The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-04-22

neglect Of his friends and the apparent
tardlneos and feebleness of their efforts in
his behalf, are unmistakeable traces Of the
genuine old North Carolina nonchalence
and inactivity. In a letter 70 l.. H. DeRos
| sett, Esq, from James Island November
lsSl, ne writes: II persuade myself that
! ! have no personal enemies because ] am
| not conscious Of ever having been influ-
! cnced IN my pubic character by private
/ passion or resentment, nor Of having in
| jured an Individual And to Willie Jones
! from the same place, in January, l.s2, he
I writes sadly enough: i the silence Of
! my friends arises from neglect or forget
! fulncss | shall feel it as q severer evil than
any which have yet encountered. Com
! mcnting IN the same letter upon the lnfOr
nation which had just been conveyed him
| that he was to be detained for the purpose
! Of retaliation, he adds. the only request
| shall make my country on this ground is
that regard to me may not for a moment
suspend what they may deem the ncces-
sary execution Of the laws. | can suffer
whatever may be inflicted by the enemy,
and can die if necessary
1t would perhaps have been better had
/ GOV Burke remained fixed in this high
resolve, and contempt Of dt ath. But stung
| by the lndlgnity with which he was treat
! ed, and by the reflection that he was de
! taned without limit Of time as hostage
| for the safety of miscreants and others,
and well convinced that his life was in
| continual jeopardy from the lcentious
royalists who surrounded him, many Of
whom We're fugitives from justice under
! his own government in North Carolina
he at length decided that his, parole was
| cancelled by these circumstances, and re
| solved to make his escape. This purpose
| he effected on the night of the 10th of
January, 1882, and two days after, on ar
irving at a place of security, addressed a
| letter to Gen. Leslie in explanation of his
| course
There can indeed be no doubt that Gov.
| Burke was treated with great indignity.
! We are at some loss to account for the fact
that a man of his eminence and station
! should have been so disregarded. In va
| rious statements of his situation, prepared
| for the satisfaction of his friends and the
| public, he testities that on one occasion the
party he was with at his quarters, was
fired upon by the refugees in the presence
of the British soldiers, and one man was
killed at his side and another wounded:
nor were the murderers brought to justice.
How far he was justifable in withdrawing
his person from such a situation, we do
| not take upon ourselves TO decide at pres
| ent 1t is certain that at first, at all
events, he was sustained in his decision
by honorable men. Gen. Greene appears
| to have sanctioned it, and entered at once
upon negotiations for his exchange. Gen.
Leslie, however, seemed in no hurry to re
ply to the propositions of his late prison
err and Gov. Burke's impetnous temper
little broOkinl further Slight or delay, he
proceeded to Salem and gathered up the
reins of government once more. This step,
we must think, was most unadvlsed. From
Salam hp addressed the fnlIOWInp letter to
Gen. Greene;
JANUARY 31St, 11>2
SIR;-I arrived here last night, and find no
prospect of an assembly, competent to bust
ness. | perceive the State is i'll very great
arrangement, and to reform 1t is an hercu
lean tasE. | tremble to undertake it. and
yet cannot reconcile 1t to my republican
principles to decline it. Indeed, | perceive
my presence in the State Will prevent the
legal administration by any other hand
Was it not for this, believe, potWithstand-
ing your opinion. that | might proceed pre-
vous to hearing from Gen Leslie, should
decline acting until had a certainty that
the equivalent in exchange for me had been
sent in and received by the enemy, because
this would remove even the scruples OF del :
cacy with which am still much distressed
, Nor does it entirely satisfy me, that COY
Wright (of GeorgiaD who departed from his
parole on the same ground of danger TO his
!; person, still acts. and 10 eIraiyalent has
ever been rendered or even offered.
| Will Immediately apply myself TO restor
ing peace and internal security to this state
and to the making such disposition of its re
sources as may be assisting to the army un
der your cOmmond
7 This precipitency in proceeding to ad
minister the Government, While the deli
l cate matter of his return TO his parole, OF
his exchange, was still unadjusted is not
easily excused even on the ground Which
i he repeatedly urges in his letters thai
t spring-ove of the public service, auC
anxiety to serve the State at critical pc
$ riod. The British General made som,
difficulty about receiving an equivalent
and the business was not finally concluded
5 for several months. Meanwhile, the pub
!, lie, to serve whom he had risked 50 much
/ looked coldly upon him. Doubts and in
n situations were not spared by his enemies
/, and though he struggled to rely upon hi
0 own consciousness of integrity and honor
d able action, he could not with his quicl
q and fine feeling, long sustain the implied
|, disapprobation of the whole community
e His private affairs had suffered greatly il
o his absence, his wife and infant child hay
J ing been exposed 20 danger and dependen
, on the kindness of friends. 1t is touchln
q to see his high spirit detected and broken
i as in his letters written during the sesslo
of Assembly in Hillsboro, April, 1892, h
1t announces his determination to retire fror
e the public service, which has Aithert
1t brought me nothing but disquiet, misfol
a tune and poverty" His letters of eNplf
G nation and justification are able ard elC
u quent
r There are two counts in the indictmer
e preferred against Gov. Burke by honorab
l. men. First, that he broke his parole, an
o second that having done so, before eitht
2, his friends, the public or the enemy ha
r delivered their verdict and established h
r, position in consequence, he still advance
K upon his dubious way, in proceeding ;
ID once to reassume his official station and
y act therein.
s In the matter of his parole, being sl
is tanned by precedent and the peculiarlty
IN his circumstances, ne would probably ha'
y. been fairly acquitted and justified If
u had chosen to await patiently the verdlc
u and if we cannot concur in the preclpltant
er of his zeal to serve the State in time
IN danger and difficulty, let the warm ard
e of his patriotism be his best defence in Il
e, eyes of posterity.
be In December of that year AleXand
ed Martin, late Speaker of the Senate, W
Y elected to the office Of Governor. and Go
ii Burke thenceforward resided upon his {
at tate near Hillsboro till his death, which,
nd his worldly task was done even IN t
or prime of his days, we cannot think occurr
i'd unhappily for him on the End Of Decel
oe Der, 1888,
lSe ut
ed = A disease of so delicate
its n,+nro ac Stricfure of the urethra ShOu