The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-17

torical Monographs" are a series of pub
locations issued from the University Pres
at Chapel Hill. 1t is one of the mos
valuable works ever done in the State fol
preserving and calculating the history Of
North Carolina. They take their name,
from their founder. Mr.. James Sprunt, oil
Wilmington, through whose generosity
and patriotism the work is made possible
Mr.. Sprunt has always manifested an &c
tive interest and pardonable pride in the
history of North Carolina, and like al!
others who love their State and honor
her, has deplored her misfortune in rot
having that history properly recorded.
Even the heavy cares of large business
have not been so pressing, but that he
has found time to contribute from his owe
forcible pen valuable sketches of important
and interesting historical events. Not
content with this, he has through the
publication of these monographs enabled
the University to preserve in permanent
form much valuable material which would
otherwise 500 nbe lost. The State owes a
debt of gratitude to Mr.. Sprunt for his
loyalty and liberality.
Three issues Of this publication, under
the direction of DR.. Kemp P. Battle, have
been given to the public. If these may be
is to be, we have good right to feelthank-
: full for their publication. The titles of
these three numbers are as follows: per
sonnet of the Convention of 1861" by ].
G. Mccormick and Legislation of the
Convention of 1851" by Kemp P. Battle,
form No. l. Congressional Career of
Nathaniel Macon" by E. NJ Wilson,
with letters of Macon and W. p Mangum
annotated by Kemp p. Battle No. 2, and
Letters of Macon, Steele and Grave"
annotated by Dr. Battle, No. 9 1t is the
object of the writer to give a brief re-
view of these three publications, this pa
FER dealing with No. /.
The first of the series, Personnel of the
Convention of 1861" was prepared by Mr..
John Gilchrist Mccormick, at the time
a student at the University; now promi-
nent attorney of Maxton. 1t is a handy
volume of IA pages. containing short
biographical sketch of each of the dele
gates and officers of the Secession Con-
vention. Every line in the publication is
a valuable contribution to North Carolina
history. Many OF the sketches were con
tributed by those who are most familiar
with the life of the subject of the sketch
and edited by Mr.. Mccormick. while he
himself was the author of a large number
of them. Among those who contributed
sketches may be mentioned the following:
q list which serves to show the value of
the work: DR.. Kemp p. Battle, himself
a leading delegate to the convention; Mr.
James Sprunt, Mr.. d. Matt Thompson, Mr..
John w. Graham, Judge Francis D. Win
ston, Hon. Thomas S. Kenan, and many
other well known writer's and public men.
study of these sketches is most val
liable and interesting. There we've includ-
ing those filing vacancies in all LA dele
gates to the Convention, representing as
many as eleven different callings in life
OF these the legal profession. as usual,
was in the lead, contributing nearly half
OF the delegates so being lawyers, while
many others had studied law, but did
not follow the practice. Evidence of the
fact that the convention represented 10
agricultural people is found in the fact
that one-fourth of the delegates-36-
were farmers. The doctors were not far
behind, being represented by 20 of their
profession. There were 10 merchants,
preachers of~the gospel; and one each
of the following: Manufacturers, black
smith, contractor and builder, teacher.
politician; two whom we must name
by the comprehensive term, business
men, so varied were their interests, and
whose professions are not recorded. A
large proportion of the delegates original
ly were opposed to secession. OF these
forty changed their views, a large ma
jority of this number because OF Lincoln's
Proclamation.
The leader of those who were opposed
to secession. because they did not think
it constitutional, was Senator Badger. He
formulated his opinions in an ordinance
based on the right of revolution, similar
to the Declaration of Independence, which
he introduced Immediately after the or
ganiZation of the convention. The ordiu-
ance was rejected by vote of seventy
two to forty. 1t was then followed by
the ordinance of secession drawn by Hon.
Burton Craige, basing the right of with
drawal from the Union upon the Consti-
tuition. This was adopted unanimously
1t is interesting to note that u of the
delegates enlisted in the Confederate army
and became officers, some of them being
of high rank. OF these Col. Roberto. Arm
field was wounded; Col. Robert H. Cowan
was wounded and died eventually from
the wound; Micojah Durham was killed in
the battle of the Wilderness Capt. ]. A.
Graves was captured at Gettysburg and
dled IN prison; Lieut.. Ie0nldaS j. MERRITT
was killed at Malvern Hill, and Col. Hen
ny M. Shaw was killed in battle near New
Bern. The most distinguished soldier
furnished by the convention was Major
General Bryan Grimes, of Pitt county.
A great many of the states ablest sons
were members of this convention. With
out any disparagement to the others, the
following may be mentioned: Chief Jus
tice Thomas Ruffn, Hon. John Manning
Hon. George Howard. Hon. A. w. Venable,
Judge r. p. Dick Hon. j. A. Gilmer, Judge
w. M. Shipp, Judge Asa Biggs, Judge d,
A. Barnes, Judge C. r. Thomas, Judge
David Schenck, Hon, Robert Strange,
Governor w. W. Holden, Hon. w. A. Ora
ham, Gen. Bryan Grimes, Gov. David s.
Reid, Hon. Burton Craige, Senator Geo.
E. Badger. Hon. Weldon N. Edwards and
Senator Bedford Brown. Others might>be
mentioned but this list will serve to show
the character of the convention. The fol-
lowing sentence quoted from DR.. Battles
Legislation of the convention of 1861
is striking when read after this list of
talented leaders: "In truth there were
too many great men, too many accustom-
ed to be leaders, in the body for utmost