The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-02

distinct and pointed q manner that
none who tried could fail to under
stand him. Whatever might be the
disorder and confusion in the House,
| do not remember an instance in
which, as soon as it was known that
Governor Worth was arising to adj
dress them, order and attention was
not instantly restored. In what leg
islative experience and observation |
have had / remember no other person
to whom so profound attention when
speaking was always accorded as to
Governor Worth.
Governor Worth was elected to the
General Assembly in 1860, the body
before whom the Secession of North
Carolina from the Union, in imitation
of South Carolina was SO strongly
pressed. He was strongly opposed to
it. He entertained and expressed the
opinion that no government ever was
organized with the principle incorpOr-
ated in its fundamental law for its
peaceable death. He did not maintain
that the North was justifable in her
treatment of the South nor did he
deny that independently Of the organi-
cation of all governments. there was
a natural and inalicnable right be-
longing to all peoples to throw off allie
glance to any government when its
principles We're SO far perverted by the
manner of administration as to render
them destructive of the liberties OF
the people and their dearest rights,
and there We're strong grounds foI
hope i'm the success of such an effort.
Yet he was entirely opposed to the
notion that there was incorporated
into the fundamental principles of
the government of the United States,
the right peaceably to secede as was
maintained by the New England Hart
ford Convention School of politicians
during the war of 1912, by the Null
fiers of South Carolina at later
day. and a considerable school of
Southern politicians in 1860. Govern
or Worth was not alone in these views.
Indeed. these were the views of a con-
siderable majority of the people Of
North Carolina in the winter of 1860
81. at least. Nor did Governor Worth
believe he saw any probable relief to
come to the people of this State and
her Southern sisters from the attempt
to secede. In this view Of the matter
he has been justified. and more than
justified by subsequent events.
During the Christmas holidays, in
Guiding some of the last days of 1860,
and early days of January, 1861, Gov
ernor Worth and his colleague in the
General Assembly, returned from Raj
eigh to Randolph and called meeting
of citizens to consult on the situation
Of national affairs. | was at the
meeting where Governor Worth in u
speech gave expression more at large
TO the opinions and views which /
have feebly and very briefly outlined.
He returned to Raleigh q few days
after. An act of the Assembly was
soon passed, leaving the question OF
the sta s following the example OF
South { .rolina in seeding to a vote of
the people of the State at an election
to be held in the following February.
At that election the proposition to
Secede was defeated by a large ma
jority i'm the State. In Randolph
county there were only As votes cast
i'm favor of secession, and not far from
$500 against it, l do not remember
the precise number. This overwhelm-
ing result in Randolph was due to
several causes, notably the conserva-
tive character of her citizens, Govern
or Worths influence, he being one OF
the most intelligent, well-informed and