The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-13
To the Editor:


of Mebane.
To the Editor:
j I was pleased to see the article in last
Sundays News and Observer by }. j.
Jackson, Esq. His estimate of the Hon.
! Hugh Waddell was not overdrawn. AT
the time mentioned Orange county was
a large county. 1t was more than forty
miles long from east to west and twenty
six miles wide from north to south
The two parties at that time were near
Iy equally balanced, and as only those
who owned fifty acres of land were al
lowed to vote there was not much floating
capital and the vote changed but little
from year to year Mr. Waddell was
brilliant lawyer, fine scholar, a well
informed politician, great orator, and
one Of the most polite and polished men
of his day. He was Wing and looked
upon Henry Clay as a model statesman.
He was the favorite of the Wing party
in Orange county There were other
great men in our county, and they were
also honored and loved by the Wings.
There were Gov Graham, Willis L. Man
gum, John w. Norwood, Henry X. Nash,
Sduluel II oul SaliiSlOA' phNS
Mebane. Josiah Turner, Michael w.
Holt and host of others fit to serve in
the counsels of our State or nation, there
were judicial officers with reputation
that extended over our whole country, but
/ doubt if there was one more beloved by
his party than Hugh Waddell. Perhaps
the reason that he was such favorlte
of his party was that he was ever ready
to sacrifice his time at the call of his
friends.
AS was said by Mr.. Jackson, the con-
tests were often close, sometimes Mr..
/ Waddell was beaten.
At one election the result was so close
and uncertain, excitement ran high; after
| the votes were counted at the precinct,
! messengers were sent with re-
turns to Hillsboro; the next day
! it required the official vote to
decide whether Waddell or his OPP
| ponent, Gen. Allison, was elected. The
! court house was crowded and a large ex-
| cited crowd around the house waiting
F. with intense interest to know the result;
| at last it was rumored that it was a tie.
| The vote was again counted and it was
| found that each candidate had received
| the same number of ballots. The sheriff
! made proclamation and announced the
| result and gave the casting vote for Mr..
| Waddell. Then wild scene of excitement
| was witnessed and a drum and fife band
! of music, with a fine flag with hundreds
| of people marched up the street to the
residence of Mr. Waddell. He was in bed
/ with a headache from the EXCITEMENT and
noise of the previous night. His faithful
| old servant was grasping his master and
rejoicing at the result of the election.
| One of the leading politicians of the
| county who was one of Mr.. Waddell's
most devoted friends, told Mr.. Waddell
| that he must treat the crowd. A barrel
| of old rye whiskey was rolled out of a
house into the yard, head was knocked
| out and each man helped himself-with
| tin cups Such was political life and con-
tests some fifty years ago.
| At another time Capt. John Berry OPP
posed Mr.. Waddell. Waddell was declared
| elected. Capt. Berry contested his seat
! and employed Duncan *. MacRae to
| manage the case. Berry was given the
seat. Mr. MacRae charged fee of $500
for his services in the case. Capt. Berry
| was dissatisfied with what he considered
| an exorbitant charge.
1 Hon. Waddell was qualified in every
respect for the highest positions in our
| State or nation. / doubt whether there
are many in our State to-day that are his
superior in all the attributes that go to
make up great man and polished gem
tleman.
/ come now to speak of another man
who was different in everything from the
one of whom have written
| l am sorry that Mr.. Jackson did not
know more of Gen Allison, though in the
delineation of his appearance and charac-
ter he is correct.
General Allison was one of those men
who sprang from the humble
walks of life, he started in as a constable
with scarcely any education. He became
military man, and in the militia of the
State he rose step by step until he be-
came to be a general. In this like every
thing he undertook, he did well, and had
his services been called for in military
capacity he would have acquitted himself
with ability He took great interest in the
political affairs of the country, and read
carefully such papers as the Raleigh
Standard and Washington Globe and
Richmond Enquirer. He was well posted
and believed in the principles of the Dem
ocratic party with all his heart, with all
his soul, his mind and strength. He was
an enthusiastic Mason and was long
Master of his Lodge. He was kind
neighbor, good friend He was industri-
Gus, economical and prosperous. As he
grew older he became more popular. He
| had no sense of fear-was not afraid to
meet any man upon the stump. lie had
read of Democracy studied Democratic
doctrines until he was no easy man to
handle. He was as ready to meet Willie
p. Mangum, Gov. Graham, Hugh Wad
dell or Henry X. Nash as the humblest
| in the land If he made mistakes in quo
tation, or in the use of language, it made
no difference with him. He had his listen
ers, his admirers and his followers.
His kindness, his knowledge of human
nature, and his use Of knowledge was tht
cause of his popularity and success
When he became clerk of the court he re
tired from active political life. He board
ed at the hotel and met all classes OF