The state chronicle., 1893-04-30
Hon. John SJanly.

This sketch is mostly taken from
the address of Hon. Warren Wins
low. delivered before the Alumni
Association of the University at the
commencement of 1857:
"It is by proper culture that
great quality of tact is developed
and sharpened. Tact, that mental
touch whose faculties are as capable |
| of extended improvement, as those |
of that physical touch, of which it is |
the counterpart. That acuteness OF
the intellectual senses which en-
ables the mind to perceive without
on effort and to comprehend with
out an apparent reason; which in
forms Of an object with certainty
as unerring and as reliable as the
delicate papiDa of the fingers in
form the blind, and answer to them
| the purposes of physical vision.
| "Perhaps we have had no man in
| North Carolina who was endowed
with this nice sense of tact, in
greater degree, than the late John
Stanly. With it we're combined
rare qualities of eloquence, Auency
in debate, intrepidity in action, and
powers of sarcasm.
"He filed, during his life, large
space in the public eye. An
instance of his particular readiness
and tact which I had from the
lips of distinguished contempor-
ary, may be noted, that has prob.
ably never been excelled in the his
, tory of parliamentary tactics, even
in the Commons House of the
British Parliament. It was upon
:, the occasion of the visit Of La Fay
cite hither. That distin guished
Frenchman was the guest of the
! ! nation. His passage through the
country was triumph and an ova-
y tion hardly excelled by that which
y welcomed Tully from exile. 1t was
of course desirable that he should
be entertained while ia North Caro-
u lima, in style suitable to her dignity
and character, To urge the specific
appropriation of the large sum in
; dispensable for the purpose, might
Il offend the illiberal and time-serv.
: ing, who spread their sails but to
4 catch the popular breeze. It was
concluded that simple resolution
= directing the Governor to draw
L upon the Treasury for the necessary
:, funds to effect this object, nigh
~ pass sub silentia, and happily nc
- 70 evoke what might be dreaded, a cal
70 for the yeas and nays.
The resolution met with favor il
20 the Senate, and it's passage through
y the Commons house was intrustet
;? to Stanly. To the chagrin Of tn
liberal party, the yeas and nay
. were demanded from the anticipated
30 quarter. All eyes we're turned upol
., Stanly. He sprang to his feet, an
~ without pause for reflection, sec
'e onded the motion, upbraiding him
g self for neglecting it.
g 1T is due, Mr.. Speaker, said be
~ Ito the honor, the dignity and tn
-, character of North Carolina, that
-. there be craven wretch among vi
~ ~ who dare refuse this appropriation
~ his name be spread upon the record
~ ~ that he may be pilloried high here
40 m after on the rolls Of infamy' It
:. y. needless to say that the opponent
-. ~ of the measure quailed under sue
~ terrible denunciation and the rese
90 90 luton passed without dissentin
90 voice..
LII Poor John Stanly! With all b
- tact, with all his eloquence, with a
- -. his learning, he had an ungovern,
80 - BILE timper. He was elected men
ss Der Of Congress from the Ne
10 ab Berne district in 1901, and again
'on 1909. He was often q member
our State Legislature. He becan
involved in a political difficulty wi
lat Governor Richard Dobbs Spaigl
lad Sr., disting uished citizen who hs
served as delegate to form Cons
ule tuition of the United States, me1
his Der of the State Senate, member
uld Congress and Governor of Nor
old Carolina.
,w- A challenge was sent by N
the Stanly, and being accepted, th
the met on Sunday afternoon on the
i'm. of September, 1902, behind the NJ
III sonic Hail in the town of N.
he Berne, in the presence of an il
mense assemblage, and upon the G
change of the fourth fire, Gt
Speight received a wound in t
right side, from which be died t
are next day. Mr. Stanly petition
81 the legislature for an act of parde
eco but it was refused for the reas
Law, that the pardoning power was vest
,re- in the Governor. Petition "
les then made to the Governor ben
cid min Williams) dated Septemt
sets 18th, only eight days after t
irm fatal duel, and the pardon "
and granted, and Mr.. Stanly &C
.re- tinued without much intermissi
fire in the House of Commons of viii
led he was often Speaker until IS:
use when he was struck with para
, in stroke which terminated his poll
hat cal career, and he died Aug.
1884"
,er. It seems no indictment was o
r. ferred against him-no trial v
are had and there was no conviction