The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-10-05
ARCHIBALD d. MURPE EY.
A Native of Orange County, North Car
Olina, Now in Arkansas, Pays Trib-
ute to The Great Murphey.


olina, Now in Arkansas, Pays Trib-
ute to The Great Murphey.
Especial Cor of STATE CHoNICLEl
VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS, Sept. 3d.
Some unknown friend at Mebane lately
sent me a package of North Carolina
papers, and among them was the CHRoN1-
GLE Of the 9Th ult. On looking over this
paper my attention was attracted by
pencil marks to an admirable review Of
the life and public services of Archibald
u. Murphey, written by Edgar A. AL
derman. This writer's estimate of the
public services of Judge Murphey is not
overdrawn. Among North Carolina
statesmen Of his day he was in advance
of all his contemporaries. By this mean
to say bis craftsmanship was mere com
prehensive and far reaching than that of
any of them. Indeed no person ever had
clearer perceptions of what was neces-
sary to build up and establish on firm
foundations the prosperity of the State
than this enlightened and progressive
statesman. True, he was at least half a
century in advance of his contemporaries,
and by some his patriotic labors were
not appreciated. But as years roll on
the impartial student of North Carolina
history will be sure to do justice to the
memory of Murphey.
He was learned scholar, an accom-
plished jurist and enlightened legisla-
tor, and withal refined and elegant
gentleman. Although engaged the
greater part of his life in the ordinary
duties of laborious profession, yet he
found time to cultivate his literary tai
ents and deservedly stood high in The Re
public of Letters.
North Carolina has not done Justice
to the memory of her distinguished son.
The seat Of justice of one of her western
counties bears the name of ''Murphy"
and this is about all that has been done
to perpetuate his memory. Many Caro-
linians of the present generation seem to
have forgotten how to spell, his name
and only few years ago when I tried
to procure a copy of his celebrated
Grafton delivered before the Literary
Society at Chapel Hill in 1927, found it
impossible to obtain a single copy, be-
| cause it was out of print and only two
copies were known to be in exist
ence. We are told that not a
single stone marks his last rest
ing place, and that the memory Of
this distinguished gentleman, once 50
highly honored is passing away. This
ought not to be. Surely the Bar Of Or
ange county, Of which he was once dis
tingu1shed ornament, will erect a suitable
monument to his memory. 1t
need not be expensive. 1t should be
simple, yet chaste and elegant, while
the State, or people Of the State, ought tc
rear to his memory more imposing me
mortal at Raleigh or Chapel Hill.
| remember Judge Murphey we'll; was
born and grew up to manhood in few
miles of his residence, and while yet {
boy and in early manhood saw and heari
much Of him; and having been the reel
pient of many acts Of kindness at hi
hands, feel profound reverence fol
his memory amounting almost to idola
try. Indeed no one who ever felt tht
cordial grasp of his hand, or looked int
his face beaming with benignityand intel
ligence can ever forget Archibald D
Murphey.
Very truly,
JESSIE TURNER.