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V- . . , """" -J NORTH CAROLINIAN rAYBOTEVILLE, XI. ell SATURDAY, December 25 X38. "Merry Christmas. As to-morrow (Saturday) is Christmas present number is issued in anticipated ,v6uu" uiriiiujj oi puoiication, in ordei may conform to the general practice of e?-4.I",pe- nion of business on that day, and give tho 4$n our employ an opportunity of enjoying them. I on the festive occasion. i I The season is one characterized by i Inter change of kindly sentiment and hearty g fWill. when all feel themselves animated by a rlfndly and sympathetic union ; when the propei ades of social life, gently relaxed, kindly recf the genial expressions of friendliness, though t fsif cor diality may sometimes partake of tho boisitrous. We, using our editorial privilige, ffWto our Vt'no ' fririiJi!, rf oU rrA ml fm'"'J may not be unwelcome, " the com plnneni jtf -the season ;" or, to use the not less expressive phrase ology, to wish them all " a merry Christ ? and many happy returns." Supreme Court. The winter term cfjtbis Court will be commenced in the city of lateigh next Thursday, 30th inst. Causes will b called as follows : Those from the first circuit Jan 3. Fifth circuit, Jan. 10. Second circuit, J i4 17. I bird circuit, Jan. 24. - 31 Fouith circuit, 31 . Sixth and Seventh circuits, Feb. 7, The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty. m is treaty, as is well known, has I den a source of controversy between this count- jpnd Great Britain as to its precise meaning nch government giving to its provisions a di afent interpretation. Although this dissimila it of views has been in existence for several rcrs, no change has taken place in the opini-tjjga of the statesmen of either country, and th- be ing little likelihood of an agreement of -jews, we think that the best course which coildjbe adopted would be the abrogation of the treaty altogether. It is, as Senator Clingman irery aptly states, " the application of the M roe doctrine to this country." , In the United States Senate, on the JSth inst., the Hon. Thos. L. Clingman offeredrvlU solution which had a direct bearing o lljis question, the consideration of which wa Ob jected to by Senator Mason of Virgiuia, n the subject was laid over under the rules lt was taken up again on the 16th, when the:Sen ate, by a vote of 28 to 22, refused to con ,idr the resolution. As the Central American question is :oo nected in some degree with all the distuning subjects at present ari'tafj; .".?" ',:hmi mr kA we publish in another column the resolotio it. of fered by Senator Clingman, together Jritt iis well-timed remarks on this important qnes i'oa. Kenneth Rayner. ? f This gentleman has lately emerged from oh c rity in a frothy letter to the black republicar sf.af Delaware, recommending the manufacture ( a fresh political nuisance to be called the Peo; party." The last the world knew of Mr Ra; tier he was busy in the construction of a domestit or ganization out of the wreck of the whig par j,1? an intensely American concern; the " people" verj to be excluded, no foreignor or catholio or ie liusband or con of a catholic could belong. l9 patriotism of Mr Rayner, to the shame of the Re public, failed to make a great man of him, and the ruins of know nothingism were added to tihe 4 wreck of the whig party." ! But the "People's party" is to bo a little nore adulterated, a little better udapted to populai iy. The platform is not quite ready. Its builders are -Mi "fay. our pf oar i pat we waiting for the chance drift of planks, probe - rigntlol position in the scale of created mtelli from some "wreck." It is thought however i4t gence- s fr as the negro was concerned it lought however t-fct Foreigners will be allowed to vote twice and n a but catholics put in offico. f In this last political spasm Mr Rayner advocjcea the organization of a strong minority party in Jn. Southern States, the obvions consequence j of which would be to divide the vote of the South' tn the coming contest between the Democracy iim tho Black Republican party. Three years ig Mr Rayner visited Pennsylvania to effect an aB ance between the Black Republicans and iae Know Nothing party to defeat Mr Buchanan; ld his purpose been attained Mr Fremont would hive been successful. The next we shall hear of l.tr Ravner, will be as a distinguished member of tie- restored whig party, along with Jno, A. Gihrf and Liberty Point Council No. 27. A Monument TO THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. We are informed that a bill is now before t .f respective legislatures of North and South Caro na, as two of the original Thirteen States, for t! erection of a monument in Independence Squai Philadelphia, in honor of the brave men of 7 who gave their signatures and their allegiance the glorious declaration of independence at tl ? peril of their " lives, their fortunes and their sacr4 honor." m m I It is a movement highly patriotic and commem anA should not be ignored from any pett fiL of iealousv or selfishness. It would sho a generous chivalric spirit on the part of the tw j l . i ....I to this Rtreal froul mtioned to respond to this appeal froi, r.t, xTrt,i, The Peniuvlval their sister States of the North. nian gives the following statement concerning nroioct : t " We state to give a clear understanding of th.; position of this question at tin, e-i fctta Iirva adoDted tne oui, " ' ; z . t? HUMpWVt . 1 whn nine States adopted it, tne irusnees authority, and were bound to raise the structiire.yr -.- m,-,-, Htufri fl a" B - jfctCetStraBtfaraT .i .Aisai tn eo-onerate in even n me omer '""" - - i By the action of the Convention, it was determined that the monument should have thirteen sides one ride designed for each of the States constituting The original confederacy. The plan c an not now be ehan-ed even were it desirable. Should any of tc original thirteen States refuse to co-operate, the niche, or side designed for said State, must for ever remain an unsightly blank, as the law makes no provision by which the other States can fill it up. The expense of the monument is, by the Legislature of New York, restricted to $150,000, and each State pays according to her representa tion in Congress. The amount that will be re quired from North and South Carolina, will be but laJriftCaBnJjreJwtow SqWj,! i. i'V,, a" ntJil ttic principle Is approved. they are not apt to stop to count the cost involved in the project. We most earnestly invoke the aid of all our friends, and, we trust, our brother edit ors in the South will give a helping hand in the pa triotic movement." Since the above was in type, we - learn that the Senate of South Carolina, on the 15th inst., reconsidered and passed the monument bill. The bill has been sent to the House, where lt is hoped the coarse pursued by the Senate will induce like action in the more popular branch of the State government. Pennsylvania. The South Cxfrolinian publishes the following extract of a letter to a venerable ex-Senator of that State from a highly distinguished source in Pennsylvania, on the subject of the defeat of the Demociatic party in October last: You desire me to repeat the points relative to the defeat of the party in Pennsylvania in October last. It was a combination outside of all the Re- Eublican, Know Nothing and Anti-Lecompton democrats, to "strike at the Administration; but this would not take inside the State, and hence they raised the tariff question. The people were out of employment the banks, generally under the control of the iron interest, pressed those who were denwcrt. protection was enly demanded. The tariff of 1857, it was alleged. Aiad taken effect 1st of July, and the bard times began in August following. In this way, the unemployed laborers were carried over under the delusion that Presi dent Buchanan had the power and Glancy Jones was Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, and would not come to their relief dec, ice, &c. In all the counties in which Anti-Nebraska hurt us in 1856, we gained in 1858, whir la5K!iiD ? e ma"ufart.urig dist"a' wnicn were conservnti v mi with m Imw We will always be subject to sudden revulsions in! neatly executed pamphlet, with an engraving of the laboring population, dependent on our mineral Dr Mitchell, and 88 pages of reading matter, j It resources in hard times, until the tariff humbug j contains a sketch of his life, and a painfully inter now 'LlLfli Pl0d1; ,G tim.e8,riU miProvo esting account of all the incidents connected with now, and this will cure the evil again," . . ' , ,. , , , again The United States and France. Many of the leading French papers enter fre quently into the discussion of American politics, and arrive at conclusions which show a want of knowledge of the subjects they profess to treat. The Patrie scouts the "Monroe doctrine, and protests against the position that Europe is not to interfere with political affairs on this continent. It concludes a long article on this subject as follows: The United States will not effect in the world what powerful Russia, with her army of a million of men, with her fleets, with the genius of her Czan, and with the discipline and tenacity of her inhabitants, has not been able to do in Europe. They will not succeed in contesting her legitimate share of influence wherever she may usefully exer cise it. We do not at all intend to oppress them, but they must know that Europe will not allow herself either to be excluded or humiliated. It is necessary that they should know that we will not abandon either in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean or the Black sea, the cause of right and civiliza tion' The Washington Union has an article on the policy of " France on American Politics," from which we extract the following: If France is to be heard in Mexico and " Cen tral America, we must be heard m Italy, in Tur key, in all Europe, indeed. We maintain that all the absolutistic ' governments, are temporary in their very nature ; that they are provisional insti tutions, to. be enforced only till such times as the people can be enlightened and prepared to as.-ume control ; that the source of ull rightful government is in the people. In this view, the institutions of the United States are the only permanent political organizations of the world ; and hence we have a sovereign right to interfere elsewhere, that we may hasten on the work of universal assimilation to our system Abolition of Northern Slavery. The following sensible article, copied from the New Bedford Times, shows very clearly why the people of New England abolished slavery. We give the editor credit for an hon esty of purpose which does not obtain with many of his northern cotemporaries : As a domestic institution slavery existed for many years at the North. Nothing was heard about it, as being inhuman, unscriptaral, or in any way or shape contradictory of human rights as declared by the American Constitu tion. Under it the negro was not considered as oppressed, nor humanity as down-trodden, nor the African race as degraded from its was benevolent and philanthropic ; subjecting him to wholesome discipline, dispensing to him social blessings, elevating him as a moral being and amply providing for his religions necessi ties. Nor was it considered a sin, either social, political or moral for a white man to hold, sell, buy and work black men. There was nothing in the institution whatever that prevented the master from being a good neighbor, a loyal citizen, and a correct Christian. Now, in the North slavery has ceased to ex ist. Northern grain fields are no longer tilled by negro slaves, nor will they ever be again. Slave labor has been banished from the soil, and forever. The doom was death, and slavery at the North has died. Why was it brought to such an end t Why driven from the moun tains and dashed to atoms ? Why starved out from the abundant valleys ? Why bunted out from the forest clearings 7 Why prohibited from settling on the fertile banks of the rivers, ana forbidden the possession of fruitful plains, and refused the ownership of the orchards, the gatherings of the granary, and the shelter of a home r Why did the North so utterly abolish the institution of slavery, as to totally obliter ate its every feature i The answer is brief and simple. Slave labor did not pay. Neither the political nor moral aspect of slavery came up for consideration. It was looked at solely from a business point of iriew, ana treated as business matters are. bv cool aiid calculating men, according to the rules pt pront and loss. I he climate being such as it is, and the productions of the sou such as they are iu the eastern, northern and middle States ; another kind of labor was introduced fetter adapted, and more remunerative ; and P',e consequence was, that slavery was gradna - y abolished ; or rather abolished itself. It regarded strictly as a question of domes- 4ic economy to be answered in whichever wav Would best promote the financial interests of yie .North. As an institution no one pretend lid that it was antagonistic to the great princi- hiiiuoiiioviv VW bllC glCOb pi liltl" pe or American Iibertv. or in anv wav contra. the nation ; or that it was politically hostile to our boasted free institutions, or an hindrance to healthy social development, or morally of fensive, or religiously wrong. It did not prove to be a paying institution and was therefore ooaiiuuuvu. i mie muur itiueu more uouars i i i iru:i-i jh and cents than black, and consequently it wfts prudential on the part of the employer w i , t-.r. ,T J th black irouuee me wime auu get riu . . This necessitated the setting free of the 8,y for it would have been impossiblg-iSIt t. ported the slaves oot of their eamingsWflr; the same time have paid wages to white labor- ed at the North for the simple reason that it did not pay, and for no other reason whatever. Old Maids In Japan. It is a commonly received opinion, we believe, in our social system, that old maids are single from choice, of course, and not from necessity. But this doctrine is not a feature of the domestic circle in Japan. No woman is allowed to be sin gle in that unselfish country. " They must all be married. If they can't find a husband themselves, the law makes the search and provides a helpmate for them. Every man is allowed a wife and as many more by coercion as he can maintain. The second wives are selected by law from the poorer classes. Poor young men of good habits and character" are very desirable to young maidens who are unwilling to have a divided heart : in such cases, the lack of wealth, would be just the recom mendation its possessor would have in this coun try. What a paradise for old for matrimony, of course we mean, for poor young men. Perhaps old maids in Japan jurisprudence are considered dangerous elements of society. The most barba rous practice of all is, that the men make the fash ions for the ladies, regulating the various improve ments, &c, dec. We must say in justice to tW superior Judgment of the other sex, that from't cuts we have seen the taste of the men on .female costumes is hideous. Wonder how the masculine taste could stand crinoline. Our Table. A Memoir of the Rev. Elisha Mitchell, D.D., late Professor lf flhemistrv. Aflnor urcrr arH fta- ology, in the University of North Carolina. ! A CJ J i uin lauicuiauiu ueaiu. fuousneu oy o. in. Hen derson, Chapel Hill, N. C. A neat phamplet of 32 pages cont ining an Ad dress entitled The Influence of Material Agents in Developing Man," was received during the month. This address was delivered before the Literary S ocieties of Wake Forest College, the day before the Annual Commencement in June last, and in consequence of its peculiar merit, was published by order of the Philomathesian Society. S. S. Satchwell. A. M. M. D., is the talented au thor of the address. A pamphlet is before us entitled " The Great, the Beautiful and the good. " an Address deliver ed at Erskine College Due West, before the Phi lomathian and Euphemian Societies, by Rev. W. A. McSwain, of the South Carolina Conference. We will give an extract from the " Beautiful " in our next. Tho Journal of Education for the month con tains the usual amount of matter on the subject of Education. The articles, original and seWtpn. contain information, useful to both teacher and parent. We hope the journal will receive the patronage it so justly merits, The North Carolina Planter for December, with j its columns teeming with valuable hints to the j farmer- nly one dollar a year. A new volume begins with the next number. A. M. Gorman, publisher, Raleigh. The Southern Medical and Surgical. Journal is before us. The original articles appear to be of a practical character, and the editor states they " present a clear, full, and reliable exposition of the Pathology and Therapeutics peculiar to the region in which it is published." Published month ly at Augusta, Ga. Terms $3 per annum in ad vance. Tho Southern Literary Meseenger for Decern ber contains, among other able articles, an address with the title " Is slavery consistent with Natural Law." This address was delivered before the Virginia State Agricultural Society at Petersburg, 4th November last, and elicited much commenda tion from the press. Published at Richmond, Va. by Macfarlane, Fergusson, & Co., at $3 per an num. g&It will be seen, by reference to the pro ceedings of the State Senate in another column, that the Fayetteville and Western Railroad bill is made the special order for the 4th day o January. t& Also, that the bill to abolish the office of State Geologist is postponed until the 7th proximo. Accident. Mr. James F. Marsh, conductor on the Fayetteville and Western Railroad, who was injured on Monday last, while in the act of coupling two freight cars, we are glad to learn, is rapidly recovering, and will be able to resume his duties in a short time. Capk Fear Rivfr, We have just been infor med that the freshet has considerably damaged the locks above Fayetteville, and that the current has borne many of the timbers towards 'Wilming ton. We have heard no particulars. Correspondence Although we have given place in our columns to the communication of " Leander," we do not endorse bis defence of the ' Boys." Perhaps " Antoinette" may yet prove the unsoundness of his positions. The Administration of James Buchanan. Messrs. Editors : We herewith inclose a resolution unanimously adopted in a meeting of the Democratic members of the General As sembly, convened in the Hall of the House of Commons, on Friday night, the 2d inst., John S. Dancy, Esq., of Edgecombe, in the chair ; and request that in obedience to the 2d resolu tion, the Standard and other Democratic papers will publish the same, to wit : Resolved, That we have unabated confidence in the Administration of James Buchanan, and tender to him our thanks for his fidelity to the Constitution and the rights of the States. Resolved. That the Secretaries furnish a copy of the resolution passed by this meeting to the N. C. Standard for publication, with the re quest that the Democratic newspapers of the State will copy. The United States consul at Havana has no tified the Governor General of Cuba that the tax of two dollars per head for shipping and transferring American seamen will not herenfi ier oc paid, as it is inconsistent with our laws. -i ... - .. ... . . -Ilic Legislature'. r SENATE. Saturday, Dec 18, 1858. Mr Edne frotn the wmmittpn nn ;.-... h on 'the sub- stftute for the bill to amend the charter of the Western N. C. R. R. Company ; on the bill to enlarge the powers of the New River Naviga tion Company, and also on the bill to aid in the construction of and equipment of the Fay etteville and Coalfields railroad, and recom mended their passage. Mr Quytber, from the joint select committee on adjournment for the Christmas holidays, re ported a series of resolutions for a creneral -leave of absence from the 23d inst. till the 1st proximo, and providing that no bill or resolution should be disposed of during said time. The resolutions were then adopted. Mr Houston moved that the committee on the judiciary be instructed to enquire into the necessity of adopting some plan of publishing the laws enacted by the General Assembly, for the information of the people. Adopted. private bills on their passage. . The bill to incorporate the Salisbury Gas light Company passed its second reading a mended by the committee. Mr Donnell moved that, in the passage of private bills, if no objection be made to the sec ond reading, the rules be suspended and the bill be put on its third reading. Agreed to. The above bill was then put on its third read ing, and was ordered to be engrossed. - The following bills were then finally dispos- The bill to incorporate the White Oak River Navigation Company. The bill to incorporate the Oak City Savings Bank. HOUSE. The following bills were read the first time and referred : Mr Morehead to incorporate the Steele Gold Mining Company ; Also, to incorp orate the Lizzard Dale Cop per mining Company. The following bills passed their third reading and were ordered to be engrossed. -The Lill to prevent horse stealing, This bill provides whipping for the first, branding in the forehead for the second, and death for the third offence. The bill to provide for electing Clerks and Masters in Equity by the people. At a later hour the bill was recommitted to the judiciary committee for amendment. The oill to amend the act establishing Har nett county ; I he bill to make husbands liable for the debts of their deceased wives ; The engrossed Senate bill to incorporate the Newbern Light Infantry ; The engrossed Senate bill to incerporate the Raleigh Gas-Light company. SMALL NOT K BILL. Mr Foy's motion to reconsider the vote re jecting the bill prohibiting bank bills of less than three dollars was agreed to The motion to reconsider the bill was reject ed yeas 41, n:iys 65. A letter from Mr Haywood was read, resign ing his seat as a member from Wake county. Air Smith offered a resolution authorizing the public treasurer to pav E. G. Havwood' Esq., the usual per ditm compensation allowed to members of the General Assembly, up to Dec. 18th, 1858. The rules were suspended, the resolutions read three times and sent to the Senate. SENATE. Monday, Dec. 20, 1858. A message from the House proposing a joint select committee to wait on Hon Jno. W. El lis and inform him of his election, and to ascer tain when it would be convenient for him to at tend to be qualified, and also to make arrange ments for the Governor's inauguration. Con curred in. Mr McDowell introduced a bill to prohibit the emancipation of slaves by will and testa ment. Referred to the committee on the judi ciary. Mr Edney to provide a homestead for ths poor. Same committee, On motion of Mr Cunningham, the.engrossed private bill to exempt the members of the Wil mington Light Infantry from jury service, was taken np, passed its several readings, and was ordered to be enrolled. The CoalGelds bill was taken up on its sec ond reading. Mr Gilmore moved to make it the special order for the 4th day of January. Agreed to. . The bill to amend the charter of the Wil mington, Charlotte and Rutherford Railroad Company was next taken up. Mr Steele proposed it be made the special order for the 5th day of January. Agreed to. The bill to aid in the distribution of small sil ver coins was put upon its passage and rejected. INCREASE OF JUDGES' PAY. The bill to repeal the 3rd section, 102 chap. Rev. Code, and for other purposes, fixing the compensation of Judge of the Superior Court, was next taken up on its second reading. The bill proposed to make the judges' salary $2,250 per annum $125 for each special term (each week to constitute a term) and to pay them $100 for each court held over and above a circuit of eight weeks. The committee pro posed to amend the bill by giving them $100 for each court held over and above a term of twelve weeks the other items to be stated as in the bill. The amendment of the committee was adopt ed. "The Senate then voted aye 7, no 29. The bill to amend the charter of the Wes tern N. C. Railroad company, was, On motion of Mr Edney. mpde the special order for the 6th day of January. The bill to establish the county of Kiner. out of parts of the counties of Johnston, Wayne, Duplin and Sampson, was taken up on its sec ond reading. Mr Cunningham moved to postpone till the 4th of July next. Adopted. HOUSE. The bill to open the Pee Dee and Yadkin Rivers to the passage of fish was taken np and passed its second reading 86 yeas, 21 nays. SENATE. Tuesday, Dec. 21. All important business is being postponed till after the Christmas holidays. 1 he bill to amend the charter of the Bank of Cape Fear passed the third reading and was ordered to be engrossed. lhe bill to abolish the office of State Geolo gist was postponed till the 1th of January, bv a vote of 34 to 6. In the House, to-day, but two bills were in troduced, and those of no great importance. v ednesday, Dec. 22. HorsE. A bill to igation Company ; a bill to incorporate the Kenansville Female Se inary, and a bill to in corporate the town of Kenansville, all passed their second reading. On motion of Mr Bryan, of Xew Hanover, a bill concerning auctiouers was taken up and . i passed itsthird reading. I Correspondence. LEO-ISLATWE. From our Correspondent. Raleigh. Pee. " !!"UJ ' 'WAJ The Legislature having determined not to act on any bill of importance after Thursday, and no bill of that character being likely to be reached before that time, most of the members in search of home have been making arrange ments to leave. Governor Morehead addressed the House yesterday on the bill to incorporate the Greensboro' and Danville Rail Road, the bill coming np as unfinished business, when Mr. Outlaw of Bertie moved to postpone the fur ther consideration of the bill until the 10th of January which was agreed to. On yesterday, Mr. Ferabmlt introduced a resolution, instructing the Committee on Privi leges and Elections to inquire if Mr. Thomas Settle of Rockingham was not at the time of his election County Solicitor for one or more counties if Mr. Foy at the time of his election was not Postmaster in Onslow County if B. M. Baxter, Esq., was not Clerk and Master iu Currituck if Hon. Jno. M. Morehead, Hon. John Kerr, Hon. David Outlaw, are not Trus tees of the University if Messrs. Dortch and Thompson of Wayne are not Directors in some Railroad and if they are not all constitution ally disqualified from holding seats on this floor. The resolution created some feeling and excite ment. Several amendments were offered, but were all rejected. It is said by some that the same mode of reasoning that excluded the mem ber from Wake would certainly apply to every member folding any appointment in the State ; especially the Trustees, as they are appoint ed by the Legislature, and hold immediately from the State. There seems to be a deter mination to purge the House, if it can be done. It does seem that if a minor is entitled, that the rest might be let alone. The two houses proceeded to-day to elect seven Councillors of State, when the follow in tr gentlemen were elected : Joseph T. Grauberry, Perqnimons. John A. Aviritt Duplin. John S. Bridger, Jessee A. Waugh, P. M. Powell, Wm. J. Yates, Columbus Mills, Edgecomb. Forsyth. Richmond. Mecklenburg. Polk. It will be some time now before anything of interest and importance will be done. May the members all have a merrv Christmas, and return refreshed to labor for the good of the State. Judging from the amount of business on hand, it would not be surprising if the ses sion should last until some time in February. D. For the North Carolinian. Occasional Thoughts. WOMAN. Where the truths of the Gospel have been promulgated and reverenced, it has severed the bonds of captivity in which Woman has been held, pronounced her tu be the conpanion and friend of Man, shown her to be possessed of the endearing traits of sensibility and tenderness, formed to alleviate the distress, to soften the cares, to add refinement to the joys of man, htttd by nature for the advancement of his happiness, for the improvement of his manners, nay, of his morals also. There may be, and doubtless are, some who disbelieve the power of Christianity to effect such a change, and impute the gladsome result to the influence of learning and of civilization. Let these friends of refinement, look back to the days of Rome, when n her splendor ; let them visit the Amphitheatre, and see the Ro man women seated there gratified spectators of the scenes enacted before them, animating the gladiators not only with their presence, but. their approbation, beholding the acts of violence and listening without any apparent emotion of sympathy to the groans of the dying combat ants. When they have surveyed these things, and pondered upon them, let them turn and see woman in the present age, engaged in acts of benevolence, meliorating the condition of the afflicted, soothing the woes and administer ing to the wants of the widow, supporting the lone orphan, and rendering aid to the indigent. How manifest the contrast 1 And yet the Roman women were as learned and as polished as those of the present day. To what then can this great difference be attributed but to the influence of Christianity ? It is this which im parts a brighter lustre to their character, which adorns them with " sweet attractive grace," which in the language of Addison, "adds a new softness to the sex, and even beautifies their beauty." A. S. A. For the North Carolinian. Silk of Grass. Reedy Branch, N. C, Dec. 11, 1858 Messrs. Editors : I send enclosed in this letter a small bunch of the outer coating or cuticle of the leaves of a plant that grows in this section of the coun try, which 1 believe to be what is called Silk Yuced. I believe it grows in all kinds of sandy sons in JMortn uaroiina, as it is to be found growing in all such soils spontaneously oa Lower Little River and its tributaries. This plant may belong to the genu3 Yucca, or, seems to me, to be an intermediate link be tween a grass ana an herb, as it has blades or leaves like a grass, and a stem like an herb. The leaves of the main stem are not more than two inches in length, and very narrow. The stem grows some two and a half feet in height, and has a very pretty bunch of yellow flowers on the top, each one of which has five or six leaves, of a very deep yellow hue. The leaves that shoot out from the plant at :the surface of the earth, are much longer than those on the stem ; they are from five to twenty in num ber, from ten to fifteen inches in lentrth, and half an inch in width, covered on both sides wiih a rich glossy silk, resembling satin in ap pearance while on the leaves, which is very easily taken off by rubbing it between the thumb and forefinger. I have noticed some stalks growing in cultivated land, which are larger than any I saw in the wootls, and the silk is much longer and better ; so there is no doubt but that this plant could be very much improved by cultivation. I believe it conld be made a very valuable article of trade in this country, as the poorest kind of sandy soil is well adapted to its growth. You will gee by examining this sample that the fibres are of considerable strength, and, when well twisted, are very tenacious, and have every appearance of very good silk. My object in writing is to direct the attention of naturalists to this subject, for the out, aim oi wnicn I have not the slightest donbt, as such a plant is said to be cultivated successfully in Persia and other places. I will now give an account of this plant, t rr-i. " it i -i .. plovment of Sir Walter Raleiffh. in the enlnni wriiieu iy i mmwis Harriot, wnue in tne em zation of North Carolina. It is to be found in Dr. Hawks' History of North Carolina, vol. 1, page 154, as follows : "Silk of Grass, or Grass Silk. There is a kind of grass iu this country, npou tlie blades whereof groweth very good silk, in fcrm of a ti..Jw... " be strint off It trrovvo iwo leei ana a Wf,eh, or better, the bla. are about two foe, l' i ! - . des Sradi The ,ik,e. fws in" Persia, which is in the self same clinfmic .B v,pff;n;n r , ..." tlllLl HUM U II II r j- - very many of the k works that came from cnei.ee into uropyj.re ma(ic. Hereof, if it be planted and orei3d a8 in iersiai it cannQt in reason be otheifrit but that this will rise in short time, gret !,rofit to the .lealers there in seeing there is0'grCat use and want there of, as well in our fo'ntry as elsewhere. And by the means of sdftrijg and planting it in good ground, it will beai greater, better, and more plentiful than it is?? Although, notwithstand ing, there is a greit; tore thereof in manv pla ces of the country wing naturally ai.il wild which also by prof bere in England, in milk ing a piece of silk ;ig;-agram, was found to be excellent good." f. .' In a note append, to this narrative by Har riot, Dr. Hawks tniftU it might be Bear Grass that Harriot alludjedUo, but Bear Grass lias no such silken coating at all. I will take great p ensure in giving to any person all informti n f can relative to this plant, by addressing ne at Reedy Branch, X. C, the inquirer edcl sing a stamp to pre-pay the answer. Your,j ;c., A. C. C. .1 7 -r-i f For the No th Carolinian. Fayti 3VILLE, Dec. 20, 1S5S. Messrs. Editors : . ; I was on 'tother lie; of the Hellespont when an article; "To thlijys" appeared in jour columns, and it is fprf probable that I should never have seen tlat! delectable composition, even after my returft ! the hither side, had not my attention been wi led to it by one who thinks it a keen response to a former communi cation above my sign: ture, I know not who it is that assumes tjie name of " Antoinette," but I do know thatfa encrable aunt, of whom I am a graceless nepl -w, is indignant that her name should be apn ed to a piece so full of unseemly levity, and tiat she disavows and ut terly repudiates the'ar iele in its form and sub stance. My worth i-lative, therefore, is nei ther author nor autooi -ss of the " Antoinette" letter. But I cannot bfcli ve that " Antoinette" thought of ! Leander'' when she undertook her unraaideniy tusk of ri ing to the boys : if she am, men is mere a wo derful want of relevan cy in what she writes t) the points touched up on by him " several w.cks since," If I recol lect aright he said nfntiiiig abort conking tin ties nor painted beau'iths. He ardently w i:-hcd, and plainly adrertiipd for, a pieify maiden, young, sensible, ediita ed, well read, and ac complished. But, alas,! how wofully scarce is that blessed commodity J If we desivc a ceok, a laundress, or a scraps ress. we know where to find one or a hundred, black and white ; and we can get them, too, lot only on the tirtt of January, but, in ai:yd: y of the year. No, " Leander" lm something more thnn a cook. Andyetato:k is noful. That, eat which is the terror qf household mice and the trusty sentinel of tlie pantry, is superior, bo fore God and man, to. lie tawdry oniiimmt .of the parlor who, ignore it of hislory, science, art, literature, .veins iol evni In ic l c ol; ! Young as she is, herfliort is insensible to any grand, sweet, or defJcite emotion; and l.er proud head impervious o a thought. To her ear wit is pointless, sfen c fatiguing, and only compliment flattery, a d gossip pleasurable. Shall wc adore such ere; lores? Shall we pass by and pelitely hide oor scorn ? 1 trow nrtt. O, woman ! thy powir here below for good or ill is infinite. Itijsti ier, reason, education, all conspire to maka ns - orship th e ; aid -Alien men doubt the female character when men cease to reverence and r spect it it is because woman herself has fatlet to fulfil the high and holy promise of her sex. i Religion and all vir tue should clothe womjen as ai; every day gar ment. Gentleness, kifidtess, modesty, nobility of soul anil sensibility f hearx, are woman's rights are her pecu1ia proj oi fy. But she neglects these things, an men become infidels to all that is good and vely, or noble and ex alted, while their tough earts nche with cruel disappointment. iS'othi g so rudely crushes down the gentler creeds f youth, in its tender feelings and generous Inapilses, as that gradual but certain awakening (which every young man has to experience) t- the real character of many of the girls and wonen around him. IIo finds brazen vanity where he expected modest gentleness, ignorance win re he looked for in telligence, intense selfish ess where generosity should dwell, mean impoli eness instead of kind ly courtesy, and, in briisf, he discovers, with a tremor of disgust, thatlhi is surrounded by tho painted sepulchres of q t ?ceascd womanhood ! I do not claim, howefei that boys and young men are sans reproche. fir from it. We at least, some of us drink j op, and whiskey too. Some swear and game a little, and nearly all arc in some degree inspire 1 by the spirit of dis sipation and extravagineC. Yet these vices, and others that might 13 mentioned, do not spring from meanness or 1 ttleness of soul ; in deed, from quite the cont ary. The difference is that boys are bad, aid rirls ore mean. A mong us there is a spit t of honor which in some measure supplies the; want of better qual ities. Men arc rarely iiv:sted of this spirit women seldom possess H If the female be not filled by Christian iflilences, she is not apt from any principle of lion r or morality to act kindly, justly, nobly, and! well. She is the creature ot her passionate! heart ; and if this be not pure and holy, alss. or her alas, for us. W omen are always re sponsible, in great measure, tor the morals "Of society. i,et them draw a proper line, anfi ny word for it, men win marcn up to it. le ponest and gentle, true and good, voursel vis.ldear trirls. and tho boys will emulate each dthfr in the strife to ba worthy of you. Deservl what Milton savs, " O, fairest of creation,3at and best Of all God's works' ; nor lodge; be a gexnless casket ' Fitted but to claim the iyfc'8 devotion." -; Leander. Silver Coin. The m Srlet in N cw York i said to be ovcr-burdenedwth the depreciated silver coins of xhe Uniteef Spates. The propo sition of the director offttJ mint that those coins shou'd be made hta ' tender to tho amount of fifty or oue husfcd'ed dollars in one lot, would give them aeldllinai currency. As it is at present, the banki if that city decline receiving them in large iui1, and object to takbnir over $5 of them at time. The bro kers have put up notices ft iheir windows offer ing to sell " U. S. coin " t and J per cent. Petersburg JCxvrets. I Methodism South The Methodist Church South consists of 23 Conferences, 2,267 trav elling preachers, 67 snpei anuated, and 3,007 local preachers, 404,430 white members, 62,231 white probationers, 177.319 colored members ax;d probationers, and 4,35G Indian members &c total membership 055,777, an increase over last year of 12,069.
The North Carolinian (Wilson, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 25, 1858, edition 1
2
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