FRANCE AND AMERICA.
A. D. 1790 TO 1794.
1. When North Carolina had thus taken her place in the Federal
Union, and the whole system of State and National polity became
perfected in America, many hearts beat with gratitude to God for
the promises of a glorious future. The magnificent realm won by
the blood of heroes was at last guarded by a system of laws so
wise and effective that peace and prosperity were soon to make it
one of the greatest of civilized lands.
2. This example of freedom achieved in the wilds of America was
speedily felt in Europe. General Washington had been in the
discharge of his duties as President about a month, when the
States-General of France met in the famous convention which was
to pull down the ancient French monarchy and engulf all Europe in
seas of blood. The overtaxed and excitable Frenchmen were
maddened by the contrast afforded in their sufferings and the
blessings achieved by their late allies on the other side of the
Atlantic.
3. Governor Caswell, while in the discharge of his duties as a
member of the State Senate, died at Fayetteville, in the month of
December, 1789. He was shortly followed in death by William
Hooper and Archibald Maclaine. Willie Jones had retired from
public life; and thus, four most conspicuous leaders almost
simultaneously disappeared from public life.
4. Colonel William R. Davie, of Halifax, John Haywood, of the
same county, and Alfred Moore, of Brunswick, were greatly
influential, and were worthy successors of the older servants of
the public who had been thus removed from the arena of their
former usefulness. Governor Johnston having been elected United
States Senator, was succeeded as Governor by Alexander Martin.
1792.
5. It was during this second term of Governor Martin's rule that
Raleigh was selected for the State capital. A large tract of
land at Wake Court House had been bought of Colonel Joel Lane,
and upon it a city was laid off and the public buildings erected.
Before that time, since Governor Tryon's palace at New Bern had
been burned, the main question to be determined by every General
Assembly was what town should be selected for the holding of the
next session.
6. Fayetteville, Hillsboro, New Bern and Tarboro were sure to get
up an excitement and contest as to which of them should be next
favored with the presence of the State officers and the General
Assembly. The Governor and his assistants had been dwelling
wherever it best suited them, and the public records had thus
been continually migrating over the State.
7. There was little church organization in America until after
the Revolution. There was not a single Bishop of the Episcopal
Church in all America before the Revolution, and not until 1789
was an effort made to supply such a prelate for the Church in
North Carolina. The Rev. Charles Pettigrew was then elected
Bishop of the Diocese by a Convention at Tarboro, but he died
before consecration.
8. The Baptists had united their churches in this State and
southern Virginia, in 1765, in a body which was called the
"Kehukee Association." In 1770 the Presbyterians had formed the
Presbytery of Orange; and in 1788 they set off the Synode of the
Carolinas. The Quakers and Moravians were flourishing in certain
sections, but as yet the Methodist missionaries had effected but
little in the way of planting churches in North Carolina.
9. Richard Dobbs Spaight, in 1792, became Governor, and was the
first native North Carolinian to fill that distinguished office.
He possessed much ability and was familiar with the conduct of
public affairs. He found that great excitement and division
existed among the people as to the French Revolution. Because
aid had been sent from that country to the struggling American
colonists, many men insisted that it was the duty of America to
take sides with France in the war then raging in Europe.
1794.
10. General Washington and other wise men resisted this dangerous
opinion, and held that America should take no part in the affairs
of foreign nations. The great struggle went on, with Napoleon
Bonaparte rapidly growing more formidable to the allied kings.
11. The French had acquired a thirst for freedom from America,
but they in turn exerted an influence upon the religious creeds
of our people. French books and modes of thought and French
fashions became popular, and the country debating clubs were
heard repeating the doubts and sneers of Voltaire, Diderot and
other French infidels.
12. The world's creeds were on trial. Kings and priests were as
keenly criticised as in the sixteenth century, but out of all the
turmoil and bloodshed a larger measure of liberty was to be won.
Constitutional kings and purified churches were the outgrowth and
result of the most prodigious uproar yet witnessed among
civilized nations.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was the feeling in North Carolina after the State had
joined the Union?
2. How were the effects of American freedom felt in Europe?
3. What great leaders disappeared from North Carolina's councils
at this time?
4. What then were fast rising to influence? Who became Governor?
5. When was Raleigh selected as the capital? Why was locating
the capital of great good to the State? Go to the map and point
out the city of Raleigh.
6. What contest would generally arise at meetings of the Assembly?
7. What mention is made of religious matters?
8. How were the Baptists, Presbyterians and other Christian
bodies extending their fields of usefulness?
9. Who became Governor in 1792? What is said of him? What
questions did Governor Spaight find agitating the people when he
came into office?
10. How was this matter considered by General Washington and others?
11. How were the works of celebrated French writers affecting the
people of America?
12. What was to be the conclusion of all these troubles?