CLOSING OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
A. D. 1800 TO 1802.
General Davie ceased to be Governor to become one of three
Commissioners to Paris. He had been appointed Major-General to
command North Carolina's contingent, when it seemed that war with
France was inevitable; but that danger had happily passed, and he
was sent over to arrange the vexed questions growing out of the
Berlin and Milan decrees. *
*These decrees were Napoleon's efforts to retaliate for British
blockade measures against France. The great conqueror forbade
all Europe from commercial intercourse with his English enemies.
2. Among the members sent from North Carolina to Congress,
Nathaniel Macon, of Warren, soon became conspicuous for his
virtue and weight of character. Perhaps no other member of
Congress ever wielded so lasting and powerful an influence. His
unquestioned sagacity, integrity and inflexible adhesion to what
he believed to be right, and his unselfish devotion to the public
good, made his opposition to any measure almost necessarily fatal
to its passage in the House to which he belonged.
3. There was grief in the last hours of the century, when it
became known that General Washington had died in his retirement
at Mt. Vernon. Judge James Iredell had also died about the same
time. He had been one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court of the United States by the appointment of General
Washington, and fell a victim to the enormous labors incurred in
riding the great distances involved in attending his different
Circuit Courts.
1800.
4. This was, perhaps, the golden age of social enjoyments in
North Carolina. The Quakers were Abolitionists, as were also
many other good people; but the question had not been agitated,
and there was nothing to give uneasiness to masters or false
hopes to the slaves. These latter, shared largely in the
festivities of the white people, and were free for many years to
come to conduct their religious services in any way that seemed
best to their wild and fantastic notions.
5. The President had appointed Alfred Moore as the successor of
Judge Iredell on the Supreme Court Bench. He was also a great
lawyer. Judge Haywood had left North Carolina and was a citizen
of Tennessee, but from William Gaston, Archibald Henderson and
Archibald D. Murphy the Bar received fresh honors; while John
Stanly, David Stone, Joshua G. Wright and Peter Browne had begun
attendance upon the courts, in which they were to win great
reputations.
6. There had been considerable change effected in the courts. By
the statute of 1779 four ridings were established. The Judges,
after riding these circuits, were required to meet in Raleigh to
try appeals. The sheriffs were no longer obliged to march with
drawn swords before the Judges as they went to and from the court-
houses, nor were the lawyers compelled to appear arrayed in gowns
in the trial of cases.
1802.
7. Governor Benjamin Williams had succeeded General Davie. Among
Williams's last official acts was the pardoning of John Stanly
for killing ex-Governor Spaight in a duel. This had occurred on
Sunday, September 5th, 1802, and was the outgrowth of a bitter
political controversy. Spaight was a Republican, and had warmly
opposed the election of the able and impulsive young leader of
the Federalists.
8. In the same year occurred the exodus of the remnant of the
Tuscaroras from Bertie county. The reservation on Roanoke River,
which had been granted them for good conduct in the Indian war of
1711, was sold by them to private parties, and they emigrated to
New York where the other parts of the tribe had long been
located.
9. Among the laws of the Legislature of 1802 was a statute
providing for the payment, to the patentees of the cotton-gin, of
a given sum for every saw used in each machine. This implement
had been recently invented by Eli Whitney, who was a young man
from New England, engaged in teaching school in Georgia
10. Before this time only small patches of cotton had been seen
in the Southern States. The lint was picked from the seed only
by hand, and so slow was the process that a shoe full of the
seed cotton was a task usually given to be done between supper
and bedtime. Whitney's invention was soon to affect the
agriculture and commerce of the world. The cotton gin has
greatly aided the development of all civilized nations. It has
built cities, freighted mighty fleets, and given employment to
many millions of the human race.
11. Attention has already been called to the effects of French
atheism upon the United States. The tide of unbelief rolled on
until many religious people trembled for the creed and morals of
American people. Its terrible influence was seen and felt in
almost every department and employment of life.
12. In 1802 a mighty religious movement began in Kentucky, and
spread over a large portion of the Republic. Vast assemblages of
the people were seen at the camp meetings. For weeks together the
ordinary avocations of life were abandoned by multitudes in order
to engage in religious worship; and, in the end, the churches
were reinforced by many thousands of new members.
QUESTIONS.
1. What honors were conferred upon Governor Davie?
2. Who was North Carolinas most able representative in Congress?
Tell something of the character of Nathaniel Macon.
3. What great grief came upon the nation at this period? What
prominent man died in North Carolina at this time? Can you state
something of his life?
4. What is this period called in the history of North Carolina?
What was the condition of the slaves?
5. What is said of prominent lawyers?
6. Mention some changes which were made in the court system.
7. Who had succeeded Governor Davie as Chief-Magistrate? What
was one of his last official acts? Give an account of the duel?
8. To what place did the Tuscaroras emigrate in 1802?
9. What law was passed by the Legislature in favor of the
inventor of the cotton gin? Who was the inventor?
10. Give an account of the preparation of the cotton for use both
before and after this great invention.
11. What was the religious condition of the country?
12. Give an account of the great religious revival of 1802.