History of Journalism in North Carolina: 1881

"History of Journalism in North Carolina: A Story of the Men Whose Labor Has Done More for Progress and Education in North Carolina Than Any other Body of Men"

The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), 14 August 1904

In 1881, in response to an invitation from the North Carolina Press Association, Governor [William Woods] Holden delivered an Address on the History of Journalism in North Carolina, which will be of much interest to every reader of this edition of The News and Observer. It is, therefore, printed below in full:

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[Following are excerpts from the Holden address of relevance to Caswell County, NC.]

Among the oldest editors in the State is C. N. B. Evans, Esq., of the Milton "Chronicle." Mr. Evans was born in Norfolk County, Virginia, in 1812. He has worked as a journeyman in Columbia, S.C., in Raleigh with Philo White, in Richmond, Virginia, in Hillsboro, with Dennis Heartt, and elsewhere; and once was on the eve of going to Buenos Ayres, to work on a paper half English and half Spanish, but was deterred by a civil war which suddenly broke forth in that quarter. His first connection with the press as editor was with the Greensboro "Patriot." In 1835, when this paper was sold, Mr. Evans became the purchaser. He conducted the paper for sever years and sold to Lyndon Swaim and M. S. Sherwood.

The first paper in Milton was by a Mr. Perkins, in 1818. He was succeeded by Benjamin J. Cory; he by John Campbell, Jr., who died in Weldon a few years since. Mr. Kenyon succeeded Mr. Campbell, and the former having failed in 1831, Nathaniel J. Palmer, Esq., established the Milton "Spectator." Mr. Palmer died prematurely, from an accident many years ago, at his residence, Cherry Hill, near Milton. He was a native of Orange, a brother of John C. Palmer, Esq., of Raleigh, the latter of whom is a brother-in-law of Philo White.

In 1841 Mr. Evans rented the old "Spectator" office and began the publication of the Milton "Chronicle." At the close of the war the "Chronicle" stopped, and Mr. Evans published for two years a paper in Danville, Va. Next, with his son, Captain T. C. Evans, he published the Hillsboro "Recorder" for two years, and then sold to John D. Cameron. Next and last, in 1873 he revived the "Chronicle," and now, in his 69th year, he is still conducting the paper he established forty years ago. Mr. Evans, though by no manner of means a romantic person, has certainly led an eventful and romantic life. He is a capital editor. Like Xavier Martin, he sets up much of his editorial in his composing stick, without stopping to write it out. "Charley Evans," as he is called by his friends, could not do a dishonest thing if he were to try. It is the wish of the whole press of the State, whether he belongs to this association or not, that his last days may be his best days, and that he may long be spared to his family, his readers and his friends. . . . .

An editorial convention was held in Raleigh, November, 1837. The papers represented were the . . . "Spectator," Milton. [Other papers not listed here.] These men were so modest that their names were not even recorded in the proceedings. . . . .

I am painfully sensible, Mr. President, of the omission and imperfection of this address. I have referred only to the oldest presses and to the oldest editors and ex-editors, with incidental allusions to modern editors and writers for the press. I think have not commended unduly those I have mentioned. I regret I could not sketch the lives and services of all those laborers in the fields of mind, whether present or absent on this occasion. I would respectfully suggest that the Association appoint some one to continue the history of the press at each communication of your body, and when, in the judgment of the Association that history shall have been fully written, that a committee be appointed to condense it into a book, to be printed for perpetual preservation.

Among the dead, not already mentioned, trained writers for the press, but not editors, I recall the following: . . . Archibald D. Murphy . . . Bedford Brown . . . Bartlett Yancy . . . Romulus M. Saunders . . . Others might be added. Some of these were editors for a short time, but editing was not their profession. . . . Archibald D. Murphy was one of the finest scholars and writers of his day. Some of his ablest papers in the way of reports may be found in the journals of the State Senate from 1812 to 1818 inclusive.

Rabbit Shuffle Pond

Rabbit Shuffle Pond

Not to be outdone by "Frogsboro," "Rabbit Shuffle" now has an acknowledged location -- sort of. Click image to see a larger version.

Confederate Amnesty and Pardons

 Confederate Amnesty and Pardons

As Andrew Johnson assumed the presidency, his attitude toward Confederate leaders seemed to signify punishment and prosecution for the rebellion. Many southern leaders fled the United States, going to Mexico, Canada, Europe and other countries. He doubled the number of classes not pardoned under the Lincoln's general amnesty. Johnson's proclamation of May 29, 1865, for example, did not include anyone whose personal property exceeded $20,000. Several mitigating factors however led Johnson to greater clemency, such as the attitude of Lincoln for reconciliation and Secretary of State William H. Seward's similar leniency towards the former rebels.

"President Andrew Johnson Pardoning Rebels at the White House", Harper's Weekly, October 14, 1865.

Those excluded from general amnesty had the option of applying to the president for a special pardon, and much of Johnson's time was spent in granting those pardons.

The following oath was required under Johnson's 1865 proclamation:

I, _____, do solemnly swear or affirm, in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States thereunder. And that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the existing rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves, so help me God.

There were exceptions to the granting of general amnesty:

The following classes of persons are excepted from the benefits of this proclamation:

First – All who are or shall have been pretended civil or diplomatic officers, or otherwise domestic or foreign agents of the pretended Confederate Government.

Second – All who left judicial stations under the United States to aid the rebellion.

Third – All who shall have been military or naval officers of said pretended Confederate Government above the rank of Colonel in the army or Lieutenant in the navy.

Fourth – All who left seats in the Congress of the United States to aid the rebellion.

Fifth – All who resigned or tendered resignations of their commissions in the army or navy of the United States, to evade duty in resisting the rebellion.

Sixth – All who have engaged in any way in treating otherwise than lawfully as prisoners of war persons found in the United States service, as officers, soldiers, seamen, or in other capacities.

Seventh – All persons who have been or are absentees from the United States for the purpose of aiding the rebellion.

Eighth – All military and naval officers in the rebel service who were educated by the government in the Military Academy at West Point, or the United States Naval Academy.

Ninth – All persons who held the pretended offices of Governors of States in insurrection against the United States.

Tenth – All persons who left their homes within the jurisdiction and protection of the United States and passed beyond the Federal military lines into the so-called Confederate States, for the purpose of aiding the rebellion.

Eleventh – All parties who have been engaged in the destruction of the commerce of the United States upon the high seas, and all persons who have made raids into the United States from Canada, or been engaged in destroying the commerce of the United States upon the lakes and rivers that separate the British Provinces from the United States.

Twelfth – All persons who at the time when they seek to obtain the benefits hereof by taking the oath herein prescribed, are in military naval, or civil confinement, or custody, or under bonds of the civil, military or naval authorities or agents of the United States, as prisoners of war, or persons detained for offences of any kind either before or after conviction.

Thirteenth – All persons who have voluntarily participated in said rebellion, and the estimated value of whose taxable property is over twenty thousand dollars.

Fourteenth – All persons who have taken the oath of amnesty as prescribed in the President's Proclamation of December 8, A.D., 1863, or an oath of allegiance to the Government of the United States since the dates of said proclamation, and who have not thenceforward kept and maintained the same inviolate – provided that special application may be made to the President for pardon by any person belonging to the excepted classes, and such clemency will be liberally extended as may be consistent with the facts of the case and the peace and dignity of the United States.

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The North Carolina Convention of 1865-1866 was convened to determine the minimum requirements for readmission to the Union.

State Convention, Adjourned Session, 14 June 1866:

"Mr. [Bedford] Brown presented a petition from a number of citizens of Caswell County, in favor of amnesty for offenses committed during the later war, which was read and referred to the committee on General Amnesty."