Herman Husband

What was Husband's libel?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:20:51 -0500

Herman Husband was expelled for publishing a letter.

According to "The North Carolina Dictionary of Biography," Husband published a letter in the North Carolina Gazette, a New Bern newspaper. The Dec. 14, 1770, letter was addressed to Maurice Moore, Jr., a prominent legislator in charge of a committee cracking down on the Regulators.

The letter purported to answer an earlier letter from Moore (which does not now exist) in which he blamed Hunter and Husband for most of the backcountry agitation.

Six days later, the House expelled him for libel. After his expulsion, "open violence flared in several western counties," the book notes.

More on Herman Husband

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:00:40 -0500

Herman Husband was falsely charged, a historian argues.

The North Carolina History Project, a special project of the John Locke Foundation, argues that Husband was charged with libel and arrested for his role in the "Regulator" movement:

In 1769, Husband represented the Piedmont in the legislature. But on December 20, 1770, the Regulator was falsely charged with libel; however, Husband was still expelled from the legislature and on January 31, 1771, Tryon ordered Husbands’ arrest. Sitting in a New Bern jail, Husband eventually learned that the charges of libel were dropped. He was soon released.

In a 1770 book, Husband wrote that "Obedience to just laws, and subjection to slavery, is [sic] two very different things ... God gave all men a knowledge of their privileges, and a true zeal to maintain them."

Herman Husband's libel charge

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:00:00 -0500

Herman Husband was kicked out of the legislature for libel.

A native of Maryland, he first came to North Carolina in 1754 to work as a land surveyor. Eventually, he settled on the present-day site of Hillsborough, growing wheat along Sandy Creek.

Husband, a Quaker, played a role in several colonial-era protests, according to William S. Powell's "The Dictionary of North Carolina Biography." He was then elected to the state House:

He served as an assemblyman for Orange County in 1769 and 1770 but was expelled during the latter session and imprisoned in New Bern for allegedly libeling Maurice Moore, Jr., and for threatening the Assembly, and initiating the revolt.

He remained in jail until 1771. He later moved to Pennsylvania, where he supported the American Revolution and served in the state legislature.

He died of an illness apparently contracted in prison while serving briefly for his role in the Whiskey Rebellion.

Who has been expelled from the legislature?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:05:23 -0500

Answer:

At least 13 people were kicked out of the legislature between 1757 and 1880.

Below, the year of their expulsion, their names, districts and alleged crimes.

1757: Rep. James Carter, of Rowan County, for embezzlement.

1758: Rep. Francis Brown, of Currituck County, for perjury.

1770: Rep. Herman Husband, of Orange County, for libel.

1779: Rep. William Gilbert, of Tryon County, for fraud.

1784: Rep. Edward Clay, of Caswell County, for theft.

1786: Sen. Benjamin McCullock, of Halifax County, for a military pay scandal.

1786: Rep. Henry Montfort, of Warren County, for a military pay scandal.

1787: Rep. John Bonds, of Nash County, for a military pay scandal.

1809: Rep. John Clary, of Perquimans County, for fornication with his stepdaughter.

1816: Sen. John Roberts, of Carteret County, for fraud.

1835: Rep. Robert Potter, of Granville County, for brandishing a gun during a fight.

1875: Rep. J. Williams Thorne, of Warren County, for publishing a "blasphemous" pamphlet.

1880: Rep. Josiah Turner Jr., of Orange County, for calling other legislators names.

In 2007, two House committees decided to consider expelling Rep. Thomas Wright of Wilmington.