The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-14
Bill Arlp's Letter.

life to bear testimony to their worth
and to suggest to our countrymen, that
1T would be a gracious and patriotic act
to erect monuments to them on the spot
where their lot was cast and among the
descendants of those with whom they
lived and labored. Their fame is i'm
mortal.
Edenton was the ancient metropolis
of the Albemarle district, formerly its
social business and historic center and
its sons and daughters in every part of
its history have shed a halo of dis
tinction around its honored name. We
recall three names and one event that
out OF a number of others, should have
monuments erected to their memories
on the public green" in front of the
venerable courthouse looking out upon
its historic bay.
The event that deserves a commemora-
tive monument, was the meeting of the
patriotic daughters of the revolution
who met in Edenton in the year 1774,
and passed resolutions denouncing the
tax on tea by the British Parliament,
and boy-cotting its use among them
while the tax existed. 1t was a defiant
act of the colonial danes of Edenton
which has given their town an imper-
ishable and world wide renown and which
calls for a monument that should first
greet the eyes of the mariner as he
comes into the bay.
The three names that stand out most
conspicuous in Edenton's proud history,
are perhaps, Justice James Iredell, the
Attorney General of North Carolina in
the heroic times of the revolutionary
struggle, an Associate Justice of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, by ap-
pointment of Washington. A jurist Of
great ability, gentleman of elegant
culture. a citizen of Roman virtue. His
descendants are in South Carolina, Cali
fornia and Raleigh, N. c., and would
doubtless aid in the election of monu-
ment to his memory in the historic town
in which he lived and died.
In civic distinction Edenton gave a
signer to the Declaration of Independ-
ence, and Joseph Hewes gave of his am
pie fortune, acquired in successful mer-
camille pursuits, willingly to the patriotic
cause. He died childless, but Edenton
was the object of his love and bounty
and his nome should be commemorated
On the public square.
history Edentons soma clsm their share
n the national renown. David Manning,
If the distinguished Manning family of
Edenton, and Charles Hoskins, of Penn
broke, near Edenton, boys and pupils in
he old Edenton academy in the palmy
lays of its history. They were both
graduates of West Point. recommended
or appointment by Hon. VIM. B. Shepard,
hen our Representative in Congress.
'Kaggy'' Manning, as we lovingly called
him at school, was a genius and the soul
If iolity. Charlie was as bright as
lew gold dollar, a master of ridicule and
eaze, and full of fight and fun. Hoskins'
)assion for humor was a trait that ran
through his life. Gen. Longstreet, of
Confederate fame, in his recent autobio-
sraphy in referring to Gen. Grant, speaks
If his being stationed with him at Fort
jefferson after the graduation at West
Point. In a brief paragraph referring to
Irant's engagement to Miss Dent, while
t Fort Jefferson, he mentions that Lieut..
Ioskins. who was a great tease, would
20 up to Miss Dent at some of the COM
any's balls, and with apparent earnest
less ask her if she could tell him "where
lie could find little lieutenant with big
,ppaulettes on his shoulders, named
irant."
David Manning was a victim of the
)ade Indian Massacre in Florida in 1885
nd Charlest Hoskins was killed in the
dexican war, leading a charge at Mon
Grey. Both of them left to us a legacy
# heroism, that deserves perpetuation
n the public square of Edenton. Man
issippi and North Carolina. Hoskins'
elatives are in Mississippi If necessary
hey would surely aid in the erection of
memorial monuments to them.
Coming from Edenton to the historic
own or HEREFORD, it has the pre-eminent
lonor of being the county seat of the
lome of the great Ajax of the Revolu
ion in North Carolina-the patriotic,
eroic lion hearted John Harvey, of
'erquimans county. Let his monument
Use on court house square till it "geet
he sun in his coming" till every boy of
.oble instincts in the grand old county
an become imbued with the great les
sons of his great life..
Coming to Elizabeth City, we would
have placed in our court house lawn
monuments to John Lancaster Bailey,
William B. Shepard. Charles R. Kinney
and DR.. Samuel Matthews. All eminent
in the varied fields of usefulness, lead
ers of public thought, looming up in
the broad plane of distinguished citizen
ship.
Passing to Shawboro, in Currituck
county, there should be erected there a
monument to Henry NJ Shaw--hero.
patriot, statesman, he gave his life SER
vice to his district and his State. and
in death sank into arms of his loving
comrades in the military service of his
home and his people. The lesson of his
life should not be left to the custody of
leeting tradition