Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-03-18

pose OF pOlntlng me out, felt disposed to
make some remarks on tho subject. It is
not for any petty malice against Governor
Vance, 1t is not from any difference of po-
itical opinion between myself and Gov
ernor Vance, and if any Senator on this
floor supposes that any such motives actuate
me, can only say that ne does me great
injustice. I belive he has been, and now
is, one of the worst enemies of the true
Interests of North Carolina and of his
country.
They talk about his fame. 1 am willing
for future ages to decide whether he is en-
titled to any place in the temple of fame
or whether his name should be damned by
pOsterity for the course he has pursued. I
ana willing that future ages should decide
it. But for Governor Vance thousands of
the citizens of North Carolina would not
be sleeping in bloody graves to-day,
slaughtered on the battlefield. But for
the course Of Governor Vance this war
would have ended sooner than it did. I
have son lying in the cold grave at Ell
mira, but for him In all probability he
would be alive to-day. I have known the
course of this man. Does he accept
the situation as other secessionists did ? IF
he has done so, II is certainly very recent
II. [ have evidence at least that he is just
as from accepting the situation ever.
We cannot reach certain men, as Vance
wives and daughters from respectable So
clety. We ought to do it, and that Is one
of the men / propose to strike out here,
not only on account of his former arbitra-
ry and t7rannical course, but for his pres
ent declaration that reconstruction is an
error.
Dir. Graham, I called for the yeas and
nays on this question, that the people of
the State might see who wish to keep up
strife in our midst, and thought that the
war was not yet ended. The Senator from
Rockingham. like an old war horse, pricked
up his ears at the name Of Vance. and has
failed entirely to understand the nature of
this bill. It does not propose to lncorpor-
ate stock company, but merely to allow
the Individuals named with others, that
may be added, to mutually insure their
lives. I DO not think q man with the good
sense OF the Senator from Rockingham
would like to go home to his constituents
and Tell them h8 was unwilling for Vance
to insure his life for the benefit of his wife
and children. Is ne willing to declare not
only that the war IS not ended, b0t that it
must extend to the women. AS to the ques-
tion Of social position, the women will de-
termine that for themselves-and you will
never reconstruct them by such legislation
as this. l am perfectly willing to. leave this
/ question TO the Republican members of the
| Senate, and especially those who were gal
liant soldiers in the Federal army, and who
continued steadfast to their principles
But it is said that Vance does not ask for
| pardon and wishes to destroy the Govern
ment. The Senator from Rockingham ac-
knOwledges that he is unfriendly to the
present State Constitution, and wishes it
altered. Vance desires nothing more, for
III all the relations Of life he is good clll
zen. / well remember with what thrilling
effect after orr struggle was over he incul-
Gated the duties Of defeat. It is true that
we do not sec his name before Congress for
removal Of disabilities Vance is neither
able or willing to pay for it. When we find
in the list men stepped to the chin, aye
even to the very top of their heads in Sc
! cession, what other conclusion can we draw
than that money was used you cannot
make the people of the State believe other
wise. The bitter memories of our losses
l have no wish to recall. It was lmpossi-
! BILE for Vance or any one else to have stop
| ped the contest. Some who, although OPP
| posed ct the beginning, entered with zeal
into the cause, got whipped very soon, and
expected others to accomplish impossible
/ ties, as long IS herOism and unseltish de-
| vOtion TO d cause are regarded as virtues
among men. You cannot strike Vance's
name from the hearts of the people of
North Carolina-though you may vent your
spite In eraSing his name from this bill
!
/ ing to accord to all tho rights guaranteed
by the Constitution but as long as favors
/ go for moLoy, Gabriel will blow his horn
before he puts in en- apphcatiOn-but, says
one, his day has departed even If that
were SO, generous foe would refrain from
abuse The animal mentioned in Hsops
! Fables, who kicked at the dead lion, has
never enjoyed a very enviable reputation.
Mr.. Robbins said ne regretted exceed
/ hot hn hQH
made this motion, and he hoped he would
see the propriety Of Withdrawing it, and
gave way to Mr.. Moore to withdraw the
/ motion.
Mr.. Moore, of Yancey, desired to state
his reason for making the motion. He
and Z. B. Vance had fought together
during part of the war and Vance was one
of the primary causes of driving a great
many steadfast Union men into the rebel
lion in which he was himself (Mr. NJ for
five and half months. He would ac-
knowledge that he followed Vance, an &C
acknowledgement which he made to the
Senator from Rowan when his political
disabilities had been investigated. Since
that time he had taken the wrong horn OF
the dilemma and he opposes the State gov
ernment and the government of the United
States, and by his conduct in other mat
ters deserved the reprOaoh of the people,
but at the request OF several of his friends
he would withdraw the motion.
Mr.. Shoffner called the previous ques-
ton, which was sustained and the bill
passed its second reading by the following
vote:
AYES Barnes, Beali, Burns, Brogden, Cook,
Eppos, coIored, Flytbe, Forkner, Graham, Hayes,
Hyman, colored, Jones, Of Columbus: Jones, Of
Mecklenburg, Jones' OF wake. Lssslter, Legg,
Richardson, Robbins, Scott, Shoffner, Sweet
| Wellzer, Whiteside and Wilson.
ored, Lindsay, Long, Love, Moore, of Yanoey,
Smith, Stephens and White.
NoTE.-NIr. Love, in explanation of his vote
said he should vote against the bill to be consis
! tent, as lie had voted against all bills of this
character, because he thought time and expense
would be saved by the Companies getting theii
charters under the general incorporation act.
J. a. Hyman, colored, said he should
vote for the bill because he felt he was in
= 7 IL l.. Es.. e