Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1894-04-19


the Brilliant Orator.
Zeb Vance, the patriot statesman,
is dead. Some apparent Improvement
during his recent stay in Florida, had
led to the hope that his days of use
fulness would be prolonged. But af-
ter his return to Washington, the i'm
provement did not continue, though
he attended partially to his senatorial
duties, looking after the interests of
his constituents, until April 14th,
when, shortly before l O'Clock, a. m,
he was stricken with appoplexy, and
at 10:45 p. M, he passed away.
senator Vance was born in Bun
combe county, N. c., May IS, 1880.
His father was prominent soldier in
the celebrated attack on Kings Noun
tain, which victory of the American
troops was the turning point
in the revolution. His father,
David Vance, was killed in duel
with Samuel z. Corson. Young Zeb.
ulon was educated at Washington col
ege in Tennessee, and at the Univers-
ity of North Carolina. Admitted to
the bar in 1852, he became in the same
year county solicitor. In 1855 he was
called to congress and was reelected
in 1858. He was opposed to secession,
but followed the fortunes of his native
state. He entered the confederate
service in May, 1861, was commits
stoned captain and three months later
colonel. In the spring of 1862 he
took part with his regiment in the Sc
ries of battles which terminated in the
bloody conflict of Malvern Hill on
July /. In the autumn of that year
Col. Vance was elected Governor, and
was reelected in August, 1864. In
, May, 1860, when he saw that resist
ance to the federal troops was no long
er possible, he issued message coun.-
selling peace, and advising the citizens
of the state to accept the results of the
/ war. In April, 1867, he was pardon.
ed by the President.
In 1870 the legislature elected Col.
Vance United States senator, but he
had taken such an active part in the
war that the senate refused to admit
him and he resigned two years later,
he was elected for the third time Gov
ernor i'll 1876, and when Senator Mer-
RAMS term expired in 1879 he was
unanimously elected to succeed him
and took his seat without opposition.
He was reelected in 1885 and 1891,
| and his present term would have ex.
| pired March 3, 1897.
On the floor of the senate Senator
| Vance was one of the readiest speak
ers, and his eloquence and humor
made him a favorite at all public
gatherings. AS a popular orator he
had few equals. His 'sinfinite iests
and most excellent fancy" his pathos
and brilancy made him Irresistible
before the people. Both in public and
| private discourse his points were illus
trated with anecdote so apt and
piquant that the popular mind retained
the argument, when a graver mood
would be forgotten. He was an op.
ponent of the civil service law, which
he fiercely attacked in several speeches
and urged its repeal. He was an ard.
ent advocate of tariff reform, and a
strong supporter of President Cleve
land. In 1889 he suffered an unfor.
tunate affection in the loss of one OF
his eyes, the sight of which had been
gradually growing weaker for several
months.
Senator Vance was twice married
His first wife was Harriet Newell
daughter of Rev. Thomas Empsy
she died at Raleigh November 8, 1878
His second wife is Mrs. Florence 5
Marten, daughter of Mrs. Samue
Steele, of Kentucky, whom he mar
ried in June, 1880.