Newspapers / The Era (Raleigh, N.C.) / Oct. 19, 1871, edition 1 / Page 2
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tytttyo fyaVolhta Office, la the "Standard" buildlni. East aldt of Farctterill Street. TVIVTtCTJS KnVIN,EdU or. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19th, 1871. The People MotId 1ST Read the very important preamble . and resolutions adopted by the Repub lican meetlne at the Court House on , Saturday. These have the ring of the true metal, and will receive the hearty endorsement, not only of all good Re publicans but, of many honest Demo crats and Conservatives also. The peo ple are becoming terribly in earnest in their determination to destroy the last remains of Kukluxlsm in the State. They demand the investigation called for; they will never consent that any i of the conspirators against the Consti tution and laws of the State and of the United States, as well as against the " lives and property of a portion of the leople, shall hold seats in the Legisla ture. They are determined to make themselves heard in relation to the " matter. This is but the opening of the Irnll ; the people of the other counties will speak in due time, and with a lower that cannot be resisted. Law and Order. Read an article printed on this page, from The Nashville Banner, headed "Law and Order," "Down with Ruffianism in the South." Vv'o warmly Indorse all the editor savs, and with, him exclaim, down with ru than ism in the South. Disguised outlaws have too long infested the country, and the time has come when our people must look to the safety of their hearth-stones. Down with law-breakers should be the motto of every good citizen. The above is from The True Georgian, a paier in the interest of the Demo- cratic party of that State. The article from Tiie Nashville Banner; to which it alludes, will be found in this issue of Tiik Era. It is warmly commended to our Democratic . and Conservative friends as an example to be followed. Tlie Banner is one of the leading Demo cratic papers of Tennessee, and its in fluence must be potent for good in the cause which it has so. nobly espoused. It will be hailed with; delight by the friends of peace and harmony every where, and its action accepted as the harbinger of better days -near at hand. Why should the strife and ill feeling of the last few years longer continue? Have we not had enough of bitterness and too much? Is not the whole ques tion of reconstruction, which gave rise to much of it, settled finally ? Is it not the pari of wisdom and philosophy, then, for our people to accept the inev itable with tho best grace possible, and labor to make tho most or the situa tion Who can be found to answer these questions in the negative? How senseless, then, as well as wicked, to continue the present strife and bitter ness, so detrimental to the peace, happi ness and morals of the country. Tiik Fair at Henderson. We at tended tho Fair at Henderson on Thurs day, and were very much pleased. The articles on exhibition were not as numerous and varied as they might have been, but were highly creditable. Some of the stock was very good, and the concourse of people was quite large. And never have we seen finer speci mens of the genus homo any where. For fine looking men and beautiful women all well dressed the Hender son Fair could not be easily bedten in proportion to the number present. And 'never have we met more kindly and genial gentlemen than tho managers. Among these the excellent and worthy President of the Central Agricultural Society Mr. Capeheart deserves especial mention. The annual address before the Socier ty was delivered by our worthy and gifted townsman, Hon. Sion II. Rog ers. It was a production eminently suited to the occasion, and deserves to be commended for its brevity. It oc cupied only about a half hour In its de livery, and, consequently, was listened to with unceasing interest to its close by the large appreciative audience. The Press was well represented on the occasion. Besides The Sentinel and Tiik Kra of this city, The JZoaixoke Neys, Louisburg Courier and Battle bo ro Advance were represented by their worthy and respective editors. It is due to the Central Agricultural Society to say that it is Ue only Socie ty in the State that has held its Fair every year since the war. Such enter prise and perseverence under very dis couraging circumstances deserves, and will ultimately meet with, the most abundant success. All honor to the Central Society, and success to its ef forts in the cause of Agriculture and the household and mechanic arts. , Wo have been promised a full ac count bv a correspondent, and, there fore, shall not attempt anything of the kind ourself. The Editors of the Era, whom we iave heretofore regarded as gentlemen, seem to have become very forgetful of the courtesies of the profession in admitting to their col umns a dirty scurrilous attack upon a brother Editor from a still more dirty ne gro. Their conversion to Radicalism ap pears to have sadly marred their sense of gentlemanly propriety. Turban? Souther' tier. , ,'. r. ' i ' i The "attack" in question was. not sent the editors as a communication to bo Inserted In "their columns," but to the business manager, 3Ir. Brown, as an advertisement, accompanied with the cash to pay for the same. It was In serted, by, Mr. Brown on his own re sponsibility as an advertisement, fa tiie advertising column. It was not, by the editors, admitted to "their columns," as might be inferred from the above. 1 For the future we oppose the admis sion of such an article, even in the ad vertising col umns. Editorial Correspondence . , ASHEVIIXE, Oct. 13, 1671. The correspondence which we have seen published.between Ex-Gov. Bragg, Gen. Hansom and other prominent Consevative lawyers and politicians, and Judge Bond of the U. S. Circuit Court in relation to the postponement of the trials of the Ku Klux cases pen ding in that Court deserves some notice. It is remarkable, upon the part of those who addressed Judge Bond, for certain statements which it made, and for certain other statements which it does not make. ; It is not so remarkable . for thef per sons who signed it as it is for those who omitted to sign It. j. Without questioning the sincerity of the gentlemen who addressed Judge Bond in their declaration of their. do mination to use their influence to put down any further Ku Klux outrages, It can hardly be controverted that such a correspondence by them is calculate! If not intended to repair the damage done the Conservative : cause, by the developments made,at the recent Term of the United States Court, quite as much as to promote the restoration of order and the suppression of crime. It is note-worthy ,therefore, that the letter to Judge Bond is signed by the official head of the Conservative party in North Carelina, viz: Ex-Gov. Thomas Bragg, Chairman of the Central State Execu tive Committee of that party. ! It is futher to be remarked that this letter is signed by the leading Counsel, who appeared in defence of the Ku Klux assassins who were lately convic ted at Raleigh, and that these gentle men must have had from their profes sional connection with these cases, if not otherwise, better opportunities to know and emphatically weigh the evi dence than persons not so related to these cases possibly could have had. j It is further to be remarked that the Attorney General of the State, a politi cal opponent of the Government, who had occasion In his official capacity, before the recent trials at Raleigh, to examine some of the evidence, and who no doubt, has carefully and patiently read and considered all the evidence adduced upon those trials, also signs the letter to Judge Bond. But as to the signers of this letter to Judge Bond, it is much more signifi cant that not one single one of them can be regarded as the representative of the views or purposes of the radical, extreme wing of the conservative par ty, and they cannot therefore, be rea sonably supposed to have any influence in bringing that wing of their party to an abandonment of their connection with the Invisible Empire or their open and avowed sympathy with and palliation of its crimes. That the gen tlemen "who signed thla letter really detest the crimes, and the criminals denounced by them we cannot permit ourselves to doubt. That their party press or their party leaders who can control their party's action, is of the same opinion we have,' to speak most charitably and forbearingly, grave rea sons to doubt. . That the press or the leaders, in con trol of the Conservative party, have ex pressed the opinion that the evidence in the recent Ku Klux trials at Raleigh manifested the "fact that a secret un lawful organization called the Ku Klux or Invisible Empire exists in certain parts of the State," and that they can not "deny the crimes committed by these organizations" we have yet to see. If any such admission of only half the truth elicited on these trials has been made, other than that now under; Jte view, it has been'so grudgingly 'cfqne, and has been so overloaded with every form of unwarranted i accusation' and denunciation of the officers of the Government connected with these trial's,' that its moral effect has been entirely destroyed. s 'T If some other persons occupying prominent positions In the Conserva tive party had joined Gov. Bragg and Gen'l Ransom in their very creditable assurance to Judge Bond that before the next November Term of the Court that they believed the "Invisible Em pire" would be "effectually suppress ed," it might have been a subject of sincere .congratulation to. men of all parties interested in the preservation of law and order in the State. That Gov. Bragg ami Gen'l Ransom, and those who join them in writing to Judge Bond, none of whom have been suspecr ted of belonging to the Invisible Em pire, should assure him of their belief that the order would soon be effectually suppressed, amounts to nothing more than the expression of their praisewor thy wish that it may be(done. But, while the Conservative party has In its ranks so many men who are known to have recently had or who now have a direct association and connection with this "unlawful organization," at vari ous points in the State, it would have been better that t hey should have come forward and announced their renuncia tion of this unlawful combination, and expressed not only their belief, but their determination, that the Invisible Em pire, by the authority vhich their official control of it gives them, should be "ef fectually suppressed." , - . : j ,.! - This would have been business, and business of some account and of the right sort, in the present emergency. But .none of the known or suspected members of the Invisible Empire join In the correspondence with Judge Bond. It therefore has no official sanction, jits writers promise to do what they have no ability to perform, unless, as a part of the governing men of the Conserva tive' party, must, of ' necessity, control one of the essential elements of its or ganization, and operation, the Ku Klux Klan. Perhaps upon this idea they may do something in the direction of - , i :-.. - i t their present aim in no other way can we see how they can even hope to ac complish what they so confidently promise to do. They must labor among the sinners and the lawless of their own political faith and make them, of high andjjow degree, renounce their allegi ance to the Invisible Empire, and sub mit rto !thc laws of the land. It is not worth twhile for them to waste their time and eloquence "to enlist all law loving citizens" and "all right minded meii" in aid of their laudable effort to bre4k up the Ku Klux. All such citi zen? are already enlisted in that en deavor. They are already on the side of the Government in the vigorous at tempt Which it Is making and will con tinue to make for the effectual suppres sion; of the Ku Klux throughout the State i It is a gratifying vindication of the Acts of Congress and the conduct of the ! officers of the Government, in the prosecutions which have arisen under thole laws, that so many eminent men of -Ihe opposite party, some of them projnineiitly and officially, connected with the late trials, have been brought to ailmit the irrefragible truth that "a secret unlaicful organization called the KukIux or. Invisible Empire exists in certain parts of the State;" that no 'right minded" men can "palliate or deny the crimes committed by these or ganizations;" that they are "dangerous to hood aovernmerdi" and that these genllement declare that "the people of til 11 1! ' i !11 i rtOTM-kof trn JNOril UirUllUU Will Uiiltu iu ttnuouug ancl forever obliterating an evil which bringslnothing but calamity." M. E. IJnder the head of "The Spirit of the Coil servative Press" we publish else where an article from The Battleboro1 Advance. Some of the sentiments of Advance will receive the approval of all good men. They will be : glad to lean Jthat it "condemns all kinds of lawlessness by whomsoever commit ted" and that it thinks its perpetrators shojild have been punished long ago. Buij how, can the Courts successfully deal with and break up this powerful secret organization unless the people are t alight to have confidence in, and respect for, them? The thingissimply impossible. Therefore, in its unjust attacks upon the Court, The Advance is doing all in Its power to destroy the moral effect of the late trials and con victions for the suppression of the law lessnes which it condemns. jAnd if crinies have been committed by mem bers! of the Leagues, as The Advance al leges,' no one objects to their punish ment; let them be punished according to law. ; But the Leagues are believed to Ijave no existence now, and never wer0 guilty of organized lawlessness. Wet are surprised that any one who has J-ead the charges of Judge Bond to the ury should say " that they "were couched in language bitterly partizan" they will be found to be entirely free from anything of the kind. Nor is it true Ithat the people of North Carolina were malignantly assailed as "encourag ing he recent disorders in Rutherford andf elsewhere." On the contrary, Jude Brooks, in his reply to ShotwelFs appeal for mercy, vindicated the peo ple "of North Carolina, as a people, against such charges. His reply was published by The Carolinian, of this city; a Democratic paper, for the ex press reason that it contained such vin dication of "the people of North Caro lina 'And there is quite as little ground for the Charge that the jury "was most cor ruptly packed." The jury was sum moned by the Marshal just as all the juries have begn summoned in the Federal Courts in this State since the war.; The fact that there was four Con servatives on the jury that tried most, if not all, the cases is proof that it was not so "packed." It is true that Hon. Samuel F. Phillips' told the Marshal, when asked what kind of a jury he should summon, to summon "honest, upright, courageous men." But he said not a word to him about the politics of the furors. We heard a prominent Democratic lawyer say that the advice given by Mr. Phillips to the Marshal "teas eminently right and proper." Itl is deeply to be regretted that a gentleman , so much inclined, from nfitnrp nnrl disnosition. to do riffht. as the editor of The Advance is known to be, should have anowea nimseir, in cautiously, as we believe, to have taken the course he has in relation to this im portant matter. We give him credit for perfect sincerity In his expressions of condemnation of the Ku Klux and ineir uetla ui uuiivr, unu iuvuc iua aid In assistance of trie distinguished men- or ail parties wno nave pieugeu hprhsAlvps to snnrjress these organiza tions, and the lawlessness which they have been committing ior so many months. The time has come when all should labor in the interests of peace, law, order and humanity. This will be one of the chief aims and ends of this jl paper, while under its present management, ui ail tnings n aesires most to see the present bitterness give way-to an era of peace and good feeling, whfvn nartips can encraereincontroversv upoo the merits of the principles and measures wmcn tney respectively au vocate. - s- .' -;: i - : If our friend of The Salem Press will read the oath of the K. K. organization, as ii was brought out In the late trials, he wil tease to doubt that its character wasi political, that its object was to "put up" the Conservative party and "put jdown" the ' "Radical";; party. That is precisely what the members .of the Tegular organization were proven by undoubted testimony to have sworn to do. If this does not constitute it a political organization we do not know what 'ould, notwithstanding the , fact that a few men who claimed the Re publicans swore they were members of it.' ..:V-;.-. - If we are not greatly mistaken in the character of our information, develop ments!will be made at the next term of the Circuit Court that will remove all doubts about the matter, even from the mind 6f our friend of the Press, -ii I' 1 ' ' : i i ' i 1 ! . t The Carolina uKu Mux." The eight unfortunate victims of packed jury and radical . malignity in North Carolina, the citizens who were sentenced by the federal court of that State to enormous fines and imprison ment for alleged kuklux outrages, came down on the Seaboard road .on Thurs day night en route to the Auburn peni tentiary, New York. The prisoners were in the "custody of a detachment of federal soldiers, commanded by a lieu tenant. The poor fellows looked, de spondent enough, and no wonder, for their terms of imprisonment extend from six months to six years, together with fines so excessive that they can never hope to get relief unless their friends intespose to aid them. Norfolk Journal. ; : The above extract contains a state ment utterly without foundation in fact. Yet it is copied into the conserv tive organ qf this State without a word of comment. ! The eight convicts refer red to arerno more "the J victims of packed jury j and radical malignity in North Carolina" than are the most in nocent and unsuspected persons in the world. The evidence given on the tri al of Shot well and others, for the inhu man raid on Mr. Justice, convinced every man who heard 'It of their guilt beyond a doubt. This has been shown by the publication in the Northern pa pers of a correspondence between ten of the leading Democrats and Conserva tives of this City and State arid Judge Bond, during the recent term of the Circuit Court here. The ten distin guished gentlemen referred toj say that "the fact that a secret unlawful organi zation, called the Kuklux or invisible Empire, exists in certain parts of this State has been manifested in the recent trials before the Court over cvj ich you preside. We1 condemn, without reser vation, all such organizations We de nounce them as dangerous to good gov ernment, and we regard it the, eminent duty of all good citizens to j suppress them." Yet in the face of all this it is asserted that Shotwell and his confreres in crime are "the victims of packed ju ry and radical malignity,?' and that they have been sentenced to enormous fines and imprisonment for alleged Ku klux outrages." Why such unfounded assertions should be made, iunless to. assure the Klans that they have friends and sympathizers among the conserva tive press, who will ever be found rea dy to palliate and excuse, if not defend, their horrid deeds, is incomprehensible. The correspondence referred to be tween certain distinguished gentleman of this city and Judge Bond appears in another ' column. Will the Conserva tive press of the State let their readers see it also ? Will they aid their emi nent friends in their declared purpose to suppress these secret organizations by ceasing to excuse or palliate their deeds of darkness and of crime? For in said correspondence their friends and party leaders declare to. Judge Bond that "no right minded men in North Carolina can palliate or deny the crimes committed by these organizations." Since the above was written we see that The Sentinel has published the cor respondence referred to. j Terrible Conflagration in Chicago. The most awful and fearful conflagra gration ever known on this continent visited Chicago', 111., on the 7th, 8th and 9th of the present month. Tlie fire first broke out in a planing mill in the vi cinity of a large number of wooden buildings. The wind was blowing a high gale at the time, and the flames swept over, the city with unexampled rapidity. Many blocks of buildings, including all the printing offices in the city, except that of The Tribune, were destroyed. The area of the c jty which had been laid iri ashes at the last accounts was three miles and a halfjin length with the fire still raging. It is impos sible to estimate the value ofj the prop erty destroyed or the number of lives that have been lost. The Washingtoti Star of Monday evening has the follow ing in relation to this terrible disaster : "The Chicago calamity is doubtless the most terrible in the history of the coun try ; "the great fire in New (York" in 1835, which involved a loss of $20,000, 000, being insignificant in comparison with the destruction occasioned by the appalling conflagration now in progress in the former city. The prevalence of a severe drought in the Northwest, and the facts that there were eighty-five miles of wharf front in Chicago for the storing of lumber and other combusti ble materials ; that many of the streets of the city were paved with wood, and many of the houses are frame struct ures, and that tho connections with, the water-works were destroyed were cir cumstances unfavorable to the quench ing of the flames by the usual agencies. As we. write this the fire is still raging. One-half of the city, embracing ! ten thousand houses, has been reduced to ashes, and at least 50,000! persons ren dered houseless and homeless. We know the American character too well to believe for a moment that these un fortunate people will not be succored in their dire distress. As a people we are seldom found to hesitate in responding to appeals for aid under similar circum stances, and we therefore confidently believe that our citizens of all classes will come forward promptly and do all in their power to relieve the Chicago sufferers. , The President of the United States has already taken measures to give them temporary relief by furnish ing from the public stores supplies of clothing and food, an act which -will be Warmly approved oy every one." ' We acknowledge the receipt of a com plimentary ticket to the Fair of the Carolinas, to be held at Charlotte, com mencing Oct. the 24th and continuing for four days. - We would like to be present on he occasion, and jwill, if we can. There is little doubt that it will be a complete success. The Secret Rebellion Called Ku Klnxism. - It has been found in practice, :" that thepermanent measures ofpplicy which have been enumerated, did not fully meet the necessities of the political situationdn the South. The vindictive intolerance of a portion of the whites, refused to accede to the laws establish ing equality of right and privilege. This spirit has taken the name of Ku Kluxism. It manifests itself , in differ ent forms according to class and locality. Among the wealthy and influential it took, at a very early ; day, the form of social ostracism against all who should embrace, in our portion of the- union, the measures of catholic justice, ana principles of political equality embo died in the Republican platform This is the most refined form of Ku-Klux-ism, and the most cowardly. It is that timid method ; which wealthy and in telligent malcontents adopt, of perpet uating the war of sections after brave armies have left the field, and honor able warriors 'have sheated the sword. The above is from the able and ex cellent address of the Republican State Committee to the people of Virginia. The truths which it proclaims are pal pable. Though the civil war ended on the battle field between contending armies more than six years ago, peace has not yet been restored as it should be. The smouldering embers of the strife still remain and bad men are con stantly striving to fan them to a flame. Men are socially ostracised for no other reason than honest difference of politi cal sentiment. Social ostracism has been proclaimed as a cardinal virtue in the creed of one, of the political parties of the South by a portion of the press, and by many embittered politicians. Verily this is "the most refined form of Ku Kluxism and the most coward ly." It is as anti-republican as it is wicked and unchristian. It must cease before we can have a complete restora tion of peace, law and order in the South. It is a pleasing fact that it is not now as prevalent as it has been. A better felling is beginning to prevail in some localities, but there is still a de gree of political bitterness that nothing can justify or even excuse. This must cease for the common good of all, and for the honor of the holy religion which our people profess. And its ministers and votaries owe it to themselves, in vindication of their falling and profes sions, to do all in their power to allay; it. Can it be that an appeal to them would be in vain? I It is not believedJ A Word to thd Democracy. The Louisville Courier-Journal gives the following sound advice to the De mocracy. A part of ii sounds very much as if it had come . from a Republican source: . The slavery question is dead. Let us bury the remains of the negro question with it. Let the two old lines that parted so long ago the two old Demo cratic lines that have imbrued their hands each in the other's blood come back to the shadow of that blessed and benign roof-tree shade whence they got their free inspirations. There is the declaration of the independence of us all. There is the spirit of that free born, God-given instrument of freedom to warm each one of us, black and white alike all free, all equal before the law of the land, all threatened by des potism and corruption. Let us cease to quarrel over the negro. He is poor and ignorant, and whatever, provoca tion he has given us has arisen out of his ignorance, which is his misfortune and not his fault. He needs protection Let us give it to him, and give it to him cheerfully, not doling it out grudg ingly, not having it wrested from us by force, but giving it from our better sense and (better nature to preserve both him and ourselves. ! This is the road to domestic peace. This is the way to unification. This2 this, and none other. We have urged it; against time and misconception and obloquy. We urge it now. We urge it upon the Southern f eople. We urge jit upon Kentucky, t is the voice of wisdom j the voice , of God, the voice of that divinity which placed these blacks among us for some wise purpose, and has scourged us through them which bids us turn about, Whilst it is time, and look to them, not in a spirit of bitterness or wrath ; but in a tolerant, a patient, a Christian spirit. This is Democracy, pure and simple the Democracy of the fathers the Democracy of Jefferson the Young Democracy, having old blue blood in its veins,-, and tiie fresh new life Of hope in its eyes, chastened through misfortune and taught by ex perience. Tnis is the new depart ure. Hon. S. F. Phillips, The abuse heaped upon this .distin guished gentleman by the Conservative Organ would surpass belief if we did not see it every day. Finding nothing in the conduct of .his whole life and the high character he j has ever sustained,; nor in the manner in which he has dis charged his public duties, as a salient point of attack itj heaps upon him all kinds of opprobious epithets and re proaches. But they cannot hurt him at whom they are aimed they will recoil upon the head of those who utter them. In all the relations of life, whether public or private, Mr. Phillips is above reproach and irreproachable., Second to no man in North Carolina in learn ing and abilities,equal to any in public and private virtues a christian gentle-; tnan in every sense of the . word he is regarded swith pride by the peOple of his native State as one of her most dis- tinguished sons and brightest orna ments. ? Such a man needs no eulogy from our pen it can add nothing to his reputation or character. ' ' President Graxt has issued a pro clamation looking to the. declaration of Martial law in several counties in South. Carolina, if its terms be I hot speedily, complied . with; 3 (The Government is determined to suppress 1 the Ku Klux disorders; if need be,' by a strong hand,' and the sooner the fact is realized and acted upon - by the persons ; composing the Klans the better. I our an A Order. -;Down icith Ruffianism in the South. From the Nashville Banner, (Democrat.) - We cannot find language strong ieitern Wednesday disguised outlaws,nor wordssufedently forcible! for an expression ; of con demnation. jWe cannot believe there is a respectable citizen PX! will share with us this feeling of indig nation. It is useless to discuss themere political consequences of garfbraa ances The utter demoralization ana Ssstempt , of law deeds indicate are far more alarming in their tendencies than any Ppectivo visitation upon our State or section by the mailed nana oi any centra"- potism. It is full time that decent citi zens, having a regard for the protection -v.n;. i?,. onri fhrvsArvf their families, nnA -.rof rnsinp under i the delusive security of laws, inefficiently executed -k I rW ACT floorreiTlflxr JlhllSed. SuOUlCl DC i Ho?r . ii rth -stones. . vinese luu&uiK - " a, nf disguised I murderers are so ap- nQiiimr wfi marvel that the entire Com monwealth does not rise up as one man to put them down, with an, emphasis so terrible in its retributive justice that i-irirkritrfhirtv and dastarui i r, K, IrUran ! frmn the SOU Of Ul6 tvi nAver till nowsuflered to endure Lthe stain ot sucn ioui uisnuuur. . " . -,. i T( an reproach to our mannooa u uiic to our civilization, a wanton and insuf- feranie aegnuianoii ; ui wug justice that such onenses snoiuu gu t f Kv Hist.inp.t1v understood that we are uttering no warning now, for ;.n rtn tinoi oflfVvts. bovond the limits r stato V a rv that the time has come for action.; We insist that thei public safety demands that the ir.r in it maipstv he maintained, if it cost the life of every citizen of the State 11 lilt- JA,liUn""vv. . . -1TTJ nrimo nf thA nrisnners in the : Win !A 4-1 a. lAoyfTkrmmiPA. INO inaLUJr V HU.L lilt tdllliV' V - . Chester jail who were shot and hung by v.;a honri rf nntljiws no" matter what their color, race Or politics no matter riQt. thA inpAntive to take their lives i the hanging aud shooting of these three men was as cruel, aeiiDerauj uuu wiu hirkrviAri n mnrdAr ns ever shocked the nioral sense of even the lowest grade of modern civilization. The prisoners were already in jail awaiting tnai. xut bup pbse they had even been at large,: what auinority uuu nn, van. ioi.-. ntprderers to anticipate the ends of jus tuT by taking the law into their own hands, and why should they be dis guised at all. If a gang of self-consti-n wi Arnlntnrs eould be so nrompt, and systematic in the punishment of these prisoners for alleged onences against the laws, why, we ask,may not the law-abiding people of the ' county of Franklin be just as prompt and vig ilant in bringing them also to justice? Of the two offenses demanding punish ment, the last was infinitely the most nroravatcd and revoltinsr infinitely thA mnst. threatening to the peace of society. These men should be known, every one of them. .: The pat and con venient expression or Coroner' juries, "hv unknown i nersons in; disguise," should no lono-er be received as satis factory in any county in the State, nor of any State in the Union, North or South. (They should be known. It should be the business of society to mako them known. The citizens of any county infested by such outlaws, should -eleep whilti iliajz ore , un known, nor until they are chained and under bolt and bar. If the officers of the law are not efficient, j let them be deposed. "If unknown persons in dis guise" commit murder by the piece or by wholsale, or in any particular, pre sume to i take the law into their own hands, let them be hunted down. And if human enterprise is inadequate to the detection of the offenders, let them be tracked by blood-hounds, ; and let them, when captured and unmasked, feel the majesty of the law, and let their imitators profit by a wholesome example. If the law affords not pro tection,1 then there is no protection. The laws upon the statutes are good enough, but men are wanting to exe cute them. Be they. Rebel or Union ist, Radical or Democrat, - white or black, rich or poor, high or- low it is not a feathers weight in the scale against their inquity. If they are of our political faith, we repudiate them aye, if they be bone of our bone or blood of our blood we cast them4 off. Even the ties of consanguinity are no more felt in Franklin county , than in other counties of the State. Why, let as look even , closer at home. Here was a tragedy enacted near the city of Nash ville, the capitol of this State, the other day almost ; within ; hearing of the church bells under the shadow of our Court House the details of which made the very blood of every man, woman and child run cold. An hour after such news could have reached us there have been times " when a s thousand mounted men would have mustered to repair instantly to the scene . of that horror, to sQpur.the country every hog Eath and by-way so that there would ave been no possible chance for the perpetrator to get away. Think of it, men of Tennessee ! Try to realize the immense responsibility that rests upon every one of us, and act with a deter mination the spirit of which no outlaw can for a moment doubt or mistake. Let us begin henceforward to sustain the majesty of the law. Mr. Seward Home Again. In an other column will be found the account of an interesting . interview which a 7raW;correspondent had with ex-Secretary Seward. The Nestor of Ameri can statesmen, who but a few days ago returned from his pilgrimage around the world, has found a new lease of life in foreign climes. In his declining years he has witnessed, triumphs that equal the homage usually rendered to potentates. At an age when other men think of nothing but repose he who has weathered so many storms of State braved and overcamex the dangers and hardships of tropical countries. Wher ever he went his fame preceded him and secured a recognition of his worth : and past achievements.- It is said Jo be the characteristic of this country that men who have filled high -positions in the State pass ' out of the public mind as soon as they pass out of office.- This may have been the case with men of doubtful merit, but men like Seward always; twinkle In the horizon of fame, and the homage tendered to him by the Mikado, the Khedive and the Sultan-Js likewise a homage to the greatness of the American people. N, Y. Herald. Resigned. R. S. Iedbetter,Senator from the 28th District, composed of the counties of Richmond and Moore, ; has resigned. Gov. Caldwell has ordered a special election to fill the vacancy on Thursday 'the 16th of November; With a proper effort the Republi cansjean carry the District,and they are urged to make such effort. "J - " ' For the Carolina Era. 1 PnbliiV Meeting The Invisible : Empire.; ; j . ( : on Saturday evening last.a largo and respectable meeting of Republicans waS held in the Court Jloase, over which Gen. Willie D. Jones presided. A Com mittee appointed for the purpose, re ported the following preamble and res olutions, which were adopted unanir mously, to wit: ' ; 4 . . Whereas, ThGfact that a secret, unlaw ful and dangerous organization, known as the " Invisible Empire," orthe " Ku-Klux-Klan" composed of many thousands of members, led and directed by unscrupulous and designing demagogues, has been shown to exist m several Counties of our State by the evidence heretofore taken by the J udges of our Supreme Court, in their investigation of the Caswell and Alamance difflculties--aa also by the evidence introduced upon tho impeachment trial of Gov. Holden, and that takenbefore tho Joint Select Committee of Congress ; nd especially! by tho evident nroduced upon the recent trials in the U. $. Circuit Court in this. City, and in the ex aminations had from time to time by the y. S. Commissioners, and which fact has bcoii publicly acknowledged by the Hon. Thok. Bragg, Attorney-General bhipp, and othr prominent lawyers and law-abiding citizens of the State;, . ! I J; And whereas, it has been manifcstotl by the evidences before mentioned 'that tho members of this organization, instigated by, their wicked and cowardly leaders, corf, spirin"- in secret against the lives and liber ties aSd property of good and peaceable citizens, have brutally murdered many persons innocent of any crimes known to the laws of the land and have, in disgimo iu the night time, entered by crowds inU peaceable ana nurauio uwwi i mitted upon the persons of the helpless in mates, men, women and children, cruel and devilish outrages, shocking to-' humanity' and without a paralel in a Christian coun try! ' j ' ''!''!. i V.- And whereas, tho members of this organ ization, by secret and unlawful oaths, ob liging each and every one to stand by and protect eacli other from tho penalties of tho law, and by threats of violence, inspiring terror among their victims, and others cog nizant of their deeds, havo set at dehanco all State laws and civil authority, and thus compelled the intervention of U. S. -Government to givo that protection, which is guar anteed to every citizen by the .Constitution and laws! , , 1 And whereas, by the evidences heretofore mentioned, and which is now beforo tho country, prominent officers and members of this General Assembly are implicated as members of this socrot, dangerous and Un lawful organization, and as such members, have taken oaths contrary to their obliga tions to the Constitution of tho United States and of this State, and as lcadors and chiefs in tho order, are enemies to good govern ment and unworthy representatives of n free people, Thercforo . ; , j Resolved, that wo, a portion of tho free citizens of Wake county, 'respectfully aud earnestly petition to our present General Assembly, to investigate these accusations, , thus publicly made by . witnesses in, our Courts of Justice, and should any offlcer.or member of either House of the General As sembly be found to belong to this secret and mischievous organization, or who; in any manner havo heretofore conselled and abet ted the perpetration of the murders, scour- gings and other devilish cruelties, which . as brought reproach upon the good name of our State, and is a disgrace to tho - civili zation of the age, that such officers and members be at once expelled, as bad ahd wicked men and unworthy to participate in the legislation of our country, j Resolved, that a copy of these Resolutions be laid before the Legislature ,upon its as sembling in November next and that a copy be also furnish to Tiik Eka newspa per for publication, , with the request that those papers in the State in. favor of sup pressing this organization, and of .securing . lastmgjpermanenr pea r r"aplaii- -lish the same, in order that all good aud honorable citizens may solemnly protest ncrainaf. f line a v5nlt.5nn irf law mid rtlllilie justice, and make an energetic and effectual enort ior tne restoration or peace, gooa or- , der, and obedience to the laws of the lahd in every community in , our State. , j j Coli I. J. Young, and others' address ed the meeting in short,forcible speech es, tenderiner tho thanks of the law- abiding portion of our citizens to the- irresiueni oi ine uniiea cuaies, ior nis aid in nrotectinsr the risrhts of all our citizens, and his successful efforts in arresting and punishing the violators oi ine law. . Spirit of the Conservative Press. From tho Battleboro' Advance. J Tiie Ku Klux Trial Mo6keuvI As acts of civil justice ' wo believe the KuKlux trials just concluded at llal eigh to have been farces of tho first order. , ! We do not sav this beiusn nf nnv partiality for a secret order, whose deeds have arrain and nrrnin hrniifrlif. n tinere of shame to theolippksnf law.lnv. lng and peaceful citizens. We have no sympathy for the Ku Klux. We think thev OUarllt to have hoon num'uhnrl fnr their lawlessness long ago, along with niiiiuti.i ui uio jiiiuu jjcugue, - unit other abomination, without which the : Ku Klux would never hav boon hr- - ganised. , . I I , But while we feel bound tn every manner of lawlessness hv whom soever committed, we must remcmer that there are proper legal forms to bd observed in the trial and conviction of criminals, and that, bad as they are and inimical as their acts may bo to society and the State, they have some rights, which the law is bound to ob serve, even in inflicting merited chas tisement for crimes and misdemeanors. When a court of justice exceeds 'sits powers in such trials, it ceases to be a court- of iustice and hecomea n Btnf chamber, its acte are ; usurpatory,! j its dignity aud character as a court of a iree. government are, by such acts. gone. It becomes an instrument ofon- pression. -i--.' -i-- , r, . . . We hold that such exoppdlnw rf tJiJ ers, such wicked usurpation, character ized the Ku Klux trials. . ! It cannot be successfidlv Anni - - "VM UlUll, the lury was most corruptly "packed" In the interest of tho Marshal, Samuel T. Carrow, consulted 1i -t wuvisea oy oamuel t . lJhllliDS. nroseciltinfr mnnul aa kind of men to put on that Jury. This j-iiiuips openiy conressed in court.1 O shame ! where is thy blush !;; .; -. . Then, the change to the inrv nnrl sentence; were concluded in lnnfrt"X, bitterly partizan. . Morn hn u&. The people of North Carolina, who ,. abominate disorder and .violence, and whose reputation , as peaceful,' law abiding citizens, hag never been called in question in any responsible quarter, are maliernantlv assailpd Ing the recent disorders in Rutherford and elsewhere. . This , foul : slander ', should have palsied the ton j udicial partizan who so s unblushinfcl v The times are truly out of joint when V such things as these can occur under a Republican government. Oh I may the uuic own wuio i wiieu, uinerent rulers will wield the scentro of different men will occupy the "curule ' chair..: , -!;. yjf . v ilt , . j' ..; AV Idows are said tni ha nir iwi minstrels now-a-days they don't at? rf V I - 'I
The Era (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 19, 1871, edition 1
2
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