The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-07
No Guns Turned this Way.

After rcadlns the remarks Of old
hummer Sherman about Mr. Davis,
and MS threats to turn the guns Of the
Contederacy upon a rebellious Governor,
it will do the rising generation no harm
to read this extract from Mrs. Corneia
Phillips Spencer's article concerning
/ North Carolina war Governor. written
20 years ago:
Much of the energy and efficiency
] displayed by the State, in providing for
i the exigo.ncies OF war, were due to the
4 young man whom She chose for her Cow
ernor, IN August, 1862. Governor Vance
was one OF the people one of the sol
!iers-and came from tae camp to the
4 palace undoubtedly the most popular
man in the State. A native OF Buncom be
county, he had been 10 a great measure
the architect of his own fortunes. Pos
sessing unrivalled abilities as a popular
speaker, he had made his way rapidly in
the confidence of the brave and free
mountaineers Of Western Carolina. and
was a member OF the United States House
Of Representatives for the term ending at
the inauguration Of President Lincoln
| He used all his influence most ardentlv
to avert the disruption of the Union.
down to the time when the Convention
of May, 1861, passed the ordinance Of Sc
cession. Then, following the fortunes of
his own State, he threw himself with
equal ardor into the ranks of her army.
! Volunteering as private IN one OF the first
comp panies raised in Buncombe, he was
soon elected captain and thence rose
rapidly to be Colonel Of the twenty sixth
regiment His further military career
was closed by bis being elected Governor
in 1862, by an overwhelming vote, over
the gentleman who was generally con
sidercd as the candidate OF the secession
party. We were, indeed, all secesSion~
ist. then; but those who We're defined as
"Orjgipnl secession'sts men who invok
ed and chnered on the movement and the
war-were ever in small minority in
this State. both as to numbers and to in
huence Governor Vance was elected be
cause he had been a strong UDionist and
,Cas a gallant soldier two qualifications
which some of our Northern bre thren
can not admit as consistent or admirable
in one and the same true character, but
which together constituted the strongest
claim upon the confidence and affection
of North Carolina.
Gov. Vance career from the first was
marked by devotion to the people who
had distinguished him, and by determ-
ination to do his duty to them at all haz
ards This is not the place, nor have
material, for such a display of Governor
Vance, course of action as would do him
deserved justice; but this | may say, that
his private correspondence, if ever it
shall be published, will eudear him still
more to the State which he loved, and to
the best of his abilitv served.
His employment of a blockade-runner
to bring in clothing for the North Car
DINA troops was a noble idea, and
proved a brilliant success. If he had
done nothing else in his official career
to prove himself worthy to be our Gov
ernor, this alone would be sufficient. 1t
matters but little as to the amount, great
or small. Of Confederate money spent
in this service; it is all gone now; but
the substantial and incalculable good
that resulted at the time from this eX-
pendture, can neither be disputed nor
forgotten. For two years his swift sail
ing vessels, especially the A. D. Vance,
escaped the blockaders, and steamed
/ regularly in and out Of the port of Will
mington, followid by the prayers and
, anxieties of our whole people. "7ht
4dcdnce IS INT was a signal for con.
gratu)ations in every town in the State:
for we knew that another precious cargo
was safe, of shoes. and blankets, and
cloth, and cards. And so it was that
when other brave men went barefoot
and ill-clad through the winter storms
of Virginia, our own North Carolina
boys were we'll supplied, and their wives
ard little ones at home were clothed,
, thanks to our Governor and to our God.
| have seen tears of thanktulness run
ming down the cheeks Of our soldiers
wives, on receiving a pair Of these cards
: by which alone they were to clothe and
: procure bread for themselves and their
children. And they never failed to ex
press their sense of what they owed tC
E their Governor. God bless him !" they
i would cry, ''for thinking of it - AnG
y God ,o,H bless him.
, The letter-hooks of Governor Vance
it will be remembered, passed into the
} hands of the military authorities in May
, last; and, under the order of Genera
= Schofield. were transmitted to the State
? Department at Washington. Whethe,
they have been or are to be returned t
the Executive Department of this State
to whom they properly belong, remains
: to be seen. A correspondent of Z he Net
; York Press, who was allowed to examin,
i them, remarks that among much evi
they exhibited retlccnung traits OF char
uctef;' that ''the letters OF Gov. Vanc
i to Mr.. Secretary sheldon, of the Wa
e Department OF hichmond, and to Gener.
Bradley johnson. who had control of tn
prisoners at Salisbury, urged upon boil
these functionaries the immediate reiie
" Of the suffering prisoners as alike die
;, tated by humanity and policy. This cor
u resp )ndence, when it shall come to light
9 viii how that the action Of the execu
> tive was as prompt and decided as that o
u the legislative depart meat of the State
Whatever may be said Of the treatmen
of the prisoners at Aadersonvilc an,
elsewhere, it Is certain that no effort
= we're spared on the part OF the publ
? authorities Of North Carolina, we ma
: add, Of the community around Salisbury
to mitigate, SO far as was possible, tn
inevitable horrors Of war; aud that ou
. Governor, especially, exerted all I'll
power and influence at his command t
e render Immediate and effectuai relief.
Governor Vance received DO reply t
le his application TO the Federal authoritie.
g From General Bradley Johnson. at Sail,
~ bury, he received in reply list Of clotr
ing and provisions then being receive
frcm the North for the prisoners; aud
= statement that they needed nothing bt
9 some tents, which Governor Vance ";
I'd unable to send them.
n The all and winter of 1864 ) we're e.
o, especially gloomy to our people IT
re hope that had so long delusivc'y buoyc
by up the Southern States, in their despel
IN ate struggle against overwhelming odd
( were beginning 10 flag very perceptib
en in every part of the Contcderacy whe
2S people we're capable OF approaching Il
Of tho Mora III