The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-23

/ upon Inp recommendation OIL 1feSlue0(
| Buchanan, had urged the passage Of
| bill appropriating $100,0O0,000 for the
purchase of Cuba; and Mr.. Vance, in his
reply, contrasted with that contemplated
expenditure, in Il purchase of worse than
doubtful WISDOM the poor pi6tance he
had voted the surviving heroes of 1872.
He proceeded to paint, in vivid colors,
the cid soldiers. battered and SCARED,
some with one eye, some with one arm,
and still others Stumping along on
wooden legs, presenting their petitions
for pensions to keep them and their
helpless families from suffering. The
sympathy of his hearers was so aroused
that many of them were in tears. 1t
was ever one of his elements of ability
and skill in debate, to thus turn the
charges of his adversarieS to their con-
fusion and dismay. Coleman was gen
tleman of reserved and sensitive nature,
us well as of dignifed bearing, and
Smarting under defeat after the election
he called Mr.. Vance to account for of
fensiFe words during one of their de-
bates. and demanded an apology The
demand was not complied with. chal-
lenge from Coleman was the next step,
and it was promptly accepted. Both
parties proceeded to prepare for an early
meeting but Dr. James L. e. Hardy,
of blessed memory, chivalrous gentle
man, and "a friend of both, getting wind
of the hostile meeting, found way to
prevent it, and bring about Il reconcilia-
tion Vance never attempted to defend
his acceptance of the challenge, except
upon the ground of public sentiment.
then existing in his district, which de-
manded such evidence of physical cour-
age from Il man in public life-the same
sentiment that. in 1924, caused his uncle
DIR. Robert Vance, late a member of
Hon. Samuel +. Carson, and, in 1904, inn
PEELED Alexander Hamilton, the states
man he had been taught most to revere.
to accept Il challenge and die at the hand
OF Aaron Burr. Thanks be to heaven
that we have lived to see the day when
no such sentiment exists Ill any part of
our State!
That Vance faithfully performed his
duty in the House, and in its committees.
and established Il reputation for ability
as we'll as wit, and was recognized as one
of the leading champions of the Union
from the South, | have but to refer to
the eulogies of him delivered i'll the
United States Senate, after his death, by
those able and venerable Republican
Senators, Lot NJ. Morrill, of Vermont,
and John Sherman of Ohio who stood
with him as champions of the. Union i'll
the Thirty-ffth and Thirty-siXth Con
crosses. Mr.. Sherman says of his debut
in Congress, He did not rush into the
arena of debate, but his personal and
social qualities, and especially his wit
ana HuIllOI were wen klOWu anu
him many friends. After Il month or two
he was drawn into Il brief casual lebate.
and was at once recognized as young
man of marked ability. Later, in the
same session. he made one speech de-
timing his opinion ON the leading q,ies-
tiOns of the day. From this time his
ability as Il debatcr was conceded" He
was then but twenty eight years of age,
and the Youngest member of Congress:
and the tact and modesty he learGd..
four years before, in .Qlft State letsL$1a; a;.S
ture,. still characterized him. Then, Gtslti!!ss
whenst6,i Keep 5siBTt@ I gBesidesS ies V
hehtook inh Con 9eessx ,dinI his sS
OF 1858 s;lrd 1892 IL LIS well llstO a
1.-THE impression he mad irs] sfs
svices,he Iehfleretl on twD OF ,4t
| IN; the sui1mers 1fs 800 i l:i5slf X,
North CAROLINA, WAS hand in M 9s
Bellaatd Everett tsl;sd rxaseiitf gs Ss
fnatetIi a * stAcf CbnstitufaIf$ "
ElidateS for IteSitfent kaidf 4 N Me- M Ei
qnds that lHjt$sAn6etngf Wa 44a M sS1 NV
sure the electoral vdte4ofs bis ~ ssS
Moreheadg II William .tX. g$EI am ! Sglk M
Rstyner, AffEed DockefE,l and lot II4T
le;ltlers weiA5there, yiMefnding tiip M
champion from the .hl0untainSsS ;Eittl ifHe "a,
gjftitns fronlsalEpartS.6f of the State. INA &
thFong was iflnlaAs&: and paitIiQk ISM sB
elstnHslaSlh sei lltaI "A
ststlr ,erec te4ls f@rS theE oppose ~
speeches WeteS made lNs thes We N
torSsahd whenSf the fyIRSN ;wat Wv q q
the cl0WdStifed OF ffStandliI y ,;fih hs eSS
with shouting, Natlras SS;ls cal SDlSf llS&;
youthful face hisSE EHdQD,c cpMnteisa flEse 9
twinkling eye, and his faEiiI
ut once attracted THE croNtl, atld s;tl kssISS
listened to his clear statement s;0fs ist
| ing conditions, his apt ililstiatitAiS, n
| amusing stories and his imp;IsSipBpIiS
appeals, or held up to their gaze dafltf
| pictures of horrors to follow secession
| and disunion all became subject to his
magnetism; their weaIiness and hoalse-
ness were forgotten, and when he closed
! the streets of the town and the hills
around long reverberated with their en-
| thusiastic shouts. That night flaming
tar-barrels, and lighted torches in the
hands of excited citizens and visitors, in
procession, Illuminated the streets, and
the popular speaker of the afternoon was
again in requisition; and ut different
street corners he was forced to speak.
again and again, to admiring hearers, of
| both sexes and all ages. Referring to
the remarkable impression he made as
popular speaker that day and night, Mr..
Badger, in reply to complaint from a
| friend to his own great speech, said
But you ought to have heard young
| Vance. He is the greatest stump-speak-
| er that ever was: the greatest that ever
was;" repating with emphasis. The other
occasion was in December, 1860, when
he stopped in this city during the recess
OF Congress for the Christmas holidays.
South Carolina had then called a conveh-
ton for the purpose of seceding from
the Union. Two of her congressman,
Doyce and Keitt had stopped in Raleigh
at the same time. Our Legislature was
i'll session, and ut the instance of few
of its ultra Democratic members and
their sympathizers, they made secession
speeches. in front of the Marlborough
House to people called together to hear
them. The prevailing sentiment in Raj
cigh was then intensely Union, and the
Indignation of many was aroused to a
high pitch. Threats of violence were
being muttered from citizen to citizen.
and there was danger of riot and of
insult. or worse. to the indiscreet visi-
tors. Sion III. Rogers, our gallant Con-
gressman, always vigilant, perceived
this and at once had the courthouse
lighted and the bell rung; and a meeting
TO listen to Union speeches announced.
EIe got Vance to go with him. and the
latter, fully appreciating the condition,
made to the excited crowd which follow