The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-24
mands upon his time, fills me with
amazement even now.


What he did for the relief and COM
fort OF our people and the soldiers from
the state viii appear from the follow
ing figures derived from the state
quartermaster's department BY the
use OF blockade running steamers, no.
tably the Advance Called for him by
play upon his name); running to
Nassau and thence TO Liverpool, and
carrying out cotton and rosin and
bringing in supplies most needed. he
provided besides a quantity of heavy
machinery, 10000 pairs of hand lcotton)
cards, 10000 scythes. 200 pounds Of blue
stone for wheat growers, 250, 200 pairs
OF shoes and leather to make others,
$4,000 blue blankets, gray cloth 10
make 100000 suits of uniform. 1900
overcoats, 1000 Enfield rifles with 100
rounds of ammunition for each, 100
600 pounds of bacon, 500 casks of cof-
fee for hospital use. $4,000 worth Qn
gold) of medicines, ETC., etc. The
shoes and clothing were not only suffi-
cient for the North Carolina troops.
but he turned over a large quantity
to the confederate troops from other
states.
But more than for these material
benefits. provided for the people OF
North Carolina, their great debt TO him
was the maintenance Of the civil au-
thority and the supremacy or law amid
the clash of arms, his protection or the
humblest citizen against illegal arrest.
Alone, of all the states of the United
States and of the confederate states,
with one possible exception, in North
Carolina, during those four dark years
Of war, the writ OF habeas corpus was
never suspended.
In 1854 Governor Vance was again a
candidate and elected governor, ms
opponent being Mr.. VINO was
unde stood 20 favor peace on almost
M terms. -
Before Governor Vance thought 1t
proper to enter the political arena
again, a temptation Vas offered niii'
which would have proved lrreslstipie
to one less incorruptible than ne. A
man of acknowledged influence in the
new republican party in the state, and
whom Governor Vance we'll knew as
a blunt, outspoken man, and who had
been his friend. visited Charlotte and
sought a private interview with him.
He informed Vance that he was there
| to offer him the leadership of the re-
publican party in North Carolina as one
| who could direct public sentiment. y on
| are DOOR" he said, land We will see
| that you have plenty of money. You
| are under political disabilities, and we
/ will have them at once removed. You
| are ambitious, and We will see that
| you take a seat now vacant in the
| United States senate. You can per-
suade your friends it is better for you
| and them to have the control than tc
! leave it to such men as we now have
mo" said Vance, with emphasis. y
i am not ready to sell out yet We'll
4 good-bye," said the telnpter, Il al
i ways knew you were damned fool
! and left.
1
In 1876 the conservative democratic
people of the state looked for somebody
to lead them to victory. The eyes OF
the masses turned toward Vance a:
their leader in the struggle.
|
The people demanded Vance, ant
nobody else The names of other good
men were before the convention; but a
the end of the first and only roll call
962 out of 966 votes were announced To-
Vance That night he made a speecl
to a large crowd in front OF the Ma
tional hotel, now the Agriculture
building, accepting the nomination. 1
was very earnest. and more seriou
than his speeches were wont to be
and impressed his hearers with tn
gravity of the work before him an
them: He seldom said anything tina
speeches or conversation: but then al
luding to tfr> corruption of tie time
and the temptations to which he an
; others had been subjected during tn
war and since to save or make some
thing out Of the wreck. he raised hi
hands above his head and solemnl
; said: Before high heaven thes
made that one dishonest dollar ha
ever soiled these hands, The effec
was electric; and evey man there fel
ready to stake his life on the truth G
his words, and those words rang wit
? conviction to all, throughout the lengt
and breadth Of the state.
Elected to the senate about the las
, of November, 1873 and in Januar!
1856, and January, 1891. he served hi
state and country in that great f1el
of labor from the day he was Swor
in, March, 1879. until stricken dow
by disease a short time before nj
death, in April, 1894. How he serves
how he labored. how he bore himse
in the hard-fought battles Of those fl
teen years, against open enemy or ir
sidious foe. how vigilant he was to PR
tect the liberties Of the people and d.
tect the liberties of the peoIe and IL
fend the fair name of his own consti
uents and their brethren of the soutl
how by inceSSant toll, day and nigh
| WHICH, COSL MIN CIlc lOSS Ol one eye dIl
then shortened his days. he mastere
. the great questions of the tariff an
finance and became the recognized leaC
.. er Of the party on these questions; no
|, he used the battle axe of logic and tt
.. scimitar Of irony and wit, with equ;
ease, as exigency demanded, how b
courage, candor and sincerity, in a
he said and did on the floor and in tt
committee rooms. he commanded th
respect and confidence Of all hone:
, adversaries. and undoubting suppol
of his followers; how by kindly.
, bluff, courtesy and merry jest, in lobb
and cloak room. he overcame the PR
judice of northern senators and mad
. personal friends Of political opponent
now he enlivened the dullest debate
by unexpected sallies. neat epigran
! witty illustrations; how his argument
were so interesting that the seats WEI
, better filled when he spoke, than whe
. others had the floor. and how crowde
! galleries hung upon bis words: ho
his weight and influence in the cour
| cilS OF his party, in the house as we
| as the senate, Were ever growing; no
his solemn words as he spoke for th