USA > North Carolina > Historical and descriptive review of North Carolina, volume 1 > Part 2
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Tokay Vineyard, from South-west.
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
4
catching and suspending the trees as they were felled. At this day if a tract of forest is enclosed, and cattle of every kind excluded, they spring up spontaneously and thickly over the land. Same of the finest wine grapes of the U. S., the famous Scuppernong, the Isabella, the Catawba and the Lincoln, are native in this State. But it was long before the bounty of nature in this regard was improved. This was probably due to the fact that the State was settled almost wholly by emigrants from the British Isles, who knew nothing of the culture of the vine. It was planted here and there to yield grapes for table use, but it was not until within forty years that a vineyard was known in the State. Within that period several of large and a great number of small extent have been planted. (Those interested will find on page 166 a detailed description of the largest vineyard in N. C.) Grapes in season are abundantly supplied for domestic consumption, and shipped in hundreds of tons. The wines of the established vineyards are held in high and just repute.
This section supplies with a free hand much in the way of comfort and profit. Wheat, oats, etc., are cultivated to such an extent that the country teems with small game, especially partridges. Every farmer can with his net, with little loss of time, have his table supplied with this most delicate of luxuries, and they offer boundless support to the lovers of such amuse- ments. They are made a considerable article of trade, the quaniity sent to the city markets amounts to tons. The rabbit which abounds here is also an article of trade as game, and this animal together with the otter, minx and raccoon, furnish no inconsiderable amount of furs.
The different areas over which are cultivated the crops of this section are well defined. Tobacco is the staple crop in the northern counties, in the central the cereals are the chief while in the southern counties cotton is the staple. In a few years, however, tobacco if it keeps its high price, will over run the whole country as it has been amply demonstrated that the golden weed may be grown as far South as and beyond the South Carolina line.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The period embracing the reign of Queen Elizabeth was one of the brightest and most ex- citing in English history, and, in all the brilliant retinue who enjoyed at that time the favor of the Crown, there is no name so justly held in grateful estecm and remembrance by North Carolinians as that of Sir Walter Raleigh. The Convention of 1788 held nearly two hundred years after his death, very fitly and gracefully expressed its admiration for his high moral and intellectual qualities, in perpetuating his name, by conferring it on the Capital of the State, an act alike honorable to the convention and duc to his memory. His active and bold spirit was very naturally moved by the excited and general interest that agitated the princi- pal maritime powers of Europe, and especially the Court of England, in regard to the new world, and obtaining letters-patent from the Crown he fitted out an expedition, consisting of two"vessels, that sailed on the 27th April, 1584, and landed on what is now known as Ocracoke Island, in the county of Carteret, on the 4th day of July of that year. Unable to find an entrance from the sea, the two barks sailed northward, and steering along the coast. they passed what is now known as New Inlet, landing on Roanoke Island, and took formal posses- sion of the county in the name of the Queen. Thus the pioneer movement was inaugurated, guided by the sagacious and indomitable Raleigh, which was to result in developing one of mightiest countries on earth. The voyagers returned to England in September of the same year. They pictured in glowing colors the beauties and attractions, as discovered during their sojourn on Roanoke Island. Their enthusiasm strengthened the spirit of conquest and desire for enlarged dominions among the crowned heads of Europe. Avarice and the love of adventure among their subjects, led captive their imaginations and portrayed the new conti- nent as invested with all the ideal charms of a fairy land. During the following year (April, 1585). another expedition under the auspices of Raleigh was sent out to Roanoke, consisting of over one hundred persons. These returned to England after a years absence. Still another was sent out by him in 1586, in charge of Jno. White, who was commissioned as "Governor of the City of Raleigh." which was to be established on the island. White returned to Eng- land, leaving about 100 men, women and children, among whom was his daughter, Eleanor Dare, wife of one of the assistants, aud who on the 18th of August, became the mother of the first child Virginia Dare, born of English parents in the New World .- Polk.
England at this time was rigorously engaged in a war with Spain-a country that was then in the zenith of its power. The statemanship of Raleigh was no less ncedcd in the councils of his Queen, than his valor was in the field during the time of his country's great peril. Hence, it was not until the year 1590 that he could again turn his attention to his col- ony, and possessions in America. Vessels laden with abundant provisions for the colonies, reached Roanoke Island, but a long and fruitless search revealed no trace of them. Five ex- peditions were fitted out at Raleigh's expense, to discover if possible, the fate of his unfor- tunate friends, but without avail. Despairing of establishing his colonies, he abandoned his possessions after devoting many years of anxious labor and expending about $200,000. His
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ignominious death by a judicial murder, sanctioncd by a government to which he had patri- otically devoted the best energies of his great mind and life, must, for all time, stand out conspicuously on the darkest pages of her high crimes.
For about a half century, no systematic effort was made to establish colonies on the soil of Carolina; meanwhile they were being planted on the coast of Virginia and further North. During that period, scattering numbers sought refuge from religious persecution in the wilds of the forests throughout our coast section, bearing perils and enduring hardships and privation, from which hearts less devoted to God must have shrunk in terror. Others impelled by love of gain, sought the advantages of an unoccupied field for the purpose of traffic with the Indians. Not until 1653 (69 years after the landing on Roanoke Island) was there a permanent settlement made in North Carolina. In 1663 by a grant from Charles II, all of the country lying between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. and included within 31º and 36° parallels of latitude, was given to certain men therein named with power to establish a form of government. This country was called Carolina. In the same ycar William Drummond (whose name still designates the lake in Dismal Swamp) was appointed Governor of the colony of Carolina. The affairs and relations of the colonists began now to assume shape. The territory was divided into counties, governors were appointed and assemblies established to frame laws for local government. The most noticeable feature that characterized the action of all bodies of those early settlers, whether in a represcnative or primary capacity, was their great caution and vigilance to preserve inviolate the leading principles of good govern- ment-freedom of conscience and security from taxation without the consent of the governed.
Under the second charter of Charles II, (1665) enlarging the powers of the Grantees, the limits of Carolina included a large part of Mexico, all of Texas, all of our territory south of 36° 30' and west of Arkansas, and all of the cotton growing States of the Union-containing in all about 1,000,000 square milles. In 1690, that portion of the province lying north of the ' Santee river, was styled North Carolina and the four southern countics were called South Caro- lina. From this period began that long series of oppressions and grievances which nurturing the idea of our people to be their own masters and make their own laws. finally culminated in the separation of the colonies from the Mother Country. Every conceivable scheme was devised by the represenatives of the Crown, a class of men who stood at the beck and capricc of a higher power and who little understood the successful weilding of these powers which strengthen a government. to make the meagre earnings of the people contribute to their own pockets and the British Exchequer. The statesmen and ministers staid at home while only the avaricious political adventurers would take office under the King in a country yet lacking the comforts and conveniences of a more advanced civilization. Arrogant and tyrannical rulers, with pliant subordinates, were appointed, who, by their ambitious assumption of royal prerogatives. outraged the principles of justice, until goaded to resistance the colonists, whose remonstrances werc unheaded, defied the ruling power by armed force.
The most prominent Legislative acts of North Carolina in the great drama of the Revolu- tion may be briefly mentioned. In 1773, the Speaker of the House of Commons. John Har- vey. laid before that body appcals from several other colonies for its concurrence in the appoint- ment of a committee to inquire into the wrongs imposed by England on the colonists. This was the first legislative act that led to the Revolution.
On the 25th day of August, 1774, the Assembly of Congress met in New Berne, in defiance , of the proclamation and denunciation of royal authority. This body was composed of 41 members, representing 29 counties and 5 towns, and John Harvey was chosen Speaker. Among other important measures adopted, was one endorsing the plan for a General Con- gress in Philadelphia in September, and the appointment of delegates with instructions to resist all unconstitutional oppression.
In February, 1775, John Harvey issued a call for the Assembly to mect at New Berne on the 4th day of the following April, and also issued a notice to the people to send delegates from all of the counties and towns to hold a convention at the same time and place. Gov- ernor Martin denounced this act by a proclamation, notwithstanding which the two bodies met. They pledged their determined support to the action of the Continental Congress, held in Philadelphia September 4th, 1774. The assembly was dissolved by the acclamation of the
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Governor. It met again, however, at the same place. On the 20th May, 1775, the people of Mecklenburg met in the town of Charlotte and adopted the Mecklenburg Declaration of Inde- pendence, a copy of which was at once sent to the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, and also to the Provincial Congress at Hillsboro.
Signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence at Charlotte, May 20, 1775 :
Abraham Alexander, Chair'n, Richard Barry,
Benjamin Patton,
J. McKnit Alexander, Sect'y,
Henry Downe,
Matthew McClure,
Adam Alexander,
Ezra Alexander,
Neil Morrison.
Ephraim Brevard.
William Graham,
Robert Irvin,
Hezekiah J. Balch.
John Queary,
John Flennegin,
John Phifer,
Charles Alexander.
David Reese,
James Harris,
Hezekiah Alexander, John Davidson,
William Kennon,
Zaccheus Wilson,
Richard Harris,
John Ford, Waightstill Avery, Thomas Polk, Sr.
Gov. Martin having abandoned the reins of Government in the spring of 1775, and taking refuge under the guns of His Majesty's ships on the Cape Fear, the people began to prepare vigorously for war. The Provincial Congress met at Hillsboro' on the 20th August 1775, and adopted measures for offensive and defensive war. These measures were sustained and strengthened by the vigilance and fidelity of committees of safety, and a Provincial Council chosen by this body, and county and town committees. These latter executed all orders emanating from the safety committee, or from the Provincial Council. On the 4th April 1776, the Provincial Congress met at Halifax, this being the fourth meeting held in opposition to the Royal Government, and at once addressed itself to perfecting the military organization of the State. On the 12th of that month it passed a resolution expressing the readiness of our people to declare independence of the British crown. It appointed a council of safety for the State, consisting of 13 members, of which Cornelius Harnett was chairman, who at a subse- qnent meeting of his council at Halifax, received the National Declaration of Independence. This he read at a popular meeting in that town on the 1st August. and it was received with unbounded enthusiasm and rejoicing. On the 12th November, a convention met at Halifax to perfect a civil form of government, composed of delegates from 33 counties and 8 towns.
Richard Caswell, of Dallas county. (now Lenoir) was chosen President of the Convention. The Constitution and Bill of Rights were adopted on the 18th of December. All the machinery for operating a civil government was perfected. The election of Governor by the constitution devolved upon the Legislature, and by an ordinance of the body the following named State officers were elected for the first term: Richard Caswell, Governor ; James Glasgow, State Secretary ; Cornelius Harnett, Thomas Pearson, William Day, William Haywood, Edward Starkey, Joseph Leech and Thomas Eaton, Councillors of State.
Thus the sovereignty of the people in a distinctive organized capacity was declared, based upon the great principles of truth, equity and justice. The struggles, trials, sufferings and sacrifices of this people, during the dark years which proceeded this event forms a chapter in their history which for constancy, endurance, devotion and deeds of moral heroism, is not surpassed in the annals of America.
On North Carolina soil was planted the first English colony. on her soil was born the first child of English parents, and on her soil was poured the first blood as a libation to liberty. Her Provincial Congress was the first to declare to the Continental Congress the readiness of her people to absolve their allegiance to the Crown, and in Mecklenburg county the first dec- laration of independence was made. The first to consecrate their State to civil liberty, always among the foremost in their sacrifices to achieve independence, may the noble example of her patriot fathers inspire their descendants for all time with a jealous regard for constitu- tional rights and for the preservation of a free system of government.
The necessities evolved by the States progress demanded some changes in her organic law to adapt it to our advanced condition, and accordingly, by an act of Assembly in January 1835, a convention of the people was called, and met in the city of Raleigh 4th of June, 1835.
Nathaniel Macon was unanimously chosen President, and E. B. Freeman, Clerk. Among
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the important changes effected were the abrogation of the Borough System in representation, annulling the right of suffrage in persons of color, the transfer of the election of the Governor from the Legislature to the people, and extending his term of office to two years, and appointing biennial instead of annual sessions of the general assembly, and relieving the dis- abilities of Catholics.
The amendments were adopted by the convention by a vote of yeas 81, noes 20, and subse- quently ratified by the people through an affirmative vote of 26,771 against a negative vote of 21,606. In 1857 by an Act of Assembly the Constitution was amended by removing the freehold qualification of elections that had previously existed.
From 1835 to 1861 the prosperity of the State was steady and increasing.
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 to the Presidency of the United States, by a sec- tional party, avowedly opposed to slavery, was dcemed sufficient cause for the secession of the slave holding States.
Amid the ringing of marriage bells came the ominous tidings that South Carolina, through her Convention, had passed the Secession Ordinance, and had withdrawn from the Federal Union-the fiery sons of the Palmetto State had entered upon that fearful drama, which was to prove a long tragedy of blood and unimagined woe. The people of North Car- olina looked in sadness upon the precipitation of the sister State. That Union which they had helped to form had been too full of blessings to be rashly abjured, although it was about to pass into the control of men long recognized as encmies. It was hoped that a rem- nant of patriotism might still effect a compromise of the mighty quarrel between sister States, and peace and prosperity be brought back to the land. Mr. Buchanan in the White House was a spectacle to move the tears of men and angels. He had sworn to support the Consti- tution ; but that great chart contained no directions by which the ship of state was to be guided in this unforeseen contingency. Treason and rebellion could be reached and punished in individuals, but how could he treat a recusant commonwealth. He could not falsify his record or uxsay his utterances for a half century past. He left it to those who had sown to the wind to reap the whirlwind that followed. Mr. Lincoln and his friends had pulled down the pillars of government ; to them should be the blood and agony and honor-if honor there be-in their costly replacement.
Under Mr. Buchanan's policy there was still hope that the seceding Gulf States might possibly, under fresh guarantees, be induced to resume their position in the councils of the United States. Mr. Lincoln's speech at Springfield, Illinois, effectually banished cvery such expectation. It was yet more than a month to the time of his inauguration, when he, after asserting that it was "an artificial crisis, and that no one was hurt." openly proclaimed his intention of using the whole power of the government to ccerco the South.
No people were ever placed in more embarrassing circumstances than were the North Car- olinians in the beginning of the year 1861. They knew that their sovereign and independent State had entered into a specific contract with other similar Commonwealths in 1789, by which a common agency for their mutual benefit had been erected, and called " The Govern- ment of the United States of America." This limited agency which had been so laboriously restrained by the Constitution from exceeding its powers, had passed to the control of men, who were in the habit of denouncing the Federal compact as a "league with death and a covenant with hell," Not only was the property of the South to be destroyed by the machi- nations of such enemies, but the institutions and equality of the States themselves. The Southern people were not assured of the hatred borne them by the successful Republican party, but they were satisfied of their activc and relentless persecution if they remained in the Union. The States-rights men declared with Jefferson and Madison in the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1788-9, that the States were the judges of the infractions of the great agreement, and of the remedics in the premises. It was contended that the same power which was capable of entering into the agreement was likewise capable of declaring it vio- lated, and consequently void. If North Carolina, speaking through a convention of her peo- ple, could make herself a party to the new arrangement in 1789, the same authority could, in 1861, annul and destroy the ties then assumed. This was the argument of the men called "Secessionists." Some Democrats, and the great body of the Whigs, denied the power of the
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State to recall the soverignty delegated, but were fully resolved to meet Northern encroach- inents by what they called "revolution." All were agreed upon armed resistance to any un- constitutional exertion of Federal authority.
On the 30th day of January, 1861. the Legislature passed an Act submitting to the people the question whether they would meet in convention to consider their federal relations, and the proposition was voted down. Each of the States of the Southern section having met in convention and passed Ordinances of Secession, and President Lincoln having issued a procla- mation calling upon all of the States for their quota of 75,000 troops for the coercion of seced- ing States, Governor Ellis issued a proclamation convening the Legislature in extra session, May 1st, 1861. This body promptly passed a bill calling a convention to meet in Raleigh on the 20th day of that month. The convention met on that day, Weldon N. Edwards of War- ren, was chosen president, and Walter N. Steele of Richmond, was made secretary. On the first day of the session an Ordinance was unanimously adopted, which declared, "that the Union now subsisting between the State of North Carolina anl the other States, under the title of the United States of America, is hereby dissolved, and that the State of North Carolina is in full possession and exercise of all those rights of sovereignty which belong and appertain to a free and independent State."
Loss.
ENG. GOD
THE ATLANTIC HOTEL, MOREHEAD CITY, N. C. View from Newport River.
Thus North Carolina took position with her Southern sisters, and at once began to pre- pare vigorously for the conflict which was now inevitable. As in the Revolution, as in all great emergences in which she conveived her honor and her rights to be involved, she displayed a self sacrificing devotion in which any people, in any age, may be justly proud. She gave to the Confederate army more than 120,000 of her sons, exceeding a ratio of one man to every six of her entire white population. Almost every fireside had its represenative in the army, and their noble and heroic record is traced in blood on the meloncholy pages of the long and desperate struggle from Big Bethel to Bentonsville and Appomattox.
The convention of 1861 made the sessions of the General Assembly annual instead of biennial.
Z. B. Vance was elected Governor in 1862, and again in 1864, but, on the surrender of the Southern armies in May, 1865, he was arrested and his office declared vacant by the military authority of the Federal Government.
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The arm of military power ruled with relentless rigor in both sections during these four years of strife, but in two of the States-North Carolina and New York-the writ of Habeas Corpus was sacredly observed, and in North Carolina, the military was kept subordinate to the civil authority. Upon the surrender of the Southern forces, martial law was established throughout the South, and a military order was issued abolishing slavery. W. W. Holden was appointed Provisional Governor, and under the reconstruction policy of President John- son, Governor Holden issued a Proclamation for an election to be held for delegates to a con- vention to be held in Raleigh, on the 2d day of October. 1865. Also for an election for mem- bers of the General Assembly, to meet on the 4th Monday in November, and also for Representa- tives to the Federal Congress.
Jonathan Worth, of Randolph, was elected Governor by a popular majority, and took his seat on the 28th of December of the same year.
By reason of a conflict between the President and Congress, our entire delegation was denied seats in that body. The amendments to the Constitution adopted by the convention were submitted to the vote of the people and rejected by a vote of 19,570 for to 21,552 against them. This Constitution as reported by the convention, consisted of the original instru- ment of 1776, with amendments of 1835, 1857, 1861 and 1865, consolidated and systematized, with some additions to the Bill of Rights.
The differences between Congress and the President became gradually more antagonistic- the vetoes and remonstrances of the latter were disregarded by the former-oaths were im- posed which amounted to a virtual disfranchisement of a large portion of our citizens-the recently liberated slaves were invested with the right of sufferage, and other prerogatives of citizenship-and the elective franchise was exercised only under the bayonet or the supervi- sion and control of a military commander, whose office was in Charleston, S. C.
Under authority vested in him by the reconstruction acts of Congress, Gen. E. R. S. Canby commanding the second military district, issued an order for au election to be held for dele- gates to a convention which should meet in Raleigh on the 14th day of January, 1868.
The body met and among the many important changes made in the organic law may be mentioned : The creation of the offices of Lieutenant Governor und Superintendent of Public Works ; making eligible to office all male citizens who had the right to vote ; increasing the number of Judges of the Supreme and Superior Courts, and giving their election and that of magistrates to the people ; abolished the County Court system, and substituted a new system of county government; established a penitentiary; ordered a census of the State to be taken every ten years, the first to be taken in 1875; and made the rights of the negro equal with the white race before the law. W. W. Holden of Wake was inaugurated as Governor July 4th, 1868, and Tod R. Caldwell of Burke, as Lieutenant Governor.
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