The state chronicle., 1893-04-23

A Brief History of the Song and Its
Author.

For more than nall q century tne
,ong bearing the above title has
oeen sung in North Carolina Its
noble words, breathing the spirit OF
pure devotion to our grand old
State, and its intensely stirring air,
have doubtless inspired many of her
sons with a more lofty purpose that
has led to deeds worthy Of her
name.
I propose in this sketch to give
brief account Of the song aud it's
distin guished author. It was writ |
ten in the little one story, one room |
office which still stands On the cor
ner of Salisbury and Hargett streets
by the Hon. William CASTOR, OF
New Berne. His father, DR.. Alex
ander Castor, was of q Huguenot
family, born in the North OF Ireland,
and graduate from the Medic i
College of Edinburgh After serv-
ing as surgeon in the British Navy,
he came to America and settled at
New Berne. He then married an
English Catholic lady, Miss Mar
galet Sharpe, who was visiting the
"Athens of North Carolina" Viii
liam was born September l9. 1778,
and his father was killed during the
Revolutionary war by tories. He
was educated at Georgetown Col
lege and graduated from Princeton
College in 1896. He studied law
under Francis Xavier Martin,
French printer boy who emi
grated to North Carolina and who
wrote history of this State, revised
our laws, was Reporter Of our Su
preme Court Reports, and afterwards
United States Judge of the Terri
tory of Mississippi, and Judge of
the Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Mr.. CASTOR was a member of
Congress in 18l4-'15 A gentlemen
from Ohio once asked the iIlustrious
Daniel Webster "who was the
greatest of the great men of the
war Congress Mr.. Webster re
piled, ''the greatest man was Will
liam CASTOR" adding with smile
L myself come in along after him
Mr.. G. was one Of the most nota.
bic men in our State Convention o.
1835-(which by the way held its
sessions in the Presbyterian church
still standing at the corner Of Sails
bury and Morgan streets).
In 1884 he Was ell cted a Judg,
of the Supreme Court, which posi-
'ion he held to his death. June %
| 1914 He died in Raleigh, in th'
came room in which he wrote "Tb,
Old North State"
In his address before the Alumr
Association OF the University q
the Commencement of 1857, Hon
\ arren Winslow said:
"Were I called upon to name tw'
of our most distinguished dead
who reflected credit upon the State
who lived lives of blamelessness ant
virtue, who exhibited in a remarka
BILE degree those traits illustrating
the characteristics Of North Caro-
lima, purity of purpose, stern integ
rity and simplicity of character
who in their day, and in their pecu
liar career, much imposed thei
opiui rs upon upon the public mind
/ and who are fit examples to our you'll
for imitation-I should name Ma
/ thaniel Macon and William Gsston
J As a criminal advocate he en-
} joyed an urrivalled reputation il
the State, as a judge of our Cour
Il last resort, he will ever be re
} membered with pride, and the lat
8 Judge William II Battle said tha
''at the time Of his death he Wa
8 one of the most popular men in tn
t State. He devoted his leisure m<
q ments to classical studies and to til
cultivation of style, and acquired
b style in speaking and writing NJ
J inferior to any professional man or
: State has produced
T Such was in brief the author
70 our most popular State ode-a
d honor to his State, and to his coul
70 ry, and whom it ia the delight
d his countrymen to honor.
The great Wing Convention m
70 in Raleigh October S, 1910, aud
D. is stated that from 1000 to 15,O'
le persons we're present. It Was d
d lightful weather by day, and
N night the moon lighted up u
ot hopes and made all things brig
1 and beautiful for our grand Q
= Governor John NJ Morehead, a,
h, for the intensely enthusiastic frien
lie of the elder Harrison
1e The Convention assembled in t
1e open air, where seats had been II
lg pared On the west side of the Ca
as tol. The ladies of the town &
m Raleigh was not City the
IN were anxious to aid in t
I great cause. Some foreign mi
1T strels had had a concert in t
b, town, and one of their airs was
D. beautiful as to attract universal 8
W miration and produce a des
OF amongst the ladies for appropri'
ar words to it. In playful NONE
.r. Judge CASTOR, to crafty them q
parhcularly the children of Att
IS ney General j F, Taylor, wrote I
1t memorable words of the "Old No,
IN State"
j. On the second day Of the c.
O. vention seats were arranged for ,
be ladies in front Of the Speake
ok stand, and they were filled to ov