The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-02-24
\ Statement Of Facts.

~retribution, but l don't tnlnh So !
\ Statement Of Facts.
Now | want to say, this Is q state
ment OF the facts or the part o. .ns
offenders and the organization iiat
punished and drove them from the
country. / want to furtner sds ~
never. at any time, or under any CIR
cumstances. attempted TO dlsgulSe
eur IDENTITY or conceal the eyldehees
or results of our actions in any case.
We left them where We. found them
subject TO the investigation OF al
whom il concerned. Nor has thefe
ever been a time when W. would at
| tempt TO avail ourselves OF any
amnesty. proclamation or statute OF
limitation to evade the decision or
Judgment Of any tribunal eStabiiSheo'
or authorized by the orSaniH or
statute lays Of our country, but We
had a profound contempt FOR mar
tial law, as it was adminlstereo III
oar and We're determined
| NOT 10 submit 10 the finding or pen
| atty Of any court, established by Sucn
| hor the charges that were
brought against Us, had their origin
in and were ascribed to wrongs zone
our people by those who were sup
posed to be fully committed 10, ana
identified with, the perpetuatlon OF
peace: but, on the contrary. thelr
very act was convincing evidence
they were thoroughly identified with,
and fully endorsed the lawleSSness
that was being committed IN the
country. even Characterizln& the
desperate Wilson as one OF our
men. With that aspect of affairs we
could not. for q moment, entertain
any proposition looking to the trial
of any charge against us by a Yam
kee court martial: our judiciary and
executive officials were distinguish
ed for their jealous devotion to right
and uncomproTnising opposition to
wrong and administering even-hand-
ed Justice TO all.
No man ever doubted the acts OF
f.. J. Warren on the bench, or the
service of Col. Tom Kennedy, as
sheriff. or OF Mike Wood and Frank
Aycock, as deputies. If he question
ed the official acts Of either, he kept
it TO himself, for if he hadn't either
of them Won have resigned his pO-
sition and required him to toe the
mark for who should live the long
est.
:: Those people and their class were
nay friends and / love to remember,
as such, and the consolation OF my
old age is the cabin smokes of that
class were pillows Of clouds to me
by day and their cabin lights were
, pillows Of fire to me by night. We,
5 in common viii all others. perhaps,
had our faults. but. if we had any
distinguishing characteristics, they
,, were unanimity Of purpose, prompt
9 ness and concert of action, in all
cases. all conditions and under all
$ circumstances, involving the rights.
. the interests and the institutions OF
. our homes and our country.
e have one c%onsoling reflection: We
+: never, under any circumstances.
: harmed an innocent man. 1t is also
equally gratifying to me to remem-
: Der that we never turned our backs
on, or failed to act promptly in, any
case involving the rights, or necessi-
tatins the protection OF any defense
less woman or child. That was the
highest aspiration We had to CRAFTY
and we gratitied it in a degree tha'
was entirely satisfactory to ourselves
and to the absolute relief Of the
country.
Now, upon a final summing up
and last analysis of the stormy
career, thrilling scenes and stirring
events, through which we passed.
want to assure you, / nave given the
cause and conditions that gave ris.
TO the organization Of the Blue Sea.
: son hangers and their deeds, with
out exa~ggeratiOn, and as the onlv liv
ing charter member of the same
want to say l have nothing whateye,
TO offer in e~xtenuation of their deeds
1. At 33 ! was prepared to stand b,
their record until my right arm
shranlt palsied from its socket, an,
at 81 | am prepared 10 do the sam,
should it become necessary, md, i,
the language of the Ossian Serenade
l want to say, "A tear from the laGie
OF my country is all 7 ask for tn,
Rangers grave"
His Associate.
Heretofore | have felt = dnl..ao
in making the nanss Of my associate
of the dark days of 65-'6 public. h,t
ID having conferred with "A nuzlDer q
their living representatives. an,
relatives, and after goinG hac1
through IN" vista "f Years to tn
r auseS ana conditions that brouo1
ia and bound US together. recaIlinr III
many midnight consultations ~
"a gether with the many pledges an
70 obliga tiona of loyalty and dev,tin
entered into by rs Tor the protecfIo
or our helpless people, [ feel assure
IL - L