The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-08-28

known stores lr must cithcf nave mao
Il wonderfully large rcpcrtury. or have
manufactured many Of them for tn, oc-
caSion. have often thought that both
he and Abraham Lincoln, the Only man.
Who III the history Of American o~ratory.
With him in the variety ana
aDtneSS OF the stories and hOmrlN Illus
trations, with which he instructed his
hearers. made their anecdotes 70 haud.
or changed old ones To suit their purpose.
Governor vance WAS accustomed, ON :tc-
CONT Of having Devoted 50 much or his
time to other things than the law. T.
speak lightly to his friends. of his ac-
accomplishments rs Il lawyer: but he WAS
Well grounded III legal principles ana his
sense of justice WAS So strong. AMI n"
WAS 50 quick to apprehend a point suG-
geStcd BY judge or counsel. that his eli
ent : cause seldom suffered from his
want of technical knowledge; and his III
hucnce with the juricS WAS more than
sufficient to make up for any deficiency
in that direction. He took no notes OF
testimony. but he always remembered
what witnesses had said. and his array
Of what was material. and made for his
side. was maStrrful. He commanded the
confidence of court and jury. and Illus
trated his own sincerity and candor ~
misrepreSenting nothing. To b. for. and
with Vance was IL great temptation 10
the average juror. An opponent in some
Of his cases, himself an able ana success
full lawyer. said, after some of NanceS
triumphs. that Il law ought to be passed
by the legislature, denying the last speech
TO Vance before I Mecklenburg jury.
His u~uickncss and knowledge of human
nature made him very skillful in cN-
animation Of witnesses, while BY uneN-
pected repartee, by apt illustration and
nirthful stories, he often upset the de
corlim Of the court and convulSed jurors
and by-standerS. ! give two instances.
rs samples of his variety Of illustration.
In Il case in union court, Il man who from
former official positions in the county
was Frequently 4 witness III l~ltlgated
cases. was reluctant to tell what he
knew that might benefit Nancc'S client.
When Vance came 10 comment on his
testimony. he old the jury that Mr.. \
must have reminded them of what they
often saw in their stablc-yard-an old
COW holding back her milk from the pail
OF tn" mixer. but with open legs letting
1t flow IN copious streams when the calf
time came. Severest denunciation would
not have served the purpose better. The
other is of widely different character.
1t was told lae lay the late Chi"f JUS
tlcp Me:rimon. In February. 1867. as
judge Of the Superior Courts, he held by
assignment of the Governor Il speciaI
term III Chowan comfy, for the trial OF
the caveat Of the will Of James G. John
ston. i wealthy bachelor. who. dying
near the end OF the war, left a paper
writing cutting off relatives who expect
ed 10 be his legateeS, and giving his
estate to those not of his blood. The rel
atiyes attacked the will on the grounL
Of insanity. and ex-Governors Graham
Bragg. and Vance, and ex-Attorney
General Eaton were retained to break ii
While ~" p~roponndcrs had an array o
eqnai legal ability to support il. Eoul
weeks were consumed i'll the trial, ant
intense interest was felt in the result
When Governor Vance arose to make hi,
argument. the court house was filled t.
It's utmost capacity, the most intelligenr
people OF Edenton Of both sexes bcin.
present. lie read i paper. written aftel
the execution Of the Will. al the dicta
tlon OF Mr.. Johnston. in which he SpOk,
81 the Sei1iShncSS and ingratitlde OF PEG
pie. who fawn and flatter one when II
prosperity and turn their backs upon hin
III time of adversely. This" said Gov
ernor vance, is a libel on human IA
ture. | myself am a living contradiction
OF all such statements. The people o.
my district took me M and sent me f.
Congress when but 4 little more than .
boy. and the people Of the State twic,
made me their Governor. and have hon
cred me otherwise far beyond ny
upon them: was deprived Of my offic.
ana sent = prisoner and for what 7 Kneu
TO Z felonS doom ut Washington.
now stand before yon gentlemen. with
our money or place. 4 paroled prisoner
but in all my life | never had 4hn CON
S~cIouSneSS that | had the good will an,
erection Of the people Of North Caro-
today" -.
Judge MeI1fmon, who was m excelIen
nlSl prlts judge, and commanded grc;l
resnect for the administration Of the Iay
~ his court, said he never vii l.S~e
such enthusiasm and excitement as FOL
lowed. Ladies waved their handkeI
chiefs. weeping in sympathy. and me,
and boys ~applauded with voice. hand
and feet: and "Hurrah for Vanc. =
came in spontaneous Outbursts from II
most every throat. The hubbub con
tlnued in repeated rounds Of applause
for ten Of fifteen minutes, the judge an,
sheriff being pOWerleSS 10 suppress il
and the offanse being fully pardonad a
free from amy element On intentional con
tempt Of court.
He was courteous to brethren Of III
bar. and conspicuously fair 70 homes
and thruthful parties and witnesses
though opposed to his client: but h.
denuncIation of fraud, oppression. am
manifest lying or preyaTication was tel
rihle 10 the offender.
While a paro!ed prisoner Of III
United States. he dil not think It prope
to take an active part in politics. but III
advice was often sought and frFel,
given TO the conservative Democrat
leaders in the State. He at once realize
that North Carolina must again becom'
4 parcel Of the United States. and b.
advised his fellow citizens 10 shape thei
conduct as citizens on that basis, to &c
cept the situation as cheerfully as DOS
Sible. and without SllkIng u proceed Z
mend their broken fortunes-juSt as di,
orr great military chieftain and Chris
tain hero. when he became n colleg
president at Lexington, Va, who, by ex