Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-10-25
A North Carolina Precedent.

! The Charlotte Democrat publishes letter
from a gentleman in Texas to a friend il
Mecklenburg, IN which the writer says:
SCI have often read, since the termination o.
this war, in F' Ramsays Annals of Tennessee" ttlt
account there given OF the separation Of East Zen
ntssee from North Carolina. [ have sometime
thought of writing President Johnson giving lin
an account of the 1nasnaniruity OF North Carolina
his native State, to John Sewer and other leadiE
Spirits of his adopted State. The struggle lasted
about as long Onls. The chief reyulter, john
Sewer. and Governor OF the insIrlectiOrary State
| ostraclsed by special enactment, was magnall-
mously admitted to his seat IN the Senate Of the
mother State
This is yeritable history. In December
1854, q Convention Of delegates from what
were known as the counties OF Washing
ton, Sullivan and Greene, embracing
enough territory TO make several large
States aud ali belonging to the then State
| OF North Carolina, met at 3onesboro', Sc
coded from North Carolina, and formed O
Constitution for the State of FARMLAND. -
Gov. Caswell, then Chief Magistrate Of
North Carolina, was not of temper 10
brook such high-handed measures, and is
sued proclamation against the "rebels, -
in which las we learn from Wheeler he
warned all persons concerned in the revolt
to return to their duty and allegiance. and
declared the spirit OF North Carolina was
not SO damped, or her resources so exhaust
ed, that means, even to blood, would not
be resorted to to reclaim her refractory
citizens and preserve her dignity and honor
The State Of FARMLAND disregarded the
admonition, and proceeded to elect officers
OF State, levy taxes, appropriate money,
erect new counties, and exercise all the
powers and prerogatives of r sovereign
State In other words it became de tacto
government, 70 all intents and purposes.
b., -
collisions and border raids, continued until
the latter part OF the year 1857, when the
State of Erank!and Welded to financial pres
sure, stronger than that of physical coer-
clon, and was numbered among the things
that were. Allegiance was promptly re-
newed to the old government and delegates
chosen to the State Legislature, which met
that year in Tarboro'
Up to this point the parallel seems al
most complete between the history of the
years 17S4-'6 and 1915, except in the
magnitude and intensity OF events but
here, to the reproach of modern political
progress, and nineteenth century magma
nlmlty, humanity and sagacity, the parallel
terminated. The delegates from the
defunct State Of l'Ianhland We're cordially
welcomed back to the fold, tiglratiyely
the fatted calf was killed, and an
OiS' VI SOctA lttiIuS dItt y,
the stronger for the temporary ali
enatlon, cnsrcd, aud continued until the
formation OF The State Of Tennessee out of
the territory of North Carolina by vol,lnta-
~ cession. The very next year, even, Jno.
Sewer himfelf, who had been Governor of
the insurgent State. and the life and soul of
the - rebellion" for he was u brave and
headStrong man, was elected to the Gen
eral Assembly of North Carolina, and on
appearing at the migratory capital, Fay
etteville, 1882 the Legislature passed an
act repeating the section disqualifyinS him
rom office, and on his taking The oath Of
allegiance, mo test oath was required,) he
was allowed to tUle lis seat
This is good record for our honest old
State, and puts TO the blush modern politi-
cal enlightenment and moral progress. As
men have become more cultivated in the
arts and sciences, and better versed in the
so-called philosophy of government, they
seem to have become also less humane, less
charitable and less forgiving. The world,
in q word, grows worse as it grows older, if
American civilization is the test of advance
nt!-R0leigb Sentinel.