The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-22

Some years before Judge Crump, of
Richmond, VINO was then comptroller of
the Confederate government, told me that
he was in Washington. Ga, when he
heard Of the surrender of General Lees
and General Johnston's armies, and that
he started back to Richmond expecting
any moment to be arrested. That when
he reached Charlotte he saw Mr.. Tom
Dewey with whom he had official bust
ness en- route to Georgia. coming to the
train accompanied by a Federal officer
handsomely uniformed. followed by two
orderiies, carrying large hamper baskets.
He was now sure that his time for ar
rest was at hand. To his CONSERVATION
Mr.. Dewey introduced him to this Of
ficer as the "Ex- Comptroller of the Con-
federacy," whereupon the officer drew
something from his pocket, which he eX-
pected was the warrant for his arrest.
Instead it was $500 Confederate bill
which he desired the Comptroller to re-
deem-the Comptroller was infinitely re-
lieved and called his attention to the
clause on the back of the bill-"SiXty
days after the acknowledgement of our
Independence, cts, saying he
would then be very glad to
ernor Vance joined the party, having
been escorted TO the train by a regi-
ment of Federal soldiers who had him
under arrest, and delivered him to this
officer, who opened his lunch basket
and all had q delightful repast, and
Governor Vance was so bright, buoyant
and charming one would never have
imagined that there had been any war,
-hn,.
on picnic or junketing trip, whereas
he was enroute to the gunboat at New
bern to bear him to prison.
That officer was afterwards the pro-
vost marshal at Richmond, and never
made a move without consulting Judge
CrupP, who thus controlled the city for
many months.
The friendship of this officer for Gov
ernor Vance and Judge Crump continued
through life-he became Governor of a
Northern State. And when / told Gov.
Vance Of this conversation with the Judge
he said: Eyes, fortune is a tickle thing.
had the opportunity to befriend that man
when | went to the Senate and did it, as
l did also the man who arrested me, my
,jailer, and my prison surgeon" He was
indeed kind and good to every one-even
to his enemies. so called. AS the best
proof of this, l need only to cite the
following circumstance which he related
Said he, "A few days after my Inaugural
tion as Governor in January 1877. one
night at the Marlboro House. when my
room was filled with distinguish
ed Democratic leaders discuss
ing party policies. there was
a knock at my door; and I said
come in, thinking it was some of the
same set. But to the amazement of all
Of us it was Judge Settle. He sat out
every one. and then asked me to lock
the door. After l had done so. he said
Vance / have come to thank you for the
kind and manly way in which you have
conducted your canvass with me; to say
to YOU that if you have any desire to
make the race for the Senate, there shall
be no boiling Democrat to defeat you by
Republican votes, if Tom Settles influence
can prevent it." He said he told him that
he sincerely appreciated his expressions
and feelings in the matter; but that he
had no disposition to antagonize Senator
Ransom. and would not be a candidate
that time.
Also while we were in Florida together
in 1894, Senator Thomas of Georgia. call
ed to see Senator Vance. and told him
that the Senate had declined to remove
his disabilities and allow him to take his
seat until the day before his term ex-
pired. Senator Vance replied that that
was very bad treatment; but that he had
not been allowed to take his seat at all,
when he was first elected. The good old
man soon followed Senator Vance to the
other shore.
B. CAMERON.
StooviIle N G Aup 900