Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-03-20

anu SGll-TcllduCc, anu DIS tLlef dlWdys
will, these qualities soon told with the
people. Practice soon sought him, and
his clients found in him a Jealous and
influential advocate, who could gain
their causes and rarely suffered defeat.
He went at once 70 full practice,
which he continues to this time. Per-
haps he enjoys to-day as large a prac-
tice as any lawyer in the State. 1t is
a remarkable feature of Major Sted-
mans success that he readily attracts
men of force Place him at any time
among strangers and the strongest at
once gravitate towards him, and at
the same time he retains a hold with
the less stable element, being gifted
by nature with a remarkable, versa
tility which finds itself at home with
all classes.
The late Isaac B. Granger, who
was himself a man of gifted attributes,
of rare and extraordinary energy,
power and ability, at once discerned
Stedman's financial and general busi-
ness qualities, and drew towards him
and they became associated in impor-
tant business enterpries. Granger
created the bank of New Hanover,
and at his death Stedman succeeded
him as President; and during his terms
of office, which continued until he de-
clined a reelection in 1888, he main
tanned the banks high character, in
creased her business, advanced her
stock, preserved her dividends and
established her in the confidence of
the people; and all this was done
while associating liberal and accom-
modating policy with a strict and ju-
dicious business management. So that,
at the close of his administration, he
was able to say to his employers,
Behold l give into your hands an in
stitution which l have contributed to
nuture and strengthen, and which l
can now present to you in perfect
health" 1t was thus he voluntarily
resigned his trust in behalf ola friend,
who was promptly elected, Mr.. Isaac
Bates, who is to-day the efficient Pres
ident of this prosperous institution. 1t
adds greatly to the need of praise to
which Stedman is entitled that he
assumed the management of the bank
during the panic of 1873, and brought
it through in a condition of satisfacto-
ry prosperity, with scarcely any losses
from its liberal accommodations.
Mai. Stedman has never filled polit-
ical office, and was never a candidate
before the people. At the last Con-
gressional election in this district, it
is generally conceded that he could
have had the nomination if he had desir-
ed it, but he was distinctly not in the
race. The frequent, and is some sense
violent contest which have grown out
of the rival claims of Messrs. Sted-
man and A. NJ. Waddell, have attrac-
ted the notice of the public through
out the State.
In the first of these contests, in
1878, Mr.. Waddell had the advantage.
He was popular leader he had been
+ elected and reelected to congress, and
was yet in, and his competitor was a
beginner. In the primaries in their
own county Waddell carried the
majority, having one more ward in the
| city than SrEDMAN, which controlled
the county delegates. On ascertain
ing the loss of his own county, SrED-
MAN withdrew and Waddell was nom
mated, but lost the election, being de-
feated by Judge Russell, and the dis
trict passed into the hands of the Re.
| publicans.
In 1880 the conflict was renewed
to wax yet more bitter than before
and to enlist SO earnestly the sympa-
l sc f,l Lo%
the primaries came to be held they
were thronged with Democratic vot,
ers to such a degree that scarcely the
oldest citizens were absent from the
polls. The result of 1878 was effect
ually revised Four out of five ward.
of the city declared for SrEDMAN, as
did every county precinct. Waddell
in turn, as SrEDMAN had done, retir.
ed, but other competitors appeared
and by the time the convention met
at Fayetteville, combinations had
been formed to beat STEDMAN, re
gardless who should be the man
Nevertheless, SrEDMAN's popularity
held him tenaciously in front for many
successive ballotings, demonstrating
not only that he was the undoubted
choice of large majority of the peo
Pile of the district, but also of the
convention, over all his opponents
and he only lacked by small tract
ion the memorable two thirds to Civ
him the nomination. His strength
too, was not bounded by localities
but extended through the district, fol
along with the solid vote of New
Hanover, Brunswick, Bladen, Colum
bus and Pender, he held nearly tn
united vote of Moore and importan
fractions of the other counties, ane
when his name was withdrawn h
was still in the majority before tn
convention.
His acceptance of result we'll cal
culated to create discomfort was il
keeping with the man, attesting hi
fidelity to political principle and hi
loyalty to party organization. Wit
a zeal pregnant with acts of industr
and of liberal contribution, he serve,
the cause of the nominee; and it is no
torious that few we'll chosen word
from him rallied to Shackelford, sur
porters whose name was legion an
who made victoy certain. 1t wa
very fortunate that Stedman too
this course, for the district had bee
rendered doubtful by the success c
| Russell.
Maj. Stedman is man Of middl
age, of remarkable fine presence an