The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-01-28


Carolinians for North Carolina. It's
a case of me and my wife, my son
John and his wife, US four and no
more. Do not understand me to
speak in the spirit of vain glory; |
only speak in spirit of justifable
pride, glad for what we are and for
what we have done, yet realizing
our short comings and always seeing
something ahead yet to be accom-
plished. l wish that every citizen in
our State could be imbued with the
spirit of patriotism and loyalty. It
is only such spirit that will insure
us glorious future and leave to
generations yet unborn rich and
priceless heritage. Assuming that
these considerations have moved us
how completely should our hearts
and minds be in harmony with a
purpose for which we have met.
Not merely because we have met to
do honor to the life of great man,
and he a North Carolinian, which in
itself is much, but also because in
paying loving tribute to his memory
we shall be benefited and the fires
of patriotism be hindled anew with
in our breasts.
Zebulon B. Vance was born in
Bumcombe county, N. c., May 13,
1880. He was born in sight of the
French Broad River and in the midst
of the Blue Ridge Mountains. His
eyes first beheld the light of day in
a veritable temple of nature. There
in that land are grand and lofty
mountains standing upon their eter-
nal base and lifting their heads into
the very clouds, there the sands of
tumbling cascades can be heard and
the soft murmur of rhythmic waters,
there dark and gigantic forests mir
ror themselves IN pel.ucid screa-r:s.
In fact every picture that nature
paints there in that land of the sky
is most beautiful one, and one
catches variety of scenery there
the like of which is hardly found
anywhere else. Vance was son Of
the mountains, and surely the noun
'ains and brooks and the rivers and
the forests we're the books from
which he learned the lessons that
were to be the foundation of his able
career. He was educated at Wash
ington College, Tennessee, and at
the Univef sity of North Carolina,
studied law under Judge William H .
Battle and Mr. Samuel F. Phillips,
was adm tied to the bar in January.
1852, and was elected county attor-
ney for Bumcombe county the same
year. He was member of TIE
State House of Commons in 1854,
and was representative from
North Carolina in the thirty-ffth
and thirty-sixth Congresses. He
entered the Confederate army as
captain in May, 1861, and was made
colonel in August of that year. He
was elected Governor of North Car
olina in August, 1862, and reelected
in August, 1864. He was elected to
the United States Senate in Novem-
ber, 1870. but refused an admission
and resigned in January, 1872, and
was elected Governor of North Car
rolina for the third time in 1876.
Again January, 1873, he was elected
to the United States Senate, was re-
elected in 1885. and again reelected
in 1891. and died at his residence in
Washington, April ID, 1894. Thus
is told in very briefest outline
the history of the life of Zebulor
Baird Vance. It twere impracticable
as we'll as impossible to discuss at
length all the important incidents in
his life. 1t would require more
time than that allotted to me to
study him as lawyer, soldier, states
man, man. Suffice it to say in this
respect that in all positions, in what
ever activity he acquitted himself as
only true men can, always proving
himself worthy of the confidence i'm
posed in him, faithful to every trust
jealous in the performance of every
duty. My aim shall be this after
noon to bring before your menta
vision as nearly as l can persona
life picture of the man himself, en-
deavoring at the same time to giv'
some idea Of the Importance ane
the scope of the work he accomplish
ed, and to ascertain if possible th'
secret of his greatness and of tn
high esteem in which he was held b.
all who knew him. And to this en'
l desire to first tell you something
, of his hoyhood.