Jonathan Worth (governor)
Jonathan Worth | |
---|---|
39th Governor of North Carolina | |
In office December 15, 1865 – July 1, 1868 | |
Preceded by | William Woods Holden |
Succeeded by | William Woods Holden |
North Carolina State Treasurer | |
In office 1863–1865 | |
Governor | William Woods Holden |
Preceded by | Daniel W. Courts |
Succeeded by | William Sloan |
Member of the North Carolina Senate | |
In office 1843 | |
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives | |
In office 1830–1843 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Randolph County, North Carolina | November 18, 1802
Died | September 5, 1869 Raleigh, North Carolina | (aged 66)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Martitia Daniel (1824–1874) |
Profession | Attorney |
Jonathan Worth (November 18, 1802 – September 5, 1869) was the
Early life
Jonathan Worth was born on November 18, 1802, in
In 1830, he ran for a seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives from Randolph County, motivated in large part by a failing law practice. His major shortcoming, he had decided, was his deficiency as a public speaker. His peers at the Bar persuaded him there was no better way to improve his oratory and achieve better rhetoric than to become a member of the North Carolina General Assembly, which thrives on "talk".
He served two terms in the House, took a break from public service to build a lucrative law practice, was elected to the
In 1858, Worth was again elected to the State Senate, where he was made chairman of a committee to investigate the poorly run North Carolina Railroad. He pursued this official duty so relentlessly that the president of the Railroad, formerly a good friend, challenged Worth to a duel, which Worth declined.
Civil War Treasurer
Worth was an avid opponent of North Carolina's secession from the Union. Though opposed to the Confederate stands on most issues, Worth remained loyal to North Carolina and refused to take part in several peace movements. He owned slaves and saw slavery as a Constitutional right which was best defended by remaining within the Union.[3] In late 1862 or early 1863, the legislature elected him State Treasurer by acclamation.
Worth had the duty of issuing notes and bonds to finance the State's share of its war debt. Of the some $20 million in notes authorized by the State, Worth issued $8.5 million and $5.2 million were outstanding at the end of the war. War bonds totaling more than $13 million were issued. At the end of the war, all of the State's war debt was repudiated.
Just before Raleigh was occupied by
Governor
Worth was nominated by the Conservative Party, a state coalition that included most Democrats and some former Whigs, to run for governor in North Carolina's first and only special election for the office. Worth had been associated with the Conservative Party since the beginning of the Civil War. His opponent was the incumbent Gov. William W. Holden, who had been appointed by President Andrew Johnson and was running on the National Union Party ticket. Worth's strength was in the eastern part of the state, and Holden carried the western counties which had mostly opposed secession and the Civil War. Worth won with 32,549 votes (55.5%) to Holden's 25,809 votes (44.0%).[4] Worth won with the support of many elements of the state that had supported secession.[5] The 1865 election had been conducted according to the 1865 state constitution, which was rejected by the U.S. Congress.
Worth was re-elected on October 18, 1866, for a term that started December 22, 1866. He won 34,250 votes (75.9%) to 10,759 votes (23.8%) for former U.S. Rep. Alfred Dockery, running on the National Union Party ticket.[6] In both his gubernatorial campaigns, Worth emphasized that he had opposed secession and that he sought to heal state and national divisions. He expressed support for President Andrew Johnson.[7]
The major event of Worth's second term was the state constitutional convention, held in early 1868 to draft a constitution meeting the requirements of Congress. One of Worth's major interests was to restore North Carolina to the Union. Worth was disappointed with the new
Worth died 14 months after leaving office as governor. He is buried in Historic Oakwood Cemetery.
His younger brother, John M. Worth, was also a successful politician and North Carolina State Treasurer from 1876 to 1885.
Personal life
On October 20, 1824, Jonathan Worth married Martitia Daniel, a niece of Judge
References
- ^ "National Governors Association".
- ^ Zuber, Richard L. (1996). "Jonathan Worth". NCPedia. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
- ^ Elizabeth A. Ellis (2018). ""Branded as Cain": Jonathan Worth and Unionism in post-Civil War North Carolina" (PDF). p. 18. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ "1865 election". Ourcampaigns.com. December 15, 2006. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- ^ "Memoirs of W.W. Holden". Docsouth.unc.edu. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- ^ "1866 election". Ourcampaigns.com. December 15, 2006. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- ^ "Gov. Worth's circular To the people of North Carolina". Rs6.loc.gov. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
- ^ "NCAR Resource Library". Ncrepublic.org. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
External links
- Media related to Jonathan Worth (governor) at Wikimedia Commons$*Official Site of Dept. of State Treasurer