The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-24
%. Civ Tcannm-st.l

49, tl3T Ecou0mst.)
when Judge Castor departed this life
in Ealeiebin Raleigh january y. 1871
Pin Raleigh, January 3, 1911 at 65
years a great men left us and Carolina
was i'm mourning for her. most distin-
eu.shed SON Distinguished as his life
had been, rounded, patriotic and useful,
when he departed this lfc, nothing be
came him like The leaving Of it. He
was a grand old man, and WIS hcckouel
away at the green old age of SiXy-tiye
years. full Of honor, distinction, useful
ness and the love and gratitude of his
countrymon,
While the Supreme court of North Car
DINA, of which he was one of the JUS
ticCs. was in session in the morning. he
was attacked with giddiness in the head.
with symptoms of apopeXy. The court
adjourned Immediately and he was tax
en- in carriage to his office at Mrs.
Taylor'S He rallied from the attack
during the evening, and at night several
distinguished friends called in 20 see
him. He talked with them and the
conversation turned naturally upon the
uncertainty Of life and kindred religious
subjects. He he became interested in the
subjects Judge Castor rose up on his
elbow, and then sat up in bed.He spoke
on infdelity and its Influence upon char
acter, and referred to Tobias Watkins,
a distinguished public officer, who was
an av0wed nfidel and whom he had
known while a member of Congress in
Washington. He said he always distrust-
cd him, and then he added: Il do not say
that an infidel may not from education
and high motives be an honorable man:
but | dare not trust him. \ belief IL
an all-ulng Providence. who shapes
our ends and will reward us accordin-
TO our deeds. is necessary. We must be
lievc and feel that there is n God, All
wise and Almighty" AS he pronounced
this last word. he raised himself up in
bed and fell back lifelnss corpse. \
grand and dramatic close Of an illus
trious life.
Mr.. CASTOR was. great favorite in
Newbern, where hehad lived all his life
He was beloved for his courtesy, his
kindness, his benevolence. and for his
great ability and usefulness in public
and private. He was the central figure
in the group Of distinguished men that
Illustrated the history of Newborn as no
town in the State had been. 1t seemed
at one time that every big man in North
Carolina had been born or lived at some
time in that Athens of the State,
as the noble old town used to be loving
~ called. Stanly. CASTOR, Taylor,
Shepard, Hawks, Dawes, Badger, Man
ly. Graham. Henry. Nash, Speight,
Backus, Bryan crowd of other great
men. were all born or lived there.
The negroes joined in the general dis
tress at Judge Gaston's death. He was
always their friend. He always deplor-
ed the existence OF slavery in North
Carolina and regarded it as "the worst
evil that afflicted the Southern portion
of our Confederacy" and in his famous
address at the University in 1882. ask
cd if it was too much "to hope for its
ultimate extirpation in North Carolina -
/ was by his influence in the convention
Of 1880, that the free negroes were not
deprived Of the franchise When he was
a candidate for the Legislature when the
old State House in Raleigh was burn
cd. and he was elected over Charles
Shepard by one majority, all the free
negroes voted for him.
His memory is yet green in the hearts
Of his countrymen and the patriotic
ode written by him in moment of in
Carolina. Carolina, Heavens
blessings attend her'-yct wakens the
love Of our people for the dear old State
we love so well