The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-04-07
HENDERSON. N c., THURSDAY APRIL Z, 1910.

the army as q mere boy and retired
as the youngest Brigadier General of
the Confederate Army-that simple
statement tells the story of the career
OF the handsome, brilliant and brave
soldier who gave the four best years
OF his life to the service of his State
and country. The people are familiar
with his war recOrd-a record that
showed that he was without fear and
that his ambition was togive himself
unreservedly to the Cause in which
his youthful patriotism was enlisted.
No soldier in a four-years' war can
enter as a private and retire as Brig
adler General without displaying
qualities of generalship,and courage
that are high and notable. That was
Gen. Roberts record, and it was one
that reflected honor upon him and
glory upon the State that gave him
commission. Some one once asked
Wellington how to become a great
soldier. "Do your best toget killed"
was the brief answer, meaning that
the man who thought much of saving
his life in war could not become an
illustrious soldier Gen. Roberts, as
soldier, won promotion and fame be-
cause he put in practice the wise say
ing of Wellington and counted not
his life dear but thought only of win
ming victory for the Confederacy.
Gen. Roberts looked the soldier. He
was astrikingly handsome man, with
military bearing, and in uniform
would have been picked out for lead
dership in arms in any company. He
was born for the army. If the Con-
federacy had won it's independence he
would doubtless have devoted his
life to the military service of his
country, and in that department he
was best fitted to win Distinction
Some men have inherent fitness for
the army, and that was true of Gen.
Roberts, for to qualities that make
great soldiers, he had lOvefOr the SER
vice, deep interest in all the manoeu-
vres and drills and methods, and pride
in the calling OF the profession which
gave the country Washington and
Jackson and Lee.
When General Lee surrendered at
Appomattox, General Roberts re-
turned to his home and on his broad
acres showed that he could be q sue
cessful farmer as well as an illustriOus
soldier. When Reconstruction came
with its threat of engulfing the South,
General Roberts was one of the first
men to scent danger to Southern
civilization and he was leader in
his section in organizing the forces
of Conservatives and Democrats to
restore the State'to it's own patriotic
sons. The most cruical campaign in
some respects in North Carolina was
that OF 1875 to elect delegates to a
Constitutional Convention. When
the Democrats and Conservatives
defeated the Reconstruction party
in the early seventies and obtained
control of the General Assembly (the
Reconstruction Republicans controll-
ed the judiciary and Legislative
branches Of government), they saw
that there must be some constitu-
tional changes to save the Eastern
counties from the destruction that
carpet-bag and negro government
would entail. The death of Cover
nor Graham, who had been elected to
the Constitutional COvention of 1875
from Orange, on the eve of the as
sembling of the Convention, left the
body tie, the balance of power be-
ing held by Edward Ransom, of
Tyrrell, who had been elected as an
independent, defeating the regular
Democratic candidate. The organi-
zation of that Convention hinged
upon Ransom's s vote General Roberts
had been elected to the Convention
from Gates. In the prime oflife, fired
by Il patriotic desire to secure the
peace that was wrapped up in Demo
cratic control of that Convention,
General Roberts took the lead in the
negotiations that resulted in the
selection of Ransom as president OF
the Convention by the solid Demo
cratic vote, and the cooperation OF
Ransom with the Democrats i'll the
work of that Convention. His assO-
ciates in the Convention always gave
General Roberts the chief credit for
that stroke ofpolicy that gave North
Carolina good government andquiet
from 1876 to 1894, though he al
ways said that Governor Jarvis and
Judge Avery deserved to share. the
credit for wrestling victory out OF
what seemed defeat. They we're days
of storm and danger, calling for
courageous and determined men, who
added tact. and discretion to bravery
That signal service to his party and
State in peace, added to his splendid
war record, gave to General Roberts
the position of State auditor, which
held from 1880 until 1889. In 1898,
in the second administration Of Mr.
Cleveland, there was recognition OF
General Roberts by appointment as
consul general to Victoria, British
Columbia. He served four years as
diplomat, making friends in official
and business circles, and was given q
brilliant reception there upon the
close of his term. Returning to his
home in Gates county, General Rob
erts had since 1897 devoted himself
to farming, in which he succeeded
we'll, and to reading and the quiet
endowment of his friends with Occas
ional visits to Raleigh and elsewhere
General Roberts was brave in war
patriotic in peace, illustrated the dig
nifty of his calling as a farmer. anC
in public life was honest and clean
His conspicuous service that gave
him the highest position attained by
any man of his years in the COnfeder
ate army and his successful tact il
organizing the Constitutional COven
ton give him lasting claim upon th'
gratitude OF the people or North Car
0lipo