The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-10-31
The Late John I'M, Morehead.

borough at the last terni OF tho cuRetaor
Court, suitable resolutions were adopted ex-
pressive Of sorrow for the death OF x-coy-,
ernor Morehead; and the Hon. Thomas Set
tie, Solicitor, in presenting the resolutions,
and asking that they be recorded in the
Minutes of the Court, made the following
observations -
May 1t please your Hon0r,-I was directed.
by meeting of the Bar held here on yester-
day to lay before your Honor the resolutions
of that meeting, with the request that they
be spread upon the Minutes of your Honor's
Court.
inherited, may it please your Honor, re-
verence and respect for Gov. Morehead, and
1 trust that shall be INDUCED while recite
a few of the many incidents OF his eyentfai
life He was born in Pittsylvania County,
Virginia, on the fourth day of July, 1906
His parents removed to Rockingham County,
North Carolina, when he was two years OF
age. They were not slow in discovering that
providence had lavished her bounties upon
their child, and although in very moderate
circumstances, they determined to develop
by education his great mental powers.
In those days learn, that it was rare
thing to meet in Rockingham man who
had studied Latin, and such q thing as
classical school was unheard OF. For the
want of better instructor in 1901, old
Mr.. Morehead placed his son John with his
neighbor and friend, my father, who had
studied Latin and Greek for few months
at Caswell Court House, and had just OBJ
tanned license to practice laws and there
between the teacher and his solitary student,
commenced friendship and intimacy which
death alone terminated He went from my
fathers care to that of the Rev. DR.. Caldwell,
of Guilford County, where he was prepared
for College. He joined the senior class and
here at College as well as at DR.. Caldwelfs
he displayed those same traits of character
which afterwards marked his life. At school
and college he at once marched to the head
of his class, and such was his proficiency in
the languages, that he was taken from the
senior class when half advanced and made a
tutor in the University, and at the COM
mencement in 1917, when his class graduated
the faculty awarded him diploma. Shortly
thereafter he commenced the study of law
with the Hon. Archibald D. Murphy, and OBJ
tanned license to practise in June 1919, and
settled in Wentworth, the County-Seat of
Rockingham, where he soon obtained full
practice. In 1921, he was elected to the
House of Commons from Rockingham, and
shortly thereafter, upon his marriage with
Ann Eliza, the daughter of the late Col.
Robert Lindsay, he removed to Guilford, the
place of his residence until his death. In
1S26-'27, he represented Guilford County in
the House of Commons From this period
until 1910, he devoted himself to the prac-
tice of his profession, in which he was the ac-
knowledged leader in all the courts he atten-
ded.
In 1910 as the Wing candidate for Cover
nor he conducted campaign against the
Hon R. NJ Saunders as the Democratic can
didate, which was marked by great ability
on both sides. and is remembered and spoken
of to this day as battle of giants The re-
suit was, his triumphant election. For his
second term he was opposed by gentleman
of no ordinary ability. the late Louis D. Hen
~, but again. as on all previous and subse-
quent occasions, when candidate he proved
to be the favorite ofJthe people Upon the
expiration of his term of office as Governor
he devoted himself to his private affairs, and
only came before the people to plead for
great works of internal improvement and OBJ
jects of charity and beuevolence, until 1882
when he again represented Guilford in the
House of Commons It was at that session
that realized the fact which I had often
heard from others, that John NJ. Morehead
was the grearest man that North Carolina
had ever produced. At that session he and
his plans of internal improvement were made
an object of vigorous attack by men of much
ability For time the attack seemed over
whelming, and Gov. Morehead's friends fear
ed that he would not be able to repel it.
For five days he sat and received it in silence,
but when he arose and as be proceeded with
his defence. friend, foe and every body else
was struck with amazement We could
scarcely realize the fact that any man posses
sed such powers of argument and of elo-
quence.
His vindication was so complete that even
his assailants openly acknowledged it.
In 1860 he represensated Guilford in the
Senate, and was one of the Commissioners
from North Carolina to the Peace Congress
at Washington. He was a member of the
Confederate Congress. It can be truthfully
said of him that he never sought Office; in
deed; he seems to have had an aversion to
holding Office. Isuppose that Gov. Morehead
has left but little written material from which
his history can be gathered he never spoke
or wrote for display, but always to accom-
plish some object, and we have only to look
at North Carolina to read his history We
read it in her works of Internal Improvement
from the mountains to the sea- board.
You cannot look at your magnificent in
stitutions for the care and protection of your
deaf, dumb, blind and insane without re-
membering the eloquent efforts of John NJ.
Morehead in their behalf.
North Carolina has produced some few
men who were doubtless the superiors of
Gov Morehead in certain departments
Judge Pearson, Judge Ruffin and Mr.. Badger
were, suppose, his superiors in legal learn
ing. Perhaps Others were more accurate in
political information, but taking him all in
all, he was by far the greatest man that North
Carolina has ever produced. His private life
is as well worthy Of imitation as his public
life. He was man of the strictest morality.
He took a bright view of life, was happy and
contented himself and tried to make others
so. well remember an expression used by
him, the last time saw him. The CONVEX
sation had turned for some time upon the
troubles which now surround our country,
when Gov. Morehead dismissed the subject
with the remark, that Il was always great
Providence man. I leave all these things to
Providence, well assured that he will bring
good out of it yet" It was doubtless that
principle that made him all that he was.
Inow ask your Honor to direct that the
resolutions passed by the bar be spread upon
the Minutes of this Court