The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-13
LITERARY NOTES.
THE NORTH CAROLINA BOOKLET.

of Hon. A. G. Avery on Quaker Mead
ows," one of the historic homes in
North Carolina history. Judge Avery
has a fund of historical knowledge
possessed by few men in the State and,
where he can turn aside from the
engrossing cares of a busy profession
al career to write history, he always
contributes matter of value.
From the story of Judge Avery the
facts about the Carson-V Vance duel are
taken. We quote his account as fol-
lows:
"Stung by defeat in 1925, DR.. Robert
3. Vance determined to break Samuel
Carson down in 1921 He believed, it
is supposed on account of Carson
great amiability, that Carson was a
coward, though q more fatal mistake
was never made, and, acting upon that
belief, charged in a public discussion
at Morganton that Colonel John Car
son, the father of his opponent and
who has already been mentioned as
member of the Convention which
adopted the Constitution of the United
States at Fayetteville, was a Tory
and took protection when Ferguson in
vaded Burke. Colonel Carson rose
and denounced Vance as a liar Vance
tauntingly said to him: You are too
old. You have a gallant son, whose
IL l.
am reliably Informed that Vance did
not believe that Samuel Carson would
resent this insult, and he knew that if
he should not he could never be elect
ed again after the election which was
to take place in a few days.
ITO show how widely mistaken DR..
Vance was in his estimate of Carson,
the writer has heard from his father
that on the night after this discussion,
Iii, a
his father met at the old family home,
at the mouth of Buck Creek, and
though the old Colonel insisted upon
sending d challenge, his sons oVerruled
him, and agreed that after the APP
preaching election Samuel should chal-
lenge Vance, and should Samuel fall.
each of the brothers, beginning with
the oldest, Joseph Mcdowell Carson,
of Rutherford, should challenge him
in succession. The Colonel was ap-
peased by an agreement that should
Vance Kill all of his boys he should then
have the opportunity to ayenge the in
suit All of the brothers were cool
and courageous and were crack shots.
Soon after the election Carson crossed
the Tennessee line to avoid a violation
of the laws of his own State, and sent
by Colonel Alney Burgsn, OF Old Fort,
an invitation to Vance to come over to
Tennessee and discuss the grievance
complained Of Carson, with the dis
tinguished Warren David, of South
Carolina, as Il second, and accom-
panied by David Crockett as friend,
met and MORALLY wounded Vance at
Saluda. Just before taking his place,
Carson, who was as Kind as he was
courageous, said to Warren David:
81 can hit him anywhere l choose. |
prefer to infiict a wound that Will not
60, Il Il
will try to kill you, and, if he receives
only flesh wound. will demand anoth-
er shot which will mean another
chance to kill you. I will not act for
you unless you promise me TO do your
best to Kill him" Carson promised,
and Vance fell MORALLY wounded.
CarSon's heart was tender, and he died
lamenting that the demands Of an i'm
periouS custom had forced him to
wreck his own peace of mind, in order
to save the honor of his family and
remove the reproach upon his name.
The North Carolina Booklet is pub
lished monthly under the auspices of
the North Carolina Society, 'Daugh-
terS of the Revolution and managed
by two of the members of that Society
who are elected every two years.
This publication treats of important
events in North Carolina history, such
as may throw light upon the political
social or religious life of the people
of this State during the Colonial and
Revolutionary periods, in the form Of
monographs written and contributed
by a reliable and painstaking historian
as our State can produce.
The fourth volume began in May,
1904.
The names of our contributors for
this volume bespeak valuable collec-
u, II
pear during the year, as the following
list NAV be of interest to those who
may have failed to see the prospectus
that was issued in March last.
May-The Lords Proprietor, Kemp
P. Battle.
June-"BattIe of Ramseau's Mill, :"
Major VIM. A. Graham.
July-"Historic Quaker Meadows"
Judge y. c. Avery.
DISQUALIFICATION of the Federal
Constitution of 1888 and its Subsequent
Adoption Associate Justice Henry G..
Conner.
September-"The Signers, John
Penn and Joseph Hews," T. M. Pitt
man, Prof Walter G. Skies.
October-"E Expedition to Cartha-
genia in 1740,' Chief Justice Walter
Clark.
November-"H Historic Homes, Her
mltage and Vernon Hall, Col w. II.
S. Burgwyn, Prof. Collier Cobb.
December Earliest English Set
Elements in North Carolina" VIM. j.
Peelc.
January, 1905-"The Battle of Gull
ford Court House. Prof d. Fl. Hill.
February, "Rutherford's Ex-
petition Against the Indians, 1775,"
Captain Samuel A. Ashe.
March, 1905-''The Highland Scotch
Settlement in North Carolina"
April. 1905-"Governor Thomas
Pollock Mrs. John Hinsdale.
THE First American King" by
George Gordon Hastings, a story of
the United States as a monarchy in
1875, and an arraignment of the poll
teal and sociological conditions of to-
day is an amusing example of what
happens to material for campaign ar
guments. From its appearance until
Election Day and even since, it has
been widely and forcibly used as "a
political weapon in the president Il
struggle The amusing thing IS that
it was used With equal confidence Ly
both sides. That is what the book
gets for sticking 20 facts and to logi-
cal conclusions drawn from facts. 1t
is to be published by the Smart Set