The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-08-01
THE DECADE BETWEEN 1030-104O.
BY OLIVE PEARLE HARRIS.

II anderson Graded school May III, ISNi.J
There were many changes in the
affairs of North Carolina during this
period which have had helpful in
Huence upon the State, both CONNER
cially and politically. During this
period was made one Of the greatest
improvements that has yet been made
in North Carolina history.
There had been for several years
great desire for the building of rail
roads in the State. An iron track had
been used previously for hauling
stone for the new capitol building.
In the General Assembly Of 1882 an
act was passed authorizing the extern
sion of a railway from Portsmouth,
Va. to the Roanoke River. Only a
small portion of this lay in North
Carolina. but it was the beginning OF
our intercourse with the outside
world by means of railroads, and was
therefore very important. This was
great Improvement on the old svs-
TEN of travel.
In June, 1881, great loss came to
the North Carolinians. The capitol
was burned to ashes. The fire was
said to have been caused by the care
lessness of mechanic, who was en-
gagged in repairing the roof. The
people did not value the building so
much as they did the celebrated
statue of Washington, by Canova.
1t was a noble figure in Roman armor
which was said to have been the great
est work of that great artist.
The General Assembly met in the
Governors palace until the new capt.
| toll was erected. The Legislature OF
that year elected David l.. Swain, OF
| Buncombe county, former Judge OF
the Superior Court. Governor Of North
patriotism and warm devotion % his
| State No man has ever better known
or more sincerely loved North Caro-
lima than ID. l.. Swain.
North Carolina in that year fur
nished two great men to Alabama
Israel Pickens had become Governor
of Alabama and William K. King, OF
Sampson county, had become lead
ing member Of the United States Sen
ate from that State.
The next year there were continue
political storms, and party strife was
so great that civil war seemed near
In 1888 there was a great railroad
convention. The year 1882 was made
famous by the beginning of the frs
railroad in North Carolina. The con
vention of 1883 was the greatest worl
| - !. hng ol n,
anywhere in the world A RAILROAD
from Wilmington was inaugurated by
the exertion OF the citizens Of vii
| minyton. There were q few nobl,
men who pledged their whole fortune:
for its support, and obtained cit,
subscription Of 100000 when all TIT
city property was scarcely worth tha
amount. A branch of this railroad
also chartered in 1888, was called tn
Greenville & Roanoke Railroad,
The relation of the two races, tn
one to the other, in 1884 was a mos
undesirable one, and produced I'm
fortunate consequences. 4 slave, b.
his influence as preacher. became
terrible enemy and slaughtered fifty
five white men, women and children
During this year the struggle for tn
amending OF the Constitution cam
to Il close and a committee was calle'
to make the suitable changes on tn
following year.
The convention called for amendin
the Constitution met in June, 1885
Nathaniel Macon, the member fror
Warren, was elected president of tina
body. Up to this time no parlia
mentary body in the history of tn
State had been assembled with 5
many distinguished North Carolin
ians. They were all fluent speaker
and some notable orators. Williar
CASTOR, of Craven, was said to be tn
best speaker of the convention. Gov
Spaight opposed him. One of tn
first changes in the Constitution wa
the abolition of borough member
from the House of Commons. Pre-
viously the towns of New Berne, Wi
mington, Edenton, Salisbury, Hills
boro and Halifax were each entitle
to a Representative in the House c
Commons. But this conventio
changed this section saying that eac
county paying One-fiftieth Of the Stat
tax should be entitled to one Senator
and the members of the House {
Commons were based upon populs
ton.
The next alteration in the Constitr
ton was to prevent the free negroe
: from voting. They had no right, b
law, to vote, but had by degree
, acquired this privilege. Judge Ga:
ton, Charles Fisher and others. trie
, in vain to remind the people that tn
negroes were subject to taxation anC
therefore, ought to have a right t
vote.
Under the Halifax Constitutio
there was a section requiring ever
one to believe in the Protestant fai.
in order to hold any office under tn
government Of North Carolina. Thi
was changed so that any one VIII
"bclieved in God and did not hold an
, religious principle incompatible wit
= the safety and freedom of the State
could hold office under the cover,
ment.
F., Also, this convention amended tt
Constitution by allowing the poop
to vote for the Governor, instead
only the General Assembly. .,
The new Constitution was voted O
r by the people and passed by a maio
ity of 6.165.
IN 1886 the people were still cage
for more railroads. The Raleigh
Castor Railroad had been chartere
: in 1885, and the people planned fC
4 more, but they were not able to SUI
! port them out of their own small 70
. tunes The State only aided two an
1 these two were now ready for tran
. portatior.
In 1888 the school districts wei
formed and were supported by tt
taxes on liquors. taverns. and tt
sale of vacant lands and swamp land