- Title
- Papers of David Settle Reid [vol. 2]
-
-
- Date
- 1997
-
-
- Creator
- ["Reid, David Settle, 1813-1891."]
-
- Place
- ["North Carolina, United States"]
-
- Series
- Publications of the State Department of Archives and History
-
-
Papers of David Settle Reid [vol. 2]
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68
Division of Archives and History
members of the last legislature looked upon Mr Edwards’- course in the
Senate on this question with heartfelt mortification and regret and I feel
bouyed with the reflection that not only has the united voice almost of the
people of this state sustained you on this great measure but that time is
not far distant in the which 1 sincerely hope it will override all opposition.
The course of some of the democrats of this county on this question has
been and still continues to be remarkably inconsistent, and it grieves me
to say, that some few of the most intelligent and popular gentlemen in this
county stand committed against it. I am honest, when I say, I believe a
majority of the land-owners in this county' are friendly to Frcc-Suffragc,
but owing to the personal popularity of a few of the Antis, this measure
has been, and I fear will continue to be successfully opposed in this county.
Mr William Eaton Jr3 with whom you are well acquainted, a man of
unspotted character and much legal learning is the Senate candidate in
this county without opposition, and owing to his personal popularity
together with his great share of intelligence, I am rather disposed to think
he would be elected against any opposition. I honestly believe he is at this
time the only anti that could be elected, indeed I feel certain of it. If we
could get him off, we have twenty’ free suffrage men among us that could
defeat any Anti that could be brought out, not excepting Mr Edwards. I
see it reported in the Standard, that Judge Settle12 intends, if he has not
already resigned, and if you in your wisdom and discret ion should see lit
to appoint Mr Eaton in his place, I feel assured that the people of NC
would heartily endorse his appointment and on the other hand, we the
Free Suffrage men of this county would have the very great pleasure of
being in the Senate of the next legislature in accordance with our own
views on this great question. In conclusion, I trust you will view this
communcation in its proper light devested, as I know I am of any
disposition to dictate to you what course to pursue in this or any other
matter. Regard this communication, Gov Reid If you please as strictly
confidential, I shall feel myself much honored on receiving an answer to
this.
P.S. The suggestion contained in the above comes from myself alone.
1 Samuel Alston Williams, Jr., of Warren County was a member of the House of Commons
(1838-1839, 1852-1855). Cheney, North Carolina Government, 1300.
2 Weldon Nathaniel Edwards (1788-1873), a Warren ton attorney, was a member of the
House of Commons (1814-1815), the U.S. Congress (1816-1827), and the state Senate (1833-
1844, 1850-1852). As speaker of the Senate in 1852, Edwards, a conservative Democrat,
refused to vote for the free suffrage constitutional amendment, thereby delaying passage
until a later session. The amendment was eventually ratified in 1857. Biographical Directory of
Congress, Bicentennial Edition , 954; Norton, Democratic Party , 170-173; Powell, DNCB, II. 141 .
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