The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-01-09


State no peaceful remedy? Could
she as State in a confedera-
ton, the bed rock of which is
the consent Of it's members, be
bound by compact which 9th
ers broke to her injury? Had
her reserved rights no othe"
than a paper barrier to protect
them against invasion?
Surely the heroic patriots and
wise statesmen of North Caro-
lima by their sacrifices, utter
ances and deeds have shown
what their answer would have
been to these questions if they
had been asked on the day when
in convention they ratified the
amended constitution of tie
United States. Her exception
al delay in ratification ma Ks
her vigilant care for the right
she had early asserted and 50
steadily maintained. OF her it
may be said, as it was of Sir
Walter Scott in his youth, that
he was ALWAYS the first in a
row and last out Of it."
In the peaceful repose which
followed the Revolution all her
interests were progressive.
Farms, schoOl-houses and towns
rose over a subdued wilderness,
and with mothers joy she
saw her sons. distinguished in
the public service by intelli-
gence, energy and perseverance
and by the integrity without
which all other gifts are but as
tinsel. North Carolina grew a.
pace in all which constitutes
power until 1912 she was requir-
ed, as a State of the Union, to
resist aggressions On the high
seas i'll the visitation of Ameri
can merchant vessels aud the
impressment Of American sea.
men by the armed cruisers OF
Great Britain. These seamer
generally belonged to the New
England States. None, proba
bly, were North Carolinians
But her old spirit was vital still
the cause OF one was the cause
of all, as she announced when
Boston was under embargo.
Al every roll call for the com
mon defense she answered
"HereN When the blessed
peace returned she stacked he1
arms, for which she had NJ
prospective use. Her love TO
her neighbors had been triet
and not. found wanting in tbl
time of their need. Why SHOULD
she anticipate hostility from
them?
The envy: selfish jealousy AM
criminal hate OF d Cain did no
come near to her heart. If no
to suspect such vice in others b
indiscreet credulity, it is
knightly virtue and part of a.
honest nature. In many year
of military and civil service j
has been my good fortune t
know the sons of North Carroll
ma under circumstances of trial
, and | could make q list of thos
deserving honorable mentio
which would too far extend thi
, letter, already, | fear, tediousl
, long.
, Devotion to principle, self.rs
, lance and inf1eXible adherenc
, to resolution when adopted, az
compared by conservative Cat
, ton. were the characteristic
displayed in both her colonia
and State history. All thes
qualities were exemplified
her action On the day tue ann
, versary of which you commem'
! rate.
p If there be any, not probabl
= to be found with you, but poss
bly, elsewhere, who shall as
elbow then could North Carol
% I'D cosistently enact her ord
nance Of secession in,186l"- ]
is referred to the declaration {
y independence Of 1776, to the a
. ticles of confederation of III
: for a perpetual. union of TT
States and the secession :of ii
= States from the Union so esta
. . lished; to the treaty of 1888, re
E ognizing the independence
,, , the States severally and di
. tinctively; to the constitute
! of the United States with Il
= first ten amendments; to tt
- time honOred resolutions of
- :. SO and 1899, that from these OF
~ and all he may learn that tt
" Sta te, having won her indpen
- ence by heavy sacrifices, h;
- never surrendered it nor b
:; ever attempted to delegate t.
. inalienable rights of the peop]
y How valiantly her sons be
.f themselves in the war betwe
a the States the lists IF killed a
10 wounded testify. She ga
- them sacrificial offering
- the altar of the liberties tn,
- fathers had won and had left
W. an inheritance to their post,
~ ity. Many sleep far from t
N land Of their nativity. Peace
- their ashes. Honor 60 thy
~ memory and the mother W
= bore them. Faithfully,
p" IEEEEpcON DAVIS