The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-12-02
THE LEAD OF NORTH CAROLINA
World Down on Its t1istOry-The
Stamp Act on the Cape Fear-Some
Things the New Yorker Didn't
Know About the Early Period of
North Car OIina.
Wilmington Star.

Wilmington Star.
Upon the occasion of Mr.. Taft's
recent visit to North Carolina he re-
ferred to some of the remarkable
events in the States history, refer
ring especially to the suppression of
the Stamp Act here in Revolutionary
times. The egregious Mr.. Dunlap,
Especial Representative of the New
York World with the Presidential
Party" flippantly referred to these
illusions of MIR. Taft as follows: "By
these pleasant little concessions to
local pride Mr.. Taft shows that be is
better politician than historian"
To this sally, Mr.. Logan D. Howell,
formerly superintendent of the Ral-
eigh public schools, now residing in
New York, made reply which the
World prints in it's issue of November
14th, as follows, as reproduced in
the News and Observer of the follow
ing day:
THESTAMPA ACT INWILMINGTON
To the Editor:
| In the editorial comment in today's
paper on part of President Taft's
speech at Wilmington, N. c., you
misunderstood the Presidents allu-
sion. Mr.. Taft eaid:
| II understand that you (meaning
the men of Wilmington and vicinity
in 1869 suppressed the Stamp Act
and emptied the tea a considerable
time before they had that tea party
in Boston Harbor."
The President was not referring to
the ladies Of Newbern as you seem to
think. 1t was far more serious ac-
tion, and among the boldest deeds
of our Revolutionary period. This is
the way the Stamp Act was suppress
1 ed in North Carolina:
On November Is, 1865, before the
new stamps had reached that colony,
a large body of the best citizens of
Wilmington, lead by Col. John Ashe,
went to the newly appointed Stamp
Master, William Houston, and forced
him to take an oath that Il will
never receive any stamp-paper which
may arrive from Europe, or officiate
in any manner as Stamp Master in
the distribution of lamps within the
province of North Carolina.
Twelve days later the British sloop-
of-war Diligence, OF twenty-one guns,
arrived with the stamps. She was
met by an armed force of men under
Col. Hugh Waddell, an experienced
soldier OF the French and Indian wars,
, and her commander, Capt. Phipps,
was told that he would not be allow
ed to land the stamps. In the face OF
the armed resistance, Capt. Phipps
deemed it prudent not to attempt it,
so the stamps remained on board.
i But commerce suffered for lack Of
legal paper. Among other incOnven-
fences, ships could not get Clearance
papers. In February, 1866, two mer-
chant vessels were arrested in the
Cape Fear because their clerance pa
pers were not stamped This was
, done by Capt. Lobb of the British
: man-of-war Viper. Again Col. Wad-
dells army gathered, 600 strong, to
: resist the enforcement of this obnox-
iOus law.
Capt. Lobb laughed at this army OF
farmers and merchants on shore.
, But the men Of the Cape Fear knew
thing or two. Even British officers
and sailors had to eat, and Col. Wad-
dell set about to starve the Viper.
No one was allowed to go to her, and
when boat from the Viper was sent
to Wilmington for provisions its men
were put into Jail. and the boat did
, not return. The Captain called on
, Governor Tryon. but the governor
: was unable to help him. Finally
, Capt. Lobb changed his mind about
. prosecuting the masters of the mer-
, chant vessels, and decided that they
/ had q good excuse for not having
stamped papers.
/ These were the boldest deeds done
j, in any colony in connection with the
Stamp Act troubles. Men had been
: hanged in England for less crimes.
In other colonies when ships came
t with the stamps flags were hung at
3 half-mast and funeral bells tolled the
3 death of liberty In North Carolina
j liberty never died. Without disguise,
e in open day, and. armed for battle,
r the men OF the Cape Fear defied the
] power of Great Britain and insulted
t the strongest navy in the world. And
: they did it successfully. 1t was these
r deeds of heroism that President Taft
fittingly referred to in his speech on
I the banks OF the Cape Fear.
r LOGAN D. HOWELL.
Il New York, Nov. IL.