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."

National Register of Historic Places (Caswell County, North Carolina)

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places worthy of preservation. The first Caswell County property to be listed in the National Register was the Milton State Bank in April 1973. Since then, two historic districts (Yanceyville and Milton) and twenty-three individual properties have been entered for a total of twenty-five National Register listings in the county. The Union Tavern (Thomas Day workshop) in Milton also has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark. See photograph.

County: Caswell (North Carolina)

1. Bartlett Yancey House

U.S. 158, Yanceyville
12/4/1973

2.
Brown-Graves House and Brown's Store
SW of Yanceyville on NC 150
Locust Hill
1974-07-15

Tobacco Cooperative Strife in Caswell County: 1908

 Caswell County Fears That Night Riders May Burn Tobacco Barns

Threatening Notice Posted on the Barns Terrify Tobacco Growers.

BARNS ARE FULL OF TOBACCO

Reidsville, N.C., Oct. 3 [1908] -- "Outrages similar to the deeds of the night riders in Kentucky are threatened in Caswell County, and the independent tobacco growers, especially in the neighborhood of Purley and Blanche, are greatly alarmed as a result of notices which have been posted on tobacco barns and other places where they might be read. While as yet no deed of violence has been reported, a number of the farmers have grave fears that their crop might be destroyed.

"The notices appear to have been freely posted for a distance of about eight miles by some unknown parties, and all of them warn the independent growers to pool their tobacco and not sell it at auction on the warehouse floor. 'If you do, you must bear the consequences.' Another notice reads: 'Pool your tobacco or you will smell fire.' Neither of the above notices was signed, but the supposition is that they were inspired and written by parties who are in sympathy with the movement of the Bright Tobacco Growers' Protective Association of Virginia and North Carolina, the object of which organization is to discontinue the placing of tobacco on the warehouse floors to be sold at auction, but to place it in warehouses operated under the auspices of the association, to be held until prices deemed just and reasonable can be secured. 

"In short, the union farmers hope by this method of pooling tobacco to advance the price and believe that they, as producers, should fix the price rather than the buyer. In justice, however, the Farmers' Association, it can be stated that neither as a body nor as individuals have any deeds of violence or threatening methods been countenanced. The officers of the association and the leading members in public speeches made on various occasions have violently opposed any rash act, and declare that the purpose of the association was to advance the price of tobacco only by honest and legal methods. The Tobacco Growers' Protective Association is backed by some of the most prominent and respected farmers of this section, as well as many substantial business men, and the body should not be held responsible for the act committed by any individual.

"The fact that practically all of this season's crop of tobacco is not in the barns increases the alarm of the Caswell farmers, who are inclined to take the notice seriously. All efforts to find out who are responsible for the threatening notices have proved futile."

Source: Daily News (Greensboro, NC), 4 October 1908.

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The photograph is not associated with the newspaper article. Click image to see a larger version.

Great Damage in Caswell County: 1908

 Great Damage in Caswell County. Special to The Observer.

Reidsville, Aug. 29. -- "It is learned that the damage in Caswell County resulting from the rain storms is very heavy. All of the corn crops located on the banks of the Dan River and the creek near Milton have been destroyed as well as the melon patches in the low grounds.

"The Country Line Creek, running between Rockingham and Caswell Counties, is about 30 feet above its normal height, the waters extending from 150 to 200 feet from the banks. The covered wooden bridge crossing the creek at Milton was in grave danger Wednesday of being washed away. One of the approaches was washed away, but the bridge was saved by the use of large cables, which were attached to trees. The toll bridge across Dan River at Milton is now out of danger."

The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC), 30 August 1908.

The above photograph is not associated with the newspaper article. Click image to see a larger version.

The "Little Caswell County Child" - 1908

 The "Little Caswell County Child"

The Women Teachers Are Working to Rear Boys Who Will Be Successors of Murphey, Saunders, Yancey, Graves and Bedford Brown.

The following clipping from a Caswell newspaper will be interesting to teachers throughout the State:

"The Thanksgiving entertainment given by the Blackwell's school, near Quick, on the 26, we are advised, was a complete success in every particular. The day was an ideal one for the out of doors entertainment. The school house and grounds were beautifully decorated and arranged. Mrs. Graves, the teacher, and the children deserve great praise and commendation for their persistent and untiring efforts. Nothing was left undone by them that would add success and enjoyment for the occasion.

"It was indeed a great day for the 'Little Caswell County Child.' Among the teachers present were Mmes. Graves, Turner, and Misses Rice, King and Graves. Prof. Hickerson, of the Ruffin Graded School, was also in attendance.

"The children of Mrs Graves showed careful and painstaking training, and acquitted themselves with great credit. After the exercises by the children, Supt. Anderson was introduced. He took for his subject 'The Little Caswell County Child.' He paid a tribute to the little Caswell County child of the past, that develops in manhood into such lives and services as was given by Calvin Graves, Romulus Saunders, Bedford Brown, Archibald Murphey and Bartlett Yancey. In the course of his remarks he took occasion to say that North Carolina was possibly more indebted to Archibald Murphey and Bartlett Yancey than any other men, because it was the genius and wisdom of these Caswell County giants nearly a hundred years ago that made public education possible for all the children of all the people of North Carolina, and stated that if our people will respond to the cry of the little Caswell County child, as it begs for the light of learning and intelligence, there will arise worth successors of those men who in the past made Caswell matchless among counties."

Source: The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), 17 December 1908.