The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-07-21

f.. Watson, which he designs as
---, part OF Il comprehensive History
.n. United States. IN the last issue,
watson deVotes chapter five to
xt.I. Of the Regulators in North Caro-
.-3 bv Herman Husbands. SO much
ls-q written In North Carolina about
.l.- .4rIy struggle, and the opinions Of
>....a Carolina writers are so conflicting,
s.t ,se view taken OF 1T by an impartial
....a.t ot history like Mr.. Watson will
.. deep interest for North Carolinians.
~. therefore publish it III full as follows:
vH. -prit. Of a~ntagonlsm which was
.....rg between royal officers and the
+..... of the colonies led TO a blood crisis
~ north Carolina. On the one side was
.t.. rl|ug class which seemed disposed to
... The most OF the opportunity to plum
a.r the taX-payers; on the other We're the
u..-4. who were disposed to resist the
...9 wrongs with the same courage which
f.t been shown IN opposition to the stamp
The Governor OF North Carolina at
tHs time was Tryon, a bold, able. I'M
.~.rupuious man. He was at this time
-autuderiug seventy odd thousand dollars
r building for himself a splendid palace,
and taxes We're increased to meet the
heavy drains. Like master, like man; the
shirt Of eXtortion beginning with the
Governor ran along down the line to the
lowest bailif. Promises of redress of griev-
noes had been made but had not been
kept. Things were gong from bad to
worse. The Disconnected held meetings to
INQUIRE whether the freemen OF the coun-
tIy laLored under an abuse of power, and,
SD what measures should be taken"
The regulators sprang into existence.
This was the first organized resistance to
British tyranny since Bacon's glorious re
belhon i'll Virginia. These freemen of
North Carolina adopted resolutions to pay
only such taxes as were agreeable to law
and applied to the purposes therein named,
and TO pay no officer more than his legal
fees.
The North Carolina patriots were led by
Herman Husbands, a large land owner of
Quaker ancestry, related to Benjaman
Franklin. There was no blemish upon his
character. and his motives at this crisis
We're pIecisesly the same as those which
inspired Patrick Henry and Samuel
Adams. His pen wrote the resolutions al
ready mentioned, resolutions which no just
g~overnment would have condemned.
Governor Tryon put Husbands under ar
rest. and dragged him off to Hillsborough
The people rose to his rescue and set hin
free. The royal officers collected a body
Of troopers, rode so miles after Husbands
>ejzed him and flung him into Jail. The
regulators ran to arm MAY, 1869, bu1
Husbands had been released on bond. II
May u, 1868, the regulators held a genera
meeting. and appointed two of their mum
Der to present an address, their appeal TO
Justice to the Governor. The paper wa
laid before the council, which decided tina
the alleged abuses did not excuse the con
duct OF the regulatOrs-which conduct i
persisted in would amount to high trea
son.
In the meantime the Gvernor was will
ing to publish a proclamation admonish
ing all royal officers to be good. TIL
burning hearts of patriots were soothe
by the further assurance that the attOrne.
general would prosecute every one OF HI
brother officers who had done anything
wrong, These soft answers failed to tur
away the wrath of our ancestors. The
had heard such talk before, and knew it
value. The regulators continued to a:
-emble, TO enlist their men and to tran
them To- use Of arms; and the GoVernC
raised a large body of troops. He ordere
The regulators to dispense, and deman
hostages for the appearance OF HUSBAND
to stand trial for riot. The hostages WEI
refused, but the Governor was told tina
d he would summon a new assembly, pa
don past disturbances, and allow the dis
affected 10 come peaceably and lay the
grievances before him and the new Il
yembIy, they would disband and wCul
pay their taxes.
Husbands stood his trial and was a
quilted. Other regulators were less 70
'unate, they were convicted. imprlsone
and made to pay fines of $3.50 each.
The worst offender anon the royal OF
GERS. Colonel Edmund flaming, W;
tIlet at the same term OF court on 81
distinct indictments charging BIN wit
eN'ortion. He was found guilty III eao
">e What punishment was lnfllcte
HIon This criminal who was using h
position to rob the poor? HE WA
FINED ONE PENNY IN EACH CASE
Is 1T any wonder the people we
wrought up to madness? Smartlng und'
wrongs which they had tried IN ever
way TO peaceably escape. they lost q
confidence in the royal officers, high Al
.aw, ana determined to do themselv
Iaaf justice which was denied them !
jAf|r. rulers. Courts were broken u
Prisoners rescued. officers defled, vlole1
minds were laid upon the persons OF la
Err-. and some of the kings learned a
'"'neys were dragged from the bar al
*d.g3rIy beaten. Edmund flaming W
h' only assaulted and battered, but b
Rouse demolished.
Why, why were grievances not ]
dressed, abuses abolished? Why shou
3''~e IN authority never pour that KIND
"' ou the trouble waters?
Al the close Of 1870 the general asset
"E met at Newbern. The Governor
'Sniiiccnt palace had just been co
I.'3e4- and he received the members the
n" ami he Immediately demanded the IA
Oh an army to put down the regu
t.r-.
herman Husbands had been elected
.@ assembly,; they expelled HIM. ]
""f written for The Gazette an artl'
""H. dld not please, and this prefer