The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-08

were extra hazardous-extra hazardous
under all conceivable conditions. The
chief apostle of Republicanism admon-
ished the people in this sententious lam
guage, Never to suffer the government
to fall under the control of illiberal ir-
responsible or self-created powers" etc.
He believed that nothing could give
greater stability to the public faith than
a strict adherence to the Constitution.
and that public faith is the breath of our
nostrils; and he realized that the people
everywhere were trembling under the
apprehension of war: trembling from
the conviction that if such catastrophe
should arise-let it end as it might
would put our institutions in jeopardy.
and end either in Capitalization or dis
union; and he drew to his aid in the
exigency the great and active resources
of an exhaustless intellect. North Car
DINA formerly a little tardy in assum-
ing her appropriate relations to the old
Confederation, was quick to feel the
impulse that had awakened the war
spirit of South Carolina. 1t is true
there were strong, intellectual men who
cried peace, peace, when there was no
peace" Other more truculent spirits
were for compromise, "a league
with death and covenant with
hell" but the spirit of our fathers en-
boldened their sons to demand a sepa-
ration peaceably if possible, forcibly
if we must"
In the crucial moment Hon. Henry
NJ. Shaw came into the Constitutional
~ % 70 por
amount sense the States relations to the
compact which bound her to the Fede-
raj Union! This great body was not
wanting in presidents. The Congress of
1888. in running debate of 100 days
and more had traversed the ground
reviewed authorities and announced It's
decision. A Southern President accen-
tuated the dictum with the threat that
he would train every gun in the Federal
arsenals upon the homes of insurgents
and rebels if the Federal authority
were denied
Standing in this convention as he had
stood in Congress, the Nesror of legisla-
ton. though less hoary-with and for
the South, with its Interpretation of
the organic law under which his State
had reserved certain essentials of SOW
ereignty, he fitted himself by an ade-
quate discipline to execute her ulti-
mate resolves. Thenceforth with the
sword, he would make good his chal-
lenge as Il good knight and by wager
of battle hew out new and high des-
tiny for North Carolina. That conven-
ton authorized the slogan of war to be
sounded He who could not utter with
distinctness the shibboleth of patriots,
might have a quick and safe conduct
across the border
In the presence of such a danger no
patriot could fall to appropriate to his
heart the utterance of Decatur My
country, may she always be right, but
right or wrong. my country He was
commissioned in May, 1861, colonel of
the Eighth regiment, y. C. State troops,
and began forthwith it's organization
and equipment. On the fall of Hatteras
he was ordered TO the derence of Roa-'
noke Island, the Cawnpore of the Con-
federacy, the "mantrap" in the felicitous
language of the commanding General
Henry A. Wise This remote and in
sular point of land lying behind Bodg's
Island, the sand bar that shuts off upper
North Carolina from the Atlantic ocean,
offers some of the most interesting SOU
venirs of early American history. As
stated by General Wise, to whom its
defence primarily was entrusted, II wtls
the key to all the rear defenses of Nor
folk. 1t unlocked two sounds, eight
rivers, four canals and two railroads 1t
guarded more than four-fifths of the
supplies of tide-water Virginia. It's
seizure endangered the subsistence 0:
the Confederate government and inter-
rupted communication between Norfolk
and Richmond. 1t was impossible with
all the resources, of the engineering
department of the army to place these
defences in any posture of safety. Re
monstrances by the commanding officer,
Colonel Show, to the Confederate au-
th0rities were at all times unavailing.
Mr.. Benjamin, then Secretary of War,
appeared absolutely Indifferent to the
fate of men who Were exposed to the
imminence of assault and utterly power
less to resist with any show Of sue
cess. If we contrast the great dis
parity in numbers the wonder is how
there could have been any armey resis-
tance whatever. The feet under Com
modore Goldsborough consisting of fifty
steam gunboats, forty-seven transports,
carrying the army of invasion of 11,500
well disciplined troops, came to anchor
within easy range of Fort Barton with
small calibre guns, the only available
fortifcation either for purposes of attack
or defence. Opposed to this terrible
armament were ,434 men, pa of
whom were in the batteries. Out of
this number eighty-one were killed,
against two hundred and sixty-four Fed
erals killed. Despite the gallantry, the
heroism of Colonel Shaw exhibited i'll
every maneouvre, the authorities i'll
Richmond We're nnsparing in their CEN
sure; the president going to the extent
of animadyerting upon the conduct of
Colonel Shaw in some message to Con-
gress. Small wonder that there should
come a retribution in history; that the
archer should feel the smart of his own
arrows. The courage of Ney, the inn
Gassiveness Of Massena and the tactical
ability of Soult could all combined not
have changed the result. Colonel Shaw
with super-sensative nature never for
gave the wrong. Wonderfully endowed as
he was, he would not have ''fattered
Jove for his power to thunder, nor Nep-
tune for the gift of his trident. tie
carried always the sting of tne injustice
that ranked with an added fierceness,