The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09

~ander Fenner B.. Satterthwaite
Y Kha: NJ: Sh!pp, VIM. a. Smith, Rufus
p p nnpeeo, Satnuel@B. Spruill. Charles
+; Tho7nas. Hector Turner. Edward J,
warren, Thomas J. Wilson. In the
ranks OF the supporters Of President
EDWARDS. Were ali the Secessionists
ana of Old Wings, or old
Ghion men. These latter persuaded
themselves that a united front might
nave weight in shortening the war. or
at any rate increasing the fighting pow
ef OF the South. Before the tonven-
ton finally adjourned they found
themselves unable to Cooperate with
their fiercer allies and voted with the
Conservatives, as the. combined parties
came to be called.
The Old Union element was soon
organized into a separate party and
the Old version that politics makes
strange bed fellows" vas verified
when Ex-Governor Graham, who had
editor Of the Standard, w. w. Holden,
presided over a caucus held in Hol-
den's parlor. They thought that con-
fidence had not been accorded them
by n other party, which was then
IN possession of the State government,
of this partially the General Assem-
bly, had authorized the levy of ten
Regiments Of State Troops. after
wards turned over to the Confederate
government. Governor Ellis was au-
thorized to appoint, with the advice
Of the military board, which was in
sympathy with him all commissioned
Officers. Although the Secessionists
were largely in the minority in the
State, his appointments were mostly
from Its ranks and those who affliat-
ed with them.
President Davi showed similar dis
trust. It. was thought that they re-
garded the Old Unien men with sus-
picion and doubted if they could be
depended on to carry on the war with
yigOr.
n appointments Of committees by
President Edwards showed that his
confidence was placed in the original
Secessionists, Such distrust was pc
c%uliarly CALLING to high-bred men,
who had in good faith siven in their
adhesion to the war party. It was
In the highest degree unjust. 1t i'm
puted to honorable, self-respecting
men the dishonesty Of half-hearted-
ness, if not i~nsincerity. The splendid
services Of General Lee and Governor
Vance are typical Of the work Of men
Of this party.
On the other hand the Old Union
were ready in their zeal for success
to destroy the safeguards OF liberty
and property n give the State and
Confederate government despotlc
powers.
One of the questions which showed
the fiery zeal OF the Secessionists and
revealed their weakness in numbers
was what was known as the Test
Oath ordinance. 1t showed how in
exciting times Of civil strife good men
can become severe TO the extent OF
cruelty.
Every male, except volunteers in
the army, idiots, lunatics and prison
ers Of war, must take an oath Of al
%legiance, that he will defend and sup
port the Confederate States, that he
allegiance to the United
States. If he should fail to take the
quit the State in thirty days. If al
lowed to remain he was disabled to
vote or hold office. II he should be
ordered out of the State and refuse
to go, the court must send MIN out
at his own expense and could sell
his property to raise the money. If
he should return he should be guilty
OF treason, the penalty for which is
death.
The measure was championed by
Asa Biggs, afterwards judge, a mem
Der of the Primitive Baptist Church,
a COCO and ordinarily kind man. He
showed great earnestness and zeal and
evidently believed that secret enemies
in our midst were endangerins the
success Of the C~onfederacy.
The thief champion in opposition
was William A. Graham. He changed
the opinions Of many and. when the
vote was taken, he had 70 on his side
and only 22 on the other. Another
speech in opposition was Of peculiar
and i'm passioned ~e!oquence by Judge
Robert P. Dick.
It must not be thought these seces-
~sionists were not humane. Some l
know from intimate acquaintance We're
of extraordinary b~enevOlence and &C
tive charity. Cunningham, for example,
was such a fayorite among his neigh
bors. that once when he was a candi-
date he carried every vote in his town
ship. Their reason for favOring this
drastic measure was that we were in a
terrible wal and it was necessary as a
war measure. Just as General Lee
"a q hI,nana man Vet he often gave