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

lection why Vance should not be
elected was the fact that he was too
young. l cannot tell you how Vance
met the objection, but he met it in a
manner most satisfactory to those
who heard him, and it goes without
saying that Zeb was elected. AS
illustrative of Vance's ability as a
campaign speaker and his readiness
at repartee desire to relate the fol-
lowing incident that occurred when
Hon. David Coleman was running
against Vance for Congress. Col
onel Coleman quoted the parable of
the barren fig tree and applied it to
Vance, saying that Vance had been
to Congress and that there was no
fruit to be seen, and he shouted,
"Now, fellow citizens, cut him
down." When the time had come
for Vance to speak he turned to
Colonel Coleman and said, Colonel,
your Scripture quotation was un-
fortunate. The facts are that the
Lord went into the garden with the
gardener, and seeing no fruit on
the fig tree he said to the gardener,
Cut it down. but the gardener
answered, Not so, Lord, but let it
stand another year and l will dig
about it, and then if it bears no
fruit cut it down. Now, gentle
men," said Vance, "all things ac-
cording to Scripture" His reply
was enough. Such shout as had
never been heard in the old court
house before went up that day. and
Vance defeated his eloquent oppon-
,, ent by 1000 votes. But l would do
the subject of this sketch gross in
justice if should lead one Of you to
think that the inimitable humor
which lightened up his speech wa.
the distinguishing feature of his
oratory, or that it was a disting-
| uishing characteristic of Vance.
| His humor was but the adornment
Of masterful intellect, and if he
sometimes seemed to live on the sur
face of things, to lack earnestness
and seriousness, it was due to the
fact that men failed to look beneath
the surface and see hidden there 8
treasure-house full Of golden vir.
tues. He was full Of the milk OF
human kindness; he loved his feI
lowmen, and was happy spirit him
self. 1t was his joy to Tighten The
cares which weighed upon others
He possessed a keen sense Of duty
and no man can be reckoned as care
less ard thought!ess or shallow who
possesses that.
During the interval when Vance
first began the practice of the Ia tt
the time when he was first elected
Governor Of North Carolina, a peri
Cd of ten years, there was nothing
especially notable in the work he &C
plished. Owing to the fact that h,
had spent so much Of his time dur
ing that interval either in publ.
office or on the stump. he had no
had opportunity to become thor
oughly equipped lawyer, and ii
Congress he made no elaborate
speeches nor was he the author O.
any legislation Of widespread in
terest, yet even at this early stage il
his career he had won reputation a
being good jury lawyer, and il
Congress he had proved himsel
alert. lively and industrious as HI
official records abundantly show
Vance was accustomed to telling tn
following story on himself relatir!
to this early period Of his caree
and concerning more especially hi
professions: While attending cour
in one Of the counties of his circuit
group of men were discussing in tn
court yard the merits Of the differ
ent lawyers who attended at the bar
Some said Woodfin was the bes
lawyer; some thought Gather tn
best; some one and some another
and finally large man with a small
sharp voice squeaked out. "Well
gintlemen, l have noticed this littl
feller Vance, and if he can git apas
the jedge, he's about as good as an.
av 'em."
i AS l have already stated, Vanc
entered the Confederate army a
captain in May, 1861, and was mad
. colonel in August of that year
During the short time that he wa
in the army he won distinction as
soldier and reputation for fear
. lessness.
The following August he wa
chosen Governor Of his State by
. varv 1arpe majority in snite of tn