The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-05-30

NORTH CAROLINA DURING THE ADMIN
ISTRATION OF GOV. TRYON.
BY LILLIAN DEAN.

The course OF England towards North
Carolina was always cruel disregarding
her complaints and adding injuries to in
suits. She was driven into the wilder
ness. there to perish from neglect. 1t Is
not strange then that her sons were ever
ready to take up arms against every form
Of oppression.
The people Of North Carolina had be-
come numerous and were attracting at
tention, when on the Bird OF April, 1865,
in the town of Wilmington, William
TryOn was made Governor OF the State.
Governor TryOn was soldier by pro-
fessiOn Yet with the character OF q sol
der he mingled that OF politician. tie
knew when to tiatter and when to use
such cruelty as obtained for him the
bloody title OF the Great Wolf of North
Carolina" For six years he ruled the
State with the rod OF n tyrant. He
entered upon his duties at q stormy
period. The cloud" which was then
mot larger than a mans hand, soon
spread over the whole nation, and when
it burst it dissolved the Colonies from all
allegiance to the British crown
1t was in the second month OF TryOn S
administration that the first troubles
began The British Parliament had re-
solved to tax the paper and other
articles used in the Colonies. This act
produced a violent excitement through
out the whole country, and in none more
than in North Carolina. Governor IryOn
knew that the storm ragged, and cOura-
geous as he was. he dreaded its fury. He
| mingled freely with the people, preparing
dinners and feasts, but they were not to
be bribed.
Early in the year 1865, the Diligence
arrived in the Cape Fear River with
stamp paper for the use of the Colony
Colonel John Ashe, of New Hanover, and
Colonel Waddel, OF Brunswick, marched
at the head Of the brave sons OF these
counties to Brunswick, before which the
Diligence was anchored terrified the cap
tain. SO that no attempt was made to
| land the paper. They seized the boat,
hOisted the paper on a cart, and marched
| in triumph to Wilmington. The whole
town Joined in a splendid illumination at
night, and the next day these patriotic
citizens went to the Governor S house and
| demanded OF Governor Tryon that he
should not attempt to execute the stamp
act He at first refused but at last had
! to yield to the power of the maddened
people, for they were preparing to burn
| the palace-and with it the Governor and
| theStamp Master When they had taken
q solemn oath that the law would not be
| forced on them, the people quietly dis
persed.
The famous Tea Party of Boston. when
| a number of citizens, disguised as Indians,
| went on board of ship in the harbOr
| and threw overheard the tea imported in
| her, has been celebrated by every writer
| OF our National history. but this act OF
| the sons of the Old North State, not com
| mitted on the harmless crew; not done
| under any disguise; but on the Governor
himself, and in open day, by men OF well
| known reputation. this was more daring
in its action and more important in its
results, and yet it is hardly known.
| After the Governor had yielded to the
| people concerning the stamp act, they,
| when the Assembly met, gave a liberal
| sum towards building a home for him
| which was suitable to a prince OF the
| royal blood. But the building of a palace
| was favorite object with the Governor
| and when he found that they had not
| given him as much as he desired he in.
| creased the taxes upon the people already
| impatient OF oppression. This cruelty
| reused the free spirits Of several of the
| counties to demand redress and reform
In 116S. the people met and formed an
l
| tors. They resolved ''to pay only such
taxes as We're agreeable to law, and to
! pay no officer more than his legal fees :
| These men were the first that brea thed
the true spirit OF liberty. yet, by the
| early historians. they are called insur-
| gents. And even Herman Husbands, the
| head OF the Regulators, has been de-
| nOunced as a turbulent and seditiOus
| character. But time has proved that
| the spirit of liberty which animated Hus-
| bands, was the true spirit which at
| length freed our nation from foreign Op-
preston.
Each year the Regulators continued to
meet and add new members to their mum
| Der, and in 1910, when the expressions
| and extOrtions of the officers were great
| ly increased, the spirit OF the people was
so reused that mo civil process could be
| executed among the people in that cOun-
| ty.' Several lawyers and Edmund Fan
| ming, one of the favOrites of Governor
| Tryon, We're dragged out Of the court
| house and severely beaten. Then the
| Legislature passed an act preventing any
| number OF persons above ten assembling
for the disturbance of the peace.
| In March the Governor raised large
| force of men to go into the settlement OF
| liic 1AcS anu tllell ny lOTce.
| They met on the banks of the AIamance
| For two hours they fought bravely, then
| the Regulars fled, leaving twenty dead
| and several wounded. Thus ended the
| battle of Aamance. And here the first
| blood was spilled i'll the United States
| in resistance to eXactiOns of English
rulers, and expressions 10y the English
| government.
| The Great Wolf of North Carolina
showed his blood-thirsty temper by acts
| of revenge, cruelty and barbarity For
on the next day he hung several of the
| leaders of the Regulators without trial
After this battle Tryon was appointed
| Governor of New York
| Truly it has been said that "men will
not be fully able to understand North Car
DINA till they have opened the treasures
| OF history and become familiar with the
dolngs of her sons during the Revolution
and the succeeding years of prosperity. "
| Then will North Carolina be respected as
| she is known.
| The names OF those who We're in these
trying scenes are still preserved in North
| Carolina by their descendants And
should an opportunity occur, and the
country call for their services they too
| will be ready to make the same sacrifices
for the happiness. welfare and honor OF
| North Carolina.
ShudderS at His Past.
| 81 recall now with horror - Savs N,;I