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


Raleigh. Colonel Il. r. Bridgers. a
man of weighty speech and size. re-
stored decorum by d few words of So
briefly and encouragement. But the
anxiety on the co~untenances of those
liNing in the eastern counties remain
ed Some asked leave To visit their
homes. and cooperate with their
in bringing their negroes
into the interior. Mr.. Pettigrew af-
reported that when he order
ed his slaves to make ready 10 move
most OF them took TO the swamps not
Tor the purpose OF joining the Yam
KEGS as it was called. but from dis
for the discomfort OF a strange land.
Most Of them. however. obeyed him
and, after the war was over, begged
for pecuniary assistance to enable
them TO return to their beloved
swamps. He s~orrowfully informed
them that he was financially wrecked
and they must shift for themsei.e s.
The loss Of his handsome estate
enured to the public benefit. He be-
came diligent and useful minister of
the Gospel.
President Edwards was an able.
prompt and respected chairman.
l hin that Ex-Governor Graham
increased his reputation more than
any delegate. Mr.. w. S. Battle. of
EdsecOmbe, an old-line Democrat,
said: Until / came here I thought
that your Wings exaggerated the
greatness OF Governor Graham. I
was mistaken. He is head and Shout
ders as a pariiamentarian above any
man in the Convention" This was I'M
doubleday true as a whole. He was al
ways in his seat, always Watchful of
the of the business, always
we'll Informed, prepared for the debate.
we'll versed IN parliamentary law, and
IN the history. of the country. He was
not eloquent but he was SO clear and
wise and fair. hat strict attention
was accorded him. Moreover he never
INDUCED in personalities. never dis
torted an opponents argument and
never showed anger. Although in the
prlVac Of his room he would some
times speak sharply of the conduct Or
character Of a public man, in public
he criticized only the sOundness Of
his positions. l never heard an angry
reply made by him or n made to
him. He struck us as a model for
the imitation of young members.
The mo OF MI. Badgers great
ness was mainly a matter Of history
as he did little after leaving the
United States Senate to keep it alive.
His Ordinance of Revolution" and
his argument in support Of It brought
him to the front but he made no
great speeches. He made many short
ones, and eloquent too. But they
seemed to be impromptu and not the
results of previous study. He was
seldom in his seat and often inquired
of the status of the question before
speaking He was not free from per
s%onalities. Once he roughly inquired
Of Mr.. Schenck, a young man, and
a Secessionist, why he was not in the
army. He received the proper an
sWer, because nay constituents de-
sired me to serve them ia this body
and the members generally thought
hat the senior delegate violated de-
corum.
AT another time MI. Badger annoy
ed Mr.. Rayner SO by exceptions to
his argument that Mr.. Rayner lost
his temper, and, having the right to
the floor. with an angry voice rider
ed Ar. Badger to 'sit down; take
your seat, sir" The latter walked de-
family up to his adversary and some
feared a collision. Judge Shipp
stepped quietly between them but
there was no attempt to strike. I
think that hir. Badger meant only a
pointed rebuk e-to emphasize the
refusal to yacate h floor Mr.. Ray
ner sent a written apology, stating
that his conduct was caused by q sick
headache and the medicaments de-
signed to cure it.
Ex-Chief Justice Ruffin was the
most learned lawyer. His fame ex-
tend ed as far as England. He did
not speak often, but when he did his
utterances, accompanied by much ac-
ton. made a profound impression.
Bedford Brown, q Democrat of the
Nat Macon school. had a striking de-
livery and occasionally was aroused
to discuss State-rights questions. On
one occasion he and Ruffin had an
angry difference, n when the dis
cussion was over, turned their backs
on one another. AS their seas Were
on the front row and side by side.
the spectacle of these two eminent
fgray-bearded men. reversing the po-
| sitions of fighting chickens, gave
quiet amusement to the members.
After adjournment friends interfered
and reconciled the old Democratic
comrades.