The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-10-05
PETITION OF JOSIAH TURNER
Continued from Page SeVen.)

Hon. William Ashe,~ Democrat, ana
others came in q speclal ana tNLId
train to Raleigh to get Governor -
lis consent to take Fort Lac
Governor did not the enter
prise but in a few lays thereafter the
Fort was taken. !,
Nv n party Note, the Senate refused
TO REQUIRE of the Governor the par
ticulars of Mr.. Ashes proposition TO
take the fort
When the fort was aiken I intro
duced the following resolutions:
Whereas, The Senate has heard
with regret and profound
nlent that a military company COM
nosed Of the citizens Of North Caro-
lima have seized upon n taken
armed positions of Fort CasWei one
of the forts of the United States at
the mouth of Cape Fear river; there
fore
Resolved, That His Excellency, Gov.
Ellis, be requested to communicate to
the Senate all the information he may
possssS relative to the capture CT said
Fort and also whether before the cap
lure of said fort he had not been con-
suited and advised with upon tn. sub
ject, and if so by what citizens, their
names, and places Of residence.
This resolution was laid upon the
table by a vote of "a to 16, the Dem
ocrats, save three, voting to table the
resolution, the Wings against it. n
Governor Ellis ordered the evdctEl-
ton of Fort Caswell. as [ have shown
by his correspondence With the PreSi-
dent, [ ventured to thank him by The
following resolution:
Whereas. Fort Caswell was unlaW-
fully seized uDon by certain persons
citizens of North Carolina: and where
as Governor Ellis did promptly d
them to said fort. therefore
pnCnJyynI NV tbo Snratn tho one
cOncurring, that this General Assem-
bly, do approve of said order issued by
the Governor, and they regard the
Governors conduct in the premises as
a dutiful and praiseworthy act of obe-
dience to the Constitution, the union
and the laws, and those of US
who vote to lay this resolution
on the table or so dispose Of it
as to preVen q direct vote upon it's
merits in its present shape mean by
so doing to justify the seizure of Fort
CasWell and to declare to the world,
that North Carolina should dissolve
her connection with the United States
OF America. This resolution was laid
upon the table, every Democrat voting
for it but three.
1t is here worthy of remark that
the capture Of Fort Caswell was an
to the. legislature by Cover
nor Ellis, a word Of rebuke
for those who had taken it, but in
terms c~ommendatory of Captain -,
who commanded the Selling
it.
The legislature of 1850 was demo-
cratic.
That body passed a bill calling a
convention; the people being willing
(When the people are consulted at the
polls in February they refuse, by an
OEorW pImInS majority to call u onn-
Vention.
Divers resolutions are offered by
democratic members of the legisla-
ture encouraging South Carolina to
secede, saying to that State, if you do
We Will sustain you.
AS q party they voted against and
forbid the United States flag being
they refused to take steps to prevent
the seizure of the United States forts
in North Carolina.
But l forbear [ have recited these
facts to prove this was a democratic
war.
Having shown what part I took in
the war I should show what part I
took to prevent it-besides the acts
already named. [ troduc in he
a resolution declaring it the
duty of the Federal TO
collect peaceably, if it could, forceably
IL 1t must, duties due in each and all
the ports Of the United States-this
was in James Buchanan's adminis-
tratlon Democracy forbid it's passage
-DeSldeS lt would nave embarrassed
tina administration for it had de-
termined not to collect the duties in
Charleston. L voted against arming
the State. / voted against calling a
convention of the State-for the pur-
pose of seeding. After we were in
the war. and [ in the army, I voted
alone against a resolution thanking
Governor Ellis for his proclamation for
troops ana other acts OF his in
VOlVlng the State in war. I even wrote
a letter to James Buchanan apprising
him of the danger threatening the
Forts in North Carolina and propos
ing to take possession Of Fort Cas-