Wilmington journal., 1876-06-30

Guf in. Chatham county, in order TO
procure acces TO the coal and iron of
the Deep River Valley.
Owing to tho scarcity of labor of
men, animals and supplies, both of
food and clothing, the task was an
enormous one. It was admitted that
Mr.. Battle did hat energy and per-
severance couldido. When the work
was ON the eve of being accomplished
as far as Lockville, from which the
river was navigable 10 the Gulf, Shsr-
mans army came aud scattered men
and mules, provisions and 'ools to the
four winds.
AT the request of the late Gov. Worth,
for whom Mr.. Battle nai the most ex
alte d regard, he became q candidate
before the General Assembly of 1865 6
for the Office of Treasurer of State, was
elected by large majority. and was
again unanimously elected by the
House of Commons. with only two dis
senting voices in the Senate = by the
General Assembly of 1866 7.
He was thus thrown Into relations
with the financial men of both of those
General Assemblies, as we'll AS of the
conventions of 1886 aud had then
confidence, such men as Giles Mebane,
evils Thompson, D. L. Russell. Sr.,
r. s. Donneli, Judge Warren, Judge
Manly. Bedford Brown. P. Fl. Win
ston. J. Ct. Lash. Judge Gillian, Ed
ward Conigland, Judge. Bynum,
VIM. A. Wright, Judge Reade, Gov.
Brogden. VIM. Eaton, Jr. Hon: B. f.
Moore, D. A. Covington, Peter
Adams, J. 81. Wilson, J. g. Harper.
Mont. Patton, Charles Latham. John
Berry, Col. r. H. Cowan, NJ. L. Wig
gins, Hon. W. N. 81. Smith.
The reports Of Treasurer Battle were
much commended for his accurate
acquaintance with tia conditi ons and
history of the State debt. and he be-
came authority on those subjects and
on this account ho had extensive cor
respondence with the financial men OF
the great money centres. Probably
no man in the State is more widely
known among the classes of men who
own and are interested in State bonds
than he.
The revenue laws of the State when
Mr.. Battle became Treasurer were in
sad state OF uncertainty and ronfu-
sion. There were three different acts
in operation-that of 1861 which was
re-enacted by the General Assembly of
1S65-66, the amendments thereto made
by that Assembly, and Tax Ordinance
of the Convention of 1855, Ali of which
laws were framed on the specific in
stead of the al TatOIe71e system. The
constructing and harmoniZing of these
laws, the replies to numberless ques.
tions by tax payers. gained for Mr..
Battle increased reputation as lawyer
and business man.
In common with Gov. Worth, and
the other Executive officers, Mr.. Bat
tie was deprived of his Office in July.
1868, by the Reconstruction Acts of
Congress.
F.. Since that time he has been out of
official position. He found that polit-
icai life was of too exciting a nature
for his tastes, and has steadily refused
to embark again on that stormy sea
He is of too active temperament,
however, to keep ont of work. He was
in 1860 unanimously called by the
friends of agriculture in the State to
revive the North Carolina AgI icultural
Society, which had been destr =, d by
the war. He threw himself Ito his
work with earnestness. az, to the
surprise of the country, ~ few
months new buildings on the Fair
Grounds had been erected, old builds
ings repaired, and starting with but
little except the naked land, very
ore;.itable Fair was held in 1869 and
ALI impulse given to the work, which
increased year by wear to the great ud-
va''tage of the farming interests.
Mr.. Battle was cleo; ed Trustee Of
the University in 1862 and served on
this executive committee continuously
until 1863, when the University went
into new hands. Duriug this time,
in 1867, he made. as Chairman of the
Committee of Trustees an elaborate
report of plan to reorganize the
University, which was adopted by the
BoaId. This reorganization was not
completed in consequence of the
change of the Board in 1868. AS soon
as by change III the Constitution of
the State the appointment OF Trustees
of the University YVES given to the
General Assem- bly, as was the case prior
to 1868. Mr. Battle was elected
on the Board and at the first
meeting of the Board was uuani-
Inously chosen is Secretary and
Treasurer. Legal difficulties were
thrown i'll the way which retarded
the work for year, but III their re
nOval Mr.. Battle thew himself into
the business of the revival of tue UNI
versity with bis usual zeal. The pay
ing interest on the Land Scrip Fund
by the General Assembly, the raising
of c;ntributiOhs, in fact the starting of
the Institution age in great degree
attributed to his energy and enthusi-
asm. such was the confidence in him
by the Trustees that by an unusually
large Board he was chosen at their last
meeting President of the University.
The appointment has met the appro-
baton OF those interested in the insti-
tuition of whatever party or church de-
nomination.
The opinions expressed by the press
of the State have been most fatSering.
The following extract from the Senti..
mel is the fairest specimen of the
greetings which the new President has
received:
mo worthier son of North Carolina
could haye been called to preside over
our venerable University. Mr.. Battle
is fully equal to the requirements of
the position. Careful, prudent, well
informed, genial, given to hospits lity.
he is true representative of our
North Carolina gentlemen. Well read,
scholariy, OF high mental qualities |
aud capacity, he is eminently fitted |
for the high duties he will be called |
upon to discharge. Fondly cherish
ing his Alma Mater, and devoted to it's
interests. he will bring to his aid an
and zeal which gives us an |
of his success. Under his |
the University will soon
De established on sure and firm
foundation. Our best wishes attend
him and his efforts to resuscitate our
glorious institution of learning-the
pride and hope of North Carolina"
Mr.. Battle is married man, his
wife being distant relative, the
laughter of the late James 8. Battle
If Edgecombe. OF children he has
our sons and a daughter, two of the
Ions being students of the University.
The elder, Kemp T. I;attle, is the first
# the fourth generation who Joined
he Institution; his great grandfather.
'oel Battle, having matriculated in
799, his grandfather, Judge Willism III
Battle, in 1913, and his father in
945.