Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-05-30
CAREER OF ZEB VANCE.
A Sketch of the North Carolina Poll
tician and Orator.
The Part lie Played In East Tennessee
Politics Before the War, When
He Was A Whig.

WASHINGTON, May 12.-Among the
American leaders of the post bellum
period, the late Senator Vance, of North
Carolina, ranked as shining star.
Though lawyer by profession, his
public career was practically unbroken
from the time he first entered the Do
litical field in the early fifties. In
North Carolina his public reign was
well nigh autocratic.
Senator Vance's career was always
an object of interest to the people of
East Tennessee. A part of his school
days were spent at Washington Col
lege, in Washington County. In the
outset of his public career, while yet
Whig leader, he often made campaign
speeches in East Tennessee. In 1858
Vance was sent to Congress from the
Asheville District. At that time to
reach Washington from Asheville it
was necessary to travel by stage to the
railroad at Greeneville, Tennessee. In
his pilgrimage to and from the ma.
tlonal capital Vance became identi-
fled with the political leaders in East
Tennessee. An ardent Wing himself,
he found a most congenial atmosphere
when he invaded the valley of East
Tennessee, the veritable citadel of Whig-
dom.
Vance was power in the Whig ranks
in the campaign of 1860. In that cam.
paign he was in thorough accord with
the great Whig champions of Tennessee,
and on many occasions exchanged
stumps with them, so to speak. On
one occasion, when Gov. Isham G.
Harris visited Jonesboro to infuse new
'lfe into the ranks of the Breckenridge
and Lane party, the Wings looked over
the field for champion to meet him.
Vance was selected, and when the day
arrived for the speaking the brilliant
young North Caroinian was on hand.
But the Democratic Committee de-
clined to grant a division of time, and
SO he lest all opportunity to stimulate
the Wings by his inimitable fight of
oratory and bits of humor.
During the same campaign he at
tended a notable Whig rally at Knox
vile and made memorable speech.
The occasion attracted people from
almost every county in East Teennes-
see. Visitors came to the city in all
kinds of conveyances. So vast was
the multitude that speaking ground
had to be selected under spreading
oaks on Methodist Hill. A platform
was erected and seats placed around
In amphitheater style. Ben Hill, of
Georgia, was the principal speaker.
He took radical union grounds in his
speech, and with remarkable prophetic
vision predicted all the dire calamaties
that followed secession.
Leslie Coombs, of Kentucky, and
Andrew j. Donnelson were also pres
and addressed the people The day
time having been exhausted by Hill,
Coombs and Donnelson, a meeting at
night was held at the court house. at
which Vance was the speaker. 1t was
an effort which filled the faithful with
JOY and brought dismay to the ranks
of Democracy.
The campaign in Tennessee was no
more spirited than that of North Caro-
lima. But slavery was much more of
a factor in the North State than Ten
nessee, and the Breckinridge or States
right party found smoother sailing
there. Though Vance and his colabor-
ers stood by the Whig banner with a
valor akin to desperation, the Bell and
Everett ticket lost the day by small
margin. The vote stood: Breckin-
ridge and Lane, 4S,599 Bell and Ever.
EFT 44,96O. The principal strength of
the Bell and Everett party came from
the mountain side of the State. The
slave belt nearer the coast cast the
bulk of the States Rights VOTE In
January, 1851, vote was taken on the
proposition to hold constitutional con-
vention, delegates being voted for the
same time. The proposition to hold a
convention was lost by scratch, the
vote being for convention, 46,672 ;
against convention, AZ 1892 OF the dele
gates elected, eighty two were Union
men, while only thirty eight favored
secession.
When Sumter was fired upon North
Carolina burst over to the Confederate
side like mine explosion. Vance
went over with the tide. From that
time ownward all of his eloquence and
energies were directed toward turning
the entire State to the Southern cause.
1t was boast of his in after years that
he had mustered more men into the
Confederate service from North Caro-
lima, according to population, than
was enlisted from any other State Be
this claim as it may, it is fact that
all his oratory and signal ability as
leader was never able to eradicate the
germs of Unionism which he had pre-
viously planted among the hardy
mountaineers of Western North Caro-
lima. 1t is estimated that 5000 men
refuged from these border counties to
the Union lines and joined the Federal