State

Governor Daniel G. Fowle An able lawyer, a far-sighted statesman. a wi.se political leader, а compelling orator and a forceful personality who was an out¬ standing' figure in liis day and time. 60VKRN0R BROUGHTON ищу Im« iIio fire* unlive of Wake lo In* elected ns our chief mag¬ istrate, but Governor Daniel G. Fowle lind l-’en a resident of our capi¬ tal city and was thoroughly identified with it fur more than thirty years before lie was elevated to the same high office. Nor has our stale ever possessed an abler lawyer, n more far¬ sighted statesman, a wiser political leader, a more compelling orator, or a more forceful personality than in the person of Governor Fowle. He was a native of Beaufort (horn at Washington in 1831), and he rose to eminenco in the legal profession as diil so many others from that count}' noted for the quality of its outstand¬ ing bar. lie was prepared for college, as were so many eminent sons of Caro¬ lina, at the famous preparatory school conducted by the headmaster William Bingham, following which lie matriculated at Princeton Uni¬ versity, from which he graduated with high distinction in 1851. He then entered upon the study of the law at the famous school at ‘'Richmond Hill," conducted by Chief Justice Bear-on, and came to the bar in 1 **.'>:;. Soon thereafter he married a daugh¬ ter of the Chief Justice. Practiced Law in Raleigh The year following his admission to the bar. In* established himself in his chosen profession at Raleigh, and thereafter his career is associated with that city. Hardly had he Iwgun a promising career at the bar, when the guns of Port Sumter ushered in the Civil War. Although he was pro¬ nounced in liis Union . . . as were most of the prominent Caro¬ linians of lii» day, yet when President Lincoln called upon our state for troops to aid in putting down the “rebellion" in the Southern States, he volunteered hie services as a private soldier in a company formed at the capital known n« the "Raleigh Rifles,” and upon the election of officers thereof Fowle was chosen as Lieu¬ tenant. Hi- ability was fast becoming recognized even at this early stage in liis career, and upon the organization of the state troop- under Governor By П. C. LAWRENCE Ellis, he Was designated as Major in the commissary department. But Fowle had no desire for я bomb proof job while his brethren fought the foe. so in the summer of 1861 he resigned his eommission as Major and assisted in the formation of a regiment which became the 31st North Carolina, in which he was first elected as Captain and subsequently as Lieutenant Colonel. This regiment formed a part of the small Confed¬ erate force which tried vainly to de¬ fend Roanoke Island against Burn¬ side's attack hv laud and sea, the Federal' with their overwhelming force capturing not only lliu island, hut the entire force of defending Con¬ federates. Colonel Fowle became a prisoner of war in the hands of the enemy, hut he was soon thereafter exchanged, and again entered t lie military and political life of the day. In 1862 lie was elected ns a mem¬ ber of the Поим* of Commons, and upon the adjournment of that body, was appointed Adjutant General, with the rank of Major General, a position which he filled with ability until he resigned on account of his desire to again enter into political life. In 1864 In* was once more elected a member of the House of Commons, being the only inemher of hi- ticket to be elected. Superior Court Judge In 1305 he was elevated to the bench as Superior ('unit Judge, a position - ■■ ■■ In Roleigh, it's olwoy* THE SIR WALTER More thon о hotel— A North Caroline institution Finest occommodotioos Air -conditioned Col lee Shop The center ol everything . liis legal ability would have graced, hut as the state was then a Military District, with oven the judiciary subject to tho orders of the Federal General in command, lie resigned his sent upon the hciieli rather than carry out the orders and follow tile policy outlined by General Daniel K. Sickles, who then commanded the Department of North and South Carolina. His legislative career, his army service, the force of liis intellectual powers, as well as his foiidne-s for political life, had by this lime made him a statewide public figure, and in 1S6S he was elected as chairman of the State Democratic Executive Com¬ mittee. While his party was not suc¬ cessful because of the recent en¬ franchisement of the Negroes, he handled the campaign with such ability that the Republican majority was greatly reduced. A Strenuous Campaigner In 1876, when Vance was elected Governor and began the rebuilding of a prostrate Commonwealth, tile golden tongue of Fowle yva- heard from every stump and he canva—ed the -late from the mountains to the sea. In that par¬ ticular caiupaigii he was a candidate for presidential elector-at-large, and so impressive was the canvass which he made that when the North Carolina members of the electoral college met. they unanimously joined in a request to the president-elect that Fowle he made a member of hi- cabinet as Attorney General. In every subse¬ quent campaign he was a leading participant, and so conspicuous were his services to his political party, llial every Democratic mciuhcr of iho Gen¬ eral Assembly of 188-1 „igned a petition requesting I’le.-idenl Clew land to appoint him a- Solicitor General. During the passing of lhc«e year- he had licconic an cm: the bar. liis profound tlu* law, his as tu ten.— i knowledge of ii the technical raiegv oi a inai, ui« P'“'*n a* an locate and hi* preenu tieiit oratorical al 'ilitv. caused him to 1 «• employed as counsel in every case of any inoinent in the eastern section of the -tali’, lie ranked easily as one of the first trial t Continued on /ко/, thirl ii I IS