The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-01-07
HENDERSON, N. c, THURSDAY JANUARY T. 1897.

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which others broke to her injury? Had
her reserved rights no other than a
paper barrier 10 protect them against
invasion?
Surely the heroic patriots and wise
statesmen Of North Carolina, by their
sacrifices, utterances aud deeds, have
shown what their answer would have
been asked on the day when i'll con-
vention they ratified the amended Con-
stitution of the United States. Her
exceptional delay in ratification marks
her vigilant care for rights she had so
early asserted and so steadily main
tanned. OF her it may be said, as it
was of Sir Walter Scott in his youth,
that "always the first in a row and the
last out Of it,
In the peaceful repose which followed
the Revolution all her interests were
progressive. Farms, school houses aud
towns rose over subdued wilderness,
and with mother't JOY she saw her
sons distinguished in the public service
by intelligence. energy aud persever-
ance, and by that integrity without
which all other gifts are but as tinsel.
North Carolina grew apace in all that
constitutes power, until in 1872 she
was required as State of the Union
to resist aggressions on the high seas
in the visitation Of American merchant
vessels and the impressment of Amer
lean seamen by the armed cruisers Of
Great Britain.
These seamen generally belonged to
the New England States; probably mono
were North Carolinians; but her old
spirit was vital still; the cause of one
was the cause of all, as she announced
when Boston was under embargo.
At every roll-call for the common de-
fence she answered, "Here.'' When
blessed peace returned she stacked her
arms for which she had no prospective
use. Her love for her neighbors had
been tried and not found wanting in
the time of their need; why should she
anticipate hostility from them?
The envy, selfish jealousy and Grim
lnal hate of Il Cain could not come near
to her heart. If not to suspect such
vice in others be indiscreet credulity,
it is a knightly virtue and part of an
honest nature. In many years Of mil
itary and civil service it has been my
good fortune to know the sons of North
Carolina under circumstances Of trial,
and could make list of those deserv-
ing honorable mention which would too
far extend this letter, already, | fear,
teadiously long.
Devotion to principle, self-reliance
and nflexible adherance to resolution
when adopted, accompanied by con-
servative caution, were the character
istics displayed by North Carolina in
both her colonial and State history. All
these qualities were eXemplifed in her
action on the day Of the anniversary
which you commemorate If there be
any, not likely to be found with you,
but possibly elsewhere, who shall ask:
How, then, could North Carolina con-
sistently enact the ordinance of seces-
sion in 1922 he is referred to the
Declaration of Independence Of l776;
to the Articles of Confederation of
l777, for perpetual union of the
States. aud a secession of States from
the union so established; to the treaty
Of 1888, recognizing the independence
| Of the States severally and distinc-
| lively; to the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States, with its first ten amend
ments; to the time houoi ed resolutions
of 1893 8-'99:-that from these, one and
| all, he may learn that the State. hav-
ing won her independence by heavy
| sacrifices, had never surrendered it,
nor had ever attempted to delegate the
| inalienable rights of the people.
How yallar,Iy hrr sons bore them
selves in the War Between The States
the lists of the led and wounded tes
tify. She gave them. a sacrficial Of
fering on the altar of the liberties their
fathers had won and left as an inner.
itance to their posterity. Many SLEEP
far from the land of their nativity
Peace to their ashes. Honor to theil
memory and the mother who bore
them.
Faithfully,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.