State

The Car son- Vance Duel Historians still disagree about some* of the details of this famous fight. It was brought about deliberately by Hr. Vance in an effort to get elected to Congress. A ''ТЕ It more than 100 years, stu¬ dents of psychology and his- • torians still disagree as to the motive or motives, that prompted I>r. Robert Vance, unde of Governor Zeb B. Vance, to seek a duel with Samuel P. Carson, and to welcome an un¬ timely death. Some cling to the belief that Vance underestimated Carson's courage and chivalry, and gambled with death to retain bis seat in Congress, while others hold that Vance, embittered by the certainty of defeat at the polls and disillusioned by his waning pop¬ ularity, decided upon a last grand gesture before the curtain fell. Carson, un eloquent speaker and fascinating personality who had proved his mettle in the North Caro¬ lina legislature as a Burke County delegate, had been getting the better of the campaign from the outset, overshadowing the scholarly Vance, who was handicapped physically by one leg being shorter than the other. He also had a less fluent tongue than Carson. The young aspirant, for Vance's seat was the son of the distinguished Colonel John Carson, former North Carolina senator ami United States congress¬ man, a one-time favorite of “Old Hickory" until he defended Nullifi¬ cation and became a leading sup¬ porter of John C. Calhoun. He was a descendant of aristocratic families, but was endowed with an amiability that drew all classes under his ban¬ ner. A Fiery Campaign While the campaign hail been fiery throughout, charges and counter¬ charges having been hurled, both can¬ didates had limited themselves to political arguments when they ap¬ peared on the same platforms. Be¬ fore the final campaign engagement at Morgan ton, scheduled for two days before the election. Vance outlined to his managers the drastic strategy that he had decided upon in an en¬ deavor to snatch the election from the fire. They shook their heads and urged him to forego such madness. But lie is said to have pushed them Iff/ J. It. HICK LI V aside, saying that he did not believe Carson had the courage to duel, anal that, if he (Vance* was defeated, life wouhl not he worth continuing anyway . A Direct Insult While the general public did not know of the rash step contemplated, an atmosphere of heavy tenseness hung over the Morganton meeting. Carson renewed his arguments and plea for election and Vance again ridiculed his young opponent. Then, out of a clear. skv. he hurled the thun¬ derbolt that jolted Western North Carolina — an insult that was consid¬ ered unforgivable in the light of that day. He charged that Carson's grand¬ father "took protection" when Gen¬ eral Ferguson invaded Burke County — in fact, had been a Ton*. Colonel Carson, who was in the audience, leaped to his feet and branded the statement a lie, demand¬ ing that he retract the allegation, “You arc too old." Vance told him tauntingly. "You have u gallant son whose duty it is to fight your battles." A Family Discussion Back in the old family home, the aged father and his seven sons sat in grave conference, according to Al- phonso C. Averv. former associate justice of the North Carolina Su¬ preme Court and close friend of the family. The old colonel insisted on issuing the challenge to Vance, but was overruled by his son. It was finally agreed that, after the election, •Samuel Carson should challenge Vance and that, if he were killed, each of his brothers in the order of ages would challenge the man until he was killed. If all the sons were slain, then their father was to issue the challenge. This agreement appeased the old gentleman and so. after being elected to Congress. Sam Carson crossed in¬ to Tennessee, to evade North Caro I inti laws against dueling within » In- state, and sent out a call for Yin . to come over to Tennessee and dis cuss their grievances. The duel was arranged to take place just over the South Carolina line near Saluda * N. C.' on November 6. 1827. Vance at once set about to get In» earthly affairs in order and became even more morose than was his na¬ ture. He told his associates that he realized that all of the Carson hoys were crack pistol shots and that his fete was sealed. He even refused to practice shooting. Carson also was grave and worried as the date l'or the affair of honor approached. "I can hit him anywhere I choose." h<- told his second, the dis tinguished Warren David of South Carolina, and his friend, the storied David Crockett. "I prefer to inflict a wound that will not prove fatal." "Vance will try to kill you." re¬ plied David anxiously, “and, if he receives only a flesh wound, will dc iiuind another shot, which will mean another chance to kill you. 1 will not act for you unless von promise me to do your best to kill him." The Death of Vance At sunrise on the appointed field, two pistols blazed ami Vance fell mortally wounded. Carson started to rush over to him. but was restrained by his associates. The man died en route hack to the home of his fathers and was laid to rest in the Vance burial plot on Keeins Creek, when* a rude marker is still to he seen. Although Carson carved for him self a brilliant political career in North Carolina and Texas, he never recovered from the shook and mem¬ ory of the encounter. He served two terms in Congress, then migrated t" Texas in 1835. There he was chosen a member of the Convention of 1836. which framed the Constitution for that new country. He lieeame first secretary of state under General Sam Houston and played an important role in securing recognition and an nexatiun of the Lone Star State o| the United States in 1845