State

James Jefferson Britt Instead of going' from North Carolina to Tennessee, he reversed the usual pro¬ cedure. His career in this state covered an extensive field of public service. OX March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln stood on the cast front of the capitol in Washington and delivered his inaugural address which has passed into history as the highlight in statesmanship and pas¬ sionate appeal to “my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen” not to destroy the Union. At about the same hour, on the same date, there was born in what is now Unicoi County, Tennessee, a boy who was named dames Jefferson Britt; and who was destined to east his lot. in early manhood, with the “Old North State." We have been told that truth is stranger than fic¬ tion; the life and accomplishments of Jim Britt read more like romance than true history. The section of Unicoi, where Britt was born, was once a part of Wash¬ ington County, Tennessee; formerly Washington County, North Carolina, embracing, at that time, the territory of what is now the State of Tennessee. And, by the way, this is the first parcel of land in the world named for George Washington, ante-dating Washington County. Virginia, by about nine months. Young Britt grew up in gruelling and grinding poverty. His father owned a small tract of poor mountain land; this section had been dubbed “Scioto," but the natives called it “Siothy.” It was the last word in land sterility, lie hud nothing to recommend him to fortune except a keen brain and a flame-consuming ambition. The first school that he attended was taught by the writer’s father, Drury M. Patton, in a small log schoolhouse on Dry Creek, Carter County, Tennessee. Moved to Bakersvillc He removed to Bakersvillc, Mitchell County, North Carolina, in the early 90’s and was superintendent of the "public schools of that county 1894-96. He took his law degree from Chapel Hill in 1900 and began practice in Asheville. From then until his death on December 26, 1989, hie was a successful and colorful career. From 1S96 to 1899 be was Deputy Collector of Internal Rev- By E. E. PATTON enue; delegate to the Republican Na¬ tional Convention in 1904 and was a candidate for elector on the Roosevelt- Fairbanks ticket that year. He was special assistant to the At¬ torney General in 1906-07 ; served in the North Carolina Senate 1909-11; Assistant Postmaster General from 1910 to 1913. During his term of office in this position he compiled a history of the Postoflice Department and it is one of the most comprehen¬ sive documents over published by the Government. In 1914, he was a successful candi¬ date to represent the Asheville Dis¬ trict in the House ef Representatives. He was a candidate for re-election, but the certificate of election was given to his opponent, the Honorable Acbulon Weaver. Britt contested Weaver's right to the seat and this contest dragged its weary length until March I, 1917. At a night session, the Republicans found themselves in the majority in the House; their leader called up the contest; Britt was seated and served March 1-3, 1917. That gave him two terms in Congress although he actually served one full term and three days of another term. Prohibition Counsel In 1922, Britt was appointed Chief Counsel for the Bureau of Prohibi¬ tion in the Treasury Department. Judge Britt, was defeated for the Chief Justiceship of North Carolina in 1926. He was one of the trusted lieuten¬ ants of Senator Jeter C. Pritchard, whose outstanding career Tin: Static featured in a recent issue. Britt was a far-seeing man; that is to say, he had the elements of statesmanship in his brain and heart. It is proper to relate here a most interesting event in his career. During the presidential campaign of 1S96. Britt spoke in every school and at every cross-roads section in Mitchell County, and was on familiar terms with every voter in that county, more especially the Republicans. The Honorable Richmond Pearson, uncle of Richmond Pearson Hobson, was the Republican Congressman from the district which embraced Mitchell County; he announced, in his campaign for re-election, that he would give a handsome American flag to the county which showed the great¬ est Republican gains. It was won by Mitchell and on an appointed day. he appeared in Bakersvillc to present the flag. He was a rather slow and deliberate speaker; Britt sat on the platform and when Congressman Pearson hud concluded his address, the crowd began to yell for Britt. He responded and men who heard the speeches said they felt rather sympathetic for Mr. Pearson; Britt took the honors. James J. Britt adorned and honored every official position he ever held. He was a careful and profound lawyer. Many years ago, he de¬ livered before the “Pen and Plate ПиЬ" of Asheville an address on the “Implied Powo rs of the Federal Con¬ stitution." While comparisons are always said to be odious, I venture to say that we have never had a Chief Justice of the United States who could write a better dissertation on that phase of our Constitution. He told me in Chicago, at the Re¬ publican National Convention, in 1916, that he had ten thousand copies printed; that he had had requests for them from every civilized coun¬ try in the world; that, at that time, his supply was completely exhausted. From West to East Right here I want to digress slight¬ ly from the subject in order to obtain, it possible, some plausible reason for Britt's leaving Tennessee for North Carolina. Ever since there has been oven a legendary history of the Aryan race, they have been mov¬ ing westward from the Highlands of Asia until they have peopled the bet¬ ter portions of the earth. When our ancestors landed at Jamestown and Plymouth, they set their faces, stern¬ ly, townud the setting sun; they ( Continued on page twenly-two) з