The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-25
HISTORIC HALIFAX--WILLlE JONES'.

| cratic in theory ana yet so paLrlclan IN
his habits and. tastes. When the House
! had adjourned after exciting debate, his
real strength manifested itself. No man
could be so irisinuating and convincing
at the fire-side. Probably Governor Cas-
well never realized how much his views
were colored by the elegant and adroit
| member from Halifax Mr.. Jones was
authority on all matters touching field
sports and lost Miss Cornell and her
large fortune in preference to surrend-
or of his blood horses.
| Mr. Jones was the leader of the ma
iority in the Constitutional Convention
which met in Hillsboro, July 21st 1888,
for "the purpose of celebrating and de-
termining on the proposed Plan of Fed
I eral Government" There is tradition
that before that convention met Mr..
Jefferson wrote an autograph letter to
| Mr. Jones requesting him to use his in
Federal Constitution by North Carolina.
Mr.. Jefferson and those of his way of
| thinking wished amendments guarantee
ing State rights, individual liberty and
other safeguards that would prevent
Capitalization. The tradition is that Mr..
Jones read that letter privately to every
disciple of Jefferson, and converted to OPP
position to ratification others who were
| in doubt. so that he had counted noses
before the Convention was called to or
der and knew that the Federal Constitu-
tion would mot be ratified. Therefore,
| knowing that large majority was with
him. Mr.. Jones wished the question i'm
| mediately put without debate. He said
the Constitution had SO long been the
| subject of the deliberation of every man
/ in this country, and that the members Of
the Convention had had such ample OPP
portunity to consider it, that he believed
| every one of them was prepared to give
his vote then upon the question" Mr..
Iredell spoke at length against voting
without debate and Mr.. Jones in a two
minute speech-about as long a speech as
he generally made in public-withdrew
his motion, saying: IF gentlemen differ
from me in the propriety of this motion
l will submit" There Is wisdom in all
his brief speeches. Replying to Governor
Johnson's suggestion that if North Caro-
lima refused to ratify the Constitution, the
State would be out of the Union, Mr..
Jones said: $50 l wish to be. We are at
liberty to come in at any time" He then
sent this centre shot: at is said that
all the offices of Congress will be filled,
and we shall have no share in appoint
ing the officers. Gentlemen need not be
in such haste. If left eighteen months or
cause of alarm" Imagine the consterna-
tion of those who had been feasting in
| anticipation of the honors of Federal
Offices! l greatly fear that we have no
| Willie Jones now who could carry, even
with the weight of Jefferson's letter, a
proposition that made it impossible for
anybody in the State to get a Federal
| office. Mr. Jones then told Mr.. Jeffer
sons pan-for nine States to ratify the
Constitution mot because it deserved
ratification, but to preserve the Union.
| son, wished that the four other States
would reject it and then there might be
certainty of obtaining amendments"
He detailed how amendments could be
secured and added: For my part,
i would rather be eighteen years out of the
Union than adopt it in it's present de-
fective form"
The vote stood 1874 to "a against ratify-
ing until the Declaration of Rights and
certain amendments were made a part OF
the Constitution. Willie Jones was the
victor, and as long as he lived was the
most popular political leader in the State.
The bulk of the Federalist leaders be-
| lieved in the union of church and State.
The intense hostility which Mr.. Jones
felt for church establishment led him to
imbibe the views of religion which were
sweeping over France and America at
that time. 1t had its origin in hatred OF
religious persecution, but in the case OF
many patriots like Mr. Jones carried
| them to infdelity or something akin to
it. Yesterday by the courtesy of Mr..
Sterling M Gary, the efficient clerk OF
the court, l examined the will of Willie
Jones, dated February 22nd, 1898, on file
here. In his codicil appears his lack OF
faith in future life. l quote:
Il add what follows as second codicil
to this my last will, if l die at Raleigh
my wife will put me in the ground by the
side of the little girl that is buried there
if die at Halifax they must put me by
the side Of the little girl that is buried
in the orchard. No priest or any other
person is to insult my corps by uttering
any impious observations over it, let il
be covered up snug and warm. There is
an end-my family and friends are not ia
! m lyit