The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-04-19
DEATH OF SENATOR VANCE.

DEATH OF SENATOR NANCE.
Stricken With Apoplexy Saturday
Morning the End Comes Quickly.
WASHINGTON, April Ex-senator
Vance, of North Carolina, died at his
home, 1926 Massachusetts, avenue, in
this city, at 1o:45 O'Clock last night.
He had stroke of apoplexy at 10
o'clock in the morning. He had been
suffering for some time from paralysis
and a complication of diseases, but the
end was sudden and unexpected as he
was regaining his health, and it was
thought was on the road to recovery.
SKETCH OF THE DECEASED.
The death of Zebulon Baird Vance
removes the most popular man of his
time in North Carolina. He was
honored with the highest Offices in the
gift of the people of that State, and
for thirty years he was without rival
in their affections. A genial nature,
combined with high qualities of mind
and character, furnished the elements
of his popularity, and from his earliest
life he was an object of public interest.
Senator Vance traced his lineage
from the best North Carolina families.
His paternal grandfather was a
Revolutionary hero, and on his
mothers side, Col. Zebulon Baird
served the State for many years in
military and legislative capacities.
Born near Asheville, Buncombe
county, May IS, 1880, Senator Vance
passed his youth in the home that
always remained his. Opportunities
for education were necessarily prim.
tive in this backwoods region, but the
family library enabled him to prepare
his mind for instruction in Washing
ton College, Tennessee, and afterward
in the University of North Carolina.
Then he studied law with Judge
Battle, of the Supreme Court OF North
Carolina, and Samuel F. Phillips, ex
solicitor general of the United States,
and was admitted to the bar in 1852.
Buncombe county at once honored
him with election as county solicitor.
In 1854 he represented his county in
the legislature. The next year he
took part in the editorial management
of the Asheville Spectator, the leading
whig paper of that section. He failed
of election to the State Senate in 1886,
but in 1858 he was sent to Congress
for an unexpired term, and again tor
the succeeding full term.
At the outbreak of the war he was
an opponent of secession. He with
stood the movement publicly and with
all his power. When North Carolina
severed its allegiance, however, he
believed his duty was first to the
State, and he was among the first to
tender his services as volunteer. He
received a commission as captain in
the twenty sixth North Carolina
regiment, and gained rapid promotion
to the colonelcy. He was in COM
mand at Newberne, and took part in
the early battles near Richmond.
While in the field in 1862 he was
elected Governor of North Carolina
by an immense majority, without even
the tormality of nomination or can
didacy.
His administration of this Office was
marked by great efficiency, and the
troops of his State became known as
among the best equipped in the Con-
| federatc service. His constituents
enthusiastically reelected him in 864,
and he continued in Office until the
government displaced him in 1865.
At that time, he afterwards boosted,
the resources he had gathered were
sufficient to keep the North Carolina
troops in the field for two years longer.
He left Raleigh with General John
ston's army in April, 1865, and joined
Jefferson Davis at Charlotte. After
ward he sought refuge in the interior
of the State, where he was arrested in
May, and was taken to the old Capitol
prison in Washington. He secured a
parole in July.
He figured prominently in his State
after this as strong opponent of the
reconstruction policy. The Demo
Gratis of his State wanted to nominate
him for Governor in 1868, but on
account OF his political disabilities he
declined to be candidate. In 1870
he was elected to the United States
Senate. That body refused to receive
him, and, after two years, he sent his
resignation to the Legislature. In
1876 he received by an almost
unanimous convention vote the nom
inatlon Of his party tor Governor, and
was elected by large majority. The
Legislature sent him to the Senate in
1879, and he was elected again
without opposition in 1855. His third
term began in 1891.
As a Senator he stood with his party
in opposition to a high tariff and to
all forms OF capitalistic monopoly. He
was always an interesting speaker, by
reason of lively style of speech and
a rich fund Of anecdote and humorous
illustration, upon which he drew to
enliven his opinions. He could always
count on an attentive audience on both
sides of the chamber. He enjoyed
great popularity in Washington, as
we'll as in his State.-Baltimore Sun.
See those sleeper and patent brake
baby carriages at S. & c. WATKINS.
Rucklens, Arnica SaiYe