The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-07-11

: Ctate HAS ia!led 10 DO by public act. Ii the
stare as theif sovereign has failed to rec
ognlze the deeds of her sons, and has not
made ample provision for those of them
who received the scars of her battles. and
are suffering for food and raimeut. we as
their brothers and sisters, knit together by
ties OF common suffering must help them
III their affection.
These poor disabled veterans. lettering
with old age and the wounds of war MUST
BE-MUST BE taken care of. The call is
made upon yOu-their friends and neigh
borS-upon you their comrades in arms
you who in shade and in sunshine have
with them shared the tolls Of camp and the
dangers OF battle-yOu, young men-you,
the sons of brave SireS. who bequeathed to
You so rich legacy of untarnished fame
upon you, the fair. women of North Caro-
lina-you, who always admire the daring
deeds of brave men-yOu. who love the
memory Of the great soldier-you, whose
heart ever beats in sympathy for the af-
hicted and the needy-to all, the appeal IS
this day made to come forward and unite
in this effort to provide place where the
disabled patriot may spend the balance of
his days in the enjoyment of a comfortable
and quiet home.
, Col. Cheek spoke with feeling and
earnestness and in his usual easy and
natural manner. His address was cor
daily received and warmly applauded.
1t met with a responsive chord i'll the
breast of many an old soldier present
and there many moistened eyes no.
/ ticeable i'll the audience.
At the conclusion of Col. Cheek S
address Il complete organization was
+ effected according to the plan of Organi-
zation suggested by President Carr.
Capt. l.. II. Croker, of Middle burg,
was elected vice-President and Col
Thos. l.. Jones, of Henderson, was
elected Secretary. The following
named gentlemen were elected as the
! Executive Committee: J. II. Dunn.
Henderson,, Capt. j. NJ. b. Hunt,
/ Townsville, Capt. b. \. Capehart.
kittrell, \. ii. Ball, Sandy Creek.
ID. y. Cooper. Henderson.
/ In accordance with the suggestion
that two ladies be appointed from each
township to cooperate in the matter
of securing the Soldiers Home, the
chairman has named the following
kitrell-MrS. Thos. Capehart. Mrs.
! c. W. Raney. Sandy Creek-Mrs. A r..
III. Ball, Mrs. \. L. Steed. Middle
/ burg-Mrs. J. X. Plummer. Miss Jane
Yancey. Nutbush-Mrs. w. II. Bur-
well. Mrs. Richard Wilson. Williams
boro-MrS. w. l.. Hardy, Mrs. r. A.
! Bullock. Townesville-Miss Sue Hunt.
Mrs. Ed. \. Taylor. Henderson
Mrs. Col. Burgwyn, Mrs. II. Perry.
/ In response to calls for speech
from Col. VIM. ii. $. Burgwyn, that
gentleman went forward and responded
i'll one of his happiest efforts. If there
is any subject that inspires and en-
thuses that chivalrOus gentleman. it is
the deeds Of daring of the North Caro-
| that lies nearer to his heart now i'll
times of peace than any other it is the
welfare of those brave men who did
! their duty in response to the call of
their State. and who in such service
were crippled and disabled and ren-
dered worthy objects of sympathy and
support. The time, the occasion and
the theme We're fitting and the speaker
was most felicitous i'll his remarks. In
subject matter and style of delivery it
was one of the happiest Of that always
graceful, fluent and ready speakers eff
forts. We publish in full
COL. BURGWYN's SPEECH.
Comrades Of tie North Carolina Veterans
association: tadtes and gentlemen:
Twenty-four years ago, the armies of the
Confederate States, after a four years wal
| laid down their arms and the Flag thew
| had SO often borne alOft in victory was
furled forever.
This is the first time that meeting has
been called in this county exclusively in
| interest "a III
This is a remarkable gathering not only
from its numbers and enthusiasm, but by
reason OF the purposes we have in view in
thus meeting together. In the language OF
the President of the State Association, it is
| &" to aid in the glorious work of establish.
ing Soldiers Home for the old and
broken down veterans of North Carolina. -
| Are these aged and MANNED men worthy OF
such aid =? Listen to the story.
When the first mutterings of the coming
storm were heard in the winter of 1860 81
the people of North Carolina were not in
| favor of secession. Why should North
| Carolina secede from the Union and enter
upon a long and bloody war? Her people
were the happiest on the face of the earth
There was abundance for all. Our laws
were equable and just. Our Judiciary up
right and impartial. Our public and
private credit of the best; and the salu
brity of our climate, fertility of our soil
and cOntentment of our people made Oul
land very garden spot of Eden. What
changed all this, and in the killing of
an eye converted this smiling land into {:
camp OF armed men?
! I'm February, 1861, the people of NOrtl
Carolina voted against calling cOnven
ton to consider the question Of secession.
In March, 1861, Mr.. Lincoln was inaug
urated President, and already seven OF
the extreme Southern States had passed OF
dinanceS of secession. In April Mr. Lin
coin issued his proclamation for 10000 mel
t to enable him to cOerce back into thu
Union these seeding States. He made de
mand upon the Governor of North Caro-
lima for that States quota of these 1900
men, The issue had to be met. 1t wa:
either to fight side by side with our siste
, States of South Carolina, Georgia and thu
rest in defense of our tireSideS, or to unit
with our cOuntry's invaders and turn on
, swords against the hOsomS of our own PEG
pie. Such an issue could have but on
5 ending. Gov. Ellis promptly convened
the Legislature. 1t, as promptly, called :
convention. The convention met, and wit
all the formality their forefathers pursue,
t in rahfying the constitution OF 1889, which
t constituted North Carolina member o
f the Federal Union, this convention o
g May, 1861, as honorable, as patriotic a
: their ancestors, by solemn ordinance ire
D pealed, rescinded and abrOgated" the OF
l. dinance of 1899, and declared that Mort
Y Carolina was once again " free and indie
0 pendent State"
o. But If North Carolina was slow to tax
: this step, and slow she ought to have beer
for the consequences, she we'll kne,
0 would be mOmentouS when the step wa
a once taken, there was no looking back al
o hesitation departed and, as if by magic
n from those distant territories across TIA
;, mountains, from the table lands of tn