The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-05-03
ZEBULON B. VANCE.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE AND PUB
Lie SERVICES.


Lie SERVICES.
His Early Career and Subsequent
Achievements---Solicitor, Leg
islator, Governor, Congress-
man and United States Senator
An Example Worthy of Emu
lation by the Rising Generation.
BY HON. KEMP P. BATTLE.
Zebulon Baird Vance was born in
Buncombe county, North Carolina,
May 9Th, 1890. His father was
merchant of that section. His mothers
father, Zebulon Baird, was one of the
trusted citizens of Buncomhe, for many
years chosen as representative in the
General Assembly. His father died
when he was quite young. His mother
devoted herself to his training. Her
means were slender, however, and his
education was confined to Pixies
arithmetic and Webster's spelling
book. But young Zeb had an inquir
ing mind. He read every book that
was within reach and being gifted with
great quickness and stong memory
early in his boyhood he began the &C
cumulation of the stores of illustrations
and stories which afterwards made him
famous as speaker. A gentleman
from the senior class of the University,
travelling in Buncombe, met young
Zeb Vance and was amazed to find
this halt grown country boy so conver-
SAINT with the Bible, Shakespeare and
Scott's novels. He then predicted his
subsequent success.
ENTERS THE POLITICAL ARENA.
In 1882 Vance went to the Uni
versity OF North Carolina, where he
spent year. He stood first in his
class. He then began the study OF
law and soon admitted to the bar.
He made Asheville his home, and
was at once influential with the jury,
his humor and ready eloquence never
| failing of an effect on the mind of the
| average mountaineer.
Vance went early in politics. He
was elected to the Legislature in 1854.
He was one of the most prominent
men in that body.
His peculiar powers were not fully
developed, however, until 1858, when
he took the stump in opposition to
the late w. w. Avery as a candidate
for the National House of Representa-
, tives in the mountain district. When
Vance announced his intention to op-
pose Avery he was applauded for his
gallantry, but laughed at for his sup
posed folly. In this campaign Vance,
then only 2S years of age, displayed
those qualities of stump orator and
leader of men for which he afterward
became conspicuous and unequaled in
the State. BY his powers Of present
ing arguments and facts and by his
winning ways he stole away the hearts
of the people He was elected by as
large majority as the year before had
been given to his Democratic prede-
cessor. In Congress he was an active
and watchful member. He took sides
strongly and labored earnestly against
secession, at the same time warning
the country against coercion of the
Southern States by force of arms. His
appeals for the Union in Congress were
earnest and powerful, but when Sum
ter was fired on he cast his lot with
his native State and took up arms
against the Union.
TOOK UP ARMS FOR HIS COUNTRY.
Whatever Vance did he did with all
his might. He was one of the earliest
volunteers marching to the seat of war
in Virginia as captain in May, 1861.
His promotion soon came. He was
elected colonel of the 27th Regiment
North Carolina troops, in August,
1861. He was among the brave
fighters who drove Mcclellan to his
ships on the James, and brought his
regiment off safely when Branch's
little army was overwhelmed by Burn
side at Newbern. He was faithful
and gallant officer, and civilians and
soldiers united in the demand that he
should be the next Governor of North
Carolina He was chosen by an over
whelming majority in 1862 two years
later over the late Governor w. w.
Holden. AS Governor of North Caro-
lima Vance displayed talents for which
even his most ardent admirers had no.
given him credit. He exhibited ad-
minstrative and executive powers OF
the highest order 1t was his prov.
ince to execute largely the functions
of war minister, and when the full
history OF the war shall be written il
will be found that Zeb Vance excelled
all Southern Governors in vlgor and
ability in these regards. In the midst
of the very death struggle of the war
he insisted that the military should bt
subordinate to the civil powers. II
should be known and remembered
throughout the civilized world that al
. during the time when the Confederac,
was vainly fighting for life, and wher
one fourth of the State was over-rur
by contending armies, the great priv
ilege of the writ of habeas corpus wa
never suspended. North Carolina hae
Governor brave enough to enforc
its mandates in the midst Of conscrip
camps.
ELECTED SENATOR.
In 1870 he was elected to the Sen
ate of the United States, but on &C
e count Of the disabilities imposed b
; the fourteenth amendment to the con
stitution. was not allowed to take h
> seat.
. In ,9,, he waS defeated for th