Wilmington journal., 1876-07-21
TO CAPTAIN SETTLE, LATE G.
q. A.. RADICAL CANDIDATEE X
GOVERNOR.

You belong to the best blood OF the
State. Like your Confederate and
Judicial comrade Colonel Rodman.
you were born an aristocrat. You are
no common man, sprung from obscure
High station and wealth
and the Settle family are no strangers
to each other. Your father, whose
honored name you bear in full, adorned
for years the Judiciary of our State.
Time and again you have been hon.
ored by the confidence OF the people.
An educated gentleman, you were doubt
less early proficient in English history;
at auy rate I make bold to say that the
example of at least one most illustrions
English character has been a lamp
unto thy feet and a light unto thy
path in every night of doubt and un-
certainty that has come upon you. 1t Is
unnecessary to say I refer to that emf
nent British Divine, the Vicar OF Bray,
him who in every revolution professed
the tenets If the sect that ''held the
best livings in England" No matter
how many might be wrecked around
him his bark always came safely to
shore.
Comparatively young man, for twen-
ty-fve years, you have been more or
less prominent before the eople. You
were by birth and education Wing
your county of Rockingham was large
ly Democratic; you wentto the Unlver-
sity of the State and there you overcame
your early prejudices as your naturally
fine mind was enlarged and developed
by it's iberalizing course OF study.
This was truly fertun ate. The whole
State had also become Democratic and
you returned home, most opportune'
ly qualified for the position OF private
Secretary to your brother-in-law, that
true man Governor DAVID SETTLE REID
For time Democracy was jubilant
and SO was THOMAS SETTLE, Jr. The
future lay fair and beautiful before
you the sunshine lasted just long
enough to make you the Solicitor fol
your District.
But fair weather could rot last al
ways. Portentous signs of a terrible
storm overcast the whole political
horizon. With rare skill you sc
trimmed your sails as to break
it's force. Still claiming to bt
Democrat, you followed in the
wake of your family connection, Hon
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS. If Douglas VOL
you we're all right. If the Democrat
won, you were still Democrat. L
the Opposition won, had you not aided
them in breaking down the Democratic
party Verify, it was fine position
you took.
But neither Democrats, DouglaI
nor the Opposition won. The winning
party, though marching on was no
yet here. And you wished to b.
Solicitor again. The Legislature me-
and you asked to be again elected. Ii
the caucus of the Democratic mem
bers, held in the Commons Hall, ii
the winter of 1860, you made a speech
recanting your errors and apologisine
for your wanderings. [ was presen
at that caucus. l have in my minds
eye now, your tall, graceful figure an6
your commanding form, as you re
newed your fealty to the Democratic
party, which, it is needless to say
then controlled the Legislature.
we'll remember the classic and ele
CANT manner in which you referred tt
your error. It was forcible too. Yol
said you were like the poor girl whel
severely rebuked by her stern mothe,
for an indiscretion that resulted in al
unauthorized grandchild for the ole
lady; and all you had to say was tina
''if you had had a BABY it was
mighty little one," and you hoped t.
be excused. You were excused anG
nominated and received the vote o
every Democrat in the Legislator
save that of the gallant and chivalrou
FLEMING of Rowan, who boldly pro
claimed that no caucus could compe
him nnn.tsn,ss to vote for 4rod'' such cir
Poor FLEMING Tha gentIest, th.
purest, the bravest, the most incor
ruptible of men, the most single
minded of patriots and the truest o
friends Fitted by every quality O.
head and of heart to adorn the high
est position in the gift of the people
it fell to your lot nay gallant comradt
to lay down your noble life for the
land you loved SO welit You. Captain
Settle, and myself, still survive. . Th
ways of Providence are indeed pas
finding out.
You were elected and herein wa
your good fortune again apparent
The Presidential election took place il
November but that for Solicitor die
not take place until December. 80 tina
you had ample time, ample for you q
least, to run off with DOUGLAS and re-
turn to the true fold before your elec
ton came off.
The storm whose ominous mutter
ings had been heard and whose blacl
cloud had been seen, at last burst ant
with sudden fury over the who'll
country. The President of the United
States called for seventy-fve thousant
troops to quell "the insurrection.
Your response to this call was promp
and vigorous. You raised a compan,
and with arms in your hands became
an insurgent. You Seeed the Fed
eral President and disowned the Fed
eral flag and bore Captains COM
mission in the 1nsurgent army.
A wear passed, In 1862 when tn