Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-06-21
From the Raleigh News
AUGUSTUS s. MERRIMON.

AUGUSTUS 5. MERRIMON.
The objectionable sin Of being an arts
tOcrat, which the Radicals with their usual
ignorance and disregard of truth, have
charged against our candidate for Gubcr-
material honors, is SO utterly ut variance
with the early life of Augustus S. MeTri- |
mon, that we think it not improper TO give
a truthful synopsis of the carly Opportuni-
ties and education of him who in August is
destined to win for us a stainless triumph !
and worthily TO fill the highest office in the |
gift of the people Of North Carolina.
Judge Merrimon is the eldest son Of the
Rev. Branch III. Merrimon, Methodist
minister still residing in BuncOmbe County.
He was born in 1890 and is therefore in
his fOrty-scCOnd year. During his child
hood and early youth his father was COM
PEELED to observe the StrlcteSt economy,
devoting all his earnings TO the payment of
the purchase money and the Improvement
Of Il small tract of land upon which he was
then living. The aspiring boy was there
fore denied even the full advantages of Il
district school education, and spent his
time in the summer at the plOW-handle,
and i'll the winter hauling logs and assist
ing at 4 saw-miI. But his soul was
filled with an Unsuitable thirst after
knowledge, and his capacities were great.
lie early learned to set a proper value on
his time, and in the Winter-night, hy the
light-vvOOd torch, in the noon day rest be-
meath the chestnut Of his native fields, he
would devote every spare moment to the
study of some elementary work. Towns
Analysis OF the English Language was his
youthful rade mec,aV, and the tattered vol
umc is still rcVerently preserved among the
books Of his Well-liied library. Thus while
in the fields sowing seeds OF golden grain,
he was also busily sowing the golden seed
of future honor and distinction.
/ AS he crew older, while at the saw mill,
i he began first to read the immortal page of
| Blackstone, and there ubibed the rever-
/ Cncc for law, for constitutional govern
! mcnt and for liberty, that has been his
/ lnlin% principle through life.
! Afterwards he WAS enabled 20 spend
! eight months in the AsheYllc Academy,
! which was the Whole time that he ever at
! tended school worthy OF the name. lie
i then entered the Office of n lawyer i'll
/ AshcviIlc and began TO fiji himself for his
chosen profession. While thus engaged
his trials were many and CALLING. A gen
erous friend oilei ed him board, for which
he pail years aftcrWard by his earnings at
the har. At times lie was unable to pro
cure or furnish 4 room, and mary nights Ill
i the severe winter OF the mountains dill he
! spend stretched upon q naked bCnch, near
the Office fireplace. But his daImtlcss
spirit never gave way, and c;lrly and late
I he labOrCd, laying the foundation OF his
present fine legal attachments. In 49,,
I borrowing Il friends horse, he rode to
Raleigh and obtained license to practice
law, ut the age of twenty-five. Unable 70
pay cash for library, he obtained books
upon long credit, and paid for them month
after month and year after year i'll small
instalmeuts, until the back of tho note ut
the final settlement ware Ompletely covered
His pnblic and political career is the
property Of the State. Not long after his
admission to the bar, he was elected Coun-
ty Attorney. In 1860 he was elected to the
House Of Commons by % majority, Bun
combe having previously given Demo
cratic. majority During the session his
earnest Efforts i'll behalf Of the Union,
standing side by side with Davis, and
Crumplcr, and Marsh, and others of our
honOred dead, won for the young member
/ an enviable reputation. Soon alter the
session lie was appointed Solicitor OF his
Judicial District by Judge French, and
upon the assembling Of the Legislature was
elected by that body to the same office. lie
was n candidate for the Convention ordered
by President Johnson in 1865, and was
beaten II votes by one Stewart, the candi-
date Of the Kirk faction in BunCOmbo. His
detractoIs i'll the face of this have the
e1lrontery TO charge him with being atriend
to Kirk Let the returned Confederate
soldiers Of Buncombe say fOr whom they
voted in 1869.
In 1866 he was elected Judge OF the SIT
perior Court, and while upon the bench
''won golden opinions from all sorts OF
people" hy his promptncss Of decision, his
legal ability, and his general adminisira-
tive talent. The great Johnston will-case
was tried before him at Il special term OF
ChOwan Court, and the way in Which he
presided during the trial WAS the subject of
much 1lattenng comment throughout the
State. When it was attempted to make
linn. rs JUDGE, execute The military order
of Gen Sicklcs, lc promptly resigned.
Judge FOWlt, about tie sanetimc, refused
compliance aud lilcWse rendered his re-
| signation. In tSiS Judge McmilnOn was a
candidate upon. tile Conservative ticket for
M v..S afcnI,x,. bnltn, 1>t thn then All.
,,,,o,.r,I p.,,,,,Ili..-, p,rt,,
And now Nrrr,t,is : Ainrr;u,o,,. the
plOughboy, the laborious student, the self
educated, s'If made man, again stands up
ON the nolitirai arena. demanding the