The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-14
For the Farmer and Mechanic
judge FoWIe for Governor.

The year 1866 was an eventful one in
the history of North carolina; for dur
Ing il the laws of the State were invaded
by the Federal military, the constitu-
ton regarded as a thing OF uaugbt, anu
the sacred writ Of habeas corpus tram
pied under foot by the iron heel of "a
military Despotism.
But thanks TO a kind Providence
which permitted TO US Jonathan Worth
for Governor. ID. G. Fowle, A. 5. Mer-
rimon. and others, for our Judges, these
things were not done without protest
In this year a process which went out
from the county of Wake was disregard
ed, aud prevented in its execution by
order of Dan'l f. Slckles, Military Die
tator, and Col. j. V. Bomford, Posi-
Commandant.
The Sheriff Of Wake was IN the act of
executing the process, when armed sol
diers under orders from Gen. Sickles and
Col. Bomford came, and with force pre-
vented its execution.
Immediately, under special instruc-
ton from the Bench, the grand jury was
called into court and the circumstances
of the outrage told them, and ike men
they went out and found a true bill'
against these violators OF the civil law.
The Sheriff was directed TO GO at once
and bring the bodies OF Daniel +. Sick
les, J. V. Bomford, and others. and
have them before the court then in ses-
sion to answer the charge of obstructing
justice in the State of North Carolina.
On the return of the writ placed in
| the hands of the Sheriff that he was un-
] a III, - 90, - tba I,,lya ,nftfal tho
Governor OF the troubles, and requested
hat the law be enforced by all the pow
er of the State if necessary.
Tie Governor thereupon went to the
city of Washington and stated the facts
to the President, who declared that the
Judge was right, and that the law OF
North Carolina should be indicated.
Before the term of the court had eN-
PRED the Sheriff of Wake county was
again put in charge of the prisoner,
from whom he had been deprived by
military violence, aud the law was en-
forced. That Governor was Jonathan
Worth, and that Judge was Daniel e..
Fowle. All honor to the men who
faithfully stood by the Constitution and
laws of North Carolina!
During this same GEAR Mai. Gee was
put on trial before Judge Advocate Wal
colt in the Commons Hall, in the city
of Raleigh. His counsel applied to
Judge Fowle for a writ of habeas corpus
that he might answer before a civil and
not before a military court, which was
organized to convict" Before the
writ was issued Gen. Thos. c. Ruger, a
United States officer, with headquarters
- 1I,o ,itu of po1aipb mat Inlra Enula
at the old Turner bookstore corner.
near the capital, and said to him:
Judge, hope you will not issue the
writ of habeas corpus in the matter OF
Mai. Gee, for 1 am an officer who is
sworn to obey his superlors, and will be
compelled to refuse to deliver up the
body of Maj. Gee - when Judge Fowle
replied: Il, also, am a sworn officer,
and must obey my superiors.' Gen.
Kruger replied, Il did not know you had
any superiors that you had sworn TO
obey. Who are your superiors?
Then it was that Judge Fowle de-
clared 1.-The Constitution and Laws of
North Carolina are my superiors, and l
am sworn to obey them"
The writ vas granted, but the power
of the military Of the United States wa,
too vast.
These were the days when the souls
of men were tried -darkness brooded
over the laud-the light of the civil law
was we'll nigh extinguished, but at the
helm stood Jonathan Worth, and with
him a few who, like him, preferred inn
prisonment or even death to the destruc-
ton of our glorious fabric Of human lib
erty !; and in the foremost rank of these
champions Of the civil law was ever to
be found the Hon. Daniel e.. Fowle!
Citizens, let us honor the man and
the whole State by making him our
Governor! Memoir.