The news & observer., 1905-12-01

federacy. And during the present
year much attention, both in North
Carolina and Virginia has been de-
voted to the relative merits of the two
States touching the great issue of
l861-'65. Any North Carolinian who
should reject on the conduct Of our
people in that fearful crisis would be
married as unworthy of the State We
! pride ourselves On the sacrifice of that
! time.
Yet the chief historical and patriotic
| organization in the State memorializes
| the legislature to place above all Otheo
| Carolinians of the past the name of
the one leader or that day, who did
! not bel eve in the cause Of secession,
| who put every possible obstacle ill the
way Of the Confederate authorities,
and who actually threatened to secede
/ from the Confederacy unless Presi-
| dent Davis yielded to his will. There
| was a disposition on the part of GER
| tain classes OF our people TO shlrk
| their duty above all things to keep
out of the armies. Such men hid in
the forests, or feigned illness Gov
ernor Vance did not exert himself to
force them to do their duty. Not
authorities in this matter; he actually
| authorities in this matter;he actually
aided and comforted many 'shirkers.
The States claimed exemption from
military duty for their evil officers
Naturally there was rush" for the
civil service of the States. In
| Georgia / 900 men were thus exempt
ed from military service. In Vir-
gina 400 Governor Vance issued
exemption papers to l4,600 men on
this score alene (See Official Records,
Series ". Vol. III, p. 881) This is
one notable example of his conduct
during the last years of the war. Presi-
dent Davis and his cabinet thought
that such conduct caused the failure
IF the great struggle. A North Caro-
| ina member of the cabinet was very
outspoken in his arraignment of the
governor of his State. The South
generally did not think we'll of North
Carolina at the close of the war: and
he North cited our State in proof OF
heir contention that the South was
rot at heart and soul in the struggle.
The best historian of the war, Mr..
lanes Ford Rhodes, says in his sum-
ming up of the struggle that had Lee
gained one battle more in the last
weeks Of 1864 or the early days of
I S65. had he raised the seige OF
Petersburg, Southern independence
tor which so much blood had been
,oured out by q devoted people, would
1ave been guaranteed. This asser-
ION has not been denied by any com
etent student since it was published.
is believed to be true. At the time
he Governor of North Carolina was
;eeping out of Lees army 1900 more
nen than any other Southern state on
he plea that they were in the civil
;er.-icc.
1t is not contended here that Vance
vas morally wrong. That is left to
)oStcrity to judge. 1t is, however.
maintained that it is inconsistent with
'ur claims concerning the war to sim
;le out Vance as the first and only
nan the State has produced who is
worthy Of a statue in Washington. 1t
ertainly will appear strange TO the
uture historian to be told that North
'arolinians boasted above all else of
heir sacrifices IN the CIVIL War and
vet bestowed the laurel wreath upon
the one man who did more than any
other in the South TO prevent the sue
ess of that war.
great man; that he was personally un-
selfish and far-Sghted. The strange
hing is the inconsistency of those who
)lace I'm above all others as a repre-
sentative man. Do they mean to re-
)udiate the cause for which so many
ought? The monument at Appomat-
OK answers. No.
Is it not the ncarneSs of Fance5
ater life which blinds mems eyes to
he true state of things? VIII North
Carolina look upon Vance q hundred