The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-16
SENATOR VANCE.
Was In the Rebel Army and Served ne
Governor of His state.


wAsHiNGToY. April Ex-senator Vance
Of North Carolina died late Saturday
night. He had not been well since the
assembling of congress, and had been
confined 10 his home for the past month.
A turn for the worse came Saturday. and
about noon he had a stroke of apoplexy
and did not regain consciousness.
Zebulon Baird Vance was born near
Asheville, n. c., May l3 $780, His uncle,
Robert b. Vance, had left thes family a
fine library of some 500 volumes Of the
very cream OF literature. At the age Of l2
young Vance had already become familiar
with most OF them. He had the finishing
touches of his education put on at Wash
ington college, Tennessee, and later at
the University of North Carolina.
He studied law at Chapel Hill. In
January, 1852, he obtained a license to
practice in the county courts, and was ad-
mitted to the superior court in August,
1853
He married his first wife. Miss Harriet
Epsey of Morgantown, n. c.. the day
after he received this last license.
He had.not long been engaged in the
practice Of law before his natural taste
for politics became manifest. The result
he was elected in 1854 to the house of
commons, as the lower branch of the state
legislature was then called. to represent
Buncombe county
From the state legislature he graviteted
TO the halls of congress, being elected in
1858, being the youngest member of the
house, as he was sfterward the youngest
governor of the state. He was reelected
in 1859.
When the war period came on Vance
was strongly opposed to secession. But
when his state took the opposite action be
went with it, raised company. and
started for the front. His first commits
sion was as captain OF the Twenty-sixth
regiment of North Carolina troops in 1861,
but in Septem ber Of the same year he
was promoted To the position Of colonel.
He commanded at the battle of New bern,
and participated in the seven days fight
ing around Richmond in 1862
While he was in tne field of action he
was elected governor of North Carolina
without even the formality of nomina-
tion or candidacy. He assumed the Office
Sept. s, 1862, at the age of 81. In 1854 he
was again elected governor by an in
creased majority of more than 5000, and
continued in Office until he was displaced
by the federal authorities in 1855.
His administration of the affairs of the
state at SO critical and turbulent a period
was marked by large measure OF EN-
cheney and success. Though going into
the war reluctantly, no man in the south
stood to it more firmly to the bitter end,
or rendered more efficient aid for its
prosecution.
In 1868 he was again nominated for
governor, but on account of his political
disabilities declined to run.
In 1870 he was elected to the national
senate but because of his disfranchise-
ment was refused admission.
He was again nominated for governor
In 1870. He again carried the state.
He was again chosen to the United
States senate in 1879; in January. 1885
was once more elected aud again In 1891
for the term ending in 1897 While IN
the senate he made a national reputation
for his integrity, fair dealing and quail
ties of political leadership. He was
known ss being hostile to high protective
tariffs and all forms of oapitalistio mono
poly.
He lived quietly in his North Carolina
home with his second wife. Mrs Florence
Steele Martin, whom he married in 1880.
He had four sons by his first wife, all OF
whom sre living.