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Address of Justice Heriot Clarkson, at the Me mo rial Day Exercises of the Johnston Pet- tigrew Chapter, United Daughters of Confederacy, May "10th, 1935 - Raleigh, N.C.

It is a peculiar pleasure for me to be here today in Godfs Acres, and speak to the noble women who have all these years kept the "home fires burning". Here lie buried nearly 2500 heroes, who died for a cause which they believed to be just and righteous.

May I congratulate you on the Cross of Service you present. Again let me encourage and urge you to hold up the hands of Mrs. Alfred Williams, Chairman, and the Committee, to build here on this sacred spot a "Ihous e of Memory" - a memorial to soldiers and sailors of all wars in which North Carolina has had a part, a lasting tribute for all ages.

In the beautiful Spring time, 68 years ago, a remnant of a great army, once the wonder of the world, was trapped at Appomattox. Lee!s little band .of wearied and half -starved heroes was be- tween the two wings of Grant ls great host. "On the morning of the 9th", Lee wrote, "according to the reports of the ordnance officers, there were 7,892 organized infantry with arms,-::-;:--::- the artillery reduced to 63 pieces-::--::--;:-::- (and) the cavalry -;:-::-:;- did not exceed 2,100 effective men, The enemy was more than five times our numbers."

On April 10th, 1865, General Lee issued this farewell order to the ragged, half-starved, im- mortal band: "After four years of arduous serv- ice, marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled 'co yield to overwhelming numbers and resources. i need not tell the survivors of so many hard- fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them; but, feeling that valour and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that would nave attended the continuation of the contest, i have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them

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to their countrymen. 3y the terms of agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain there until exchanged. You will take with, you the satisfaction that proceeds from the con- sciousness of duty faithfully performed; and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you His hies sing and protection. With an un- ceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country 5 and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration of myself, I bid 37-ou an affectionate farewell." When this order was read to those heroic soldiers, it is said that they wept.

IT. S, Senator Ben Hill, of Georgia, said: 'When the future historian comes to survey the character of General Robert E. Lee, he will find it rising like a huge mountain above the undu- lating plain of humanity, and he will have to lift his eyes toward heaven to catch its summit. He was ' a foe without hate, a friend without re- proach, a Christian without hypocrisy, a man without guile » He was a Caesar without his am- bition, a Frederick without his tyranny, a Napoleon without his selfishness, a Washington without his reward. He was obedient to authority as a servant and royal in authority as a true King. He was gentle as a woman in his life, and pure as a virgin in thought, watchful as a Roman vestal in duty, submissive to law as Socrates, and grand in battle as Achilles.1'

Let us speak of another: In the annals of our American History, fame has written in large letters the name THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON, ''Stonewall Jackson", so called by Bee at the Battle of Mannas s as. In the words of an admirer: "He was as patriotic as Lee, as silent as Grant, as daring as Stuart, as cautious as Washington, as brilliant in action as Ney." Lloyd George has said of Jackson that he was the greatest General of all times, greater than Napoleon be- cause he had what the Cor sic an lacked, a deep religious faith. To Jackson duty was ever a "stern daughter of the voice of God." Jackson died before he reached the age of forty years. His" dashing and brilliant military maneuvers

were all executed within the space of two years. In that brief period his exploits and achieve- ments in campaigns the most spectacular and challenging have carved for him immortal fame.

I shall not speak further of Lee and Jackson. I leave these. two heroic Christian soldiers for the example of all people and all ages.

Today I want to speak of those men who laid down their arms, and of the women of the South. The women, G-od Bless them, suffered as no others, and stood the test. The invading armies had gone through our beloved Southland and practically laid it in waste. It is said that General Sherman, whose conquering army went from Atlanta to the sea, looked back over the 40-mile track and said "A carrion crow would have to carry its rations", so desolate had he left this region. The cities, towns, hamlets and food mills had been burned, the cattle and everything' eatable taken. These soldiers returned to ashes, with the money of the Confederacy valueless. Millions of negro slaves were turned loose on the prostrate white race, sold by the North to the South - worth billions of dollars - without compensation. Northern and Western carpet-baggers and scala- wags, like the Egyptian locust, overran this fair land and turned the negro race against the white race; and these political vultures with the illiterate negro ruled the South, in legis- lative halls and even in the Courts. The soldiers of the Confederacy were disfranchised. Gyves, shackles and thraldom were placed upon the des- cendants of the Revolutionary patriots, a people who did more than any section to throw off the yoke of British rule. Then again the predatory wealth of the North levied a tariff tax that destroyed the value of the South1 s main crop - cotton. It looks now as if the philosophy of life and ideals of this section will help to save the nation. A few native traitors joined with this motley crew and fed on the prostrate states. Crime, stealing and disorder were the fruit of this condition. In the wake of the Invader, who had burned, destroyed and stolen, came the Shy lock who practically gobbled up the railroads, steamships, the few industries and

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v a luab 1 e homes left. Our people we r e f r and - talent ly bonded and taxed. The carpet-bagger's bonds are known to all men. The vanquished patriots and their children became the hire- lings of the conquerors. No race or people on this earth suffered more. Yet the white man's burden of the negro was not sought, but Imposed on him by sale by the Northern people of the slaves, and to him the task was given to civilize and christianize a barbarous race. This duty was faithfully performed. There is ■ a book called "A Fool's Errand by one of the Pools"., written by Judge Albion W. Tourgee, who came to North Carolina. The preface is this l!To the Ancient and Honorable Family of Fools , this book Is respectfully and lovingly dedicat- ed,, by one of their number". He was one of those who undertook to change the lav; of God and nature by trying to make an inferior negro race dominate the white race .

Mien the Anglo-Saxon Confederate Soldiers and the women of the South , and their sons and daughters 3 after years of humiliation, sacri- fice and struggle, regained the Government, founded on "White Supremacy through white men", these foreign political leaches fled the State like rats out of a sinking ship. In North Caro- lina this struggle of white supremacy lasted off and on until the "iWhite Supremacy" General Assembly of 1899 . Submitted at the General Election in 1901, the Constitutional Amendments eliminating the Illiterate, was carried by a large majority. .The responsibility of these conditions narrated may be traced in part to the following lawless resolution, subversive of constitutional and orderly government: "Resolv- ed, That the compact which exists between the North and the South is a covenant with death and an agreement with hell; Involving both part ies in atrocious criminality, and should be im- mediately annulled". (William Lloyd Garrison -- Adopted by the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Soci- ety". Fanuell Hall, Jan. 27, 1843).

General Lee and a host of others (some of my

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own included) had freed their slaves before the outbreak of the War between the States , and it is estimated that at that time there were 10 to 15 per cent, of the negroes in the South free.

It was a foolJs errand, and Judge Tourgee so found and was 'honest enough to say so. No man or set of men, bey they cloistered clergy or laymen, lacking common sense, are justified, in trying to change the natural law. Each race should take pride in its purity and integrity. Separation and segregation with justice has ever been and ever will be the policy of the South as it is founded on the immutable law of G-od and nature, and be it to the glory of North Carolina that this commonwealth is doing justice to the negro. His best friends are his white neighbors, not foreign agitators. Every governmental agency for betterment, such as schools, asylums, re- formatories, etc., that the whites have, the negroes have, though separate. The Courts are ever jealous to do justice to the negro, and may I be permitted to say that this is especially so with the high Court of your State. The faith- ful service and loyalty of the negro during that horrible strife between the States cannot be forgotten » The friendships must not be broken by these interlopers and long-range advisers. The "Tragic Era" and the woes that befell this land by an unnecessary war are now being justly written by men of intelligence and great hearts living in other sections of our beloved. Nation. To them we are grateful. .

Mien we look back at the crucifixion of the South, let us try to forgive and forget. It was the Master on the cross who said "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" . I come now to the turning point in this Commonwealth, when the Anglo-Saxon race gained supremacy In 1899. It Is a wonderful picture for all our people to look upon, both white and black. North Carolina went forward by leaps and bounds; Phoenix-like she arose from ashes.

May I give the story for encouragement in these deflated, times? We have in a short period of time built an empire state with all modern

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conve niences «, We must now in State, county and sub-division and personally economise, work, and win, and pay what we owe .

No section of the Nation in like time, from then until now, have had finer and greater men as Governors: Aycock, Gllenn, Kit chin, Craig, Bickett, Morrison, McLean, Gardner and Ehring- haus . No State in the Union has a greater road system than North Carolina. It and the eight months1 school system-to-be will be supported . by no tax on land. As to the road system: Total mileage of State Highways January 1, 1933, 10,316; total scent for construction of State Highways to July 1, 1951, $184,037,797.55; Fed- eral Aid payments on construction to July 1st, 1951, $19* 544, 917.00; total spent for construc- tion from State funds and donations, $164,492,- 880.55; total amount of bonds issued for State Highway construction, $115,000,000.00; balance due on bonds, April 1,1935, $105,037,000.00 - less Sinking Fund, $5,502,964.00 - total, $99,534,036.00; due counties for loans made for road construction, $3,720,808.00; total due, $103,254,844.00; total mileage of County roads taken over on July 1, 1931, 44,604; total mile- age of County roads under maintenance January 1, 1933, 46,548. It Is estimated that the present worth of all County highways in the State is $150,000,000.00, The total" investment of the State In County and State highways approximates $550,000,000.00.

The taking over In 1921 and the building of a hard-surface and dependable system of roads connecting by the most practicable routes through the various county seats and other principal towns of every county in the State, was a re- markable achievement and the present efficient Chairman and commission, and the organization lor taking over the County roads in 1931, de- serve the commendation of the xoeople of the State. The gasoline tax and automobile license tax finances the entire system, with a s inking fund provided to pay off the serial bonds.

As to the school system, the General . Assembly

appropriated in 1899 for State maintenance of schools ^100,000.00. The Supreme Court of the

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State In recent decisions opened wide the door for the State to maintain a school system of not less than 6 months. In 1931 the State took over the schools for six months, financed by about §12,500,000.00 from sources other than land and 150 ad valorem tax on land - a reasonable and sensible compromise solution of a General As- sembly that was in session nearly five months. The present General Assembly, it appears, will finance an 8 months l supported State school, providing for $16,000,000 on subjects of tax other than land. So all the roads and schools in this State will be supported other than by a tax on land.

The school story: The total enrollment in the public schools for 1931-32 was: white, 599,900; colored, 265,781; total, 865,631. High school pupils: white, 116,989; colored, 17,886; total 134,875. The appraised value of school property is as follows: white, >t:p99?335 ,659; colored, Oil, 742, 421; total, $111, 126,080. The number of school houses now in use is as follows: white, 2,331; colored, 2,298; total, 5,129. The number of teachers employed Is as follows; white, 17,053; colored, 6,127; total, 25,180, For this present splendid showing, credit Is due to the present and past able Superintendents of Public Instruc- tion, and their assistants, with that noble army of school teachers in the State. The State is also going forward in a vital matter, vocat- ional guidance in agriculture and Industry, aided by the U. S. Government.

We have fine denominational colleges and schools; our cities and counties are dotted with churches - beacon lights. Beautiful homes are everywhere, and orphanages. Duke University is perhaps one of the richest and best equipped universities in the World. North Carolina has a great University, the oldest State University in the Nation. The Greater University is now composed of the old University, the State Col- lege and the Womens* College, "all in a flourish- ing condition. The Textile School at the State College Is one of the best in the Nation. Also we have a college and. Teachers College and Normal Schools for the negroes. "Retribution follows

wrong, though the execution tarry long". Due to the sudden change from agricultural to indust- rial life, caused by not gradually freeing the negroes and paying for them as was done by Eng- land, North Carolina today has surpassed Massa- chusetts in the textile industry; and the South, New England. We have the resources grown at our door, an open climate almost the year round, and cheap electric power. There are more mills in North Carolina than in any other State; more spindles in North Carolina than in any other State; more mills that spin and dye their yarn; the largest towel mill in the world; the larg- est denim mill in the United States; the larg- est damask mill in the United States . One of the largest rayon plants in America is located in North Carolina. We also have a great knit- goods industry. .In the manufacture of furniture we are second in the Nation. In time we will become the center of industrial activities of the Nation. In the East the U. S. Government has about completed the Inland Waterway and the progressives are looking in time for free ports and terminals to encourage water commerce .

Our State is becoming a great tourist cent- er -- Plnehurst and the eastern seashores, and Asheville, Smoky Mountain and the resorts of the West. By our good roads and resorts, un- told wealth is being brought Into North Caro- lina .

As to Industries: We have one of the largest hydro-electric developments in the Nation, great tobacco and cigarette factories and small industries, of all kinds . There is no finer land for cotton, corn, wheat, rye, to- bacco, etc., especially Eastern North Carolina, a veritable garden-spot. Vegetables of all kinds abound - truck farms, strawberries, dew berries., sweet and Irish potatoes, peanuts and peaches in the East; in the West, Irish potat- oes, cabbage, apples, grain, etc., splendid nurseries, fine cattle and dairies. The State is first in the production of mica and abounds in other minerals. Both sections of the State have a climate unsurpassed - no earthquakes or damaging floods, or storms. The land Is adapted

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to most any variety of fruits and flowers. We have a great drainage system to promote health and wealth; forest and game protection; men and women in all walks of life, able and efficient; a. labor element than which there is no better or more patriotic; a splendid system of charit- ies and public welfare, Historical Commission, libraries, etc.; and state extension work with farm demonstrators. The first Cotton Festival is to be held in Raleigh this month, others are being held all over the South and elsewhere to encourage the use of cotton cloth.

In 1931 North Carolina factories manufactured products valued at $1,026,565,220. This was a decrease of 21.75$ from the previous year. We have decreased greatly in the value of farm pro- ducts (as has the whole Nation) - our value be- ing |100,000,000 last year. Last year the United States Government collected $220,000,000 cigarette and tobacco tax and since 1919 over |3,0C0,000,000 from North Carolina. Some day there will arise a man in Congress who will see that we get a proper rebate from this iniquit- ous tax .

In Building and Loan Associations, we have $65,894,023.17 safely invested - 1,366,204 shares, 72,276 white members, and 9,621 negro members .

Our entire State debt amounts to about $185,411,371, including the deficit, practical- ly all of the amount being represented in per- manent investments in roads, the University, colleges, schools, public institutions for "those whom the finger of God has touched", and other humane and reformatory institutions.

Our assets: Assessed valuation, counties, cities and towns in North Carolina, $2,830,758,174 value of State property, permanent improvements, $272,899,425. Many of the cities and towns in the State own water, sewer, lighting and tele- phone systems, public buildings, hard- surf aced streets, etc. The value is hard to estimate, out most of the indebtedness is for school houses, public utilities and improvements, court houses, county homes, etc. Taking all

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assets of State, .counties, cities and towns, the and other sub-divisions, it is estimated (1929) by/

World's Almanac of 1933, that they amount to $5,429,000,000,

Our liabilities: Total State and local indebt- edness, $556,059,738. Of this amount the State indebtedness 'is $185,411,371; local $370,648,367. The State indebtedness includes the State High- way indebtedness of $103,254,844, which is safe- ly financed by serial bonds and maintenance paid out of the gasoline and automobile license tax. ^t a]. so includes the Indebtedness incurred for permanent improvements in our institutions of learning and charitable institutions.

We have a population of 3,158,730 - 29% neg- roes. About 99% are native born. Until last year, Worth Carolina had the largest birth rate in the Nation, but it is now second to New Mex- ico, Illiteracy among our white population is 5.6% and among the negroes 20.6%. Our State Board of health, with its great physicians in charge, has reduced the death rate. In 1914, it was 12.4 per thousand; In 1932, it was 9.6. The death rate from typhoid, diphtheria and tuberculosis has been reduced to a remarkable degree. It must be borne in mind that this in- cludes the negro race, to whom the duty is owed.

Millions of great hearts in other sections of this Nation have sympathized with us in our problems and recognized us in governmental high places. President Grover Cleveland appointed Edward D. White of La., to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the "U.S., afterwards Chief Justice; Lucius Q. C. Lamar, of Miss., Secretary of Interior and afterwards Asso. Jus- tice of the Supreme Court of the U.S.; Hoke Smith of Ga . , Secretary of Interior; Gov. Hugh S. Thompson, of S.C., Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and later Civil Service Commissioner (served with Theodore Roosevelt), and many oth- er Southern men. President Woodrow Wilson was born in the South. He appointed Eon. Josephus Daniels of Raleigh, N.C., to be Secretary of the Navy. Mr. Daniels and his Assistant Franklin D. Roosevelt, gained world fame by transporting 2,000,000 of our soldiers to Prance under the

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convoy system, without the loss of a man. Presi- dent Wilson also appointed Albert S. Burleson, of Texas , Postmaster General; David P. Houston., of N.C, Secretary of Agriculture (afterwards Secretary of Treasury); W. G. McAdoo of Ga . , Secretary of the Treasury; Carter Glass., of Va . , Secretary of Treasury; Walter Hines Page of N.C. Ambassador to Great Britain; James C. Reynolds of Tenn., Attorney General, and later Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Stat- es; Victor Blue of S. C, Chief of Bureau of Navigation; and many other Southern men.

During the World War, Senator P. M. Simmons, of North Carolina, was Chairman of the powerful Finance Committee; Senator Lee S. Overman of N.C. a of the Rules Committee; and Claude Kitchin of N.C., House Leader. These three great North Carolinians, with Hon. Josephus Daniels, were President Wilson's right-hand men.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt has appointed Mrs. Ruth Bryan Owen, of Fla . , Ambassador to Denmark; Lawrence Wood Robert, Jr., of Ga . , As- sistant Secretary of the Treasury; Robt . Worth Bingham of Ky . , Ambassador to Great Britain; Eugene 0. Sykes, of Miss., Member of Federal Radio Commission; Josephus Daniels, Ambassador to Mexico; J. Crawford Biggs, Solicitor General. These last two from our own City of Raleigh; Cordell Hull, of Tenn., Secretary of State; Stillman Evans, of Texas, Fourth Asst. Post- master General; Claude A. Swans on, of Va . , Sec- retary of the Navy; Breckinridge Long, of Mo., Ambassador to Italy; Daniel C. Roper, of S.C., Secretary of Commerce; Wm. P. Stevenson, of S.C., Member of Federal Farm Loan Board, and Jesse H. Jones, of Texas, head of the R.F.C. At the present time some of the close leaders of the administration are Congressmen Edward W. Pou, Robt. L„ Doughton and Lindsay Warren of North Carolina, and Senator Byrnes of S. C.

In the Revolutionary War . , the battles of Kings' Mountain and Guilford Court House turned the tide to victory. It has been said that two- thirds of the battles of the Revolutionary War were fought on Southern soil. In the War be- tween the States, N.C. furnished more troops

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than any Southern State , more than it had voters. It was "First at Bethel , farthest at Gettysburg

and last at Appomattox" . In the Spanish American War, when we again fought under the Stars and Stripes j the heroes were Fitzhugh Lee, Joe Wheel- er,Richmond Pearson Hob son, Worth Bagley,Wm.F. Shipp and others . In the World Far Hindenburg made a line which he believed no troops on this earth could break. It Is an accredited fact that It was the 50th Division, composed almost en- tirely of N.C., S.C., and Tenn. troops that first made the objective and broke this line. To lead the assault for the 30th Division, the 119th and 120th regiments were chosen. A majority of them were N . C . men.

Seventy-eight Congressional medals of honor were given in the World War by the U.S. Govern- ment ;!Por Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy" . Twelve men in the 30th Divis- ion from North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee received this medal - more than any other division. These three States, out of for- ty-eight in the union, received about one -sixth of the entire number.

We have a virile, strong race of people. As in the past we will now overcome our difficult- ies. For Inspiration look at the pictures in the papers this springtime of the graduating classes of our high school girls and boys. They and those coming on will help lift us out of this deflation. We must work, have faith, economize In private and public matters, pay our private and public debts, and "Look unto the hills from whence cometh our help1' . Way I say, as never before we need to be a sober and temperate people in this work of rehabilitat- ion. Ride over our great State Highways and you will see that we have the "beauty spot" of the world.

"He hath shewed thee, 0 man, what is good- and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk hum- bly with thy God."

UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL

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