0,.%. Memorial t^ Capt. S.A. Ashe Heriot Glarkpon Cfje Libratp of H)f \}tt^itV of Jl^ortt Carolina ntion of il3ott^ CaroUniana from t^t JLihtaty of CpTB fl82c/ C.2., UNIVERSITY OF N C AT CHAPEL HILL 00033926057 This BOOK may be kept out TWO WEEKS ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE CENTS a day thereafter. It was taken out on the day indicated below: MEMORIAL TO CAPT. SAMUEL A'COURT ASHE In Capitol Square, Raleigh, N. C. Vvritten by HERIOT CLARKSON .ViMMi 1. i:t41 Tablet ox Fko.xt of Momm?:nt * »M ^^S i u/ ivt^^'^^^j^M^iitt r . , ii „ . >^j^ ^;s T \l:l I I ii\ 1.1 \i; (H .\ln\ I \\ I \ I 0.\ ilif lic;iul il'iil ;iiHl l);iliiiy dny of Scji- IcIiiImT l;;. Ill 10. tllciv ;i".'liili|r(l ill tlic f;i|iirii| -i|ii;iiT. ;il lv;ilcii;li. X . < '., ;i l;ii'i:c i::illi- f|-iiii; (if liii;li ntlici;il> in the Stjitc aoxri-iiiiiciil iiikI ;i cniwd i>\ nil xirts ;iiiil cond ii khi- nj nnii ;ill(l Wnliicli, to witness lllc I't ■ r( ' 11 lu 11 Ics (it till' iin\riliiiL; of tlic nioiiiiniciit of <';i|it. Snniucl A. A.dir. In thf (.';i|iitol S(|ii:ii-c ;ii-c only a few nioiiu- nicnl,- to i;(io(| nii'ii who Ii;i\c i^nwc lirforc; (icoi'iic Wasliiniiton. Zrl>. I!. \'anrc. ('Iiaric- 11. Ayeork. Cliai'lcs 1). .Mrlvcr, Kiisiizn Woitli J>a.i;lry and I'rivalc Wyatt. This mvat honor was a worthy trilnitc to a iiohic mMoii of a kni^li*ly I'.ici , jo one sjii-i niiino fi-nm ;i joni; line ot hoiioi'c(| aiKTstofs who lirl|ii d make tlii- lii'i'at ( 'oinnionwcallh. .\ U'W I niciirioii ; .1 oh n l)a|irista .\shc. colonial statcsnia n ; -lolin Ila|i- tista .\slic, II. colonial linxci-noi'-clccr ; .lolin Ashe. Kexdhit ioiiary licneral ; Saniiiel A-lie, jii(l,ii'e and colonial uovcriior; William Sliep- [>ai'd A-lie, jiidi:v; Tlio>. S. .\slic. ( 'oiii;fe»- man and ( 'oiifcdci-atc colomd ; a hrothci-. 'I'lios. A. Ashe, was a inemhcr ot the Sii|ii-eme ('ourl of .Xortli ('ai'olina. 'The present lienerarioii has eminent and patriotic meiiihei's. He canic down not ffoni the pee Wee hut eaiiles. I'erliap.s no man has e\-ei' lixcd who was sc, "Woi'thy ;i niemhei' of the Soidetv of the ('in- cinnati n\' Xoi'tli ('andina. ".\ towei' that stood tour sipiai'e to all the winds that hiew." PA(a'; 2 We are riidier tHr hi- life. It i- a commend alile I'acl that iiieiiiher- of' the Society of the <'iiicinnati took part in the erection of thir, inoiMimeiif . ('aptain .\>lie was hoi-ii Sept. i:!, 1 S4o, mid died .Vim. ;; 1. lli:;^. in hi,- ;i^th year. The I nnieiit w;is i)ii\eiled oil the lOOth hirtliday of ('aptain .\-lie. He was a i:allant ( 'oiifed- ei-ale oflirei-. He was all editor, historian and -tatesman. The eli;llt \iilunies of .\slie's Ilioi!,- raphical History of .Xorth ('arolina, written hy liini and other-, .-ind his twn \iduines of the History of Xorth ('ai'olina lia\c perpetuated the i;|orioiis lii>tory of Xorth ( 'arolina. and the li\cs and deeds of her dist i imiiislic(l -ons ami dauiihters. I )r. r. I). Kiiishuiv ,-aid : "I am ahoiii to wfite a (diaracter skefidi of a Xorth ('aridinian who has ne\'er occupied liii;li otHce. who, hy reason of original endowment, actual accom- plislinieiits and thoroiiiih usefulness, has pei'- fornieil real seiwice for the Heniocratic Tarty and the widfare id' X'ortli ('arolina in a time of political stress and peidl that eipials fully the services rendere(l hy any contemporary official, alone f.ci-f III t iiij l/nil jiiussaiil niuii nj Ihr jim- jil r , y.rhulon I'linnl 1 diirr. \ nd'er to Saiiiiiid .\. Ashe, a i-itizeii of conimandinii individuality, and one of the ahlest and hest eipiipped editors of the South in the last thifty years. He may not he so widl known as sucdi, hut that will not affect the truth id' the sfatenieiit nor in anv CaI'T. SaMIKI. A'CdlKT ASHK WAV (liiiiiiiish his uiiiiiisrak;il»lc merits. He is a Xorth Carolinian of the ])ni-csr ty|ic and de- serves most richly to hold a front ])laee anionu- the genuine men of mark in our time and in our State. While Captain Ashe's ehiefest reputation and most meritorious service are based on his editorial life, exteiidiiiii- throuiih many years, he has he-'n a really jidwei-ful factor in political management even when nut identified with a ncAvspaper. He has long heen a most usefitl. inflnential and judicious con- trihutor to the press when not actually engaged in ]ii'ofessional woi'k as an editoi'." The i>rop(ised ^Memorial foreword was as follows ; 'Vm K ( \):\rMITTEE Tin: Ho.N. Gi:o. Gokuo.n Batti.k, Chairman. New York City Mks. Maky Wi.ndkk Oshohxk, Secretary-Treasurer. Box ISO, Richmond. Va. Miis. Jonx H. AxDKKSox. Daughter of Capt. Henry I.ondon. C. S. A. Mks. William J. Axinu:w.s Mrs. T. Murray Ai.lkx Mrs. Asiiby L. Bakeu. Daughter of Maj. R. S. Tucker. C. S. A. Mks. S. Wi stkav Battlk Gi:x. Ai.nKiM- L. Cox. Son of Gen. W. R. Cox. C. S. A. HoX. B( KTOX Crau.k JrsTKK, Hkmiot Clahksox. X. C. Supreme Court. Son of Major Wm. Clarkson. C. S. A. Mi:s. Chaklks A. Caxxox. Auth(n- Mks. Hlriot Clarksox, Daughter of Col. E. A. Osborne. C. S. A. Tni; Hov .Josdmus Daxikls. U. S. Ambassador to Mexico Hox. Thomas Dixox. Author Hox. J. C. B. EiiRixiiHArs Mrs. L. E. Fisih.k, Pres. X. C. Div. of U. D. C. Dk. Fraxk p. Graham. President. University of North Carolina Mr.. Erxest M. Greex, Vice-President. N. C. Order of Cincinnati Dr. Arciiikai.ii Hexdersox. University of North Carolina Dk. Jt r.iAX S. Miller. Editor, (luirlotte Observer Mrs. W.m. B. Little Mr. Loris T. Moore. Manager. Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Mrs. Loiis A. Mauler Dr. Clarexce Poe, Author-Publisher Mr. Charles Root Mrs. R. B. Raxev. Daughter of Capt. C. B. Denson. C. S. A. Page 3 In;. ('ii\KM-- Li.i Smiih. Ant Imr l'nlllisll^•l■ All;-. L \\\ i;i n< i Si'KI n i All;-. A I I i;i II W ii I I \ \i -. I i;iuuliii'i- "f (nil. P.r.\';iii (Iriims. (". S. A. .\li;-. .1 1 i ! \ \ S. W M I I I , I i;iimlii.T iif Col. Will. I,. (If Ums.<.'1, C. S. a. All:. .1. i-"i;\\u W'liKis. Sun n{ ( 'niiiiiKindir J.ihn Wilk.s. ( 'iiiif.Mlcriitr .\';iv.\- ^^inl. ('IniiinU.'. All;-. I'l III; Ai;i:i \i. i(i\ I lii\. W \i III; All i;rii > Till A-ii I, .M i-.\|(M;i \I. ( 'n\l \i 111 IK Ikis hi't'ii iiiu mi/.t-d f"\- llip iiniimsi' nT iil;iciim ;in ;i|iliii)iiri;iii' ni;irl-:fr ;is ;i iieTiiuiiitin nnnn ni;il tn iln hiif (';iiii;iiii S;inin('l .V'Cnnn A.-ln . ('. S. A., and ;is ;i \\iirlli\' cxprfs.'-^iiin - ilid (hirlnini ( 'diiijKHi.w if Rliddc Ishiiid mil idiuiUx- knuwii. ( ipiidit unit >" will he dlYt'icil f(ir hdtii l;iru(- and simill .i^ifls frum the many wIki will wish to cxiu-t-ss tluir ;iff('ciidii and ;idniir;il idii Ud' (';ii)t;iin Ashe I'mnipi i< - spdiisc is urufd tlnil the (irder imiy he liivcii iny the wdik ;it ;ni i;irly date. Xdii.: (Mie(dss shdiild lie made ii;iy;ilile td the Treasurer ;ind will Ik- depdsited id the .\slie Aleiiidiial Fund. ;ii First-Citizens I';ink and Trust Cd.. ]{;ilei,iih. .X. (". 1 lie lei:i.-lati\c enact iiieiit aiitliiiri/.liiu tlii- iiKiiiiiiiiciit i- a> t'lilldws : ■'Ex I It. \ SissHiN, i!);;,s ("iiM'iii; ^:;. H. H. 2()t; AX ACT TO FKFCT A AIKAIORI.XL TO TllF MEAIURV OF THE LATE CAI'TAIX SAAI- UEL A'COURT ASHE OX THE AVESTERX Sn:>E OF THE STATE CAPFrOE OROFXHS. RALEICH, X. C. AA'niKi AS. in the death nf Captain Samuel A'Odurt Ashe, the State of Xortli Oitrolina has sustained the loss df a sdii wild in evej-y sense was Wdithy df Die iiroiid pdsitiun she has acliieved anidii.u her sister states. A son ;is l-. ;is withdiit r( prd;ich ;ind ;is lie;iutiful ;is his L;ri';il I diiim;inder. the iiiinidrlal Ruheit 1-;. i>ee. I'er- sdirill.x' cdiniiris'^idned ;in dtlicer in the ( '(infeder;ite .Arill.X' ll.\ i'residelll |);i\is. he served the IdSt (•;illSe with the \;ildr and dist iiict idii df his r;ice. .A L;re;it man wlm did sn miicli to iiiimdrt;ilize ;ind iiKike heaiitifiil the life ;ind trjiditidii df Xnrth Candina. ;ind witli him died the last of the md- lant (■;iv;iliirs wlm dtficered the t;r;iy-cl;id Imsis df The ( 'diifeilei ;i( \". tluiii wlidiii lid hriivd' li;ind ever sTddd ;!rr;i>ed in the r;iiiks df war. and AX'iii i;i \-. Id preserve f(ir jinsterii .\- ;is ;in i-xam- lile (if this wurlh.v Sdii nf .Xnrlh ( 'a idliii:i. a cdiii- mjric df friends ;im'. admirers df C;ipt;ii) S;iiii- md .\'Cdiiii .\sli( . .-dldier. liisf(iri;iii. piihlicist ;iii{l u(Mtlem;in. pres( lit td ilie Cieiier;il .As■ df Xdith C;ir(iliii;i: l)r. Clnirles Lee Smith, histurijin: lldndr;ihle lleiidt ckirksdii, .lustice df Supreme Cdiirt: Ildiidr;ilile Tlidni;is Dixnn, ;iiitlidr; lldii- (ir;ihle .Ar( hilcild 1 l-nder.-dii, m;it lieiii;ii ici;in, his- idri;iii and liidm;iplier : lir. .Iuli;in S. Little; lldti- dr;ilile .1. C. 1!. Ehrinuhaus: Hdn(ir;ilile I'lirtnii Cr;ii.ue; i;eiier:il .Alhert L. dix ; Air. Ernest AI. Creeii: Dr. Chiicnce I'dc; Air. E. A. ()ldh;ini: Air. .1. Fr;ink Wilk.s: Air. Charles P.ddt ; lldiidr;ihle Ed Clmmhers Smith: Air. Lduis T. Aloore: Air. Fr;iiik P. lhi.\'W(i(id: Alislress Lawrence Spriini : Alis- fress S. AA'estray I!;ittle: Alistress L. E. Fisher; Alislress Clmrles .A. C;iiiii(in; Alistress .\slihy L. P.aker; Alistress William .1. Andrews; Alistress .Alfred A\illi;ims; Alistress .Jdhii 11. .Andersdii; Alistress R. P>. R;iiiey; Alistrt-s^ Heridf Chirksdii; Alistress .Iuli;iii S. Wliilt- Mistress Willi;im P.. Little; Alistress T. Alurray Allen; Mistress Ldiiis .A. Mahler; he. ;iiid the same are lierel).\- ;ipp(iiiit- ed as ;i ((imniittee for the purpuse df r;iisiii,L; the necess;ir.\' funds Id erect a suitahle. ludper ;iiid de- cent nieiiKirijil Id C;iiitain Samind .A'Cdun .Ashe on the m'dunds df the St;ite Capitid. western side, in the City (if R;ilei,i;h. Xdi'tli Cai'dlina. Si ( . 1'. Tlnit the cdsi df this meimirial slmll he withdul ;ippr(ipriat idii m- expense Id the St;ite <>{ .Xortli C;ir()liu;i, it ludii.u the desin- nf the alxive named cdinmittee id perpetuate the nieiiidr.\" nf .Xdrth Ciirdliiui's \;ili;iiit ;iiid hehived Sdii, hy Vdl- iintary iiiid sp(int;iiiedus cdnti-ihutidns fur the inirpose df Inindin.t; ddwn tn posterity the minie of a man whicdi eiiiiohles the hist(n'y. the tradi- tion and the .ulory of the Old Xortli State and this coinmittee alxive mentioned is hereliv direct- Pa(,k 4 FIdN (IliiKi.l (IdKDdX i;\ITIi I )|.M\ I HI \(, AliDlli: ed and enipmvevpd to erect nnd place such prdper menidrial tliey may decide is tit ting and proper tipiin tile State ('apit(d .gniunds in the City of Ra- leigh with and hy the consent of the Governor of Xortli Carolina and the Council of State. Skc. 3. That this act shall he in full force and effect fr(un and after its passage. In the General Assenihly read three times and ratified, this the (Uh day of Maridi, 1939." "H.R. 1061. CiiAPTKR 374. AX ACT TO CORRECT ERRORS IX HOUSE BILL XUMRER TWO HUXDREI) AXD SIX. KXOWX AS THE ASHE MEMORIAL RILL, The flciieral A.sseiiibly of Xorfli ('(iroli)ui do riiact : SixTiox 1. That the name of Dr. Julian S. Lit- tle he stricken (nit and the name of Lr. Julian S. Miller he suljstituted therefor, and that the name of Mistress Mary Winder Oshorne he added to the list of oflflcials in said hill. The cost of the inoimnieiit. wIiIcIl lias liccn j)ai(i, was : The Gorham Co., Providence, R. I., sculp- tured cast bronze memorial tal)let with bas-relief portrait of Sanuiel A'Court Ashe $1,500.00 Express charges 24.90 Cast bronze tablet 30x20 "Ashe" 107.5.5 $1.(532.45 M. Arnaiz. Raleigh, N. C, stone work for memorial SS5.00 $2,517.45 Minor expenses about (itemized and paid for) $ 500.00 I'lie \nlHiirary siilisci'i]itioii> u< pay for tlii- iiioiniiiiciit canii' from iiicii ami wonirii in all walk> of lif|. . . . the rich and tln' )M>or. the lii'i'al a imI the lowly. I he x'lccnoii and price of the iiioiiiiiiicnt \\as carefully lioiic into hy Hon. (ieoriic fiov- don IJaftle and a coiniiiittei'. The (Jorliani ('()iii])aiiy is one of the most rcpiitahle firms 111 the nation. Tlu/y wrote me -laniiary S, lit41 . as to the I'ost as follows : "This sculptured portrait model was made by Rernard Johnson, sculptor, who has created a number of portrait models cast by the Gorham foundries, and he has been eminently successful in this exacting type of work. X^aturally, the cost of this sculptured detail enters greatly into the cost of the completed memorial which we have furnished for the Ashe memorial committee. We most assuredly feel that the charges made for the two tablets were as low as could possibly have been quoted consistent with the above mentioned highest quality of craftsmanship and material." Having had experience in matters of this kind, heiiig on the X. C. Historical Commis- sion for long years, I think the charge most reasoiiahk'. Hon. George Gordon Battle was selected to deliver the address at the unveiling. He, too, is a Xt)rth Carolinian, like Captain Ashe, Avho came from a long line of distinguished fore- hears. Page 5 Mir (|im| lc;i t mil ]il-n<:r;iin \\;i^ ;|- tnHows: l)|':i)|C.\TI().\ OF ASllK M KMOIMAI. Si:rii:.Mi;Ki; l:'.. lUld At '■'< :>\ Cw\\\\ Swii ii A. Asm i Hi;Kim Ci u;kn<)\. SeiiiiH' .Iuslic<\ Supn'iiif Cniirl 111' Xiirlli (';irnlin;i, I'l-nsidinii ll'dili liil';iiilry I'.iiiul nf tlu- N':itiiiii:il CiKiril IiiVdcnlinii _ Du. K(ii:i;i>i ('. h'\ \/n\[ Appri-ciiit inn , . Mits. M vki Wimmi; ()--i:i)K\i Shurt Addr. 'SSI'S l|(i\. .IdSM'lll s Dv.Nllls. Trlr-|;i||l lit' rt',i;ri'tS tn r»';i(l by Hon. .1. .\[. I!i; inn\ 1 )i;. Ak< II ii;ai II Hi \im i:sn\ Mhs. I.;,\\ IS K. h'ism K. Pi-csiilriit. X. ('. Divisimi. V. I). (\ H(i\. W M 1 1 i: Al I Ki'ii 1 Alus. ('ii\s, r.iiwiiM, (if Kicliinniid. \';i.. I'li'sidnit Crii. Ill' V. 1). ('. Address ^(|^. (iMUK.i (Ihkimin I! \ i i i i ('Iniii'iiiiiii (it' Aslif Alt'iiinri;il ( '(iiiini i i in'. I'lfsi'iilal iciii 111' Alniiiiiiii'iit. H(i\. (;kmi\\i H. Amikiw.s. Ahiviir n{ \{:i\,-\u\t Ai ri'pl.inrt' Ul.s K.rrrllcinil. ClMM l{. Wm -^ I'lixi'iliiiLi ("iiuKi.i K. I!\.sii\, "^'niiimi'St (;r,-iii(ls(iii 111' (':ipt;iiii Ashi- Wri'Mlli Will I'.i' I'hic'd ;il lias.' id' Ali mil iii.'iil liy Ali;s. llMtKi AiiC.iKi, St'cmid \'iri'-l 'it'sidciii wi' Xnrlh (";irnliii;i Divisimi u|' I'. I). ('. I'.t'iii'dictinii 'I'm: \{\\. Is\.\( W \ -, \ i Hi mils Ml', iliillli' is ,'i lirilli;iiit ;iihl siii'i'r-st"iil\ ;ii- t(inn'\- iiuw |ii-;irt iciiii: l;i\\ in Xi'W ^'|||•k. S|i;ii'i' will ;illii\\ niily simi't cxcci-pt- frmii hi- inii-lrr- fiil .'iililivss: 'A\ (• li;i\ (• Mirt liri-i' tii(l;iy tu Imimr llii- .Ui'i'.'it smi (if Xdi-tli ( ';i i-iiliiui. wliii 1 liniiiiilmut liis Idiii; lit'i' (|('\(il('i| his tiih'iits ;iii(| his cii I'Tiill's t(i tile s('r\i( f his IlKithc!' St.'llc. We. the siiiis ;iii(| ihilli;ht('i-s of rh:it St.'llc. ih'liuhl to |i;iy him this tfiiiiiic. To inc. ;is ;i Xorih < ';i foliiiKiii. horn mill hi'cd. it is ;i sdin-c,' ot' [iriih' ,'ini| ur;il ificiif ion to |i;i rt ici |i;ilc in these (•ercinonics. S|)(';ikinii for those of iis who for one re;is(iii or miotlier h;i\i' |);iss|.,l oiir li\r- lieyoiiil the hor(h'i's of oiif n;iti\i' Sinte. I ;iiii sure th;il I he iiieinories of oiir hoinehind ;i re ;ill tile more \-i\i(l mid our hixc nil the \\;irm- (.'!■ hecmise of tiuit ah.^elice. .\ml ;is the shadows leiiiilheii ;ind our faces turn townril the AVcs! these fceliiij^s ofow still stroiii^vr and more |Miii;iiant From the earliest days of Xortli ('arojina his family had liecii lu'oiiiinciit and distiiii;- uished. doiiii lla|itisla Ashe was S|ieaker of Pa(,i: C. the Ass,.nili|\ hefol'c tile 1 u ' \ ( i| 11 1 i o || . lie took U|i arm- at the lie^in iiiiii; of that war. he- eaine a niapu- general and died in 17>l, a- a result of wdiinds I'cccixed and illiie-- coiitracr- ed III the -er\ ice. Another aiiee-tor. SaillUel A-lie. was prohahly the last siir\i\or of the Xorth ('arolina ( 'out iiieiitals. riiere were iid\- enior- and jiidue-. there were leiiisla tors, hotli I'eileral and State, and always in time of war There were in Xorth ('arolina soldier.- of the race and name of Ashe. (And now ave) ( 'a|i- taiii Samuel A"' 'oiirt Ashe \\a- the la-t siirvix'- llli: (•(iinim--ioiicd oltieer of the < 'on I'edel'ate forces. And -o. spriim; from such .Xorth ''arolina -lock, he |da\i'd well hi- |>arr in I'Vt'vy phase of the history of his Stale, lie was acti\e 111 iiianv and \aried tield- of clloi't; ami he touched iioihiiii; which he did not adorn, lie tiuui'ed in i^real and iintalile exciits; and he wa- alway- ei|iial to llie occa-mn. ""lie iioihini: common did. or mean. ii|ioii that nietnorahle -celie. . . . .\nd in adililioii lo my sentiment a- a .Xorlli < 'a roli ma II. 1 had llie slroiii^e-t |ier-oiial ad miralion. i-e-|i('('t and atfeciion for ('a|itain .\-lii'. lie wa- an old and \alued friend holli of my father and of my nioiher. .More than once. Ill 111- iravi'l- lliroiii.;li the Stale he s|i('iit ihe niiiht al our Imuie of ( 'ool S|iriiii: down on the Tar Iii\er in Fdi^ecomhc. And indeed. I delect in all the Word- ihal lia\C heeli s|i(ikell here and in llie aliiio-|ili('re ot tin- occa-ioii a sense of (lee|i |iers(iiial aficctmu and Ik reavc- meiit. We all feel that We lia\(' lost a friend wlio-e nienior\' we can never forget. I his is not always the case on occasions -udi as these. There a '•(' many u I nieii and wiuneii whose \ii'tues we recoiiiiize and ^\ hose loss we w- i:fcl. hut withiuit tills keen einoimn. I think that the source of this seniinient which wc all -hare this afternoon i- our realization that We are monrninu not only one who truly loved his friends, hui one who had a deeji sym|iathy with all liunianity. who was an.xioUs to help evei-yoiie wlmiii lie met ill liis jiiuriiey through life. ('ajitain .Vshe followed consistently the admonition of the old (^)iiaker who said in nohlc and ineinorahle woi'il- : ■'] expect to pass ihiiiuuh llii- wmrld hut once. .\iiy i^ood. therefore, that 1 can do or any kindness that I can show to any fellow crea- ture lei ine do il now. Fet llie Hot defer if or neiilecl it. for 1 shall md pass this way ai;aiii."" Statk Capitol at Nksht, Lighted by Floodlights r;i])tai]i Aslie never (Icfcn-cd imr neglected to do any good or to sliow anv kindness in liis power to any fellow crcatnrc and so the meni- ory of his path tlirough life is fragrant witli good thoughts and good deeds." He served with notahle distinetion through- out this four years of war, sliowing the same gallantry, the same icsourcofuliicss. and the same humanity that marked his entire career. The story of his military experience is a part of the war history of his State. 'Idle next years of his life cover what lias well heeii called the tragic era of our country, ('aptain Ashe was twenty-five years of age at the time of the surrender at Appomattox in 1865. For the next eleven yeai's — until 1ST6 ■ — our State was plunged in the horror-^ of Re- construction — far more disastrous and hurtful than those of the Avar itself. There was, I be- lieve, no Southern State that sutfered so much from the crimes and evils of Reconstruction as did i^orth Carolina. . . . Crime and vice were rami)ant; the State gov- ernment was permeated hy shocking corrup- tion. State honds to the amount of millions of dollars, admittedly illegal ami fraudulent, were issued. The University was (dosed. . . . 'idle forces of order gradually resunie(l con- trol. Finally, in 1>>76. \\-lieii those two great Xorth Carolinians, Zehulon I>aird Vance and Thomas Jordan Jarvis Avere elected Governor and Lieuteiuint-Governor respectively, the State was redeemed and the monstrous regime of Reconstruction came to an end. Dui'ing this period Captain Ashe was splendidly and most eificiently active in his effoi'ts to cuidi the malign forces of oppres- sion and tyi'anny and to help his State and its people. After the War, he found himself ruined and destitute as was the case with most Southern men at that time. . . . In the final campaign of 1S76, he was most active together Avith General William R. Cox, who Avas Chairman of the Campaign Com- mittee; and the success of the forces of de- cency and honesty in 1876 Avere largely due to his efforts. As a citizen, as a legislator, as an editor, he stroA'e constantly, and inces- Page 7 -.;intlv. Mini liiosi cHii-ifiif ly (liii-iiii; flicsi' tcl'- rililc _\i';irs u> \\r\\< .-iiid i'(m|c('iii Ins [icdplr. It IS ilii |i(is-l hie iu cx.-liilii'r.'ltc lllc 1 Ill|Hil-f;i llci' iif his scrxicfs til Ills Sr;irc tiim-. And lllc >tn|-y (if llis ili'tidlis III these Veni'S I'e- Hects the hisliiry mI" the Stnte. At'lel- lli;ir excillt'lll ye;i|- of \^l ninl wdiinds which were llle resldt nf tl|u,-e e\i| l;;_vs wcfe tfeiitcil ;,iili i |i of (io\-enior Aycock niid his nssocuites. I'lie St;ite delit w;is fiii;illy ;ind |iro|M'fly settled. Then there cjiiiie the \;ist iiidiisln;il nwolution tlirolli;lloUI the >St:ite. . . . lie edited the eit;ll t -N'ol ll nic hio" r;i | ill ic;d hlstiiry of fhr St;ite, which is ;ili ili\;ilu;iMe source of iji:ireri;il foi- the future. He h;i- writteli III t\\o \dluille- ;i liiosl interestilli; ;ilid detiiiili\c hi^toi-y of the St;ite, from llie d;iys of the Lost ( 'oloii\ down 1 hi'oiiah I he ye;ir I'.llTi. Till,- work i> in e\cry |mhlic lihr;ir\ ;iiid is most ii^hly esteemed. ji i> m ni;isier- pie<-e 111 lii,-toi-|c;i 1 eruditiim ;iiid ;iccur;ic\'. .\iid diirinu lliese ye;irs (';i|il;iin .\s|ie w;i- ;ihre;ist of ;ill the i^dod work of e\cr\' kind in the St;ite. ]le w;is ;ictl\e 111 its ell ;i r i t ;i hie :ind ]iliil;int hro])ic enterprises. He w;i> .mr nf the ])roiiiiiieiit iiiid distinguisheil niemhers of the J'rolest.'int l^^|dsco!)nl (Tnirch. llis life h;is been a sliini.ig- example to all the young men aud wouieii of the Sfute. Throughout ;ill hi> years, from his (diildhood to Iii> Inst days, he seiweil his St;ili' widl and iiohly. lie consis- tently represented her hest interest and lu'r highest standard. It jiiay truly he said (d' him that he rendei'ed iiKsfimahle service to his native State, hotli in war and peace, and that he holds a high j)lace in the hearts n( his Jieople. Xo one could hetter deserve the great honor which his heell ]»;ii(l him hy the Legishiture of North ("arolimi in authorizing this memo- rial tablet here in the ('a|)itol S(pi;ire of our Stati'. It is most artistic and beautiful in its conception and execution. "When we look ui)oii Pm,k S hi- high' ami iiohle f;ice. with it- iii(df;ihle e.xpressioii of humanity ;iiid kindiii'.-s, ;is widl ;i- ot iiit(dligence ;ind cour;me. It recnils to ii< our friend who ha- gone. It is ;i common heliet tinit when file liumaii tr;i\eler IS piis.-ing from (Mle Sfnge of life to the ne.\t, when he st;inds on the \-erge ot that mysiei'y wlii(di wc call heath, the event- of his p;isf come up like a great pamu'ama hetore hi- d\iiig \isioii, so that he nia_\' see the course of hi- life fldin heiiinniiii; to end. As-iireilly, if Snuiiud .\'( 'oiirt Ashe had -ladi an outlook upon his century m\' lifi'. he would ha\e -eeii a (••n,-tant record of high and iiolih- achiexcmeiil and of i ,l.-uer\i iiu iH'vOiioli to the lllh lesi- ol the State of .Xorth ( '.-irolina, wlindi he hidd so ne;ir Ins heart. l)ouhtless ;il that supreme moineiii III- tlioiighls went hack to hi- early day- alonu the ('ape Fear, when he could hear the call of the kildee- along the ri\er bottoms, and the -wift rush of the ipiail in the uplands, when he could >ee the wild geese, aild tile wild duck- following each other in single tile from one end of the hori/.oii to the other, and when he could oli-er\e tile graceful aiid the majestic course of the hawks swooping down and wliecd- iiiL; their way through the southern -ky. l)oiibt- le--. he could remember tliose plains of the d'ldewaler. the hill- of the riedmont, and the lofty niiiiiiitain> of the We,-t. that all go to make up hi- native Slate, lie coiihl recall the peopl,. ot' that State whom he Indd and by whom he was Indd so dear. lie could I'ccall hi- long and noble service to that State ;iiid to his people, and as his eyes (dosed for his last sleep, he might Well reali/.e that no one ever bettei deseiwcil that fail, dial but nobles, (d' all accolades, 'AV(dl done, thou good and faithful >er\ailt I" Xo one better deserveil that sleep wliiidi (Jod gi\etli to llis bcdoveil. \]\<\ now llis life is ended. In the fullness of years and (d' a