The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-08
North Carolina In
Navy Department
Continued from Page Two)

who was already in the field. upon
hearing that Governor Branch was
willing to serve the district In Con- ]
rress. offered to retire in his favor IL
branch, said he, could show Ito me
by my friends. as well in this as in !
other counties of the district, that it
IL in your power to relate circum-
stances connected with you late off, |
cial position, which would convince |
me Of the propriety Of your course, |
and that great injustice had been done |
you" Il ave no disposition" replied
Governor Branch, ''to dilate on my
wrongs before the American people; |
bat misunderstood. as / nave been. my
conduct censured and my motives i'm
peached. l hold myself at liberty to
give such explanations as my friends
may require. i ~cheerfully accede to
your proposition nj will meet your
friends, at any time and place they
ma select" Bynum accordingly re-
quested four of mis- friends, one from
zach county in the district, to call on
Governor Branch and hear his state
!nent OF the matter. They reported
that. After an attentive hearing and
aispassionate consideration, we unani-
mously and unhesitatingly say. from
the facts disclosed. we believe Gov
ernor Branch to have been treated
with injustice: we believe the Cover
nor not only to have discharged the
duties OF his late office with ability
and fidelity, but also believe, that in
all his relation with the citizens OF
Washington, that his conduct strictly
cnnformed TO the rules Of honor and
propriety. . . From the facts
disclosed, We feel it to be our duty to
say in our opinion, the Governor mer-
its the continued confidence of this
state. and particularly at this time,
that Of the citizens Of this district"
With the field thus cleared, Branch
received at the hands of his friends
and neighbours the endorsement he de-
sired. He took his seat in the Twenty
second Congress, December &, 1891,
and served one term. In 1885 he was
elected to the State Constitutional
Convention. The next year. still re-
sentful Of the wrong done him In the
Eaton affair. he refused to support
Van Buren, for the Presidency, but
in 1888 returned to his party allegi-
ance and received the Democratic
nomination for governor. The Wings
however, carried the State. In lS4S,
President Tyler, who was then coop
Grating with the Democrats, appoint
cd him governor Of the territory OIL
Florida, where he served until h Or
ganiZation Of the State government
in 1s45. He then retired from pub
Tic service, spending h remaining
eighteen years OF his life as q private
citizen. His death occurred ut EN-
6eld. \. c.. January a., 1868.
GeOeEe e. Badger.
a few men in the history OF Nortf
Carolina have appealed more strong
ly to the popular imagination, a lev
have elected a larger degree OF tn
n~,,ior Nn<<tNN thaO G0nRUQ e. HA0
GER: but no other man in the histor!
OF the State impressed his contem
poraries with q sense OF such a re
markable combination Of high intel
,ectual powers, profound and Var1e'
learning, and great dignity OF char
acter. With most public men TN
background Of official position, TN
preiixing to their names OF of1cia
titles. seems necessary to set Oh thei
greatness; but Badgers cOnteMpOr
aries. before and long after his deatf
always spoke of him as "Mr. Badger.
OF no other North Carolinian, ex
cept Vance, ave SO many apposit
80 many characteristic traditions bee
preserved. His contests at the bal
his triumphs on the stump, his br1l
liant conversation In private circle
afforded his friends and admfrer
themes for discourse OF which the
never wearied. They were fond {
coupling his name with Wehster's I
whom IN intellectual endowments. !
legal and classical learning. and |
character ne bore a strong rcsen
blance. and with whom he was SO fr'
aucntly associated in public life.
story of doubtful authenticity. whic
everybody who writes of Mr.. Badge
Is expected to repeat. relates that Q
one occasion Mr.. Webster sent
Judge Story a note in which he Sale
Il beg to introduce to you Hon. Georf
T.. Badger of North Carolina, yo,
equal and my superior" which, eve
II true, proves nothing except tn;
MIR. Webster knew how to turn q me-
compliment. It Is also related tina
while q Senator in Congress. Mr.. Ba,
ger. ON a Thursday before Easte
moved that the Senate adjourn ov
10 saturday 80 as TO avoid sittiI
on Good Friday, and when his m
ton was voted down, remarke