The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-23

CHATHAM "REMINISCENCES
Mr. Jackson Writes About Governor
Manly and Hugh Waddell.

Mr.. Jackson Writes About Governor
Manly and Hugh Waddell
J. J. Jackson, Esq. the oldest mem
Der Of the Chatham bar, has been writing
interesting "reminiscences to the Chatham
Record. They have been full of informa-
ton to the younger generation, brighten
ed with anecdote and happy illustration.
From his latest letter. the following will
interest readers of the whole State:
Governor Manly was raised in the
county of Chatham and was a great IA
vorite with our people. l shall dwell at
some length on his life and history.
Il have heard that his father and
family early in the present century
moved rom one of the lower counties.
Iprobably Bladen, and settled near Pitts
boro at a place called Oak Mount
From all accounts ne was very remark
able man. He was for many years
chairman Of the county court of Chat
ham county. Although not born to
fortune by industry on his farm and
self denial he was able to give to each
of his children the blessings of good
education. l am sure his three sons.
Charles, Matthias and Basil all graduated
at Chapel Hill, OF whom Charles rose to
be Governor of the State. Matthias to be
Judge of the Supreme Court and Basil to
be an eminent divine in the Baptist
church. Charles, after getting his IL
cense to practice law. married a Miss
Haywood in Raleigh. have heard that
In his early manhood he had taste Of
amateur acting on the stage as many
syoung men Of cultivation in this day and
time have; was passionately fond OF
Shakespeare, but that old Mr.. Haywood
induced him to lay it aside asking him
whether it paid or not Long before
the war he built him an office in Pitts
lboro on a lot covered now by the Record
office. This ofaee he called Fort
Snug" It was built by George Ellington.
Mr.. Manly boarded with his sister, Mrs.
Louisa Thompson, In the house now oc
: cupied by Mrs. Mary Thompson, widow
Of Col. Joseph Thompson. At the close
OF the day when he was not engaged.
his office was Stree resort for the
members Of the profession. The CONVEX
sation, wit and humor Of such men as
Judge Badger. General Poindexter. Mr.
: Hugh Waddeil, Bill Long, Mr.. Manly
himself, and others made these meetings
D as attractive as a theatre. Long was a
Spctldl lIltuu VI bON. Mdult. ana Ut
. every August and September court he
brOughtshim down from his home in Ran
dolph, several bushels of the finest peach
es, pears, ETC.. ETC.. which the Governor
I shared with his brethren most freely.
The Governor was justly very popular,
and among all his friends. none were
: more devoted to him than n. A. Stead
man. the clerk of the county court. 1t
lu-aa nd T AL, s%b >
he, Manly, was nominated for and elect
ed to the office of Governor of North
+, Jarolina by the efforts of Mr.. Steadman.
This election was in the summer Of
> 1913. He made a most excellent Gov
ernor. but yet at the next election, he
e was defeated by Governor Reid of Rock
| ingham. The way this came about was
$ this: At that time there was Il provision
| in the constitution that no one could vote
$ in the elections for members of the
? Senate IN the Legislature unless he own
: ed 80 acres of land Stephen A. Douglas
: who was visiting in North Carolina Che
2 married in Rockingham county, suggest
ed to the Democratic leaders and news
papers that they should commence an at
tack on this article of our State consti-
tuition. This was done and free and I'M
IAcStllCttu SulIIdSt Iuc uty on UUlS
2 issue and Governor Manly was defeated.
1T is no purpose of the writer to write
t a biographical sketch of Charles Manly.
! This is written in the history of his ma
1 tive State. l will say that he was a de-
voted friend Of the cause of popular edu-
7 cation and the University Of North Caro-
t Ina; that he was an eminently conserva-
t tive Governor and one of the best the
Srn% h.,, L., IL -
, long career, there was not the least blot
cast upon his name.
Hugh Waddell was a good lawyer, an
accomplished orator and an experienced
legislator. He was born and raised in
or near Wilmington, North Carolina, and
after graduating at Chapel Hill and get
ting license to practice law, moved 10
HillsbOro and attended the courts Of
Chatham county. and was distinguished
member OF the Chatham bar. Some time
before the war he moved from HillsborO
to PittsborO. and some time after the
war he removed to Wilmington and now
sleeps with his forefathers on the classic
shores of the Cape Fear. Mr.. Waddell
was an accomplished literary scholar, a
fine lawyer and successful practitioner
at the bar and eminently attractive in
social intercourse. He often represented
Orange county in the Senate of the Leg
islature before. as I recollect, Alamance
land Orange were divided. The parties.
Wing and Democrat. were nearly equal
ly divided Often there were not ten
votes difference between them. Orange
county before the division, was a large
territory. and it was Il hercuean task TO
canvass it, l think there were over 40
tax gatherings at which the candidates
had to speak. Mr.. Waddelrs opposing
candidate was General Allison. | will
describe him therefore more particularly.
| He was n tall slim. lantern iawed fell
low citizen. OF rather moderate educa-
tlon-although he may have thought diff
| ferently-not likely to make at first sight
Il favorab bic impression on n lady of taste.
He was. | think, bachelor. In speak
ing. his voice grated harshly on the ears
OF the nearer and when excited he almost
squeaed, painfully to the audience. At
one time he was elected clerk Of thu
county or superior court of Orange coun-
ty. He told the people on the canvass
that If he was not able to do their bust
ness himself he would have it done and
give good bond. And he did it. my
rather was a citizen of that. (Orange) |
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