WESTERN DEMOCEAT, C HAELOTTE, N". C.
Jje Wtsltxn SJrmorrat.
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
for the W-stern Democrat.
DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN UNION.
PHhuI to previous notice, a meeting of the
democracy of Union county was held in Monroe,
n Tuesday th 1st November, to appoint Icle
Litcs to the State and District Conventions.
On motion of Col. T. C. Wilson, Darling Rush
ing, Esq., was called to the Chair, and on motion
ff V. J. Kerr, Col. J. M. Stewart was appointed
Secretary.
The Chairman then called on W. J. Kerr, Esq-,
who explained the object of the meeting.
On motion of Col. T. C. Wilson, the Chairman
appointed the following gentlemen, W. J. Kerr,
John N. I)ais, Col. T. C. Wilson, J. L. Collins
and J. ML Stewart, a committee to draft resolu
tions expressive of the sense of the meeting. After
a short absence the committee reported the fol
lowing preamble and resolutions :
Whereas, it i.s a time-honored custom of the
democratic party to meet together in General Con-
cation for the purpose of keeping up an organi
sation, and devising ways and means for perpetua
ting that great system of politics which was promul
gated by Jeftei.-on and others of the revolutionary
period, and which has been carried into practical
operation by Madison, Monroe, Jack sou, Polk,
l'ierce, and Buchanan; and w hereas, the Executive
Committee of the Democratic party for the State
have appointed the iSth of March, I860, as the
time, and Raleigh as the place, for holding a State
Convention to nominate a candidate for Covernor
at the ensuing election, and to appoint lour Dele
gates for the State at large to the National Demo
cratic Convention; and whereas, there will have to
be a convention held in each Congressional dis
trict to appoint delegates to said National Conven
tion, therefore,
Resolved, That we approve the plan of holding
conventions, and consider it the duty of all good
and true Democrats to support the nominees of
County, State and National Conventions, thereby
fecuring the united action of the party and pro
moting harmony in its ranks, as well as securing
the triumph of those principle!! we all profess to
endorse.
Resolved, That in our present able and efficient
Governor, we have a man who is worthy of the
many honors heretofore conferred upon him, and
we cordially recommend him as a nominee for re
election. Resolved, That in both State and Federal affairs
we are in favor of a strictly economical adminis
tration, and we are proud to know that cur im
mediate representative in Congress, Hon. Barton
Craigc, is a faithful guardian of the people's in
terests in the halls of federal legislation.
Resolved, That James Buchanan, by his wise
and conservative course in the administration of
this government, deserves the encomiums of all
lovers of the Constitution.
Resolved, That we are opposed to the agitation
of the slavery o,ucstion, nd are willing to abide
by the decision of the Supreme Court in the Dred
Scott case : that being the plank the South is will
ing to stand upon concerning this vexed question.
Resolved, That the Chairman appoint thirty
delegates to the State Convention
Resolved, That we recommend the District Con
vention be held in the town of Charlotte, and that
the Chairman of this meeting appoint twenty-five
delegates to attend said Convention.
Resolved, That the Chairman of this meeting
appoint a Committee of Fire, whoso doty it shall
ie to look after the interests of the democratic
party in Union count)-.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
"While the committee was absent, 1). B. Rea,
Ksq., entertained the meeting with an excellent
address.
The Chairman then appointed the following
g titlemen to attend the State Convention :
Hugh Wilson. John X Davis, WJ K. it. J .1 Williams.
M Austin. Ambrose Darker. Jeremiah Wentz. J M
Trice. Jnmes Moore, G I) Wolf. J A Dunn, F J Kzzell,
W W Hart. A I. Fundcrburk. W II Simpson. C Austin,
G W Helms, .1 Y Hough, T J Lockhsrt, Jason Rogers,
Jesse L Col lens, J Lee, Harrison Lee. J W M Murray,
L Presson, W J T Musk, J 1" Harrell, B A Austin, J K
Austin, Wm Hamilton.
The following gentlemen were appointed to at
tend the District Convention:
J W Hamilton, Sherrod Rowland, J E W Smith. Jns
Benton. I) Tolson. J H Woodward. A II Crowell. M
Crowell, J C Isly. E W Richardson. W E Stewart. W 1!
Carries. Saml McWhorter. T I,' Wilson, .las Richards,
A McLorty, Darling Broom. G W Wimberlv, Enoch
Williams, B D Austin, W T Lemmonds. J W Benton.
John N Davis, J J Williams. J F Hough.
The Chairman then appointed as the Committee
for Union county
Rngh Wilson, K W Richardson. M Austin. J une- W
Hamilton, and Harrison Lee.
On motion of Col. Wilson, tbc ChairmatKand
Secretary were added to the lists of delegates, both
to the State and I Strict Conventions.
On motion, the proceedings were ordered to be
published in the Western Democrat. The meet
ing then adjourned.
D. Bl SUING, Cbn.
.1. M. Stewart. Scc'y.
for ihe Democrat.
FRUITS OP FANATICISM.
In all the fanatical theories of the past we 6nd
some feeble effort, on the part of her devotees, to
presumptuously assume the practice of their theories,
however wild and visionary.
The recent fool-hardy affair at Harper's Ferry is
a bold attempt at illustrat ing the measures of that
fanatical set, w ho say that slavery i.s a " damning
sin,"' and have been for years incessant- pressing
their morbid views on that subject indiscriminate
ly from the pulpit and the forum. This sect, un
der the gnrb of philanthropy, has become worked
up to such a blind zeal that they have in their
mad folly attempted a bloody and precipitate move
upon slave territory, which has resulted fatal to
the participants as open connuissionists of treason
to the general government and felony to the State.
This philanthropic sect first proposed mildly to
settle the difference ol opinion between them and
their brethren of the South by cool argument.
But where have they, since they have organized
themselves into a party, exercised any cool argu
ment upon the subject ? their inflamatory appeals
spiked Kansas with Sharpe's rifles, and that ap
peal has still been made in bolder terms, till some
of her rash hot-headed followers have transferred
their scene of action from Kansas to risjid pro
slavery ground, and have actually perpetrated a
move of open violence upon the South. In their
frenzied madness vainly thinking to flood the cot
ton fields of the South with pro-slavery blood or
force an acquiescence to theiv fanatical opinions,
or at least hoping to disseminate such seeds of re
bellion as would spread (run State to State, till
the la$t one of the slave-holding States would be
wrapped in one universal flame of negro rebellion.
But their nefarious schemes have been exposed,
and their treasonable purposes nipped in the bud.
From which we may infer aud congratulate our
selves with the maxim, that in any cause where
violence i.s unduly perpetrated it is a sure indica
tion of a growing weakness. This mode of pro
cedure in establishing opinions might have attained
its object in the dark era of the Crusades, or in
the sunerstitious times of Mahomet, but in this
refined and enlightened age will readily meet with j
the just execration of the popular mind, and will
consign its deluded votaries to eternal stiame anu
contempt. And besides, it will have the happy
tendency in consolidating the South and binding
more closely the yet unbiased popular opinion of
the North around the nucleus of conservatism.
R.
THE ABOLITION INSURRECTION.
Richmond, Nov. 8. Officers Win. N. Kelly
and Benj M. Morris arrived here to-day, safe and
sound, after a long jaunt to Carlisle, Peuu., Charles
town, Va., Harper s Ferry and Point of Rocks.
Edward Hazlett had three lawyers at Carlisle,
and they labored industriously to prevent their
client from getting into the clutches of the Virgin
ia officers. The Commonwealth of Virginia had
the services of those eminent jurists Judge Watt,
of Carlisle, and the Hon. Mr. Douglas, of Cham
ber.djurg. The legal contest was protracted and
arduous, but Judge Graham finally decided to de
liver him over to the Virginia authorities. Officers
Moiris and Kelly immediately started with their
prisoner by private conveyance, and succeeded in
reaching Charlestown without molestation, although
i i . i j i i
their movements were Closely watcneu. as wiey
pa-sed through (irecncastle, a small town in Penn- j
sylvan ia, a negro aimed his rifle at the officers, but j
their attention being called to the assassin, he
brought down his fire-niece and ran rapidly off.
Upon their arrival at Charlestown, Capt. John
E. Cook and Coppie immediately recognized Haz
lett. Old Brown talked freely to the officers, glo
rying in his course, and saying he was ready to die.
On Sunday morning, the officers went down to
Harpei's Ferry, where they found the people much
excited by a report that a number of boxes had
ai rived at a place on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
load, called Point of Rocks, about 20 miles below
Harper's Ferry.
Col. Barbour, the Superintendent, Col. Martin,
U. S. Marshal, and Col. J. L. Davis, Commander-in-Chief
at Charlestown, persuaded the officers to
go down with them, as the boxes were similar to
these which had contained Old Brown's arms and
ammunition. Upon examination they were found
to contain surveyor's tools, and were owned by a
gentleman who was moving from the North to Vir-
Tiik Harper's Ferry Insurrection. A
Richmond letter in the New Vork Herald says:
I am informed to-day that it is the intention to
try Cook, the Harper's Ferry rebel, in the United
Suites District Court for that district. The course
has been determined on with a view to compel the
attendance of Seward, Greeley, Wilson, Howe and
other outsiders, who are suspected of complicity in
the late insurrection If, in the progress of the
trial, their guilt as aiders or abettors shall be es
tablished, the probability is that they will be as
signed position in the dock beside Cook, and sub
ject to the same ordeal that led to a majority of
them being brought lorward as witnesses. The
list to be summoned will embrace ever- individual,
wheresoever he may reside, whose name may be
connected with this movement in any connection,
however remote. As to their appearance in obe
dience to the summons, that must be presumed as
certain, inasmuch as it is a question involving the
ability of the federal govern men t to enforce obedi
ence to its summons. 'Ibis is the means to insure
a full development of the orijrin and progress of
this movement, and of the relations to it of the
prominent men of other States, whose moral com
plicity, at least, has been already fixed. It will
prove the most interesting and important trial in
the criminal annals of the country.
CHARLESTOWN, Va., Nov. 0. Cook has ren
dered a full confession and pleaded guilty to the
charges against him. Stevens has been given up
to the Federal authorities for trial, for the purpose
of subpoenaing Gerrit Smith, Giddings, Seward,
Hale and others. Copeland has been found guilty
of murder and insurrection.
Yesterday, Stephens was brought into Court.
While empaneling the jury, the case was brought
to a close by a despatch from Gov. Wise, suggesting
that Stephens be handed over to the United States
authorities for trial.
Mr Hunter informed the Court that he had in
possession a large number of important letters and
documents, implicating, in the treasonable design
of the prisoner, a large number of prominent citizens
of Northern and Western States, which would be
made public on the trial of Stephens before an
United States Court. The prisoner was remanded
tojail. Cook was brought to trial to-day. Mr Hunter
read a full confession of the prisoner, giving all the
details of the insurrection.
Memphis, Tenn , Nov. 9. W. N. Palmer, ano
ther conspirator, has beeti arrested here. Gov.
Wise has sent on a requisition for him.
Gov. Wise has issued a proclamation, offering a
reward of for the apprehension of Owen
Brown, Barclay Coppie, Francis J. Mcriani and C.
P. Tidd, who were engaged iu the Harper's Ferry
outrage.
It is said that Gerrit Smith has been sent to the
Utica insane asylum, seriously deranged
It has been ascertained that under the laws of
Virginia the Governor cannot pardon a person con
victed of treason to the Commonwealth, except
with the consent of the General Assembly, declared
by joint resolution.
Gov. PACKER. A correspondent of the Peters
burg Express states that Officer Morris, on his re
turn to Richmond, informed him that Gov. Pack
er, of Penn., requested him to say to Gov. Wise
that he would not only surrender the prisoners now
in custody, but every individual, name or no name,
who could be identified as having been present at
Harper's Ferry and siding with the insurgents;
and that he would employ all necessary aid to ef
fect their arrest.
-
ABSCONDING SHERIFFS.
Geo. W. Glass, Sheriff of McDowell count-,
left home about the middle of September last, 08-
, tensibly to visit Raleigh and settle his taxes with
the Comptroller and Treasurer of State. At Salis
; bury, it is presumed, he took the wrong end of the
S railroad, aud, so far as we are informed, he has not
; since been heard of. No doubt he has absconded,
carrying off a large amount of monev. Mr Glass
j has always been considered an honorable, upright j
; man and a good citizen. His flight has much sur- j
prised all his friends and acquaintances; and for
! some time it was supposed that he had been mur- !
j dercd on his way to Raleigh, his friends choosing
I to think so, rather than that he had betrayed his
trust. Last week the Magistrates of the county j
! elected James M. Neal to fill out the unexpired
' term of Air Glass
Solomon Ray, the Sheriff of Yancey county, has :
also absconded. He came to Raleigh in due time
j and settled his tax account; but a few weeks ago
! he left home to attend Court in Madison county, i
'-. and has not been heard from since. It is supposed j
; he carried off about 5510,000. The Magistrates of ;
i Yaney have elected Charles Byrd to fill Ray's un- j
j expired term. Raleigh Standard.
APPROACHING END of "OLD BROWN."
The issue of the trial of Old Brown, of Ossawat
tamie, has been such as every right minded person
in the coufitry must have supposed it would be
and all good citizens, North and South, will hearti
ly approve. No man ever had a fairer trial, or was
treated more leniently, under circumstances of un
usual provocation, and no man ever more righ-e-ously
deserved the sentence which has been passed
upon him. The old villian, after bearing himself
with tolerable dignity from the moment of his ar
rest till his conviction, managed to extinguish the
last feeble sentiment of respectful pity that might
have been felt for him, as a misguided enthusiast,
by lying to court and jury about his intentions.
He did not design to incite a rebellion among the
Slaves; oh, no, he only meant to run off a few of
them, and provide all those pikes and Sharp's
rifles as a means of locomotion' Pretty story, in
deed! But little will it avail him, for the old mis
creant will be hung a9 surely as he shall live to see
the light of the second of December morn. The
miserable fanatics and weak-minded women of the
North, who are troubling Governor Wise daily
with threatening or appealing letters for the par
don of John Brown, little know the temper of the
man with whom they have to deal, or they would
not waste their time and stationery with such cant
and folly about the safety and the magnanimity of
Virginia. Governor Wise is not to be moved from
his convictions of duty by all the menaces or the
petitions that New England could write in the
next four weeks, and we consider it a most fortun
ate circumstance that at this critical moment, we
have such a Chief Magistrate. Brown must die
and all who were concerned in his treasonable pro
ject. Petersburg Express.
BEOWFSSPEECH.
Old Brown has pricked the bubble of glory
which Greely, Weed, Wendell Phillips and all his
other black republican coadjutors have been assid
uously blowing for him. He sets aside the prof
fered honors of a martyred hero, and claims to be
nothing more than a nigger stealer.
How the black republicans will harmonize his
declaration, that he merely desired to run oft' a few
negroes from Virginia, just as he acknowledges he
had done from Missouri, with all his prepared
paraphernalia of a new constitution for the United
States, with its Cabinet officers, and Commander-in-chief
of its armies, all regularly appointed and
commissioned in Canada, we have yet to see. To
us the whole thing looks supremely ridiculous,
and we should not wonder if Greeley would be
now willing that old Brown's epitaph be written
at once, . without waiting for that undefined but
high sounding period of time to which he at first
wished it to be deferred. The fact is, Brown has
stultified them all, and gone very far towards
proving himself a pious liar as well as a pious ruf
fian. Iu Brown's speech there are some points worth
noticing. He acknowledges the truthfulness of
the witnesses, and his entire satisfaction with the
treatment he had received from the Court, but he
claims that he should not be punished for what he
has done. He never intended murder or treason.
It is true he committed both, but, clinging to
Seward's higher law, he believes that it was right
for him to do so. This is the logical result of the
Black Republican teachings, and forms the " irre
pressible conflict" of the brutal and bloody Roches
ter manifesto. In this path of treason Brown and
Wendell Phillips are but a step in advance of
Seward and Greeley; these are closely followed by
Corwin and Wilson, and behind them march the
rest of the party, all advancing on the same broad
way of treason to the Constitution and murder of
their fellow-citizens. The palliatives that Brown
alleges in his speech are those inculcated by the
orators of the party and repeated by their humbler
followers. How tew of these reflect that their
course leads them to treason, and for this the law
prescribes the penalty. Xeto York Herald.
. ,
THE TWO PARTIES IN THE FREE
STATES.
The late insurrectionary movement at Harper's
Ferry has tested the nationality of the Democratic
party. The organs of the national Democracy in
the free States are as loud as those in the slave in
their denunciations of the vile traitors who are
soon to expiate on the gallows their atrocious of
fenses. The language of indignation employed by
the organs and orators of the Northern Democracy
is open, manly and eloquent. Their sympathy
with the South and their detestation of Brown's
crime are sincere and cordial. They charge home
upon the leaders of the Black Republican party a
cognizance and approval of the late conspiracy to
deluge the South in blood.
In New York, the Democracy have issued a
pamphlet full of crushing facts, identifying the
ieaders of the Black Republican party with Brown's
Harper's Ferry movement. They insist that all
the conspirators, high and low, against the lives
aud property of the people of the South, shall be
punished.
The Black Republican organs, whilst they do
not avow their knowledge of Brown's conspiracy,
in a hundred ways show their sympathy for him.
Whilst fear prevents a majority of them from
openly approving Brown's designs, their comments
upon his true and probable fate show that they
design making capital out of a crime which they
dare not directly advocate.
The editorial columns of the leading organs of
the Black Republican party teem with unfair and
mendacious accounts of and comments upon the
trial of Brown. They declare his trial to have
been a mockery, whilst Brown himself admits that
he has had a fair and impartial trial. Rich Ex.
Excitement in Kentucky. Considerable
excitement exists in a portion of Kentucky, relative
to the supposed detection of a secret organization
having for its object a slave insurrection. The
facts received are as follows :
Two anonymous letters were received through
the Post Office at Cynthiana, Kentucky, announcing
the existence in that locality of a secret organization,
upon a plan similar to Old Brown's at Harper's
Ferry, and having the same object in view. The
letters and their contents were made public, and
immediately created a great excitement throughout
Harrison and Bourbon counties, where it is alleged
the organization exists, and intended to operate.
A public meeting was called at Cynthiana, and
largely attended. Measures were taken to promptly
ferret out tbc members of the organization, and to
protect the community against any out-break that
may be attempted among the slaves.
Attempted Murder. We learn from one of
our citizens, that Mr W. W. Ellis, living in the
eastern portion of our District, was waylayed and
shot by some person, secreted on the road side, on
Friday evening last about dusk. Mr Ellis was
returning home, riding in his buggy with his wife,
and at the discharge of the gun his horse took
fright and running off some distance before he
could be checked, so, the assailant in ambush, was
allowed sufficient time to make his escape. The
ball took effect in the back part of his neck and
lodged just behind the right ear. At first, no hopes
of his recovery were entertained, but we are happy
to state, from last accounts, he is doing well.
Lancaster Ledger.
SUPERIOR COURT.
The Fall Term of the Superior Court of Halifax
county was in session week before last, Judge
Shepherd presiding.
On Thursday Joe Mills, a free negro, was tried
lor the murder of Betsy Williams, an old white
woman, and for outraging the person of the deceased
The defence tried to prove idiocy in the-prisoner.
After taking the testimony, the case was given to l
the jury, who, in two minutes thereafter, returned
a verdict of guilty of murder. The prisoner was
sentenced ou Saturday to be hung on the 18th inst.
On Friday Shannon White was tried for the
murder of his brother, James White, on the Satur
day night previous. It appeared from the evi
dence that the murder was committed in self-defence.
The jury rendered a verdict of manslaugh
ter. On Saturday White was brought up for sen
tence, when his counsel expressed their intention
not to disturb the verdict, but appealed to his hon
or not to have the punishment of branding inflict
ed, on account of the many mitigating circumstan
ces. His Honor replied that he had a great ab
horrence of the punishment of branding, and never
caused it to be inflicted unless when he was
satisfied that the prisoner was "a felon out and out,"
so that he ought to bear the mark of his true char
acter with him through the world. That he did
not so judge the prisoner in this case, and there
fore sentenced him to six months imprisonment
only, and to be further imprisoned until he paid
the costs of the prosecution and jail fees.
Elias Neville, convicted at the last term of the
Court of killing a man who had made insulting pro
posals to his wife, and who had even tried to force
her, and whose appeal to the Supreme Court was
unsuccessful, was next asked what he had to say
why the sentence of death should not be passed
upon him. The prisoner's counsel replied that he
had nothing to say to His Honor, that he inteuded
to appeal to the clemency of the Executive, and
begged to be allowed time sufficient for that pur
pose. His Honor remarked that he was glad to
hear such remarks from the counsel. When
this case was tried, a gentleman, in view of
a then recent case at Washington City, said to
him that the same rales ought to have been applied
in this case. But he was opposed to reposing the
pardoning power iu the hands of the jury. He
held that when the majesty of the law was insulted
it ouu;ht to work out its own vindication. And
although a prisoner might only be technically guil
ty, yet it was better for the protection of all, that
the principles of the law should be carried out,
leaving the pardoning power where the Constitu
tion had reposed it. His Honor sentenced him to
be hung on Friday the 25th of November.
THE MORMONS.
According to late accounts, the Mormons arc
renewing their disorderly conduct, despite the
presence of the United State troops. They have
begun again their insolence, their assassinations,
and their other deeds of outrage and crime. They
ridicule aud ignore the presence of the Government
troo s, and commit the vilest offences with perfect
impunity. It is still suspected that they are
fortifying themselves in the mountains, notwith
standing the recent report of the United States
Marshall that no evidence of hostile preparation
could be found. One of their principal saints,
Heber C. Kimball, lately boasted in the Tabernacle,
that "the Government and hell combined could
not drive them out."
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.
The steamship Vanderbilt has arrived. Among
her passengers are the Hon. Thos. L. Clingman, of
North Carolina, the Hon. Carrol Spence, late Uni
ted States Minister at Constantinople, and Judge
Davis, formerly of Florida
Spain has declared war against Morocco.
Tuere are rumors of trouble between England
and F ranee.
A Paris letter asserts that Palmerston has de
clared to the French Ambassador that England
will not allow Spain to occupy both sides of the
Straits of Gibraltar, and will oppose it by force.
The London Times thinks that the only danger
is that France will join Spain in the conquest of
Morocco, and annex the latter to Algeria.
The Times' Paris correspondent says that the
conversation of Palmerston with the French Am
bassador, respecting the occupancy of both sides of
the Straits, caused much emotion in Paris, and the
French Government asserts that it will not change
its policy in regard to Morocco.
The Paris correspondents of the London journals
indulge in gloomy forebodings. A writer for the
Herald states plainly that the impression gained
ground of a rupture between France and England
being imminent.
Several provincial journals have published simul
taneously violent articles against England, which
were known to have been supplied by a Govern
ment official. England is warned that her hour of
trial approaches, which may put an end to fiGr
greatness forever.
Nothing further has transpired in regard to the
Zurich Conference and the peace treaties.
The strike of the London builders still contin
ued, and was telling seriously against the men, who
have resolved to appeal to the public for a support.
The recent returns show an excessive mortality
amongst families of the operatives, and there is
reason to fear that scores are perishing of want.
New York, Nov. 10. The steamship City of
Baltimore arrived at this port to-day, bringing ad
vices from Liverpool to the 27th ult. The cotton
market was active and prices have an advancing
tendency.
.
EXECUTION OF STARLING.
John Starling, a white man, was hung at Kins
ton, N. C , on Friday week last, for the murder of
an old white woman in Wayne county some time
last fall. The culprit committed the murder while
in a state of intoxication, and professed to have
done the deed under a superstitious belief that the
old woman was a witch, and that she meditated
taking the life of his wife and child through the
agency of witchcraft. Some four or five thousand
persons were present to witness the execution. At
half-past 2 o'clock the condemned man was taken
from the jail to the place of execution. He was
then conducted on the scaffold, when he addressed
the crowd thus : "Gentlemen and Ladies lam
here to part with my precious life! but oh! my
poor wife and child! If 1 had not done what I
did, they would have been killed! and I had rath
er die than that they should." He then asked the
sheriff to execute his office quickly. A woman in
the crowd sent to the sheriff to beg the knot of the
rope with which the culprit was hung, saying that
she had heard that it would cure fits. The sheriff
obligingly complied with the request of the simple
minded creature.
The Washington correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press, says :
Judge Douglas has been confined to his bed by
a sudden attack of inflammatory rheumatism, and
Mrs. Douglas, I am sorry to say, continues in a
dangerous condition. During the last week,
especially on Wednesday, her life was despaired of!
On Saturday there was a very slight chance for
the better.
RAILROAD SURVEY.
Report of a Surrey for the Atlantic, Tennessee &
Ohio Railroad, from the East Tenn. & la.
Railroad to Morganton, N. C.
Greensville, Tenn., Nov. 8tli, 1855.
To the President and Directors of the Atlantic, Tennessee
and Ohio Rail Road Company :
Gentlemen I have the honor to submit for your con
sideration the result of the survey over that portion ol
your projected line between the East Tennessee and
Virginia Kiiil Road and the North Carolina and Western
Rail Road at Morganton.
The deficiency of a regularly organized party, with
the nearness of approaching winter, necessitating the
abandonment of a connected instrumental examination,
it was deemed advisable to place the instruments on
the most intricate portions of the line those impera
tively demanding such an investigation : while but a
cursory view was taken of the remainder, involving, as
is confidently believed, no serious difficulties.
The point of departure from the E. T. & V. R. Rd.
one common to the North Carolina connection, via Wa
tauga Gap lies 6 miles east of Jonesborough, and
near the "Camp Ground." Two lines diverging from
this point unite again in the valley of the Big Doe River,
about 10 miles from the State line, and 23 from the
point of divergence.
Havingdescribed succinctly the lines through Tennes
see, I will now proceed to follow the route deemed
most practicable in North Carolina.
For the first 4 miles from the Tennessee line, the to
pography of the country is such as to render essential
a heavy outlay for graduation. The Cranibcrry Gap,
in the ridge, "shedding the waters of Cramberry Creek
on the west and those of Toe River on the east, is passed
in this distance, and presents the only point militating
against cheapness of construction, or demanding maxi
mum grades, between it and the Blue Ridge. As moun
tain ridges, with favorable slopes, are found bearing
immediately in direction from this pass, upon which
the line may feasibly be traced, it is thought to offer
no insurmountable objections to the passage of a line
strictly practicable. Descending from Cramberry Gap,
the line falls upon the ample margin of Toe River, and
continues down the same, with gentle grades, to a point
near Joseph Pyatt's 13 miles from the State line
where the ascent to the Blue Ridge will commence. I
must here be pardoned for a digression, that the reader
may be afforded some knowledge of the Blue Ridge and
its intricacies in the vicinity of the adopted line.
Upon reaching the Blue Ridge I immediately proceed
ed to make a reconnoisance of the several passes, whose
claims to favorable consideration had been presented,
with a view to progressing advisedly in a contemplated
instrumental examination. From the superficial obser
vation obtained by a horseback ride along the top of
the Ridge, the impression was at once fixed of the utter
futility of attempting an eastern descent therefrom oth
er than by the western slope of the Linville Mountain.
Difficulties of a serious character were never anticipa
ted in the western ascent, from the universally great
superelevation of the western over the eastern base.
The Linville Mountain, a spur of the Blue Ridge, de
parting at right angles, early makes a detour, and assu
ming a course nearly parallel with the mother ridge,
continues the same throughout its entire length. From
its point of departure to its termination in the Catawba
valley the distance following its sinuosities cannot
be less than 25 miles; and really it seems to have been
presented by Divine economy as an assistant to the in
genuity of man in its course upward aud onward. Along
its eastern base rushes the impetuous current of the
Linville River, while upon its western flows the more
gentle waters of the North Fork. The rocky strata,
out-cropping upon this mountain, is almost entirely of
Flexible Sandstone, (Itacolumite.) esteemed a fact wor
thy of mention as the feeble integration of its particles
must very materially depreciate the labor and cost in
constructing a road upon its slope.
In adopting the western side of the Linville Mountain
upon which to sustain a descending grade to the Ca
tawba valley, I was governed by two reasons : first,
from a conviction that the greatest available distance
upon the mountain side would be required to secure a
feasible descent, and secondly, because the "precipitous
cliffs and high mural precipices" on the east, so vitia
ting the practicability of the "Linville Gap route," must
have proved equally prejudicial to a line descending
from the Blue Ridge at any point I might have selected.
The result of an instrumental examination fully sus
tained the first surmise, fixing, beyond a doubt, the im
possibility of a working grade down the eastern slope
of Linville.
Acting in governance with the knowledge gained by
a day's rcconnoitering, I determined to examine instru
nientally a point at the southern extremity of the
"Hump-back Mountain," whose elevated and camel-like
back, though forming a portion of the Blue Ridge, has
secured for itself this distinctive appellation. The ele
vation of the Blue Ridge at this place above the water
in Toe River at its base was found to be 1,437 feet, and
above the valley of the North Fork, at Wm. English's,
2,057 feet. From the eastern side at this point, appro
priately termed the "Narrows," pointing directly to
wards Linville against which I was incorrectly in
formed it impinged a spur of the mountain offered,
apparently, a suitable elevation for the line after pass
ing through the Ridge to find a favorable route along
its side to the Linville Mountain. Passing down from
the Narrows it was soon found that this spur failed in
forming the contemplated junction, having been disntp
tured from the Linville by one of the tributaries of
North Fork. This failure in connection vitiating en
tirely the practicability of the line, it was at once
abandoned.
To determine the rate of descent in the North Fork,
a line of levels was run I2 miles of its length to a
point near James Brown's, and 8 miles from the foot of
Linville Mountain, where ihc Fork unites with the Ca
tawba. An accurate knowledge of the fall in the meas
ured distance being gained, ample allowance was made
for the descent in the remainder, which places the foot
of Linville 2.860 feet below the summit of the Blue
Ridge at the Narrows. Returning to the Ridge with
renewed faith, a more eligible point was sought for
piercing it. Several passes were instrumcntally exam
ined, but I shall confine myself to a description of the
two most feasible. A little to the North of the point
where the Linville Mountain leaves the Ridge, lies
Brushy Creek Gap; the most depressed point in the
range for many miles around, being about 2,200 feet
above the foot of Linville. To reach this point from
Joseph Pyatt's, on Toe River, the line following a spur
of the Ridge for 5 miles would strike the main range
nearly opposite to the point of junction of the Linville,
with a grade, it is believed, of not over 80 feet per mile.
A long, deep cut, necessitated by the gradual fall of the
mountain slopes, whose flatness renders tunnelling im
possible, enables the line to fall upon Pine Branch a
tributary of the Linville River . nd consequently upon
the eastern slope of Linville Mountain. This side of
Linville, as before mentioned, not affording sufficient
distance for a practicable descent, it becomes necessary
to pass the line through to the western slope. At a
point about a mile from the Ridge two opposing ravines
narrow the mountain to a mere back-bone, and present
favorable inducements for the location of a tunnel,
whose length need not exceed half a mile to effect the
desired passage.
The length of the Linville Mountain, with its mean
derings. I am perfectly safe in assuming to be 25 miles;
and as it points down beyond Morganton, a line along
its western slope would be forced to make a detour to
reach that place, which detour could be as well made
along its base as after reaching the valley of the Ca
tawba; therefore, to continue 5 miles longer around
the foot of Linville before striking directly for Morgan
ton would not materially lengthen the line. By this
course 30 miles of mountain slope is secured, upon
which a line from the Brushy Creek Gap may be traced,
descending at the rate of 76 feet per mile, interrupted
by a mile of level grade midway the distance.
The second line, leaving Toe River at Pyatt's, would
pursue the same spur, as per first line, to the head of
Mayberry's Ccve, wlten, crossing the cove, it enters the
mountain at a point half a mile south of the Brushy
Creek Gap, and near Boston Olis'. The elevation of
the summit at this point is 2,385 feet above the foot of
Linville. With a tunnel, 500 below the summit, whose
length would be 6,600 feet, a grade can be obtained to
its western approach not exceeding 60 feet per mile.
As the eastern portal of the tunnel would be located
upon the head waters of the North Fork, near Franklin s
mill, the line passing from it would strike at once upon
the western slope of the Linville Mountain. and descend
ing the same reaches the Catawba valley with grades
of 64 feet per mile, a mile of level grade connecting
them. By increasing the grade on fie west to 80 feet,
and those on the east to 75 feet per mile, the tunnel may
be shortened to one of 4,300 feet. The work upon this
portion of the line, will, of course, be heavy, and seve
ral short tunnels may be required in the eastern descent,
through spurs of the Linville.
In discriminating between the merits of these linss
I must confess a decided preference for the one with
the greatest length of tunnel and easiest grades. Cost
ing as it will, probably, $250,000 more than the Brushy
Creek Gap line, still tbc decrease in the original expen-
mime is ii tammm " vniit-ui iur loe iOSS in tr
power of a locomotive over 80 feet grades. llT
From the foot of Linville Mountain the line
pass by Paddy's Creek, leaving James Hunter's 3 2
to the north, and form a junction with the N. c i
U. Rd. at or near Morganton. The length of iu, '
North Carolina is 66 miles, and the entire distance fr 5
the point of departure on the E. T. & V. R. r,j
N. C. k W. R. Rd. at Morganton will be 99 miles.
An estimate of cost based on this but partial instm
mental examination will, as is obvious, be predicatl"
upon data to some degree hypothetical ; still by IS"
a wide margin for contingencies I shall endeavor i
present an exhibit of cost approximating as near to t
curacy as the facts in my possession will admit.
braced in this estimate is the cost of graduation,
sonry, superstructure, station-houses and their aLUr
tenances, &c, exclusive of the rolling stock, termjJ
depots and repair shops. It is proper to state that the
mountain section estimated is the one involving
greatest length of tunnelling.
From the point of divergence on the E. T. 4
V. R. Rd. to the North Carolina State line, $C6o,ooo
From the State line to the Blue Ridge, 540'0W
From the Blue Ridge to the foot of Linville, 2,000
From the foot of Linville to Morganton, 360 0flo
Total cost, $3,650,000
This aggregate, small as it may appear to those
have in their mind the report of the estimated cost up0J
the Swananoa and Watauga Gap surveys, is confident!,
bclieyed will be found adequate to the cost of construct,
ing a first class road between the points specified.
By a comparison with the Swananoa Gap route,whoje
superiority over the Watauga is sustained by the pre,,
tige of Col. Gwyn' "preference," it is pulpablc that ia
every material fact this line bears the palm. As pfr
report on the Swananoa Gap line, the distance from,
point opposite Morganton. via Asheville, to the Tennn.
see line at Paint Rock is 106.78 miles, while bj uj( Lin.
villa Mountain ro'utc the distance to the State line 55
miles a difference of 40.78 miles in favor of the latter.
The grades required in the passage of the Blue Rtdg
on the Swananoa are 68 and 100 feet, upon the Linville
60 and 64 feet per mile. Upon the Swananoa the eiti.
mate involving the same items of expense fromMor.
ganton to the State line is $4,933,863, by the Linville
$2,ttt0,000; in favor of the Linville $1,943,863. 8o
peradded to these is the fact that in the construction of
the Linville line a less amount of subterraneous excava.
tion will be involved. Upon a full reliance of these
facts rests the conviction of the incontestable superiori.
ty of this line over any other, as yet suggested, havim
for its object the proposed connection.
The distances to be traveled from the E. T. & V.R.
Rd. at Grceneville, to the points in question ar these:
From Grecncvillc to Paint Rock, 18 miles
From Paint Rock to Asheville, 42
From Asheville to Spartanburg, 65
From Spartanburg to Columbia, 130
From Colambia to Charleston, 129
Total distance from Grceneville to Charleston, 384
From Greeneville to Paint Rock, 18
From Paint Rock to Asheville, 42
From Asheville to Salisbury, 145
From Salisbury to Raleigh, 104
From Raleigh to Wilmington, 141
Total dist. from Grceneville to Wilmington... 4."8
Total dist. from Greeneville to Beaufort, 475
Difference in favor of Charleston over the
shortest line, 74 miles
By forming a connection with the E. T. it V. U. Rd.,
near Jonesborough, distance is in favor of the North
Carolina markets, and as Charleston could never be
come a successful competitor, the productions of upper
East Tennessee, seeking an outlet to the Atlantic, would
course through a channel to which it legitimately be
longs. The distances from Jonesborough to Cliarlesluo,
Wilmington and Beaufort are these.
From Jonesborough to Morganton. lO.IJ milts
From Morganton to Salisbury, 80
From Salisbury to Columbia 145
From Columbia to Charleston, 129
Total (list, from Jonesborough to Charleston, 459
From Jonesborough to Morganton, ff8
From Morganton to Salisbury, 80
From Walitbury to Raleigh, V64
From Raleigh to Wilmington, 129
Total dist. from Joncsboro' to Wilmington,... 438
Total dist. from Jonesboro' to Beaufort,. 455
Difference in favor of Wilmington, 21
Difference in favor of Beaufort, 4
Other considerations might be presented in advocR,
of this connection, but enough has been said.
It but remains for me to add that to Mr A. V. Dead
rick an acknowledgement is due for the efficient aid
rendered in the arduous duties of the survey.
Respectfully submitted.
C11AS. 11. DIM MOCK.
To the above calculations we add the following:
From Morganton to Statesville, 50 milei
From Statesville to Charlotte, 44
From Charlotte to Charleston, 238
Making dist. from Morganton to Charleston, 332 mil
By a direct line from Statesville to Jonesbo
rough it is 110
From Statesville to Charleston, 283
Making from Jonesborough to Charleston, via
Statesville, 392
It5"Even those who are iu ihe enjoyment of perfect health
frequently have need 10 have recourse to tonics as preveniiMt
ol disease. We are never loo well armid against the
saults of the "illx that flesh is heir lo." Such n invigorat
they may find in HUSTK'ITER'S BITTERS a medicine
that cannot be taken regularly without giving vitality
elasticity 10 the system. At this season, particularly, 'k
strongest man is not proof against ihe malaria, in ceria
sections ol the country. In all cases of fever and ague, the
Bitters is more potent than any amount of quinine, while tto
most dunuerous cases of biilious lever yield to its wonderful
propertit-a. Those who have tried the medicine will weef
use another, (or any of the ailments which iheHoTrrm
Bitters professes to subdue. To those who have aoi made
the exerinient, we cuidially recommend an early ppUcanon
to the Bitters, whenever they are stricken by diaaasetol IM
digestive organs.
Sold by druggists and dealers generally, everywhere.
For sale in Chailotte by E. N YE HUTCHISON tCO
November, 185'.).
A PERFECT CURE BY WILD CHERRY
From the Editor ol tha New York Mirror. Augu 9.
About foer weeks since, one ol the compositois of lb'
office was sufferins; so badly from a couuh that he waiij"'
able to sleep at night, and too weak 10 stand at his cafe, n
became very pale and thin and gave symptoms ol falling
victim to quick consumption. We recomrnendid to b""
various medicines, which had no effect. Final Iv. we
him one Bottle of WISTAR'S BALSAM OF WILU
CHERRY, It afforded him immediate relief, and he
now a well man, and not a symptom of a cough- '",,re
lacis, and further particulars may be learned at thia ofnee.
We should add . hat the cough in the above case was accom
panied by a profuse spitting ol blood.
None genuine unless signed I. BUTrS on the wrapper
For sale by E. NYE HUTCHISON & CO., Chariot
Noveniher 15.
N IOES W ANTEft
I want to buy Negro Boys and Girls from 12 to 1'
years old, for which the highest prices in cash w ill be
paid.
May It, 1859 SAML. A. HARRIS
PLANTATION FOR SALS.
By virtue of a Deed of Trust executed to us by David
Smith for purposes therein named, we will eipose to
public sale at th residence of said Smith, on the 29th
of November, that VALUABLE PLANTATION cob
tainit g about 360 ACRES, lying six miles fro
Lincolnton on the Tuckaseegc road.
Terms will be made known on the day of sale.
F. M. RKINHARDT, Trn,tMl.
J. B. SMITH, 'jTru.U"
October 25, 1858 84-6t ,
T. J. CWKNING,
Surgeon Dentist,
Graduate of the Baltimore Dental College
Would respectfully announce that he is now perm"
nently located in Charlotte, and will be pleased to re
ceive the calls of those who may require his prof"
sional services. Persons from a distance, whocaoao
make it convenient to visit Charlotte, can have tbeir
work done at their residence, without any extra cbarg.
by addressing him at this pla;:e. Ministers, wbor
Pastors, charged half price. Ladies waited on at tnei
residence if desired.
OFFICE in Springs" building, No. 5, formarly occa
pied by R. P. Waring.
September 27, 1859 3m-pd