The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-13

But young Graham did not have lucra
| tive practice. The reason was PLAIN; ne
entered the practice well-equipped. Nat
urally he had a mind if much capacity,
being descended from men of eminence
who had been thoroughly trained TO
think. To this he added the advantage
OF thorough classical training and we'll
disciplined mind, coupled with strong
will and the ability to concentrate and TO
work. The first speech which, gave nm
prominence was one he made n a cele-
brated land case. From this time Tor
ward his practice grew, and was both
large and profitable, except when he was
engaged in the service OF his country.
AS q lawyer he was a close student ana
great reader; not only on subjects pear
ing on his profession, but in general NJ
craturo as well. He was classical
! scholar of varied attachments. In the
practice Of his profession he was the peer
of any man in the State at that time.
He was honest and thoroughly conscien-
tious and would take no advantage either
-of the court or his professional brethren.
He was no sharp practitioner; but car
ried into the practice of the law the
highest ideals of the profession.
| HIS first entrance into public life was
| in 1888, when he was elected to the legis-
| lature from the Borough town of Hills
| borough and reelected in 1884 and again
| In 1885, when representation was taken
| from the Borough towns by the new con
| stitution. He was then elected to repre-
sent the county of Orange in 1886 and
again in 1888 and 1910, when he was made
chairman Of the judiciary committee,
which made recommendations to the
House concerning the Revised Code OF
North Carolina. He was also a mem
Der of the legislature in 1888 and 1910,
being Speaker of the House during both
OF these sessions.
In the year 1871 the legislature elected
him to the Senate to fill out the uneX-
pired term of Senator Strange At the
same time Willie P. Mangum was elected
to the succeeding long term. From this
| time his great career as statesman began.
| He took high stand in the Senate, be-
| ng given the most respectful attention
when ho rose to speak in that body.
When the Senate went into Committee
| OF the whole" he was usually asked to
preside. He was treated with great re
| spect by Mr. Clay, and on numerous &c
casions he spoke of him in terms of
| highest praise. Once he wrote of him es
| "A most superior man, socially and in
| tellectually." He wrote several personal
| letters to Mr. Graham expressing APP
prevail of his course while secretary OF
the navy. Both Mr.. Webster and Mr..
Benton often expressed the same opinion
as to his splendid abilities. Few men re-
ceived such recognition as he did when
they first enter the Senate. He held his
position at a period when there were
many towering intellects in the Senate.
At the expiration of his term on March
| 3rd, 1S43 he returned home and again
entered upon his profession. His practice
az once returned to him, which is not
the good fortune of many men who re-
turn to the practice after being in Con
gress.
In 1914 the Wing party nominated him
| for Governor and he was elected over
his opponent, Col. Mike Hoke. The Raj
eigh Register Of that date says: "The
audience which witnessed the ceremony
at his Inauguration, for everything that
/ could make the occasion imposing, has
never been surpassed within our recollec-
ticn.'' He served during the term with
much satisfaction to the people and was
| thc idol of the popular heart. At The
expiration of his term he was again nom
| rated and elected for another term 1t
8 safe to say that TO North Carolina
| Governor ever served the State with
| greater satisfaction or with more ability
In the year 1919 he was Offered the
mission to Spain, which he declined
| In 1850 he was made secretary of the
navyAunder the administration OF Milard
| fillmore. At this time Mr.. Graham was
| Just in the prime of life, both physically
and mentally. 1t was probably in this
service that he achieved the crowning
success of his life. lie possessed qualifi-
cation for the work He was a great
constitutional lawyer, which enabled him
| to take the proper course in the intricat
and delicate questions with which he Of
ten had to do. His greatest act as sec
Tretary of the navy was TIE opening I'D
| CT Japan to America and to the world
/ The expedition under Commodore NJ c.
Perry was sent out under his direction
This expedition thoroughly explored j.
| paE and established proper trade relations
between that country and our own, which
have never been broken. The report of
| this expedition, which was published by
| order of Congress, embraces a large &C
| tavo volume which is handsomely illus.
| trated and very expensive, and is y
| thorough and exhaustive work on the re-
sources of Japan. The only copy of
| this book now to be found, except one
| IN tho 7 ;hrorv of CnnproeS ic n cop,
owned by Governor Graham's son, Hon
A. w. Graham, of Oxford who also has
the original memoranda and data furn-
ished by Commodore Perry upon the or
ganization of the expedition.
Through the craftsmanship and diplo-
macy of Mr. Graham a commercial treaty
was made with Japan by which America