The North-Carolina standard., 1845-04-16
Esrths Nonh Carolina Standard.
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/ MR. EpafSaa 4 was present sat the wake demo-
cratic meeting soR Sai1r ast to- appoint Dee
gates to convention to pominale candidate ior
Congress, ,oapdlWas gladto Eseeso large a NUMBER
of the sterling democracy of the county IN attend
Iance. B1tthefe was another ciFcuH1stance equal
fly gratifyingLthe expression Of "a preference for
James B. Shepard; Esq:,n gentleman with whom
lit is my good fortune TO be ipHma lely acquainted.
With the democracy a Imam 8 ancestors are not
so much looked to- the man lhimself;. but if 1t
were otherwise, i could SAY ,wthsconfdenee that
Mr.. Shepard is descended from one of the
first families in the State. Atan early age he was
sent to our University, where by attention 10 his
Studies he did what is rarely done-on graduating;
in 1884 he obtained the frst hoaaor, sepdrate, in
each Of the classes J. From the University he went
TO Phlladelphla, city famed for legal
the purpose of obtaining a thorough knowledge OF
the principles of Law, winch takes most persons
some years, yet was accomplished by him in a ve-
ry few months ; and on his return, he obtained Ii
cense 10 practice in the County Courts Of this State
1t is remarkable circumstance, which ! will men
ton here, that on his examination by the Judges
he answered satisfactorily every question Iropound
ed to him !! In very short time he was admitted
to practice in the Superior Courts. So rapid was
his progress In his profession, that in 1S40 lenly
SIX years after graduaing) he was by-P President
Van Buren appointed-U. States District Attorney
for North Carolina, which Office he held a short
time and resigned. Until now Mr.. s.. was little
known politician, preferring 6rst to establish
himself in his profession-th though he was and had
=
The Federalists were using every means to
overthrow Mr.. Van Burens administraton-and
among them the Hooe case was famous it will
doubtless be recollected by your readers. In your
section there many of the same profession
Mr.. Shepard, whose popularity seemed to be on
the wane both professionally and politically, and
jealous of the increasing popularity Of Mr. s.. they
i>united in effort, led on by Ex-Governor 1rede
to hurl Mr. S. from the proud eminence he had at
tanned in the affections of the people. Their first
| attack was by indrecton to connect him, as Dis
trfct Attorney, with the case of Ii. Hooe. He was
! asked by Mr. Iredel for his opinion, and it was
given with that freedom which is characteristic of
the man bot as private citizen, not District
Attorney, he having resigned the Office few days
before, which was unknown to his enemies I'm
mediately the foul work Of detraetion and calumny
was commenced, and most assiduously did they
carry 1t on. Sanctioned by the names of Iredel
Devereux, Boylan, Geo. w. Mordecai Geo. W.
Polk, and Others it was deemed worthy of notice
In statement submitted by Mr.. Shepard to the
public, he vIndicated himself from The foul stain
attempted to be cast upon him, and hurled il back
from whence 1t came there to remain a lasting
mark of their infamy and the triumph of Truth
and Virtue Fasehood and Vice. From that
time he has been the bject of the most bitter ha-
tired by the Federafists individually with some
few honorable excepuons) and collectively.
10 May, lS41, in the county Of Granville, Mr.. s.
delivered speech on the subject of Banks, which
for Pungent reasoning and sound argument have
never seen equalled the whole system was thor
oughly handled. So highly was this speech va
ued by his political friends, that 4000 extra copies
were ordered TO be printed in pamphlet form for
circulation by the State Democratic Central Com
mtee.
In 1e41 Mr. S. was nominated by the democrats
OF Wake for a seat 10 the State Senate, 10 which,
after an arduo1s and well-contested canvass. he
was triumphantly elected-though doubt if any
candidate ever had 10 contend against SO great op-
position before. In the Senate Chamber, though
young, he took active part in the discussion Of
every important measure, maintaining with firm
ness the interests Of the people and the true prin-
ciPles Of the party 10 which be was attached.
Having served one term, for reasons entirely
private MIR. S. declined reelection. But the
people, those who knew him, were not willing that
he should retire from the public service; and on
third solicitation to become a candidate for seat
In the House of Commons of the late Legislature,
he yielded his personal ease, sacrificed his private
Interests, and took the field against the best stump
orators u and most popular men the opposition
were able 10 bring forward In this canvass, tho
some wba: behind the ticket, he was elected by a
handsome majority. As a member of the House.
Mr.. ). served his constituents and his party with
honor 10 them and credit TO himself He was eve
ry way qualified, and his spirit equal to the task
| ton and Cherry testify. Mr.. S. delivered sew
eral speeches; among them one on the Resolution
relating to the Colonial History Of our State, and
one on the Texas Resolutions, (both published,)
| from the latter | extract the fCowing
" Let the of freedom be extended, | say,
not only so fur TO include Texas unde: the
wing of our Eagle, but let it pass beyond the
Rocky Mountains and embrace in its frateTnal
| arms the whole country between Us and the Pa
cihc. If the patriots and statesmen of our coun-
try, Of the present generation, act with wise
foresight splendid destiny awaits the American
Republic The general intelligence or
our people, and the spirit Of the present age, call
for the adoption of great and noble enterprises
God gave US this magnificent continent 10 i'm
prove, beautify and adorn, and to perpetuate npon
earth as we'll as extend the blessings of civil 6er-
ty. Let US all then, without distinction of party
fulfil the great object of creation in advancing
human improvement: and when mortal life shall
end and time with US be DER, perennial honors, un
ceasing and eternal will blossom on our graves
| But, sir whY argue this question any long
er2 The time for argument has passed. The f.
al Of the people has has gone forth. The handwrt-
| ing is on the wall: Texas must be annexed. - :
Your candidates and public men, occupied the
ground that they were not opposed TO annexation,
provided it could be doEe without compromtling
the honor and interests of the Union, and now
call upon them to maintain that ground by voting
for the resolution of the gentleman from Cumbet-
fand (Mr. AtkinsJ or abandon it, and let the whole
! State:see them go over to the embraces of Adams
and his allies"
fear have already, Mr.. Editor, ttespassed too
much on your columns and the patience of your
readers, and must not be tedious in details. With
the literali Mr.. Shepard ranks among the first in
! our State. His literary efforts which have come
under my observation are: An Grafton delivered in
Raleigh, July a, 1889 ); an Address before the two
Literary Societies at Wake Forest College, June,
J. A H4cz Il