Hold Robeson!
The most famous political battle cry of
North Carolina, and wiiy it was raised;
stratagem won a significant battle; roads
save county.
By KENNETH HOWLAND
One of the most famous of all bat-
lie cries in North .Carolina history was,
"As you love your state, hold Robe¬
son!"
Few in this generation know what
it meant, nor what prompted it.
After the Civil War. carpetbaggers
descended upon North Carolina like
a swarm of vultures, picking clean the
bones left by Sherman. They joined
with scalawags, bankrupted the State,
and filled public offices with ignorant
ex-slaves. Slowly, the State came back,
and in 1874 the Democratic party
regained control of the legislature. But
22
the 1868 Constitution, imposed by a
Republican Legislature, hung over the
state, and the new legislature called
for election of delegates to a Consti¬
tutional Convention.
The campaign to elect these dele¬
gates was one of the most bitter ever
fought in North Carolina, and as vot¬
ing day neared, it was apparent that
the results would be close. And at
the last moment, so acutely had the
probable votes been analyzed, it ap¬
peared that the majority at the con¬
vention likely would hinge upon
uncertain Robeson.
On August 3, 1875, General W. R.
Cox. State Democratic Chairman, sent
this message to Col. William Foster
French, Robeson Democratic Chair¬
man:
As you love your siaw, hold Robe¬
son!
French and a battalion of staunch
Robeson Democrats went out into the
county, especially down into Blue
Springs township. And when results
were announced, Robeson had elected
Democratic delegates by a very slim
margin.
What happened? An authentic ac¬
count is preserved in the files of the
Lumbcrton Robesonian, written by
French himself. He said that returns
from four precincts were thrown out.
because the poll books were not re¬
turned. with the other returns, as re¬
quired by the Statute.
The courthouse was surrounded by
a mob, and the apprehensive commis¬
sioners called upon French for ad¬
vice. He told them to stand firm, and
they did. though threatened with ar¬
rest and removal to Albany. New York,
prison.
As it happened, the convention had
59 Democrats and 58 Republicans, but
one Democratic delegate died, and it
was a tic. with three Independents
holding the balance. The Democrats
cagily nominated one of the Independ¬
ents as chairman, and organized the
convention. It was not able, however,
to enact all the changes the Demo¬
crats desired.
Governor McLean
The most widely known man ever
to come from Robeson County was
A. W. McLean, governor from 1925
through 1928. He was born near
Maxton. but as a young man went to
Lumbcrton where he succcssfuly prac¬
ticed law and engaged in banking and
business. During World War I. Presi¬
dent Wilson appointed him to the War
Finance Corporation and he later
served as chairman of this group.
He was active in the development
of his home county and was one of
the organizers of Lumbcrton’s textile
industry.
In ill© Stirrup
All Rep. Martin McCall of Robeson
wanted was to preserve an old Scotch
custom for the Scotch counties of North
Carolina. All he wanted was to per¬
mit the residents of those counties to
indulge their ancient wcc-dcoch-an-
dorus. The House approved, but the
Senate turned him down.
THE STATE. NOVEMOCR 29. 19S2
