A Family Paper, devoted to State Intelligence, the News of the World, Political Information, Southern Rights, Agrienltore, Literature, and Miscellany.
ff BY JOHN I. PALMER,
KKITOR AND wopmww.
CHARLOTTE, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.
$2 PER ANNUM
In Advance.
VOLUMJi 4.
NUMBER 35.
Office on Mcvm Street,
niMF nnnR south of sadler'S hotel. S
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1856.
of Tin:
e If" K
ipiBiimjiirjcB
"ft O rt"
Having recently vi-ited New-Yolk, nnd se
lected from tbc old and eh-gant
Foundry if Geo. Itruce, Esq.,
A Ql AMITY '!"
We are now prepared to Execute
In tlic Best Stylo,
AI.I. KINKS OK
'.flultipfy Hir .titans, ami yon
multiply Hit Krsnlts,"
In mm of the established mnximsof business.
ORDER FOR
PAMPIILETS,
HANDBILLS,
CARDS,
CIRCULARS,
LABELS,
CLERKS' BLANKS
SIIEKIFF'S do.
CONSTABLES' do.
M ( ; ISTRATKS'do.
ATTORNEYS' do.
OB FOB
Required by tin- business Cotum unity,
WILL BE EXE(TTKI) WITH
TNT ES A. 1? 1ST E. S S ,
I ISPA T 1 S3
A N I
7 I
Various XslIxxcIs of
BL.ANKS,
ALWAYS OX HAND.
Or dPmnM to Orkr.CS 5
ISOItFICT ISAW
TAKES this nmtortnnity of infaHrmim tlie
pnMic gnenliT, and all !n intend gHng
t Kansafl in particular, that he intends to con
liuue tbc
Saddle and Harness Business,
Ar his old stand, in Pprimjs ConT Building,
rhte be intends tw keen constantly on hand a
snpjdv at
Satlllt'. Dridlew,Harness,&c
W ilrtry i)i script ion.
1 1 is friends are reapecttnlly inritisl t. call and
snaply Ibi ami In h. as rvi-ry article in his I'm--will
1h- afford, d on the aaost reasonable t. raw.
It III. It I do!..- at the shoi ;..-t notice
and with w atnex and dispatch.
Charlotte, F b. it;. l-,"s'. tf
PIANO FORTES.
MR. RAMSEY, of
Columbia, S.C., !
I'iano I'oi ic &
MmsIc Denier,
, is constantly recr-
iii" a wood snoolv o
Pianos withthe LATEST IMPROVEMENTS,
L a i . a - at,
1 -ai tt i . a. '14 a v a i i . - 5
which has "iven them the pnaiimn over all
others. 6 and (".. octaves from 6256 to $rtlO.
to 7 Jno to S100. 7 to 7i SUM to S toll.
Carved work ami Grand Pianos irom SOuO to
61966.
Mr. R. Wins a practical Piano Maker can
insure to his customers a perfect instrument.
Columbia, June O i? $3&, UMy
FASHION ABLE TAILORING.
lilL ubaciibaf announces
to the i i,h. generally, that be
is now receiving a largc assort
ment of new
Cloths, Cftsslaerea
A NO
if r Gentlemen's wear, and will
be sold tr i'ash at a small profit,or Made to or
der according to the latest styles. Shop next
door t Elann' Grocery St. re.
Sept. -2 , is-.t io-tf D. L. REA.
Matches! Matches! Watches!
THE Mhocriben are now roeaiviag a
MmmM Utuc i,ock 0 WATCHES from the
uioft ceh-bratcd makers; alo.i rich stock of
FASHH1SAMJE JeWRXRT, Chains. Arc.,
all of which will he SoM low for cash or on short
time to punctual dealers.
THOS. TROTTER & son.
apri! 27, 18S5 40tf
mm Bmm mm
a MW I if I I Si"- . M TWWT -Tf-ar"Ttrr -rKirwi
3R
I H
ROBERT GIBBON, D,
OFFEK8 his professional servic- to the pnl
lic, in the practice- ot SURGERY, in all
its various departments.
Dr. Csitnox will ojn rate, treat, or give advice
in all casea that may require his attention.
tT Office No. 5, Granite Range, Charlotte.
Feb. 19, 1856. ly
ROBERT P. WABBI6,
Attorney at Law,
(Office in lmildinjr attached to the American Ho
tel, Main street.)
Charlotte, N. C.
Jan. 29, 18K. tl
8. W. JDAVIS,
Attorney 6c Counsellor at Law,
JU4llLOTTE, Jf. C.
Jun- 1 , 1856. ti
FBMAltE SCHOOL.
THE second Term,
or Summer Session
of Miss s ir it F. ) -vmsoN's
SCHOOL, will
eotam nee on tie- :M af
March next tin- 1st Mon
day of tllf IllOtltll.
Charlotte, Feb. 86, 1856. tf
A CARD.
TRS RAM'L L. A JOSEPH W. CALD
I W V KLL bave this day associated themselves
in the practice of Medicine, and one or the other
ol' tin hi can .-it :dl times he found :it their office,
next door to the State Hank, up stair-', unless pro
s' usiooally rngagi.d.
In all dangerous eases Dr. 1. ('. Caldwell will
act as eoiiMiitiug phvsician live af change.
SAMFEL L. CALDWELL,
JOSEPH W. CALDWELL
Jan. 22, 1856. ly
fK. I. C. CALDWELL will be
at the Office of Doctors J. V. V S. L Caldwell
from & to o'clock, every morning. After thai
hour, hi' will be at bis own house, subject to the
call of any of his friends, unless professionally
absent.
11 Nobody Cares
For Advertisements liee
filiac, it seems."
ELL ""' ; etrtmim, THIS is THE
I. asi' use 1 IJiTEXD to pay for, in calluuT
npoti yon, ve ho.-t of delinquents, to do your
reasonable duty. The business outstanding, of
the hrte firm nf Pritchard A Caldwell, mtmmt mmd
gkmll fc settled and it jrm n jrli ct much loiip-r
to com and close up w iih ne, yoo will have to
in .i with some one else, who will present you
with a P. & C. vs. thyself no mistake.
II. M. PRITCHARD, M. D.
Dnnjijist tt Aputkttmrg, oM Stand, (in mitt Iloir.
Charlotte. Feb. 19, l-oii. tf
BOOKS
37 ox S&vle
AT THE
CHARLOTTE liOOK fcJTOKiJ.
rpiIE X RW PFRCHASE, or Early Tears
-L jj THE FAR WEST liil Rottcrt Carlton.
THE ADVEXTFRES OF HAJ.T1 BABA
in Turkey, Pi rsia, and Russia Edited by Jmme
Moru r.
STAXHOPE BFRLEIGH-, Jhc Jrsuitrs in
our Homtr. One of the most interesting Novels
that has bs-n ivritten in many years ly lilm
Dim.
Till" MI'SKl'M of Remarkable and Interest
ing Events, containing Historical Adventures
and lucid, nt-.
BLAXCHE DE ARWOODa Tale of Modern
Lift-.
EVENIXt: TALES being selection of
woiid ri'ul and suji i natural Stories, translated
from the Chinese, Turkish, and German, ;,nd
compiled by llmtm St. ( lair. Ji
.CStL LEXICON OF EREE?5&jZ
;'o . m asi xii v. rzgtS
Containing a definition
of all its communicable tenna.
The Tine M usonic Chart, by J. L. Cross, (i. 1,
Th !' M Lson'n Manual, by R v'nd K. J.
S:- war?.
Mack y's Ahinan R -zon of Sonth Candina.
Thi" N -w Masonic Trust le Board,
iiii: ODD FELLOWS' MANUAL, by the
Rev. A. 1. Orasb.
LOWRIE & ENNISS,
Charlotte, March 4, 1856 Book-SeUers.
By MILLER & ORR,
AS been refitted in a style of neatness not
surpass) d lv anv in the Southern States,
and where can be found the larrast stock of
Wines,
:fliaN,
lira ial ics,
A SD
Segrars,
KVI.l! BROVGHT T Tll! MARKET.
Thankful for nasi favors, they would solicit a con
tinnanee of tbesaaae frooi all tbeii friends and
"the r st of mankind."
PnflT! Pull I Puff:
Y. have no aBasioa to a newsper pnff, but
to a puff a is a pnff, on a genuine nnported Ci-
such as you can find at the Eagle Saloon.
Old Creseenl ISraiitiy.
Vintapri- of IdlU, to le found at the Eagle Saloon.
Pinett's Old Castilian Brandy
Vintage of 1818, at the Eagle Saloon.
P. 13. Goedwin & C o n Brandy
A supi riot' aiiicle for medical purposes, for sale at
the Eagle Saloon.
Urines.
Madeira. Port. Malaga, Sherry, and Teneriffe. of
a superior ouality, can always be found at the
Eagle Saloon.
Albany Cream ALE and Newark
CIDER
( A superior article) to be had at the Eagle Saloon.
Sardines, Lobsters, Pickles,
catsups, etc., &c,
For Bale at
MILLER A OKK'S
Eagle Saloon.
Charlotte. Pel,. 96, iggg, tf
R6JH Wanted.
HOGGINS & HARTY, at their Store on
the corner of Main and Trade streets,
will buy cotton Rags, and give the highest
market price.
Charlotte, March 4, 1856. ly
I YEARN FOR THE SPRING.
I yearn for the Spring, when th : birds shall sing,
And each morning awake fresh flowers;
We have waited long for the lark's blithe song,
And the lennheuinr evening hours.
DO O
A shroud of snow had lain on the eeth,
An icy hand on each stream,
! The sun in the sky opened its languid eye,
And sent but a sickly gleam !
And the frosty breeze moaned among the trees,
And the rattling bail and rain
Came sweeping past, with an angry blast,
And dash'd 'gainst the window pane;
I And never a flower, in that stormy hour,
Dared to raise up its tiny .head
For the gentle things fled on Summer's wings,
Or else in the snow lay dead !
I ; "it fordfe Sprrr when he bird shnll !ng,
And each morn shall awake new flowers ;
We have listened long for the woodlaxk's song,
And the thrush at the evening hours.
'Tis a beauteous thing when the bud first bursts,
And child-like the young leaf stands,
j And catches the drops of the gentle shower
In its small and velvety hands ;
When the tender grass feels the south wind pass
In its chariot all unseen,
And old mother earth, tit the new Spring's birth,
Arrays her in robes of green
When tie- unbound stream as if in a dream,
Murmurs on to its unknown home,
And tells the tall reeds, as onward it speeds,
That the fair Lady Spring hath come!
Ob, I yearn for the Spring, for the balmy Spring
Who tloats like a fairy queen,
And toncheth the land with a magic wand,
Till all beauteous things are seen.
I long to be out at the early dawn,
When the eastern light is new,
'Mont;- the odors borne from the scented thorn,
And the shadows of silver dew ;
Oh, I cannot tell how my soul doth swell
With an inward happiness,
For simple TO BE is a bliss to me
For the which my God 1 bless!
With an unknown source comes a nameless force
Which pervades my being through
A joy, and a love, and a strength from above
And I seem to be made anew !
Oh, come, then, Spring let woodlarks sing
Let the floweret ope its eye ;
Like the lark I'd soar to the heaven's blue floor
Like the flower, gaze up to the sky.
a a
SCANDAL MONGERS.
In every community is a certain class of
people whose only object in life seems to bo
to defame and injure those around them.
Generally persons of small mind and low
origin, they seek o drag others down be- !
cause tlieir own merits will not suffice to
give them a creditable position in society.
Ir has been our lot to meet with several of
this c lass, and we have made their frailty a
study ; but we confess no philosophy will
account lor all their caprices. One person,
for instance, goes hack ii to the past and 1
resurrects all the old stories of family short
coinings, of social dissensions', of "What was j
once said,'' and a sad array is thrown in j
the teeth of some excellent man or woman,
as old isms, which they are expected to j
bear. In consequence the whole neighbor- j
hood is busy with these old, and most tisti- i
ally false tales of scandal and gossip, and
the tale-hearer has the satisfaction of see- j
ing really worthy people in much trouble
and pain from their unexpected imputations
made against them. But here is the mys
tery ; that every tale-bearer has a part of j
the most unenviable repute her family were
of the most scaly kind of people, and lived
such a life as does not look well in print ;
and why a person oF such descent should
indirectly excite attention to her own affairs
and her not-forgotten past, by her revival
of ancient scaudal, strikes us as puzzling to
tell. It has served to quicken our suspicions
that all scandal mongers have a family es
cutcheon not particularly pure ; we have
come to the conclusion that he or she whose
tongue is busy with reputations and family
happiness, is just the person whose past
ought to be shrouded in darkness. If a de
cent respect for the feelings of the living and
the dead will not prevent the exhumation of
that which time had buried and grown over
with flowers, let the bur body think .-be la
thus greatly lowered in the estimation of
worthy people, and thus be silent from fear.
r r 4 f
r?IIave you made one happy heart to
dav ? How calmly you can sleep on the
pillow how sweetly sleep. In all this
world there is nothing so sweet as giving
comfort to the distressed, as getting a sun
ray into a gloomy heart. Children of sor
row meet us wherever we turn : there is not
a moment that tears are not shed and sighs ;
uttered. Yet how many of those sighs are j
caused by our own thoughtlessness 1 How
many a daughter wrings the very soul of a
fond mother by acts of ingratitude. How
many brothers and sisters meet to vex and
injure each other, making wounds that no ,
human heart can heal. Ah ! if each one i
worked upon this maxim day by day strive
to make sonic heart happy jealousy, re- t
venge, madness and hatred, with their kin
dred associates, would forever leave the
earth.
m
MARRIAGE ani Death. Mr. Anderson
II. Peebles died in Tarboro', Edgecombe 1
county, X. C on Saturday week, of brain
fever. About eight or ten days previous, i
he was married to Miss Elizabeth Ann j
Cherry i daughter of Cader Cherry, dee'd ; j
ou the following Tuesday he was taken sick
and died on Saturday, at the early age of
'27 years. Mr. P. was a native of Warreu
countv.
(gratral Snttflioenct.
THE EARTHQUAKE AT JEDDO, IN
JAPAN.
It appears that the earthquake at Jeddo,
on the 11th of November, destroyed 100,000
houses, 30,000 souls, and 54 temples. Fire
broke out at the same time in thirty different
parts of the city. The earth opened and
closed over thousands of buildings, with
their inhabitants. The shock was also
severe at Simoda. The inhabitants of the
portion of the city destroyed were fore
warned of the disaster and many of them
escaped. The buildings of Jeddo are chiefly
of one story, and constructed of very slight
material. The temples V wo. ship, how
ever, are lofty, and in some instances were
constructed of heavy masonry.
EARTHQUAKE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
The residents of this city (says the Alta
Califomian, Feb. 15,) were aroused this
morning at 5.23 o'clock, by a most violent
shock of an earthquake, which was felt in
every portion of the town. The vibration
appeared from X. E. to S. W-, and, as far
as we can learn, not a single building es
caped the terrible shock. The first move
ment of the earth was very sudden, and the
buildings swayed to and fro heavily after
wards, and finally the vibrations were short
and rapid. Evidences of the violence of
the shock were visible in different portions
of the city this morning, and it is surprising
that there was not much more damage done.
The fire wall on the top of the store occu
pied by Messrs. Goodwin 6c Co., on Front
street, was entirely thrown from the north
side of the building into Oregon street.
Two buildings at the corner of Battery and
Washington streets, occupied by Sweetzer,
Hutchins A: Co., and the bank of Messrs.
Burgoyne 5c Co., were separated about
three inches. The plastering was consider
ably cracked and torn off from the walls of
Wilson's Exchange, International Hotel,
Tremont House, St. Xicholas Hotel, the
Merchants' Exchange Building, and the
City Hall.
The vibrations were attended with a
heavy report resembling the discharge of
distant artillery, but was continuous and
produced a deep, low rumbling sound.
The small dwellings were rocked like a
cradle, and persons were nearly thrown out
of their beds. It is by all means the most
violent earthquake that has ever been known
in San Francisco since its settlement by
the Americans.
There were several slight shocks felt
during the night, but did notnttrack particu
lar attention. The first occurred about 9
o'clock, and the second about 2 o'clock,
and were followed by the grand convulsion
mentioned above.
NEGRO DIPLOMATISTS.
The London correspondent of the Xew
York Herald says : "The negro representa
tive of Soulouque made his appearance this
week at the Queen's levee, and in spite of
all the affected sympathy of the English
for free "niggers," he was avoided as some
thing "odious and not to be endured." A
good joke of our Minister at Paris, Mr.
Mason, has come over here. He was tit a
Court ball lately at the Tuilleries, and his
eyes happened to light on the Charge
d' Affaires of Soulougue in France, a fine
looking black. Some one observing his
steady gaze, said: "Well, Mr. Mason, what
do you think of yonder blackee in his em
broidered coat?" "Think," replied Mr.
Mason, still regarding the negro with the
eye of a connoisseur, "why, clothes and all,
I think that fellow is worth a thousand
dollars." This is "Old Virginny, all over,
and everybody is laughing at the bon mot."
Negroes ix Free States. Some years
ago, a wealthy citizen of this county, named
Carter, emancipated about eighty slaves,
and colonized thorn in Bedford county,
Pennsylvania. In addition to the expenses
attending llielr tannopo fcitm, cnth nvgto
was furnished with the sum of $250, where
with to begin life in a free State. On Mon
day last a gentleman from Pennsylvania ar
rived in this place, in search of further aid
for their support, stating that nine-tenths
of them were already on the parish, whilst
the residue were fast verging to pauperism.
This is a sad commentary on the misguided
efforts of many Southerners, who have from
time to time essayed to elevate the Africa i
through means of emancipation and coloni
zation in the Northern States. JFarrento.t
(Va.)Flag.
-
BIRTH EXTRAORDINARY.
The last number of the Herald, publish
ed at Camden, Arkansas, contains tbe fol
lowing : "A few days since a negro wo
man, belonging to Col. John Dockery, the
worthy President of our railroad, was deliv
ered of four children at one birth thr.;e
girls and one boy; their average weight is
seven pounds each. When last heard from,
the mother and her little darkies were doing
well. The Colonel has named the children
after his favorite enterprise, Mississippi,
Ouachita and Red Ftiver Railroad, giving
the girls the names of the three rivers and
calling the boy Railroad. The woman and
her husband were both at work on the rail
road during the past year. This occurrence
is regarded as a favorable omen of our road,
aud it is thought that the stock of tbe corn-
pan' ought to command a premium, and
that upon this nigger basis they will be
able to negotiate a loan. Hurrah ! for the
Mississippi, Ouachita and Red River Rail
road !"
MORE INDIAN MURDERS.
The Indians of Florida, continue to mur
der unoffending citizens. Col. H. V. Snell's
house at Sara Sota, Florida, was attacked
by Indians on the 3d instant. One of the
Indians came on ahead, and seeing the black
man on the outside, asked him if his name
was Simon ; he told him it was ; the Indian
recognising the boy as an old acquaintance,
with whom he had often drank liquor, told
him to go or the other Indians would kill
him. They then rushed into the house,
where Mr. Owen Cunningham was in the
act of kindling a fire to cook dinner, and
killed him and set the house on fire. Col.
Suell was coming from the field, with his
horse and cart, when he saw the house on
fire, and thinking it might be Indians, he
hid the horse and cart in the palmettos,
and crawled through the bushes near enough
to satisfy himself that the fire was no acci
dent, and then left and came into Manafee,
distant, eleven miles, where he found Simon.
The Indians took a gun, a pair of blankets,
and rifled the crib of the corn. The settlers
around have all come into Manatee, and on
the night of the murder and fire, took refuge
on board of the schr. S. F. Bradford. The
lighthouse keeper aud assistants at Egmout
Key became alarmed and left; there were
no lights shown from the lighthouse on the
night of the 4th instant.
There are now five men missing from
Sara Sota, they having been absent five
days without being heard from, and fears
are entertained that they have been killed
by the Indians.
N. C. RA EL-ROAD.
The Board of Directors of the X. C. Rail
road held their regular meeting on the 8th
instant at Goldsboro'.
Amongst the business brought before that
Board was an offer from the President of
the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, to
make a through ticket from Charlotte, and
intermediate points on the X. C. Railroad,
to Weldon, Wilmington, and all places in
termediate, and also to allow persons coming
from the X. C. Railroad to participate in
the through ticket to Xew York, Philadel
phia, &c.
The Wilmington Journal states that the
proposition was declined, unless the Raleigh
and Gaston Railroad could be admitted to
participate in the through ticket.
W. C. & R. Railroad. We learn from
a citizen of this place who has just returned
from Charlotte, that the Rail Road Sur
veyors have reached Shelby, on their second
survey of the route from Charlotte to this
place. It is understood that on this survey
they are permanently locating the route
the next survey will prepare the road to be
put under contract. The surveyors will
probably reach this place in three or four
weeks. In the meantime it is to be hoped
that the commissioners for this county will
use every effort to increase the stock taken
in Rutherford. We learn also that the
land owners on the route between this place
and second Broad River have freely given
the right of way in every instance where it
could be legally done. Rutherford Eagle.
Guards against the Small, Pox. We
notice that the town Commissioners of Ashe
ville, to prevent the possibility of the intro
duction of Small Pox, which is now raging
in several sections of Buncombe county,
have placed a guard around town to pro
hibit the entrance of strangers, and have
prohibited the exercise of public worship in
the churches under a penalty of five dol
lars. Rev. Mr. Buxton, the Episcopal
clergyman of that place, not recognizing the
authority of the commissioners in this mat
ter, had the church opened in defiance of
said ordinance alleging he owed an alle
giance to a "higher law." He was arrest
ed and carried before the Intendant and
fined five dollars from which he has ap
pealed, and in a communication in the
' Spectator," expresses his determination
to test the legality of the act.
Distressing Casualty. We are pain
ed to learn that a son of Mrs. Thomas of
this town, aged about 10 years, was thrown
from a cart yesterday morn ng and almost
instantly killed. He was in the employ of
John I. Shaver, Esq.. and was engaged in
hauling dirt on Mr. S.'s contract on the
Western Railroad. He had just commenc
ed work with Mr. S., and was returning
from emptying his first load of dirt when
the unfortunate occurrence took place.
Salisbury Banner.
7W A Bill has passed the Legislature of
Virginia, establishing the county of Calhoun
out of part of the county of Gilmer.
ZW A Russo-Chinese hog, weighing 1,400
lbs., is on exhibition in Cincinnati. Ho grew
in Clinton county, Ohio.
fF" John V. Dobbin, Esq., formerly of
Fayetteville, has been appointed by the
President, a Purser in the Xavy.
f Dr. Thomas E. Bond, Editor of tbe
Xew York Christian Advocate, died in that
city, on Friday last.
SOMETHING NEW.
In tbe Rotunda of tbe Capitol, at Wash
ington, a Mr. Richardson is exhibiting the
model of an invention for transporting by
"atmospheric telegraph" the mails, at the
rate of 500 miles an hour, at one-sixth the
cost of the present mode of transportation
by cars, stages, Arc. By this new mail
carrier, Mr. Richardson thinks that a load
of seven tons, started at Baltimore by at
mospheric telegraph, would arrive in Wash
ington in less than five minutes, (a distance
of 40 miles;) and that the mail which now
is twelve hours passing between Washing
ton and Xew York, could be transmitted by
the telegraph in two hours. To this effect
a sejftCt. Committee of tbe.U-S,. Senate, to
Whom Mr. Richardson's memorial was refer
red, have also reported. The Washington
"Star" describes Mr. Richardson's model
as follows :
"The model (a tube) is twenty-five feet in
length, and is curved and bent purposely
so as to demonstrate that the channel through
which mail matter is to be conveyed need
not be straight, but can be adapted to ine
qualities of ground. In illustrating by this
model, Mr. R. attaches a leathern minia
ture mail bag to a plunger, which plunger
is fitted to the interior of the tube, and then
the air in the tube being exhausted or par
tially so by a pump, and the mail bag be
ing deposited in a chamber at ono end of
the table, is shot through to the other end,
by the atmospheric pressure from behind,
in a scarcely appreciable space of time.
The ringing of a bell indicates the arrival
of the 'mail' at the other end of the tube.
The plunger goes forward without calcula
ble friction, and without objectionable heat.
The engine, tender, and fuel, are stationa
ry, and the power used to draw them and
their appurtenances is saved. The work
ing model is made of metal, but Mr. Rich
ardson states that in a larger one wood is a
more desirable material.
Xorfolk and Portsmouth. The citi
zens of Xorfolk held a meeting Saturday
night, and adopted resolutions petitioning
the Legislature of North Carolina, at its
next session, to consent to receive Xorfolk
into its jurisdiction, and to appoint a com
mittee to treat with Virginia for the secession.
It was also resolved that a poll be opened
in Xorfolk to take the sense of the people
on the subject of annexation to Xorth Car
olina. The citizens of Princess Anne and
Xorfolk counties are also requested to secede
from Virginia.
Comnmiiicatioit.
EXPLANATION OF OPPOSITION TO A
PRECIPITATE ADJOURNMENT OF
THE COMMERCIAL CONVENTION
AT RICHMOND, VA.
It appears proper to amend some state
ments in a report, of expressions which ap
pear under my name, in the March number
of DeBow's Review.
Objection was made to the proposition to
meet again in Richmond, because two ap
pointments had already been made for that
city, and it was not desirable again to invite
preparations for such an occurrence by im
mediate adjournment to meet again in
May. The moral effect of doing nothing
was also feared, when there was much to be
done; no reports were called fpr.
There was no intention to offer rebuke to
those appointed to report ; such reference
was misplaced, having allusion to a separ
ate subject the abduction or retention of
slaves at the Xorth.
While I was speaking, some one placed
a paper in my hand, a paragraph to show
intention to withdraw the runaway servants
from the South, who had fled to Canada, to
work abandoned plantations in Jamaica. I
visited that Island and others in the West
Indies, besides the Continent of Southern
America, and regard the general condition
of the emancipated negroes infinitely worso
than that of the majority of slaves on our
Southern plantations.
For the interest of our servants, as well
as our own, we seem called upon to do
something to repress indiscreet attempts,
made sometimes by respectable persons, to
defy the constitution and laws of the Unit
ed States, under a false impression of moral
obligation, derived from a contracted inter
pretation of a rule of Hebrew Scripture.
That moral law gives no sanction to steal,
nor secrete, a slave. It did not authorize
the custom to drown elderly women for
witches once thought equally right and pro
per, according to a rash translation of tte
Hebrew. The best modern authorities de
ny the interpretation, used by Abolitionists,
as a screen, to prevent obedience to the
law and the constitution of our country.
The Hebrew writing refers, it is said, to
servants fleeing from savage and wild "wan
derers," surrounding the territories of the
Hebrews "strangers" or "foreigners" to
them. There is no authority "to covet" or
"steal" the property of "neighbors," as all
under the same constitution of government
among the different Hebrew States or tribes
were held to be.
The man-servant and the maid-servant
are specially mentioned as property. The
enticement or concealment of either, can
not be justified by that law, which, in every
portion, exhibits the manners and customs
of a Southern people.
It was mentioned, that a person describ
ed by the offended party as an amiable, ed
ucated, and intelligent, gentleman, under tbo
influence of delusion and a false estimate of
imperfect translation, had been induced to
uttcmpt the violent abduction of the ser
vants of a citizen of North Carolina a pub
lio officer passing on duty to a foreign
country.
This indiscreet attempt and concealment
in evidence had subjected him to impris
onment, deprived him of the comforts of
family and home, caused great inconven
ience to many, and the loss of valuable pro
perty to a public minister, by an acknow
ledged infatuation, in direct opposition of
the law and letter of the constitution of tho
United States, as well as of the pure intent
of moral law. I was remarked, if our
neighbors would not pull fairly to the con
stitution of general government, solemnly
consented to by fair consultation aud adjust
ment, and respect tbe purposes of our
common Union, wc had a right "to switch
them up a little" if we intended to main tain
the Union.
We were required to attempt some legal
means to settle this question of races upon
a constitutional, honorable and sensible ba
sis, and demand compensation for losses
from the government of the LTnited States
as we did when the British abducted our
property in slaves, from the Chesapeake.
Those who formerly carried and sold
slaves to the South, in ships, wero Eastern
owners and merchants. They bad boen
duly paid for such property, though unwil
lingly received, at the first; as it is noto
rious, Southern colonists originally and
strongly opposed the introduction of African
slaves.
If the plain moral law had then boen en
forced against those supposed to have "stol
en" them for sale, wc should havo bad no
farther trouble ; for the moral law does re
quire the penalty of death for stealing a man.
But the sorvants wero honestly paid for,
at the enforcement of Great Britain. The
payments received, were profitably invest
ed, in various other ways, for the benefit of
some who now wipe their mouths calmly,
and charge the South with all tho evils in
cident to humanity, as if none could be
found, elsewhere in tho world.
In conversation with a gentleman of
highest authority in Virginia, allusion was
made to the difficulty of impressing South
erners with the truo import of Ancient
Law, in its just sense. It was alleged, some
of the noblest, most intelligent, generous
and pure men in the Xorthern section of tho
United States wero conscientiously influ
enced by doubts of the propriety of return
ing a slave to his owner ; even Southern
men sometimes participate in this feeling;
while others, without scruples, recklessly
urge on a fanatical excitement, as they had
upon several other matters, which attracted
the attention of modern reformers, in defiance
of all law aud every morul precept.
It was under this head the delusion was
called "a gastric one," from recollection
of some eccentric expression of tho Rov.
Sidney Smith.
Our servants' interests, nnd our own, re
quire us to arrest, as speedily and as kindly
as possible, tho fanatical prejudice, almost,
if not quite a superstition about runaway
servants. The just, merciful nnd true law
unquestionably sanctions tho possession of
such property, taken from a people differing
from the Hebrews, but with strict regula
tions, under a very original and simple
formula, for the humane treatment of them.
Tbe loss of an eye, or of a tooth, was to
be compensated by giving liberty to tho
slave !
The moral law requires generous conduct,
to servants of all kinds. It would be well
to remember such provisions have never
been repealed.
That our runaway servants, often impelled
by a curiosity natural to them, who hang
about the outskirts of Xorthern cities, are
neither so cheerful, happy, moral or con
tented, as the majority of our plantation
negroes, no ono who has observed them with
unprejudiced eye can conceal from himself.
It is to the advantage of the owner as well
as the negro he should bo well cared for, and
treated with humanity. Southern peoplo
do not abuse valuable property, more than
their neighbors.
If there are exceptions to this rule, they
are certainly not confined to the South.
A continued interference with this sub
ject, as a mere political question, re-acts to
the prejudice of tho negro mentally, mor
ally and practically. It muMt be fairly met
and decidedly resisted upou every just
ground of reason aud revelation, which
happily, do not contradict each other. I
am not aware, in opposing a precipitate ad
journment or otherwise, there was anything
suid to offend a truly conscientious man.
Truths do not conflict and we have too
strong evidence of the principle which
characterize moral law, to credit tho violeuco
and errors which accompany arguments in
favor of its perverse misapplication.
It appeared to many in the Convention
idle t adjourn without an attempt to do
business, when many subjects pressed upon
the attention, and much had been laid out
to finish which might have been acted upon
satisfactorily to the people of tho South,
although tbe Southern States were not fully
represented upon the occasion.
J. H. GIBBON.
Mecklenburg Co., X. C, March 10, '5j.
i