USA > North Carolina > Edgecombe County > History of Edgecombe County, North Carolina > Part 23
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It is declared by good authority that men who were guilty of offenses of a minor character received a better trial at the hands of the Ku Klux than by the courts. There was, however, no re- course for the victims of the order and no retaliation. That it did much good in quelling crime is indisputable, by the decline of crime after the organization appeared. After 1875 a bad element of whites began to get into the Klan, and since its purpose was about accomplished the leading citizens began to withdraw. In addition to this the negro began to realize that the northern man was his enemy instead of his friend, and after the forty acres and
248
HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
a mule never materialized he began to lean toward the native whites. This statement is well demonstrated by a negro man who lived on Captain R. H. Gatlin's farm in the county. This negro had voted the Republican ticket and belonged to the Union League. This negro came to Captain Gatlin often and asked him to read the political news, and made this statement: "I am firmly con- vinced that the Democratic party will work for the best interests of the negro." This colored man frequently spoke to the members of his race, and on one occasion he had over one hundred negroes in front of him hissing and hooting him down. He backed him- self against a tree and told them that they could kill him, but they could not shut his mouth, that this was a free country and that free speech was allowed, and he intended to say what he pleased. In his attempts to lead his race into better things, it was reported that he exercised sound logic and said things his opponents could not confute.
When the General Assembly in 1871 passed a law to abolish all secret political organizations, the Ku Klux disbanded, or all the best element withdrew. Its influence, however, was retained by parties were were banded together to protect the innocent.
In order to brighten the negroes' hope, when political issues were first agitated, the northern men promised the negro forty acres of his former master's land and one mule. Their slogan was bottom rail on top, or now negro up and white man down. In- duced by this theory, advanced and advocated by corrupt poli- ticians, the poor emancipated negro with ten thousand or more just freed, and with many white men disfranchised by the Federal Government, it was nothing but logical that they should vote for the radicals. The first court was made up of negroes, and was termed the "Mongrel Constitution.".
The election in 1869 is an index to the political conditions, and the humiliation the citizens had to suffer. All citizens of the county who had been members of the Legislature, and had held local offices, were disfranchised, as well as those who had borne arms against the United States. Every negro, however, who could boast a man's clothes had the chance to vote. A greater farce had never been enacted. Quite a few white people were
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present, but only the radical element were permitted to vote. The Democrats stood with hands in pockets-innocent spectators, while the radicals carried the election.
When the voting was over the ballots were not sent to the court house to be verified, and the result reported to Raleigh, in order that the vote of the State might be known, but was sent direct to General Canby, the autocratic ruler of the Carolinas, in Charles- ton, S. C. From the list of elected candidates it will be seen how many strangers in politics were successful in securing office in the county. For history's sake a result of the election in the different townships of the county, as shown by the returns to the Board of Commissioners, is given :
Tarboro township elected Alexander McCabe, B. J. Keech, and J. H. M. Jackson (colored) as magistrates, and W. H. Shaw as clerk, E. Zoeller as constable, and John King, T. W. Harvey and David Harriss (colored) as school committee.
Alexander McCabe came to Edgecombe County (Tarboro) be- fore becoming twenty-one years old from New York State, where he was connected with wealthy and prominent people. His pur- pose in coming South was to engage in the mercantile business. He was a man of good impulses and enjoyed considerable popu- larity among the people of Tarboro. He married the eldest daughter of Samuel Moore, a citizen of Tarboro. At this time Mr. McCabe became active in the Republican party and was soon its recognized leader. He was of Irish descent and possessed many characteristics of that people. It is reported that he exer- cised a kindly feeling toward the disfranchised whites, and safe- guarded their property and frequently their personal safety.
LOWER CONETOE elected W. T. Cobb and Henry Telfair (col- ored) as magistrates. Clerk, William A. Jones; Constable, E. E. Knight; School Committee, George W. Harriss, William Harrell, Frederick Bryan.
UPPER CONETOE-Magistrates, James Howard, John Bryan (colored); Clerk, Benjamin Staton; Constable, James Howell; School Committee, William S. Long, Staton Whichard, James B. Station.
DEEP CREEK :- Magistrates, M. P. Edwards, John H. Edwards; Clerk, B. T. Mayo; Constable, A. T. Parker; School Committee, D. B. Batts, E. M. Bryan, Israel Merritt (colored).
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HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
LOWER FISHING CREEK :- Magistrates, Benjamin Johnson (colored), Almon Hart; Clerk, C. G. Wilkinson; Constable, Alfred Warren; School Committee, H. L. Leggett, D. W. Bullock, J. W. Johnson.
UPPER FISHING CREEK :- Magistrates, Mathew Allen (colored), Samuel G. Jenkins (colored; Clerk, A. Dawson (colored) ; Con- stable, J. Simmons (colored); School Committee, L. Garrett (colored), Carter Bellamy (colored), N. Bellamy (colored).
SWIFT CREEK :- Magistrates, K. C. Pope, Willis Brown (col- ored) ; Clerk, James R. Odom; Constable, S. D. Pool; School Committee, Carey Bellamy (colored), Ned Curtis (colored), Washington Taylor (colored).
SPARTA :- Magistrates, William S. Duggan, Frederick Green (colored) ; Clerk, James B. W. Norville; Constable, William R. Cobb; School Committee, R. S. Williams, Elias Carr, J. L. Wiggins.
OTTERS CREEK :- Magistrates, Joseph Cobb, Watson Harrell; Clerk, Battle Thorne; Constable, Elisha Harrell; School Com- mittee, W. G. Webb, K. C. Lewis, Bennett Hagins.
LOWER TOWNSHIP, NO. 10 :- Magistrates, M. B. Atkinson, J. C. Moore; Clerk, Theophilus Atkinson; Constable, John Lewis; School Committee, Hiram Webb, John Walston, John T. Weaver. WALNUT CREEK :- Magistrates, A. B. Nobles, W. H. Knight; Clerk, J. W. Garrett; Constable, Joshua Killebrew; School Com- mittee, C. B. Killebrew, S. D. Proctor, General Bullock (colored).
ROCKY MOUNT :- Magistrates, Spencer Fountain, John H. Harrison, John N. Taylor; Clerk, T. H. Ruffin; Constable, John Pearce.
COREY :- Magistrates, David Lane, James F. Jenkins; Clerk, Lawrence Lane; Constable, John Lancaster; School Committee, Bythel G. Brown, Guilford Moore, Samuel Clark.
UPPER TOWN CREEK :- Magistrates, J. J. Sharp, L. L. Lancas- ter; Clerk, Jesse W. Williams; Constable, C. S. Braswell; School Committee, John P. Wynn, Jeremiah Batts, Toney Robbins (colored).
After the election two leading negroes conceived the idea of serving the Government in the capacity of postmaster at Tarboro. One thought that a long list of names to his petition would aid him in receiving the position, and so forged the signature of a
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large number of negro names and forwarded the same to Wash- ington. The matter was referred to the Congressman from this district; there it was discovered that the applicant was without political support. The Congressman in turn referred the matter to the members of the Legislature from Edgecombe, when the fraud was discovered and nipped in the bud.
After a careful examination of the names returned in the elec- tion, the Democrats expressed their surprise and pleasure at the result. In one township the influence of the Union League was sufficient to overbalance all other consideration and an entire negro ticket was elected-notwithstanding the exertion of the moderate white Republicans. In another township the result of effective compromises resulted in the election of some of the county's best men to office.
With an overwhelming majority the negroes elected but twenty of their own color, out of one hundred offices to be filled, and in a great number of townships this result was effected through a spirit of conciliation and compromise on their part. It was only natural to expect the negro to give way to the white Republican's ambition when he was to reap reward by being second fiddler. In fact, the negro voter during the time he enjoyed unrestrained political power, remained at the foot of the Republican party. Out of the average 9,000 Republican majority from 1868 to 1880, in the second congressional district, only five per cent were whites, but the majority of offices were without exception given to this five per cent.
During the campaign of 1869 the county polled 3,800 votes, and of these only fifty were white. The number of negro voters in 1867 was 2,593 compared to 1,194 whites. In 1870 the figures grew even worse, when, out of a total population of 22,970, only 7,858 were white, including sixty-four foreign birth. The negro population had increased over 5,000 in number in less than ten years, whereas the whites showed only an increase of 1,979 in the same length of time.
The feeling of triumph over a Democratic gain in 1870 over. the previous election was considered a victory and the result was expressed by two of Edgecombe's most able citizens. Judge How- ard said: "So happy an escape from absolute despotism, so com- plete a repudiation of our base calumniators; so glorious a return
252
HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
of liberty and good government surely demand great rejoicing." Governor Clark said: "In the midst of bayonets and military prisons we have achieved a signal and bloodless victory with no crime on our hands and no blood on our flag. While we are proud of our people, we may safely trust them in the great contest for civil liberty."
For the whites to dominate the negro in politics was a problem greater than that of how England conquered India with India's own troops. It was indeed singular how this number of men could rule 3,780 negroes and keep them in almost absolute po- litical subjection. Bryan, Cobb, Duggan, Keech, Lancaster, Mc- Cabe, and Robbins took the offices which paid a good salary, such as register of deeds, clerk, sheriff, treasurer, and supplied the negro with non-paying places in the Legislature. This procedure, however, beneficial as it was to the poor whites and detrimental to the negro, was not to be permanent.
Three factors caused a complete reversion in the political mo- nopoly; emigration of whites, change in the State Constitution, and the awakening realization of the negroes themselves. The most prominent of these was the growing restlessness of the ambitious negro.
In January, 1873, when it became apparent that things were going from bad to worse with no prospects of a change for the better, many of the oldest and more peaceful citizens, began to change places of residence. Emigration assumed such proportions that an "Emigration Association" was formed, with E. B. Borden as treasurer. Edgecombe County contributed $300 at one time to assist in the movement. The Richmond Examiner, in comment- ing on emigration from the eastern counties of North Carolina, said that of the several parties passing through Richmond, many were grey-haired men of sixty years, while several were children only four months old. The parties reported they were going to the western and northwestern states because they found it im- possible to live at home. Many sold their land for $1.50 per acre, and several only had money enough to carry them as far as Cin- cinnati. There evidently was much suffering in the county. In one month alone one hundred and twelve white families purchased emigration tickets at the depot at Tarboro; certainly some of these
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RECONSTRUCTION-SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL
were leaving the State permanently. The question of the county's becoming depopulated began to attract State attention before the close of the summer of 1873.
In the meantime the fact that the best citizens of the State had no voice in the county government began to be felt. Hence a change was made in suffrage requirements by the constitutional convention of 1875. At the same time the appointment of magis- trates was vested in the Legislature, and the magistrates in turn elected five county commissioners to manage county affairs. Be- fore this change in the Constitution the radicals inflicted a great curse upon the white people of the county by mismanagement. Plunder and extravagance were the rule, and honesty and economy the exception. The changes made by the revised constitutional proceeding proved Edgecombe's salvation, although many at that time exercised some disappointment. This bill passed in 1877 without altering the tenure of office of the Justices of Peace and county commissioners then in office.
In the meantime the fact that the negroes constituted such a great majority gave indications that radical domination might continue. Especially was this true in regard to town administra- tion. This field of activity offered a greater opportunity in ex- ercising tact and ingenuity than that of county or State politics. To meet this political emergency arose William Pippin. He con- ceived a plan by which the whites could control town affairs in Tarboro. The old citizens will recall that prior to 1875 there were no wards or districts in the town of Tarboro; in fact, no such provision had been anticipated in the town charter. A census of the city showed that the negroes had the majority and in- variable elected all three town commissioners. Mr. Pippin ap- peared before the State Legislature and succeeded in having the charter amended, dividing the town into three wards. The first and second wards contained the majority of whites in the central part of town, while the third ward included the suburbs, where the negroes lived. This placed the negroes in a position to carry only one ward, and the whites the remaining two wards, and negro domination collapsed.
The county government after 1868 to 1875, gave the people the right to elect county commissioners, magistrates, and school com-
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HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
mitteemen.1 This made county government exclusively a local affair, and if the Democrats had a majority, the county govern- ment passed under Democratic control. On the other hand, a constitutional amendment of 1875, which placed within the power of the Legislature to pass the law putting in force the new form of government, the county, if it voted solidly Democratic, would not necessarily have a Democratic controlled government, since the State Legislature may be Republican. The latter would be more than probable on account of the great negro majority in other counties in the State, as well as in Edgecombe. This look- ing into the future caused a demand for repeal of the system then known as "Canby" system. The Tarboro paper says, however, when it became known it would be impossible to secure a repeal, it was a great disappointment to the people, but if it was the best the county's friend could do for the people, "we must needs be contented."
In order to show the reparation made during the reconstruction regime it becomes necessary to discuss the rule under the two parties. The amount of taxes levied for the county for the year 1867 was $14,681.00 to pay expenses of county, government and schools. Up until March of 1868 only $9,696.07 had been col- lected, leaving a deficit of $4,984.93. Add to this the increasing cost due to criminal cases which were rapidly increasing, the county expense was more than $8,000.00 behind at the close of this year. In 1866 the Republican commissioners were liberal in aid- ing the needy. The burden of war had caused a large number of citizens to become dependent on the county for aid. This aid lasted for several years. One instance which serves to show the expense of such a liberal policy was Mrs. A. A. Moore, of Tar- boro. To her the commissioners gave 3,000 pounds of pork at 121/2c per pound, 10 pounds of flour at $15.00 per barrel, 20 pounds of corn at $5.00 per pound, $100.00 worth of sugar, $60.00 of coffee, $40.00 worth of molasses, 30 cords of wood, cost- ing $150.00, $15.00 worth of salt, $3.00 worth of pepper and spice,
1 Prior to 1868 there were no county commissioners. The county court attended to all duties which were later delegated to county commissioners.
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RECONSTRUCTION-SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL
and a loom wheel and cards at the cost of $200.00, making total gift of $1,013.00. In this case, however, the husband who was deceased had left an estate unsettled, and was supposed of some value. This attitude on the part of the party in power was badly abused, and caused fatal financial results. At this time the dis- franchised whites had not had their rights returned, and north- erners and negroes dominated the county.
After the white people were franchised, the finances were handled some better, and when the Republicans turned over the county government there was less deficit than in the year 1867. Considerable credit is due to John Norfleet for the control of the county finances. He had been associated with the Confederate Government and received his amnesty in 1868. He later became a Republican and clerk of court, a position he had formerly oc- cupied as early as 1841. He was a good business man, adminis- trative official, honest and judicious. He had the reputation of being the best clerk in the State. After he was defeated for clerk he did the business of a lawyer, although he never received his license. He could draw a will and handle legal matters relat- ing to property with much success. He was also a man of fine business judgment. He was always anxious to serve the people, and when Edgecombe County had its government restored in 1868 he watched carefully over its interest, and was elected mayor in 1874.
Immediately after war a meeting was called to appoint county oficers. H. C. Bourne gave a barbecue prior to the call for a con- vention. Mr. Bourne, as were a goodly number of others, was in politics for what it gave, and he suggested a place of chief jus- tice at a salary of $1,500.00 a year. The present Captain R. H. Gatlin, of Tarboro, went to see Mr. Norfleet and told him the circumstances and asked him if enough could be influenced to vote for him in the election, would he serve. Mr. Norfleet in his characteristic way said: "I don't believe any man ought to refuse to serve his people."
When the convention was called Mr. Gatlin received recognition and requested that the salary of Chief Justice be set before nomi-
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HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
nations were made. To this Mr. Bourne objected, but the move of Mr. Gatlin's was seconded, and the salary was set at $3.00 per day for each day served by the Chief Justice of the County Court. It was largely through Mr. Norfleet's efforts that expenses were kept down. The alarming increase gave Edgecombe the name throughout the State as a "Paradise for Thieves," where people rioted in great recklessness, and the criminal docket was blackened with every crime known to the penal code.
In 1879 effort was made to reduce taxation by imposing extra revenue tax. This served to release the poll tax from eighty-nine cents to seventy-two, but the increase in revenue was still not sufficiently increased to offset the debit incurred and to pay operat- ing expenses.
At the end of the War there was no debt if that which the Su- preme Court decided to be unconstitutional. Some of this debt, however, was paid by a Republican board of commissioners. From April, 1865, to September 5, 1868, the expense of county government was $20,300, which was presented to the Board of Audit. In addition there were several thousand dollars not pre- sented which was later discovered and ordered paid by the Demo- cratic board when it came in power. Of this amount $1,500 was outstanding school orders and a debt due the school fund of $2,000. From 1868 to 1878, when Benjamin Norfleet, Robert Norfleet, Republicans, and W. H. Johnson, H. D. Teal, and W. H. Knight, Democrats, were taken out of control and J. C. Dancy, T. U. Whitted, and Clinton Cattle, colored, regained power, the cost of county government rose to $24,000 annually, while under sane white Republican rule it was less than half the amount. The Democrats made even a better showing, but this was due to a return of stable government and economy.
From December 1, 1875, to December 1, 1876, Republican rule cost $23,925.92. From December 1, 1876, to December 1, 1878, under Republican rule the cost was $18,777.55. December 1, 1877, to December 1, 1878, last year of Republican rule, the cost was $20,978.55. From December 1, 1878, to December 1, 1879, the first year under Democratic rule was $7,687.12, while from December 1, 1879, to August 1, 1880, constituting seven months expense,
1
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RECONSTRUCTION-SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL
the amount was $6,492.73. The success of an administration is measured by financial results. A comparative statement, there- fore, is given of the expenditures under the two administrations:
Year
Party
Receipts
Disb's
Bał. On Hand
1870
Rep.
$23,195.63
$23,195.63
1871
24,343.81
24,343.81
1872
28,264.72
28,264.72
1873
"
29,420.15
29,420.15
1874
24,730.75
24,730.75
1875
26,048.61
26,048.61
1876
17,467.44
17,467.44
1878
18,312.08
18,312.08
$191,783.19
$191,783.19
In addition during the Republican regime revenue was received from sale of real estate which was also expended :
Amount
Dist's
Sale of 98 acres of land
$1,788.50
Half acre town lot
550.00
One hundred and fifty-four acres of land
2,249.00
Half acre town lot
539.00
Part of courthouse lot
790.39
Part of courthouse lot
1,875.00
Total
$7,791.89
Grand Total
$199,575.08
$7,791.89 $199,575.08
Year
Party
Receipts
Disb's
Bal. On Hand
1879
Dem.
$16,428.15
$16,353.74
$ 75.41
1880
18,092.29
14,408.75
3,683.54
1881
21,719.44
14,576.73
7,142.71
The funded debt of the county in 1880 was $15,000 and at the close of the year there was an available cash balance of about $12,000. The first Democratic board, however, paid a part of the old indebtedness of about $4,000, which would have increased the amount of balance on hand at the close of 1880. The Republicans in ten years administration reduced the county debt of only $1,005.78. Another fact is also worthy of notice is that the average receipts under Democratic control was $7,493.64 or only
17
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HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
$26 more than the Republicans received in 1876 and 1877, mak- ing the average receipts under the Republicans $23,972.89, and $17,493.64 under the Democrats; a difference of $6,479.25 more each year for Republicans than the Democrats had.
As a closing comparison of the prevailing conditions citation is made of the distribution of the county tax for the year 1875. It was distributed as follows:
General Fund
$15,005.92
Poor Fund
10,598.17
School Fund
8,773.77
Total
$34,377.77
Against the general fund and poor fund orders were issued as follows :
Poor
$9,444.95
Juries
881.86
Prosecutions
786.93
Prisoners in Jail
6,480.42
Bridges
2,664.61
Miscellaneous
6,331.17
Total
$26,589.94
From the above account it is to be noticed that the deficit was met, as was the custom, from the school fund.
The closing years of the reconstruction witnessed improvement in both finances and party feeling. The economic life of the people was becoming more stable, and political animosities less apparent. The logical solution for party differences were con- summated in politics following 1865, and direction is made to this discussion.
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CHAPTER VIII
RECONSTRUCTION-POLITICS
One of the most ill-timed conditions continued, although po- litical conditions in the county were gradually getting better. It became necessary under the radical rules for any one accepting public office to take an oath, a "Test Oath," before being allowed to enjoy political position. This oath caused the office holder to swear that he had not borne voluntary service against the United States, that no aid had been given, that no assumption of office had been made of any office in any government of author- ity or pretended authority in hostility to the United States, and that no support had been given to any government hostile to the United States. In addition a solemn oath of allegiance to the United States was administered.
The results of this test oath are plainly seen. Whereas apparent franchise was being given to ex-Confederate soldiers and govern- ment officials, the power to hold office again was deprived them, due to the fact one could not subscribe to the test oath who had in any way participated in the Confederate cause. A true loyal southerner would not sell his birthright. In order to regain com- plete citizenship he had to take the oath, consequently it was sometime after 1868 before opportunities for political advance- ment were opened. Doubtless many unscrupulous men in the county perjured themselves for a few hundred dollars a year. . Peace be to their ashes.
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