The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-02-24


counties. OF the bar at that time i may
be said There We're giants in those day"
Col McRae held his own again t the
ablest and most distinguished, and made
fees and reputation. After the war he
removed 10 Memphis, Tenn, where he
enioyed a large ard lucrative practice.
For two years, leaving Memphis, he prac-
tised in Chicago. In 1879 he returned to
North Carolina to practice law in Will
mington, and became the senoir member
of the firm of McRae 4 Strange. His
knowledge of the law and his ability as
an advocate always secured for him
large practice
Col McRae was less successful, though
not less brilliant and we'll furnished, as
politician than as popular lecturer and
carry messages for President Tyler to
Mexico. Before he was twenty five, he
was elected to the Legislature. At TWEEN
ty five he was appointed I. 5. District
Attorney for North Carolina by President
Polk. As a young man he was called to
Granville county to meet in debate Hon.
r. B. Gillian, the Wing champion of that
district He made great impression,
met Mr. Gillian with ability and upheld
Democratic doctrine in such way as to
throw new enthusiasm into the Democrats.
and to win q high compliment from Mr..
Gillian. To this day old men in Gran
vile tell about this contest between
young McRae and Gilliam, and their
eyes have au unwonted brightness as they
recall the interest which the debate pro
duced.
In 1913 he was candidate for Congress.
He was soon after appointed consul at
Paris, and while there acted as secretary
of the celebrated Ostend Conference, and
bore the dispatches sent by Minister Bu-
chanan Mason and Soule to the President
of the United states. In ISIS he returned
to North Carolina, and ran as an indepen-
dent candidate for Governor against Gov
Ellis He was defeated, although he
made a campaign that added to his pre-
vious reputation as popular campaigner
We think he was never afterwards a can
didate for office. He Wa not, IN any
sense, an Oily Cannon. He stood by his
convictions courageouSly. He was lack
success He could not smile at, and
| shake hands with every one and he was
wont to speak sightingly OF influential
| classes Of men He was true friend,
bat not always wise or discreet one III
politics. He could not make himself
strong, nor do great service for his friends.
And yet he had the respect and esteem Of
all who knew him. He had courage both
physical and moral He could stand up
against any odds, when he believed in a
! cause, and maintain it.
As an editor Col McRae had decided
aptitude When the war began he was
! Colonel of the Fifth North Carolina Reg
| iment, and served with conspicuous bravery
until the appointment Of Georgia officer
| over his head as Brgadier General. Then he
resigned, and began publishing paper
i called The Confederate, at Raleigh. 1t
was live, vigorous, strong, Influential
and independent journal. ol. McRat
said what he thought-and he had opIn-
| ions and strong convictions. His paper
| did good service to the Confederate cause
| \ file of that paper, together with his
orations and legal arguments, would fur
| nish abundant material for medium
size volume. It would be valuable boob
as an historical, as we'll as literary, work
and would serve to perpetuate the mem
orv Of one of the most gifted men Nortt
| Carolina has produced. La a newspaper
sketch, necessarily prepared with haste, /
is impossible to do justice to this talented
lecturer, learned lawyer, and successful
| advocate, and we'll furnished scholar. III
had attained unto ripe years. OF him W
| NAV say: Here lies one who repOSe
after long feast, where much love ha
has been: here slumbers, in patience anC
| peace, a veteran. with all his wounds il
front, and not blot on his scutcheol
after four score years of duty wei
done in the fierce and ceaseless campaign
of life"