. Holden, Of
North Carolina, Interesting,
as 1t Involved Doings Of
Famous Ku-Kux Klan.

impeached since the thirteen States be
came the United States Of America, two
were convicted, one resigned. in consid.
Grafton Of which act the impeachment
was withdrawn: the term Of office of one
expired and the proceedings wert
dropped; one was acquitted, and the
charges against the seventh dropped.
In 1862 Charles Robinson was Governor
Of Kansas. The State needed money for
current expenses. and consequently a
bond issue of s15o,0c0 was made. Money
was scarce at that time. the civil wal
having just started. and the only pur.
chaser that could be found was the
United States government The Cover
nor, the Secretary of State, and the State
Auditor had been authorized by the Legis-
lature to negotiate the sale of the bonds.
which they proceeded to do. The United
States had money in trust for several
Indian tribes which the Federal govern
ment was authorized to invest properly.
Robert Stevens, a politician, was called
in by the three State officials, and he
agreed to put the deal across" Stevens
was friendly with Caleb B. Smith, Secre-
tary of the Interior. Somehow. Stevens
failed TO induce Smith to purchase the
bonds, and he then went to r. G. Cor
win. a claim agent, who was connected
by marriage to Caleb Smith.
Obtain Signature by Fraud.
Corwin arranged the purchase of the
bonds with the Indian funds. All of the
Kansas Representatives in Congress ap-
proved the deal in writing. with the ex-
ception of Senator Lane. who objected
on the ground that he feared Stevens
his m eli fo hrtv fo
elect himself to Lanes job. AS the re-
suit of Lanes refusal to give his ap-
proval. 81, 600 was paid his secretary, who
procured the Senator's signature by
fraud. The Legislature of Kansas i'm
peached the Secretary of State, the State
Auditor, and Gov. Robinson. The two
former were convicted, but Robinson was
acquitted.
A formidable list of charges was pre-
sented against Gov. Harrison Reed, of
Florida, in 1865 He was accused of
falsehood and lying in official matters,
incompetency, unlawfully declaring leg
islative seats vacant, embezzlement from
the State treasury, and corruption and
bribery in appointments. So vacant had
the State Legislature become that when
the charges of the House Of Representa-
tives were presented to the Senate only
eight Senators were on hand TO hear the
The impeachment automatically sus-
pended Reed from ofice, and Lieut. Gov.
Gleason was put in his place. Following
the deposition of the Governor. the As
sembly adjourned for two months. The
Senate refused to adjourn, and Acting
Gov. Gleason adjourned II himself. Gov.
Reed, however, declined TO leave his
office, and took the matter to court. The
court removed Gleason as Governor and
reinstated Reed.
The Supreme Court of the United Staces
reversed the lower court. and Gleason
went back as Governor pro TEN. Two
later the new Legislature. with
all seats filled, dropped the matter, and
Reed resumed his office.
ku-Klux KIan Involved.
The impeachment OF Gov. William H.
Holden of North Carolina, in December,
s7c. was particularly interesting, mas
much as it involved the doings of the
famous Ku-Klux Klan. which had been
murders and whippngs il
Alamance and Caswel counties. The
county authorities seemed unable to cope
with the situation, or reluctant to cope
with it, and the Governor was appealed
to.
Gov. Holden Immediately proclaimed
he two counties in a state of insurrec-
lion, and sent troops into the district
-ol George Kirk. in charge of the sol
Tiers, made many arrests. WritS OF
labeas corpus were served upon him, but
ne maintained that the right of habeas
.orpus had been suspended. and declined
o recognize them.
In this attitude Gov. Holden supported
lin. Even the Chief Justice of the Su-
,reme Court of North Carolina was defied
Finally the adherents of the ku-kluS
[lan and opponents of the Governor OBJ |
aimed an injunction restraining the State
Treasurer and the State Paymaster from
oaying out moneys for the expenses of
he troops. Gov. Holden got around this.
o his own satisfaction at least, by dis |
Missing the paymaster upon whom the |
Injunction had been served, appointing |
another and having the new paymaster |
,ay the soldiers.
The Ku-KluN Klan was extremely pow |
.rful particularly in North Carolina, dur |
ng the days of reconstruction. North |
carolina probably was the fountain head |
# the dreaded X. X. n The secret or |
yanization was powerful, in that it con- |
rolled the members of the State Legis- |
atIIre Many of the State Senators and |
\ Assemblymen were members of the So |
iety, and others dared not defy 1t, know |
ng only too well that many Of their con-
tituents were members Of it.
Holden Removed from Office.
Consequently, Gov. Holden was i'm
.eached and tried. He was acquitted of |
he charge of Illegally declaring the coun-
les in a state of insurrection. but was