Newspapers / The Raleigh Register (Raleigh, … / Jan. 3, 1840, edition 1 / Page 2
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ft - 4 -I .1' 4 '1- 5- 3' J - i i it? . 4i..T .47 : dp esc ii r ; TcrcdbyMr. CuxBXAy, at tbeRail Koad Con tention, held ia CoLV;a, South-Carolina, Mm. Ikisidext ! 1 am dp sirous .of troubling; the Coirr ration with some observations on Oto Report of ; ths Cc-mittee of Fifteen, and the various topics-thM Lave been discussed by those gentlemen who have sub- : l&itted their vijrws. I select this stage of toe debate, v lcccr.38 the gc:.'':man frc'ai South Carolina (JIr.Mem tolnscT) is tiow In hia place. It . will be remembered - that, yesterday, the gentleman from 'Richland (T.IrEW i iaore)c.1ercd a aeries cf resolutions, and that upon a ; ' "motion being made to refer them; to the committee, ,1 happened to Buest that a different disposition of them might be more proper. . The gentleman from Charles i ton (Mr. M.) then rose and denounced thft resolutions as a bone of contention thrown in to disturb the har mony of our deliberations; and when the original mover ' asked if he was charge! with aimin.to produce con fc tention, he (ME M.) replied that he did not allude to lim, but that hia remark waa intended to (apply tp the gentleman from North, CaroUnajThe gentleman from C'irleston seemed anxious to shift the responsibility -; . I vnr.z introduced those resoluliona firom the mover If. Whether the centleman oromised himself L ra preaSer advantage from a contest with a North CaroV ' tnian, than from one with an influential citizen; of hM -own State, or whether it was a mere personal prefer , v ence, is a matter of no moment whatever.. The gen- - jpeman had the undoubted tight to elect hi antagonist; and that he made a judicious selection, I at least shall not : cucctton.. Thusa I have no such love of contention, as he seems to- auppose, as would induce me voluntarily to U.Sv ,.J.v;.; t-c6ntef!t, yet I have f S4- v." Vmani powers jget out r ! he pK-fe to Abandon the 6 have too little dread of the gen- of his way. 1 1n as much as ori (final drawer of the reso- M Jur.on and go asainsffca endorser,, I most cheerfully .tail? b glove.vjnich he has thrown down, , . .' - Wrnarkable one on this occasion! . He. makes war on . v all around; he opposes the leading measures of the re- - port of the committee of hueen, and especially omits no , - eroortunity to assail the views of it Chairman (CoL .-I'reston,) advinced as they have been with so much manliness and, eloquence, yet he, himself proposes noth- , .mi. i . I he whole point m controversy may be stated ut . a few words. A It is admitted on all aides, that on t the r ; v r first day of January next, we shall owe nearly two mil V -1 Hons of do&ankV To'secure about half of this debt, ten thousand share m the Charleaton and Hamburg Rail , Jload, worth, a.mifiion at par value, have been prort 3: aged.' v If lh debt is not pall wuen. ; it is due,' these shares are liable to be sold upon a notice jot three days, at the instance of ech of the; several creditors; We : ' axe informed, by tse who know the most of the mat ter, that these';mortgages. and the bonds accompanying J- ; them have been transferred to tanous individuals and rporatisns. Many of .these" holders, at centlenien. ho know them personally, inform us, will be com- illed by theif necessities, to ruse the money when it due, by a sale oftha 'shares pledged. . . In addition to tthis, the rich prospect, for speculation will, stimulate i others to press these' shares into market! 'A large por l tioo 6f the mostk valuable4 property of this Company ;.,3st be,sold at a ruinous sacrifice during the present . pressure, unless a debt of nine hundred thousand dol lars is discharged by the first day of January next It is clear that in the interval of four weeks, which is to elapse, it is utterly impossible for the Stockholders t raise any thinirlike that sum.! The trentleman from Charleston himself virtually -conceded this, when he siaiea uiai in tne present .conaiaon oi vie money raar. , -.mm, h wouiu d impracucanie lor us to can in iour insi&u soents in the next Cburteea months,' though, even the sum thus proposed to be raised would fall short of the ; amount which we now need. Without the aid then -vf the Legislature in some mode, the Company must . become bankrupt and the enterprise be arrested. Noth ing could be mre surprising than the course of the , gentleman on, this occasion.. Two .months' since, in a meeung at snevuie, ne reported a reaoiuaon, re immending the President and Directors to apply to e Legislature of South Carolina, for aidv also another Ijourning- the meeting to this place, and he then was rstood to avow that it was bis object target the stature of dual Stata to relieve the Comnanv. ": He now not only objects to the mode of reUef desdjr- ated in the report, but he has taken the broad ground, the Legislature should not lend its I assistance in any mantff whatever, but that, the Company should , be left to iis'own resources. For jthis, we Were not pre pared; From the hiffh' teal heretofore manifested by ' 'v. the gontlcAan, and from the loudness of his professions 'onfoffmerWcasaons, it -was supposed that he had en ' , !;( fitted during the war, and it was not expected thai he . would bjtiit us at the close of one campaign, and become . the leader of the other sidet ; ; "'i . , ' , j Admitting' jlII our premises; and in fact, exaggerate . r ing tnJhis'jpeeches,'our difficulties to the utmost, how U! "'doLe nroooae that we should eet out of them! You ' have bnly to Cake things quietly,' says the gentleman. . 'ir 'flnereis no danger," .be patient. Aye debtors are asualjy patient imough .of delay, but wuTour creditors ' be so? - Reduce vour exnendituresLthen to the lowest f point." - If we reduce them to nothing in future, we : haH still -owo about two millions. "Us scokomt," e has repeated ngain and again- We are. perfectly il WUl otEt c reditors accept it lieu of "rnonevl bu might a; Well say to an .individual, arrested for bt, on an execution against the body, when he asks our aid, that hef ought to live economically. " How- ver, wholesome as a preventive, economy will not dis harge debts SlrLIy "contractedi ' Had the genjJeman; o years since, before. We entered into 4hese engage- en ts, now so difficult to meet, volunteered this advice. lt might have profiled iisu Uh he was Ihen stimulat ing us with such1 lofty declarations, as to induce some to vexpect that the fiHehaitem Would have been scaled tere.this."r,,:f.-1 f x taae u to v iinquesuonaDiy true men Air. rrea. ;lent, that v t the aid of your Legislature, at this time,' the e i must fau. -1 Ought it under all the drcx- to-be abandoned J ' It is with ref erence t- 1 that I propose' briefly to take -a (view cf v. - iie principal reasons which tnut gov ern the deci-.vin ioT the question. As ' the ' coilrse of North Carolina is misunderstood by many persons, al low me to advertj tp the circumstances . under 1 which uapplication was made, North Carolina had but recent ly tailed in an attempt to connect herself , with the West, by means of aRauRoad. On the application, there fore, of your Commissioners Cols. Elmore and Gads den, she unhesitatingly granted the ' Kail Road Char ter. - As few surveys had then been' made, it was by no means certain thatlhe- Road would ( pass through any part of our State. ;. Npthing more was then asked of her than the privilege of passing through her Ter ritory, provided the best voute should be found there. In fact it was not unfrequently said about jthat time, that if a right of way over North Carolina Was given, the work would be completed without her aid. " .' After an interval of a yeaT,'it was obvious that the 'RoadTwonld not be made without additional induce- rc. ts", iThe gentleman from Charleston,' (Mr, Mem- rninser.l was then sent as a Commissioner from the etate I fcoatt (Jarolina, to Our .Legislature, to asK, a grant of barr ing privileges to the Stockholders. The 'gentianan.tucnj on the part of those wnom he repre sented, declared that if the Bank . Charter WaaS given, the Juoad would be made without farther aid from North Carolina. Lest it- should be supposed that I am mistaken on tnis pomt, I will beg leave' to refer in the first place to th letter addressed; by him M the v ' - X - uuiuit vud- yvxv rvention with, the reading of the whole document, every" ' 1 ' a a1 a a a T 9 ' pan oi wxiica BTouuns uio siaiemeni i nave made. 1 se. iecr a single extract near ue ciose oi ne communica tion: .-J v.f-;i'.':;--!r: 'V 'A -4 And vvhat is the demand which is made on i vou in return, for benefits so vast and enduring 1 Is I t to drain your Treasuryj or to load your .citizens with a public debt 1 - Not soi -Mt is merely a demand fof a privilege which every State in the Union - has granted -for a pittanc"- almost .upon msre-request i which.- North CarolL.j. herself has granted 'again and .again ; and which, in the present intancecannotiroduce eVeji a derangement of the ordinary ehannela'of circulation. Nay, which WiJ, 'give ; to your, western counties", ;a sound and uniibrm currency; in place of one now'col-. t 'J the States aronnd. From 'the Canks which-North C,.'r.a has chartered. ee has bithprt he... , A.-! .1- 1 W uiou m. tax Wl j per cent. - uonmare thiii Wi th Or t r Ivantages ofS ges olml by the Bank now propos-" cd. The return which. wi3Xe made you, is en ouday among your citizens of nearly three millions of dollars, in making a road through your own; State, and thus founding an immense interest, which will add to the revenues of the State, not only by taxes on the income to be derived therefrom, bu from the increase in the value of all the adjoining property and Li the villages, which will spring into existence along the line of the road.' If I may sb express myself you will create a new river, flown whose course, will flow a stream of fertilizing prosperity throughout your land." In the next place, I ask your indulgence, while I -read some extracts from the published Speech,; of the gentleman1, made at the bar of our Legislature. After alluding to the failure of our recent attempt, to make a road to the West, by reason of the difficulty of passing the mountains, ne says, , : ( ;, ' " t This difficulty and expensive part of,the route the Cineinnati and , Charleston Jlail Road Company now propose to make. They undertake to scale the Blue Ridge at a point in your State, , ; - Again he says : 4 . ' iK J, T - ) " & But nothing can be more conclusive of the faith of South Carolina in the scheme, than the fact, that she I has subscribed towards it one million of dollars from rher share of the Surplus Revenue. And, this furnish- es loo, an aaoiuonai reason,wny ortn varouna snouia embrace the scheme. . By the estimates of the Engi neers, it appears that at least three millions of dollars or about one-fourth of the capital of the Company will be required to make the Road through North Carolina. This State will, therefore, actually receive . one-fourth.' of South Carolina's share of the Surplus Revenue, and her citizens will have distributed among them .the; im-r mense sum of threfe millions of dollars. -And this too, for the purpose of making a' fixture which .cannot. J)e removed, which will constitute a part of. the State," be subject to its laws, increase its Keyenues and enhance the value of land in "all the adioininz counties. Can any man compute the advantages to result from such an ouusjt oi capiiai, i; j.s uie. ueneura w vo rccciwu both by individuals, and by the. State."., rt. " ', ' : J Permit me to present a, few sentences more :, -: "The simple enquiry then is, will yon encounter aS these evils--will yon .forego all hei advantages apon which. I have descanted ; or will you ixTorder to secure them, grant Banking privileges to the, company from which jhey are to'be derived, v t:f' 'vj-' "To resolve this question it seems merely necessary to ascertain whether the people of North CaroKnawill gain more by the road than they will lose by the grant of a Bank charter. The advantages of the road have been already presented. Let us now, consider the Bank charter, and see if .there be any, and What evils to which it may subject your people. . :, ' f i. The gentleman yesterday complained with: emphasis that magnificent speeches were made op this occasion. I think it would be conceded by any one 'who should read his whole speech, that it is quite as magnificent as any. with which whave been favored during the pre sent week. - , "'.V"': vv-; '-. The extracts which I have made, however, abund antly make it appear that we were given to understand that the road Would be constructed Without any other assistance than the sift of Banking privileges. ' Not. withstanding our reluctance at that time! to increase the number of Banks in our State, from a atronar de sire that a most noble enterprise should not fail, North Carolina conceded all .that was asked. How many of her citizens are now surprised, to hear it said ' that the enterprise must be abandoned because she has noter formed her part ! Without assuming to say what xxorta iarouna will do, or what she would have done in any event, I take the responsibility of declaring tht she has aeveryet decided that she would not contrib ute money, ifnecessary, to the work. The Stock sub Biuru ui urn oiaie is noi ; a nur maex even pi ine feelings 'of her citizens towards the enterprise. - Just before the books ' of subscription were opened, a letter from Mr, Calhoun was published recommending . the route'through Georeia. As bis influence was suppos- I ed to be predominant in South Carolina, it damped the ardour of our citizens, and it is beheved that the sub scription was thereby rendered much less than it would otherwise havje been. - Under all these circumstances however, it is said that' the subscription of Buncombe, the only County through which, it was regarded as probable, that the road might pass, is quite as large in proportion to its wealth as that of any of the tipper Districts of South Carolina. The feelings of distrust on our part, which originated then, hive been rather increased since. ' 8everal routes through our . State, which were supposed to be favorable, were not exam ined at all, Lecause as some of our citizens : believed, they dipped too deeply into the State. ' Toy one, how ever, I have regarded the gap selected by the Company ; the best, though many persons entertain doubts bn the point, doubts which have been strengthened greatly by the apprehension manifested in this State, that North Carolina might M tap the road.' Unless it entered the State east of the mountains, our -roads could not be connected, with it, except by passing over the Allegany rangei It was not, therefore expected by any body that we would contribute to the construction of a work which could confer no benefit on the larger number of our citizens, v We have postponed even' the discussion of the subject, until the road should reach our borders. North Carolina has Ion been desirous of extending a Rail Road to her western extremity. That she nas' not done so already is owing neither lo her indifference nor to her, inability, but rather to the difficulty which has been encountered in uniting the interests of differ ent sections The west has for several years been in favor of jt ; in theeast the counties on the Roanoke wish the Road'to terminate On the Virginia line; those in the middle, desire a central road to Beaufort ; while the counties adjacent to the Cape Fear wish it to ter minate at the head of navigation on that river. When therefore, a specific project is submitted, it is defeated by those who are not to be directlv benefited. -We have bow, however, a fairer prospect of success than hcretolore. i . While y ou have been ' talking about con structing this work, we have finished two long Rail Roads, making together two hundred and sixty miles. The State does not owe a dollar abroad, and has an available fund of about two millions. " - ; f Besides (bis, at the last session bf the. Legislature, she, agreed to take three-fiftb.8 of the stock n the Fayette villeand Western Rail Road, a work intended to be' connected with yours at some convenient point in her territory. Had that event occrrrred, in as much as it would men nave been her interest to aid m the prose cution of this work,-1 presume she would have had the inclination to do sow .' Whether that enterprise will beq succes3iul or not, I am yet unprepared to say. The deranged state of the currency has depressed our ener gies and damped our ardour. But this state of thinirs connot long conuntje.;sv.The contest between the Pre sident and the people must terminate.-and even if tha f Executive" triumphs, he will ultimately see that it ' is 1 L!. ! -a. -a , . - . " w " ma uiieresi xo give nis suojects ; a .sound currency .r Whenever that day comes, if not sooner, North Caro lina will make another effort to pass the mountains.- oaowu ne succeed, sue wui mttrcept and uivertmuch of that trade which now troes to vour towm.' " Th head of navigation on the Cape Fear is nearer to East 1 ennessce, than Charleston; besides, it is more in the direction of the great line of travel between the South West and the North. : Our State, as well as several of ner ncignpors, nas long desired this western trade South Carolina might now secure it : she has the track; but let her lose it, let her forfeit the present charter, and We shall avail ourselves of our natural, advantages to bar her. competition. 1;' .iXiVit''.! ' The position of some of the friends of your scheme in North Carcflma, is'embarrassing in a slight degreei Shortly after the enterprise -was set on foot, it was said by some individuals hostile to the route aJopled, that itfwould be abandoned, ere the road reached the upper section of this State, These reports were eagerly caught up and circulated" by those persons in North Carolina, who were hostile to the project because, it interfered withl their own. hopes of obtaining the Western JradeJ Fo two years past, regarding .these suggestions as pre-i judkial to the progress of the work,we have cpmbatted thqmto the best of our ability. .More than twelve months sin I remember to have had a conve'rsation on this suijact with a prominent North Cwlinian, who is known and admired abroad. He expressed his surprise that I should believe, that U 1 ' mm, ww uuiU JU "v out mat ;t would be constructed T- o vwuamia,no perhaps to-the jupper section f this State but denied that there Was any intention on the part of Sduth Carolina to extend it farther. To this, I ccrM only reply that this opinion seemed to me whol, unsupported and gratuitous, that South Caro. lhu h: 1 voluntarily embarked in the enterprise, with a full knowledge of the extent of her means as well as of tlie' dlC cul ties in her way, and had persevered in it two years; that the individuals at its head as well, as many of the Stockholders were men of high and un sullied character, that to charge them with professing views which- they did not entertain, and intending a breach of faith seemed to be bofh uncharitable and ex tremely unjust; and with the. most entire confidence in the future, I begged him to await the result. From present indicatioiis, I now frankly admit, that I was mistaken, and in the presence of thia, convention sur render all claims to the spirit of prophecy in this mat ter at' least ix'.iv-.'p: ; - It cannot, with any fairness, be said that this enter- Erise fails because North Caroiiria has not performed er part, inasmuch as she has done all that was asked of her. Nor can yon say tifat the subscriptions of her citizens aire not sufficiently liberal to induce yon to go on with the work. ; There was a time when you might 1 Oiave said so. .; wnen the books were first opened, and the amount subscribed in North Carolina wa3 ascer tained, you might then have said that we had not been sufficiently liberal, and thai you could not prosecute the work. But you did not do so. Ton tidied for a second, a third, and a fourth instalment ; and even "at the annual" meeting last year, you, With the greatest emphasis, unanimously declared your determination to execute tile enterprise. Jt is tod late, then, for you to say thai it is abandoned because wet have failed on pur part.'; .You are estopped from so doing, by your own acts, and , repeated declarations. Were you to go on until the amount of your subscriptions was expended, no one could complain, though you did stop the work 1 at your own border, and call upon" the other States to3 put ineir anouiqerg to tae.wneeu; . vu you wui uo su, we. Wh have subscribed in. North' Carolina will pay: the amount . at least of our subscriptions. Ought you to complain of being required to do this ! Is it btu- J thensome to you to be asked to make a Rail Road from Charleston, by your capitoL through the entire length, of your State, after you have already , undertaken it 1 I remember "that CoL Blanding, than whom, no oned was better qualified for such a task, collected and pub lished a vast number of facts, and undertook to show, in an address to the citizens of Charleston, that such a work would be highly beneficial toVyou. Has any one since even attempted to refute his arguments T If a single individual .were the proprietor of your whole f State, would he hesitate a moment to execute such a work, solely from pecuniary motives 1 ; V,'-'' -.n But, sir, it is nowvsaid that Georgia Is doing all that is necessary for yo and that ybu have only to form a connection with her. On this point I wish to offer a few observations. It is well known that Georgia once offered to unite with you, but you, fearing lest she would obtain the lion's share of the profits, refused to join her, and adopted this route,-with a view of an ticipating her efforts to secure the western trade.; She immediately buckled on her armor for the contest, and while you were talking, she has been acting, and is now far in advance of you. What, then, is it propos ed you should do 1 Redouble your efforts, and endea vor to pass her yet on the way t No, air ; but it ia proposed that, after being beaten, yon should modestly -ask the victor to eirx you the prize for which you have been contending. Will she be likely to do this 1 . Is Georgia not desirous of aggrandizing . her own towns 1 For what has she been struggling from the first 1 Is hnot schish, not ambitious! -Oris she' a mere idiot! Will she listen to your soft words, and, dog-like, kiss your hands tile moment yon cease' to beat her 1 Sir, I have often known individuals and States to euk, and on a refusal, to appeal to arms, f But you reverse thin modeT To attain your end, - you resorted to blows, in the first instance, and being defeated, you will now beg it as a favor. ;"" : : From the indications, this morning, it seems' that a majority of the stockholders here are in favor of elect ing to the office of President of the road a gentleman J wno nas long tavored tne route through Ueorgia. Uon ceding to CoL Gadsden alllhe ability which hia friends claim for him, (a point On whiqh my limited personal acquaintance with him does not enable me to express an opinion) V have jio hesitation in saying that bis elevation to tha'office will kill your road dead. It is singular that it should be supported by those persons who are unwilling to pass 'any resolution announcing your determination to stop here. His election will satisfy the community as fully, on that point,' as the most solemn declaration which you could make. . It is Well known that he has Staked -his reputation on the failure of this road. For two years past he has on all I occasions, written and spoken against it. He has not farther even. It is suicide under the most humiliating ! circumstances. -it - If it is to be so, .let us kill ; the enter-1 prise ourselves, and not gratify an enemy so far as to f I appoint nun an executioner. He has, for years, made f war upon the Company, but for one, I have not been bu iu cuuverusu uy ma uiowa as to cnoose mm 10 pre side over us. - ' l " Many persons,' sir, are now condemning most of what has been done, with a view, no doubt, of screen ing themselves from any share of the odium of a failure. In this attempt to evade responsibility, the ingenuous gentleman from Charleston,: (Mr. Memniinger) seems likely .to be most successful in clearing bis skirts. Ha ving led us into the difficulties, hey in the language of the tort,, is ass us in getting out of them. - jH Yon can scarcely turn a corner, but yon hear-some such exclamation as . this, : M three hundred thousand, dollars spent in surveys ! hd wonder the thing nas faUl ed!" and then" the encineers i are denounced. AH thisl Mr. President, may do here,' but the community will tun uius oe unposeu upon , taey wui understand the: matter. . tTou cannot make-.thein . beUeve that vou would ve constructed a magiuncent road to the dhi1 river, if. the engineers had .not wasted your fimtil a ucjr . auu . vcix 7CU ulsu uuv a uouar nas oeen re ceived by ? (hem beyond the salaries agreed Ion fhat they surveyed no routes but those that were ordereito be surveyed." In. fact it appears; from Ihe statement made tonJay, that every survey made was ordered bv the. stockholders themselves t so thai not even the board .f j: 11. .1 . - . Ti wi uuecwra u rcponsioie zor tne. number.;: li 4iie cost bf this item has been great, it is attributable to the inj toense length of the fine, the character of the country, and the variety of routes required to be exanyned by pie stockholders in different sections. That the work has been aonurably executed is conceded on all hands. ; Other persdhf find it convenient to blam&tixe origi nal projectors of the enterprise, especially tooee who. are not here to defend; themselves. They .-..'say.- thaft uen. llayne and CoL Blanding humbugged th that the work is not profitable, and that their eves now open. vIf, sir. either of those nmtleTTten firmed that the, road would be profitable before it waii lu:.U,l have yet to learn it. If any-one stockholdetl believed that the mere projecting of a road on paper without constructing a foot of it, wotjld benefit him, then his eye! must hat e'been scaled in Cimmerian darkness indeed, and he may well bless his stars thai they are now open to the light, and that he nowsees clearly. The fears of our more tiinid stockholders have been so much alarnted, by report indiastiiously circu lated by a rtain party;, that they do snot believe that this company could construct a mile of Rail Road, on any ground that might be selected. I do not, Mr. Pre sident, like to witness, this dispositionto -throw the blame on others. Inasmuch aa we have all had some influence, if the enterprise fails, let us proportionally ; share the pecuniary loss, and fairly divide the disc The failure of this scheme will give aheavy blow to the cause of internal improvementa at tb s a " agncultural community in an eminent degree, the 8outh Wants available capitaL This we have heretofore hoped to obtam from the North and om X Europe Butlf ; TInrnno'. ! Ti.. Ji xi;ivyccnii wtauy aDanooned who wfll trust Us again'1 When we set on foot another enterprise,and apply to capitalists abroad for the means of completing it expe, ditiously, wui tiieyjiotjefpept it to be a second editfon of the LoumHe,Cihcmnati and Charleston Rail Road! Can we ever talk 10uder,rand.wiflv more emphasis in favor of any Other enterprise,'"than we have done with refercnee to this1:If: we say that vfe are in cold ear nest this tnne they may reply.- so you said before yourronjnent men manifested th m.at zeal for a long while : four States tmmteA th v , "suuuag privileges on tne v company, two of them subscribed larerelv. while RontA became endorser for the sum of two rnillion's, How shall we meet these-jdle actions 3 What new irmt can'we- tsSj what appeal that has not already been tried ? But above aft, sir, will this ma?r fell nqavilr only pronounced this route inferior to the other, but imposing them place upon then- character; National pride entirely impracticable. I concur, therefore, with the is not only the effect, but it is also the cause of nation- gentleman who declares that the act is smadaL Iiro l al success. ; Greatness often seems to become ' a on us here at Ticie. ' The (LT.culty in Cie way cf ex ecuting such enterprises is not to show their practica bility to a few ; but to. operate on the multitude, and produce a united action in many minds. To elTect thLrunder the i most favorable circumstances requires time and labor. . Each actor must not only be willing to perform ms own part, but like a soldier on a battle field, he must trust his companions. , J3ut after such defeat as this, how will you revive the drooping spirits of the commnnity 1 When will confidence, that plant of slow irrowth. flourish again! . Can yon put lor. Ward a scheme with fairer, prospects and possessing stronger claims to support j Will not the sober citizen turn a deaf ear to your calls : will he not laugh - at v It is not nature alone, sir,, that has made the differ ence between founuiea.fc Whenfdid a great people ev er arise on the fertile lands of the tropics 1 The in habitants of less favored regions, to whom a bleak cli mate and a barren soil have given, vigor of mind and -energy of body, fkr'surpass-them. : It is its: men who cive a countrv its character. If ihe4 are sufficiently intelligent! and ' enterprising, they may command all i . ... s Lj v o ia. v. l:-.. : i e uuu tne eann proauceor ouuui uuuuuau uui ""pi either fo the salubrity of Jief climate or. the general fertility of her aoit It is the character of her sons that has given her reputation. Why is the North, with fewer natural advantages, in advance of the South in many respects ! Is it because northern men are more intelligent, or more desirous of improvement J No, sir,' we seize upon these projects at once with : the utmost xeaL and press them on at first with astonishing energy; but when the first flush of excitement is over, and the (difficulties are accurately perceived, we become faint and abandon the undertaking. They on the contrary have perseverance ; though at first they do not move so fast, they continue- longer and exhibit the blood of distance.' We tire too soon, If after all our mamifi- cent dreams and extravagant boasts, on the present oc- asion, we snouia come to this "most lame and impo- ftt conclusion," 4 iear that we shall mcur a reproach similar to that which was heaped on the ancient Gauls. in tne beginnmg of the battle they; were 'more than men, at its .termination.-less than women." Let ns 'then in future abandon th& best gifts of. the earth and tne ncnest Irmte of civilization to those who have more ttrlgtb-anora'iur hherispirit to attain them, and content ourselves - with being called talkers V I do not, however, Mr. President, pretend that if the enterprise, is impracticable we ought U persevere in it. But let iia,, at least, abandon it in a manly manners Let us say to all the world, that in a period of high commercial prosperity and extravant anticipations, We embarked in this matter. Under the influence of tile first excitement we made ereat niiscalculations. The dimcultiea seemed small in the distance .and we thought mem uuie; our nearts were large and - we felt very Btrong. After having made a brief trial of the matter, We find the task too heavy; the difficulties are greater than we imagined, the mountain has grown higher, in pur view, the way seems longer, our strength is eone. I out spirits have evajwrated, our valor has all oozed out at toe palms of our hands." Take back the char ters you have given, we freely surrender them. Let us pay the expenses mcjfurred, and return the money that remains, q men, Bur, it is true that we might mcur ridicule; ridicule such as would fall upon an individu al wno should boast that be would perform a difficult feat, attract a crowd to witness it,' and then signally fiuL But however ridiculous We mightseem, no charge of a gnvet nature would be brought against us; there could be no stain on the honor of any one. : If, how ever, a difierent course is taken, it may be . far other Wise. If, after havinsr eone thus far, we now stoo. from any other cause than inevitable necessityif we do ne buld the road as far a the means of the Com pany will enable us to do, if we hold on to the charters without an intention to comply with their requisitions: above all, if we convert them into a means of stock job bing, then we ought not to be surprised if the execra tions of the public should be heaped upon' us. From present indications there is too much reason to appre hend that this is to be the result of the whole matter. Gentlemen here may talk lightly if they please of na tional nonor and tne iaitn 01 otates; and complain that such" things should now be thrown at them; but the world will think differently. How touch is the character bf a Statei worth in dollars and cents, J would ask the gentleman from Charleston fMx. Meramineer,') who seems so learned in matters of finance t Can it be cal culated! ii Sir, I happen to be one of those who believe that the difference-between nations is in a great mea sure owing' to tne estimate which the individuals com-, habit. In some ages all the individuals of a nation appear great; in others none of them are so. j This is ho freak of nature.! The difference between the old Roman and the modern Italian, is in feeling, not in intellect, i The estimate placed on the character of a State by its mem bers often indicates its condition. . If a high moral tone prevail among her sons ; if they take a pride in the name of the father land, if thev exult while they con- . template its past renown, then.in times of trial and dan ger they will tax exery power add strain every nerve to Keep from harm that inheritance of glory. At the battle of Trafalgar, Nelson placed at his mast head the words "England expects every man to do his duty." His followers thought not then of the cold, damp; bar ren savage, Celtic isle, that was i visited ; by the first Csjsar, But it brought vividly before their minds, that England whose glory had been increasing from age to age, whose honor was stainless, whose arms if repulsed had never been disgraced; upon whose "empire the sun did not set," whose "blood-red meteor flag for a thou sand years had braved the battle and the breeza"hese, and a thousand other thoughts, "more eloquent than Chatham's "voice; like great, existing ! realities,' were ;ihen present as allies hi the combat, How much were these thoughts worth t6 "Engkfd on that day when H&6 empire of the ocean was at stake? How much of her success is owing to such feelings in the breast of ner subjects 7 - .. ., ; . 'South Carolina expects every' man to do his duty.' ! How would those words fall on the ears of her sons if XAw I . 'a.1 - l . , . uicj regaxueu ner us uae wuose pieoges naa oeen vi olated, whose honor had been tarnished ! ? So far from being invigorated, would they not .hang their heads with shame jn the . most distant land, at the fliought of her iPunic faith ! Punic faith S Carthage was accused of breaking rthe treaties made with her enemies ; ' but you are now asked, to abandon your al lies, your friends, those who -have : come forward at your most earnest solicitation to aid you. ' h; Sir, I make these remarks with no view to dispar age. I r regard, . South : Carolina as . a nohte State ; I trust she will remain so. But remember ; you may lose in,ari hour what it has taken fifty years to acquire. Put it to. your own hearts to say how much her honor is worth. je; l,0O.;--yi--x'r Touannot taunt ns.. We have never deceived X0nV:W4'nate broken no pledgeswe hAve pronused nothingfwe asked nothing. .All th solicitation Was on yora side. Sir, I disclaim all intention of making an invidious comparison when I allude to North-Car-ohna; But of your State and her feelings, I know lit tle. Of North Carolina and of ner citizens I have a right to speak. And "when I state what U believe Would-be her course in an emergency like this, I am merely declaring what I think you ought, and what I trust you wfll do. I do not say that she would, under all the circumances, have placed herself in this insti tution. 'We are, perhaps, more cautious than you Butj Sir, it is my deliberate conviction, that if North Carolina had advanced to tlie position which you now occupy, she would havesunk millions, sooner than abandon it. No citizen of hers, entitled to the confi dence off her community, would dare 46 -Tpose it Heiwould be shamed to do so. "Ijr.V idightened assembLy of her sons would the propsidon e receiv ed without a universal : ., V--?' iX: I have thus, Mr. President, fjankly expressed my opinions 6n some of the important : topics that have been discussed among us. .; In conclusion, I wish to say, that I trust no one will mistake our position we who come from North Carolina. - If your interest or wour feelings do not prompt yon to go on with this en- terpnsa, we do not asfc yon to prosecute it. "If under all the circumstances you. are unwilling to go farther, you have only to say so, and we look elsewhere. As soon as your detenntnation to stop here is sufficiently mani fested, kasrnuch as the funds raised in North Caro lina cannot W.used in this Slate, I shall introduce a proposition to ret-rn" to pur stockholders the monevs a fair "share of the expense of tlie surveys. TL3-v-.k must henccror;a belong ex clusively to you. On the propriety of the Legislature of this State's aiding you at tlie present time, I am as tonished that there should bp twp opinions, It may be true, as'alleged to day tliat th6 i .State has already done too much, and tne company too little liuf the Stockholders cannot now. Give them time! and must now be wrecked She ouffht'mercly from pecuniary motives, a the rar- 1 gest partner jn the concern, and the only one able to neave il on .me roc, vu nmui .u i u&.t;iy ut go to pieces. Bu when it is remembered that by so doing she will obtain a better security for the debts now due from the Company, for which she is already liable; that the work is highly beneficial to her as a State, and above all, that they are her" own citizens whose inter ests are- so- deeply: involved ; then unquestionably 4a sne Dound to give tne reuet asked of her, Fortius, as wen as r your iarmerfsnxeaBrul progress, you have our uest wisnea , out we part eompanyvi Ji-jrM Wi GEN.1HARRIS0N " OX SLAVERY. Hi ASthe' views WGnnisof on jhe subject' of ri i. i i-i-i. . . : Mra iwjiB uccumucu uusrepreseniep. la tne; South,' the following extracts from an Address, de- " livered by slum jat Vinccnnes, (Indiana,) two years 'iJlL. Lnf 'aLa'aS'-aCL titl till! 2 si4 ai'.1: - ,..! t-Bxuvc, wui mushj uie puuiic in uus respecv V .; r-1 haVe now, fellow; citizen?,; a few words jnoro to i say; ontariother subject, andl which isin inypiniorJV';?QfI more inipertanle, tlar ny' bUier that ia Tiow nhil.oulf'Dfaw,. cu83ioninan7,parqrUw to the societies which have been fbrrnedi and the i movements of certain individuals in gome of the States in relation to a portion! ofj the population iri others. : The conduct of the3e perspnajs. the more dangerous,! because their object is masked under the i garb of "; tltsinte restedness and benevolence; and their course indicated by 7 araunienls : and propositions which in Ihe abstract no one can den yv But nowcrer laBcuiauoff raav oe me aress Willi which their schemes are presented to their fellow-citizens with whatever purity of in-1 tention they may have been formed and sus tained, the, w ill be fou nd to carry ip their train mischief to the whole Union, and Z hor rors to" a large portion of it, which, it is probable, some "of the projectors and. many of their supporter have neyer.v thought of J the latter, the. first in the series of evils which are to spring from their source, are spch as you haye read of to i have been perpetrated on the fair plains of Italy : and Gaul, by , the Scythian hordes of Attila and ' Alaric and such as most of yon apprehended apon that memoraoie nigni, wiien me tomanawKS ami war clubs . of the s followers ' bf ' Tecumseh were rattling in your' suburbs 1 regard not the disavowals of any such intention 1 upon the ! part, of the . authors of - these schemes,' since, upon the examination of the pnblica-, tions which t have beenvmade, they will be found to contain the very fact, and;. very ar-: 2Timent which: would ' havn hnnn nsd. if such had been - tlieir object. .1 am rcertain uiai mere is; not, in mis assemoiy, one. ot these deluded men, and that there are few within the bonnds of the Slate. If tlere are any; I would earnestly entreat them to for bear;, to pause in their'career, and . deliber atelyconsider the , consequence of their con? duct to the "whole Union, to the States more immediately c interested; and to .those for whose benefit they profess to act. That the latter will pe the; yietlms off th dicious, presumptuous and nnconstijtational efforts to serve' them, a thorough examina tion of the subject must convince them. The struggle. and struggle there must be), may commence witn norrprs .: sucn as 1 navees cribed; butU ?wlenAwitb;:moreifi riveting the chains, or in the . utter o Extirpa tion of those whose cause they advoctsi. Aa I wrong fellow-citizens, in. arrlvimr theterhrs weak, presumptuous arid uncon stitutional, to the measures bf thfe cmancips.- torsi 3 a sugni examination: vvwui,fi'- tains, show that I am not. ln a VindicaUoucf the objects : of a Convention. wJuch wet; lately held in one oDle towns of Ohio, which ' I saw. in a newspaper,! it was said that notliing more was intended ; than to produce 'i state of public feeling whch ; wbu!4 lead to an i-. mendment of Uie Constitution, au thorizine- the abolition of Slavery in the United jStates. Ndw can an amendment of the. Constitution be, effected without the consent of the Bonlh- ern lates t iYhat vlhen is the proposition to be submitted to them ? . It is this : The present provisions of : the . ponsiituton : se cures to you the right ( n right whihyou neiu oeiore it was made, - which vou have never given up,) , to nanage J your domestic concerns in your.owu war., but as we are convinced that -you. dot. not manage them properly, we want you to put in the hands of the General Government, in the : councils of which we have the majority;; the control over these matters, the e effect of which . will be virtually o. transfer the power, from yours into our hands." Affam! Tin someiofi the States, and in sections of others, th6 black population far exceeds that of the whiter- Some of the emancipators'propose an imme diate abolition. ; , NY hat is - the - proposition hen, , as it regards ihi . States and parts of states, but the alternatives of amalgamation with the blacks, or an exenanse 01 suua- tions with them f Is there any mpn!of corn- raon sense who does not believe ' tliat the emancipated blacks, t being1 a majority, will not insist upon a full participation of political rights with the whites ; and when possessed of these, they will not contend for a full share of social rights also t What but the extremity of weakness "and folly couJd 2 in- dnce any one to think, that such propositions I as mese couiu ue iisieneu 10 oy a people sc. intelligent as the Southern States ? Further. i i Jttt-- j 1 -r .. ' . ,1 ne emancipniors generally ueciare mat it is tlieir intention to effect iheir object (although their acts, contradict the ' assertion,' by no other means Uian by - convincing tlie' slave holders that the -.immediate emancipation: of the slaves is called for, Loth by moral obli gation i and S sound policyv An; unfledged youth, at the mbmeut of nis leaving I Indeed in many instances before he ha? left it,Y his m iivv.ujiuu. wiuiiiiii .MHUHMiaM .J gltf ectures upon inorals to the couritrvmen- bf WythefTnoker. Pendletont andi Lowndas. and lessorofpoliiical wis whose aflairs have sarecdiily been directed by Jefferson and Madison, Macon and Craw ford. ? Is it possible, that -instances of rrpat- er vanity, and presumption-ouldJb&Texhibiu ed? But the course pursued by the emanci pators, is unconstitutional. I do nit say that inere are any woras in the UonstuuUth which forbid lbs discussions Ihey sre enzared-i; I hnc7 that there zx2 nnt 'iTI7 J CTtu ail UIllCIO Wllicn jtAonu. . " lonat.withQutiricU tion tof r th-i inct:,7L i! V ine trr.lK -...A... .a.Ia aW, - . :.-' ' . ithcliihcfeintj wiifil1??1 AmmmmM!m provjsiom 1W tibn silaa- to weref parties ihu in portion of theses sla, cognized; and they iooW ie to I was rp. riirlit'anvpti : v , aT the. . "1 , - "5-;iiww-'ana reclaim . -.,.f iS ui, ni nnr ii.ii nn t. 1 i: --,.,T'i; , : "vn4C5 a master pursue his slave into arintWo- o..., . . . back, an(T 4)rovid?s . a-Tomshmeii for VnJ citilerr;i5r citizens fiHatState whS s! hn? ?hW t Me Same timeautho. rise ; th,e latter ta assemble - to wtf.Pr pass ' Resolutions and adopt Ad Jressesr.ftt muiv n encouTaee- me Slaves to leavrf v4l,B;- t masters, tJUt lo cul Iheir ihronts' riorf ..- ; . RPM ! do solM-mm C;ii4-- it.-.- B I insist that i f tlie'iuzena Pof ihinnVala: f Tiolding States can: avaiUthemselves of the ! article of fheComtituliw, hicaApruW ' fifth nntr (Kinrr J iniiiMiA.,... . It. -1; i. a a . t? " " "s-.- v- "I'V'Wvti ui ftiio urcs& mi imrw - t u a w 11I1II2' a.ssivimaiB i iiw wt mi ist nr t . .t slaveholding States, that ther can eo to tho extreme inat lhave tnentioned. and effii. a construction would r ml one of the tmnt otspfits " fbrmatibn whichfwasthatof securing the peace and harmony of the State which were parties v id ritfThe " liberty of speechand of thepress; weref giveni as the most effectual means to preserve (0 each and every ciufftheir!; own, iighto, and: to the Kti.oa iU'tnnUtm fTu ill 'ai a a .1 w8,nio iigiio wuicu apperiaineu w trieni, 1 at the time of their adbpfionIt xsoold -W I er have been expected that it would be asei by the citUens .ofJ one' -portion of the .utes J for.the purpose, ofdepriving those of anoth er portion, of the! rights. which they had re- served at the .adoption of the Constitution, . Mtrf in 't.. -P L!lK '''l'' ..!.' 1 ' emu ut me C4CIUSO 01 which, none out mem selves have- any : concern i: or interest. If slavery is an evil, the evil is with them. If there is guilt in it,the guilt is theirs,not ours, since neither the ; States where it does not exist, nor the; Government of the United States can, without usurpation of power, and the violation f a solemn compact, t!o anjv thing to remove it without theconsent of those who! are immediately interested . But 1 they will neitherask for aid, nor consent io W aided whilst the! illegal, persecpting and daa gerous movements are in progress, -df which I complain ; t!ie interest of all concerned re quires, that these should, be stopped irnmedi-, atel. 'This can only be 'done', by thevforce of public j opinion; and that cannot too soon be i brought into operation. Every ! more ment which is made by the Abolltio&ists in .the non-slaveholding SUtes, is vie Wed by- Mtuuuwern -oreiorenTas ;ant auacit upon Uieir. rights; and ;whicfi,TieiW4ffl,nBr in the end eradicate l ihbsb : feelings of attach ment and affection J bet weerrr th citizeng of all the States " which wis produced by a community of interests and dangers in the War of the Revolution, which was the foun dation of our happy union," arid by. a contin uance bf which, if can' alone be preserved. I entreat you then to frowVopon, the nreas ures which are to produce results so much tabedeprecated; Theji bpinions which I h Tve noxv given jl havel omitted no cpporta i 1 for the last two years to - lay before the of my own State; I have taken the A My lo expressHhem Keret kiowing ;that even if they should unfortunately not accord iyitliyburs, 1 that nheyf wbuldi be i kindly 't PARAfttE.--Gen; Murphyi 6f phio,rho ws a .iseiegaie 10 tne ; w nig .ivationai uon ventioni concluded a capijtolpeech: withlhe following parible;:;;.- The mother of a family , he said, became very sickTand lay at the point of death.. The family feonsinted of-a father and mother and three sonsWiUianV ( They were much distressed, anditbeingne- jf cessary .to Send for the physician, ' the qnes- i-. tion arose which of the! sons should - be sent upon iheferrandTheyit to goand after deliberately weighing! the sub ject in his mibd; the father came to ,tiie coa clusibn that William shbuld be sent, not from any disrespect tooths others, but because he had run over the tract hefore, and because he could run the 1 fastest jlf the mother goi sick againfa;he;-snid: then'Tie would send one of the others,' bat !as .the present was a very ' urgent occasion, he tnust seud'WiUiamVTfie paut of the sickness bfthe'mothetr said In Mm was she had been noisoned bv the; cooks id j lUVl AllVUtUl -. AnVERTISKMENTS IN NEWSPAFEBiS.r? We find in an exchange; aarah! opon4thij subject which" we think contains a oiWear of wl....csome truth and ound advice; ?t'If a dealer h as any at ticler of which he wishet to make a quick turn, and conseqtrently 5 willing to sell at i small profit, he is sure to i I VI HW ... WM. 11V IUVUU.I V W IUHHV )ivat out of hiscUstomers,het is generally rather sly about it. .Men, ahdiVonenwbe have their eye-teeth cut, never'trade tfes tW where they do not advertise.." m . ' v"' '-r ' :; ( ; Tlve nbminatfon of Gen. IT-rridn, sv rts most sjailablecanddat2 cf tLe WhigpaV;y 7 j' the Harrisbuf Con "vc r.'.Ioni showed ths dom bf lhatr body Clay been selft-teo. iheWhigs would certainly have been defeated Clay Is popular at the West;.bnt not Uh North and Soulli. - 'Harrison will'get Pew ; sylvania and New Yott? of the West, he K cerlain;ndiohn-Tylerjvin;earrVf r i and the Soulhf if the vvnig coroia uy uu the service pf the public; and it is but J? tribiUe ta rewara mm -jviui mu iugiipirrT. inthe'coWry. . - -; t ' any $hmgturther which wrHihg or srtjring j coold eQeetX Bat;, fellow-citizens', jtbfse are I not tlie principles bf th 3 CorinitutiDni J Bach I ; 1 5. A t il li s.
The Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 3, 1840, edition 1
2
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