Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-09-25

Inefe is no character IN EngllSh his
tory that takes stronger grasp upon
the Imagination of the American peo-
the youtk-than does
that of Raleigh. The age in which he
lived was the very heyday of what
may be termed utilitarian chivalry.
The fantastic freaks and fancies Of
knight errantry and piratical vaga-
bondism, had measurably yielded be-
fore the more serious business Of life.
Of the causes which led to this, not
even the advance of letters, nor the
overthrow of priestly rule, did SO
much, perhaps, as the discovery of
this great western world. Opening so
wide a field for fame, riches and ma
tional aggrandizment, the ambitious,
the adventurous and the needy from
all western Europe rushed toward the
land of golden promise, with all the
zeal and fiery enthusiasm which the
warlike spirit CT the times inspired.
The marvellous stories OF returning
voyagers, the homeward bound fleets
of Spanish galleons laden with glitter
ing treasure, aud the glory Of distant
set Europe IN blaze.
England was lot only stirred with this
feeling, but was likewise burning with
q fiery hatred Of the Spaniards, the
pioneers in this movement; feeling
which partook Of both religion and
politics. Armed British cruisers soon
filled the seas, both to discover and
settle new countries and to capture
Spanish gold ships; and while Raleigh
engaged among the foremost and
bravest ID these enter fiscs. the mean
and sordid pas ions which they so nat
urally engendercd in others left no
mark upon him. His high and noble
ma ure WAS lDpolluted, through all the
trials, temptations and wondrous vi
cissitudes to which it was subj gcted.
and came out pure gold
VIRGINIA AND THE CAnoLlNA3
love 10 dwell upon his memory and
honor him as their ilustrious founder.
Instead q being sucked by a wolf on
the banks Of sluggish creek, this
Young western Hercules among the
nations, whose empire is bounded by
tie oceans and the zones. and is swept
10y thc nrghtiest rivers of earth whose
civilization IS the wonder and the glory
Of E0deI oras, ryjC;ces in the fact
that it w,s Durtured i. It's swaddling
bonds b. the brightest genius, wittieSt
f>t-'t' >i4!''-i, i'itItttI titFh SCEoldt,
readicst 30; and most cnivairous hero
and soldier produced in great age of
n great race. Cities, towns and coun-
ties pcrpetnate his name i'll the land
which he never saw, save i'll his alnDi-
tions dreams; but we who happily have
fulfilled the ardent visions OF his poetic
soul, need nothing but the recital of
bis glorious and vjrtuous life and
shameful death TO perpctuatc his
memory to our latest posterity.
1t l. 4 circumstance worthy Of men
ton that Carolina was born OF the {qt".
No violence, no conquest nor armed
wrong marked her entrance into exist
encc. Raleigh obtained a irregular pat
ent from Queen Elizabeth, authorizing
him, his heirs and assigns, to take
"posscssioE Of such remote, heather
and barharoUs lands as wercnot occu-
pied by any Christian prime " instea,!
Of going forth rs q mere marauder and
piunderer.
The Lord propristoIs also obtained
4 regular charter from Charles II. be-
fore they took possession in 1864, ana
Charles title WAS founded in tic well
recognized law Of nations IN regard IL
the discovery and occupation of nov
countries.
COLONY
was purchased !y deed from the King
Of the 1eopim Indians, and ever after
wards title to the soil was sought. and
generally obtained, IN the same man
ner. No war OF conquest was ever
waged against the aboIlg!ncs in Care
lima to obtain land, SO far as my re-
searches extend. Those winch were
fought were purely tefcnz iye. Lar
attended n lie birth aud through
the infancy and youth Of the colo
nlsts, and II their maEit0oi; they have
respected and obeyed the guardian OF
their earlier years. 10 people on
TINS continent have been moro obser-
want of lsw and authority prop
erly constituted over them. Their re-
cords from the moment Of their jirst
settlement to the present hour, show,
with the exception of the great Hevo-
lu;lon OF ndependence-bu one civil
cOmmotion calling for any other force
for lis suppression than the sheriff and
his posse ; and that was the slight
disorder which arose on our Western
frontier in 1915 IL the atterlnt to Cs-
tab!ish the State OF Franklin, which
was Of but little moment. The war of
the Regulators, which may seem to
form another exception, was in reality
a symptom Of the war Of 1776. Few
communities in this world can show
such record of peace. For a season
of several months Immediately sue
ceediug the close Of our late war. we
were absolutely without law or rulers
of any kind whatever the military
stationed IL q few principal towns
being unable or unwilling to take
cognizauce OF offences except IN the
vicinity. And yet there
never was Land IN a more thorough
Of peace and good order. SO
profoundly was this regard for law i'm
pressed upon our people that it amount
ed IN some cases to q sublime virtue.
y reverend Scotch gentleman of nv
acquaintance who, under the influence
Of mammon, had married during tue
war an invalid, and rather a rd-look-
ing old maid, for TIE sake of fifty ne
9roes, was told by Joker after John
sons surrender, that the Yankees had
set the negroes free and were going to
abolish everything done duriDg the re-
belllOn, even to the dissolution Of all
contracted during that time.
''Awcel, aweel, Duncan, my mon,"
said the overmarried Scot, Eve maun |
uhmit; I'm a lar 0biGilt' man ~
Beat that, oh ye turbulent sons of Vir-
5inia.
l have often had the remark made to |
ne by most competent Confederate |
officers, that jn one respect the troops |
rom North Carolina made the best |
oldiers in our army; and this was their
and the facility with
Which they accepted discipline. Yet
he courage and fire with which thew
ought afford another instance Of the
.reat danger of arousing the wrath of
hose quiet races who illustrate the
ruth OF the Frenchman's maxim which
ellis us to ''beware Of those who grow
nGry with rcasOD."
In further evidence Of our law-abid-
ng character, I am reminded that
ears ago, before the way, q very Hit
rate but honest and determined citi-
en- CT one Of our mountain counties,
as appointed a justice of the peace.
'illed with the dignity and conse-
uence of his Office, he soon after at