Open Letter & Report: Asheville City Council Meeting: Zebulon Vance
June 10, 2020
Asheville City Council Meeting: Zebulon Vance
Miss Lunelle,
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, I would receive calls from people all across the country wanting to know if I was going to attend the Asheville, North Carolina City Council meeting. It was said that the female Jewish Mayor had placed on her agenda a vote calling for the removal of the Cenotaph of the Honorable Zebulon Baird Vance; War Governor and Confederate Colonel from Pack Square in downtown Asheville.
For the second time on this day, I would once again don the uniform of the Southern soldier and with the Southern Cross in hand make my way to the doors of City Hall; only to find them locked. I decided to make my way to the Police Department for answers. On the way, I would be stopped by former City Councilman Carl Swicegood and former Vice Mayor Chris Peterson.
I would learn from them that a television set was now being set up on the City Plaza because of the Councils fears of catching the Covid -19 virus. Ironically, I thought, they had no problem sending the men and women of the Police Department out to protect and serve the people and property of the City, while throwing them under the bus. Not one talking about training the citizens and their siblings on how to interact with the Police should they have a chance encounter.
In no time, Peterson, Swicegood and I began talking about Governor Vance. Vance was twice elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, three times as the Governor of North Carolina, and three times to the U.S. Senate. In 1916, at the unveiling of the Cenotaph of Vance in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol, the Governor, Locke Craig remarked: “His personal appearance was unique. He did not look like other men. No man who ever saw him ever forgot him. His magnetism charmed with a peculiar and indescribable power. When you looked upon him, you knew that you beheld the lion-hearted leader of men. “
One of his colleagues in the House of Representatives wrote about Vance that he was “strong in integrity, wondrous in vitality and a strict Federalist after an intense Union pattern. His voice was never heard at Washington for disunion. Like Lee, he was a Unionist and against secession. Abraham Lincoln was elected President on November 5, 1860, and inaugurated March 1861. Lincoln's election precipitated the secession of the States in the lower South; South Carolina left the Union on December 20, 1860.
On April 13, 1861, Fort Sumter at Charleston, was bombarded and surrendered to the Confederacy, and President Lincoln called upon North Carolina to furnish 75,000 soldiers for the Union forces. It was declined by Governor John W. Ellis. Vance changed his mind. For myself, I will say that I was canvassing for the Union with all my strength. When the news came of the President's call for 75,000 men, slowly and sadly; I immediately called upon the assembled multitude to volunteer, not to fight against but for South Carolina.”
Professor Frontis W. Johnston wrote about Vance: “His career as War Governor is more responsible than any other thing for the fact that North Carolina has loved, idolized, and rewarded no other man in her history as she has Zebulon Baird Vance.”
“The Scattered Nation” was acclaimed as Vance's greatest lecture. The thrust of "The Scattered Nation” was an appeal for friendship with the Jewish people. Vance said: “there remains among us an unreasonable prejudice of which I am heartily ashamed. Our toleration will not be complete until we put it away. And further ... I consider it a grave reproach not only to us, but to all Christendom that such injustice is permitted anywhere.”
His Cenotaph on Capitol Square Raleigh, is the only Cenotaph ever erected by public funds in the history of the State. At his death, Samuel Wittkowsky, a successful Jewish businessman, and friend to Vance stated publicly ...”I speak for my race In North Carolina- aye for my people of the whole Union. The deceased has ever by his words and writings demonstrated that he was their friend. His lecture on the Scattered Nation ever remain green in the memory of my race and will be one of the brightest jewels to his ever liberal, fair and untarnished escutcheon . And I venture here the assertion that in the history of North Carolina, no Israelite has cast a vote against Zebulon Baird Vance.” (Until today, June 9, 2020)
Shortly after the close of the World War of 1914-1918, Philanthropist, Nathan Strauss came to Asheville, laid a wreath on Vance's Cenotaph, and said he did not want to die without discharging a debt owed. Each May 13, Vance's birthday, the Asheville Daughters of the Confederacy and B'nai Brith sponsor a program around the Vance Monument. Here in the presence of the City officials and representatives of other organizations, due tribute is paid to the memory of the beloved North Carolinian.
I would tell Councilman Swicegood and Vice Mayor Peterson that the Jewish Mayor of Asheville had betrayed the trust of the Jewish people, the people of the City, County and State. I would say goodbye and began working my way through the crowd of Protestors who now sat glued to the streaming Council meeting.
A young black man would rush from the crowd, and say to me: “Sir. if I were you, I wouldn't go through there, pointing to the path I was taking to get to my car.” “Why,” I asked?
“We are concerned for your safety. You should go back, go up the hill, and come down the other side.” “Nope”, was my answer? “I, and my flag, are going straight ahead.” “Do you mind if some of us walk with you? We want you to be safe.”
I consented, and as we walked, I turned and asked one of the young black men where he was from? “Haiti” was his reply. I asked another. “The Dominican Republic” came his reply. Another, from somewhere in the Virgin Islands. I just quit asking. They all looked like me, talked like me, but were neither from the City, County, State, or Nation. I thanked them when we reached the garage. And surprisingly, I had not heard an unkind word, or saw one evil eye from the crowd; just a lot of picture taking of me.
I then noticed that a young Police woman had been following at a close distance, and then asked if I was OK? She bid me a safe journey, and I thanked her for watching over me.
I would learn this morning of the Council's vote to remove the Vance Cenotaph. I believe that this Council will be recalled before the Vance Cenotaph comes down, and their unjust decision reversed. God bless you!
Your brother,
HK
Chairman of the Board of Advisors Emeritus of the Southern Legal Resource Center
Member of Save Southern Heritage Florida
Honorary Life Member of Zebulon Vance Camp 15 Sons of Confederate Veterans
Honorary Life Member of the North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia Orders of the Confederate Rose
Honorary Life Member of the Forest Orphans Camp 1744 Sons of Confederate Veterans
President of Southern Heritage 411