Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1892-12-01
Legislators Then And Now.
Cor. State Chro 1icle.

Legislators Then And Now.
Cor State Chro 1icle.
RALRIGH Nov. 26, 1892.
As the Legislature of North
Carolina is soon to assemble in our
capital city, l have thought it
might interest some of your read-
ers to take them back some fifty OF
sixty years ago and give them a
glimpse of the legislature of olden
times.
il must be borne in mind that,
while the state of North Carolina
embraced Just as much territory
then as now, there was no railroad
built to the capital city. The
members of the general assembly
were therefore compelled to rely
on the old stage lines from Wsr-
renton, Newbern, Fayetteville and
Hillsboro, or on private convey
ances to get to Raleigh. It must
also be remembered that some Of
these stages reached Raleigh only
two or three times a week, and NO
newspaper was printed in Raleigh
or North Carolina oftener than
once a week. Tho telegraph had
not been heard of, and it was no
new thing 70 read in heavy head
lines the words Fifteen days later
news from Europe"
Many of the members Of the
general bly, from remote
counties had recourse to their own
saddle horses. It was an age OF
tne blooded stock, and as most OF
these members were selected from
the young and ambitious men of
the state there was much rivalry as
to who should ride the best look>
ing or fastest horse to Raleigh.
This was we'll understood at Ra.
leigh. There was no livery here
to care for SO large a numb,'r OF
herses, and the farmers in the vici-
nifty came in with propositions to
provide for them during the sess
sion. 1t was generally stipulated
that the horses should be brought
into town every Saturday that the
owners might see that full justice
was being done them. The "Locaet
Taverr," which stood where the
residence of Mrs. Geo. w. Swep,
son nov stands, the corner of SaEse
bury and Hillsboro streets, was the
usual place of meeting. and the
Saturday session was cut .hort thai
the young members might inspect
their favorite steeds. Then came
the cantering and trotting up and
down the streets by the country
keepers, followed by the bantering
of the owners, and many spirit
ed horses race was witnessed each
Saturday, whose riders names
were borne on the journals of the
two houses OF the general assembly.
OF course much of the business of
town was suspended in order to
give tradesmen and mechanics an
opportunity to attend the "Legis-
lative Races"
The members Of the general as.
sembly Of those days we're simply
"Esqulres" and no constituent ever
presumed to place "Honofable"
before his senator's or commonor's
name. | remember that once in
the ante.tellum days I consulted a
gentleman who had been speaker
of the house of commons rs to
whether he was not entitled to the
prefix "Honoratle.'' "No, SIR"
said he (and he was a man of
which the whole state is proud)
"only governors, members of con-
gress, the president of the United
States and cabinet officers are en-
titled to that honor. All others
are simply 'Esquires'
With 1910 came thr "Fires
Wagon" Gas our Cherokee Indians
term the steam cary drawn by the
historic "Tornado," "Whirlwind"
ard "Spitfre," of the Raleigh and
CASTOR railroad, and the blooded
horses Of the members gave way to
the steam engine, and the members
Of the general assembly of 1893
who care to recall these races on
street will find in place
of the clattering hoofs of former
days the whirr of the electric car
of tosday. JOHN B. NEATHERY,