Newspapers / The Weekly Standard (Raleigh, … / Oct. 24, 1855, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of The Weekly Standard (Raleigh, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
THE NORTH CAROLINA STAND RD : WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 24, 1855. Address or hon. thomas ruffin, OF ALAMANCE. delivered before the State Agricultural Society of North-Carolina, October th, 1855. The duty has been assigned to me of making to this assemblage of our fellow-citizens the usual an nual address on behalf of the Agricultural Society of North Carolina. I heartily wish for your sakes, a well as my own, that it had been allotted to some other person more competent to instruct or enter tain. But, though reluctantly, I hare undertaken it. that I might, if no other good should be doue, show my concern in the welfare of the agriculture of North Carolina and its kindred arts, and my zeal Hnrpment and orosocrity, under a con fident assurance, indeed, of the kind consideration of North Carolinians for the imperfections of one who, though long unused to public speaking, is sin cerely desirous, in any way he can, of magnifying to North Carolinians their chief calling and office, and endeavoring to make them satisfied with their situation here. In the first place it is fit, that to all here thanks for their attendance and a hearty welcome sbeuld be tendered. The purposes of the Society and the modes of effecting them, are generally known ; and wo invite the co-operation of all in the good work. Join in our association. Let every one add what he Can to the general fund of agricultural! knowledge. Enter into the competition for improving tillage, perfecting and increasing the productions of the grains, the grasses, the vegetables, and the fruits of the earth, our animals and our implements of hus bandry, and other manufactures; and exhibit here at our Fairs such things as you have. Indeed, those Who bring only themselves are very welcome ; for, after all, our men and women are oar best produc tions, and it can only raise a just pride to see them fathered toeether to extend acquaintance.form friend hips, gain and impart knowledge,honor sgncinturc, and: thereby become the more content with our lot being cast in North Carolina. Next, the Agricultural Society owes, and we ask the agricultural community to join in making, ac knowledgements to the General Assembly for the pecuniary aid extended to the Society. Its useful ness depends chiefly on its' ability to offer and pay premiums to exhibitors to such an amount as may stimulate competition and multiply exhibitions. A E roper amount of premiums was larger than could e confidently counted on at all times from the fluc tuating and uncertain contributions of annual sub scribers and visitors at the Fairs ; and, since our last annual meeting, the Society presented to the Legislature a memorial praying such assistance from the Public Treasury as that body might deem requi site to the advancement of agriculture and manu factures among us. I am happy to announce here, that, in compliance with the memorial, a permanent annual appropriation of $1500 was made for the payment of premiums, subject only to the reasona ble and politic proviso, that within the preceding twelve months, the Society shall have raised the like sum for the same uses. The appropriation, if not fully adequate to the wants and claims of a people as agricultural as those of North Carolina, is yet of great benefit in many respects, and chiefly as per manently establishing the Society and Fairs, since it cannot be supposed that the farmers and mechan ics and traders of the State have hearts so dead to their duty and interest as to let them fail for want of contributions on their part to an equal amount The present is the first occasion, since the grant, on which the Society has had the opportunity of ac knowledging this legislative bounty, and we take much pride and pleasure in doing so. Now, it may be asked : Is the agriculture of North Carolina worthy of this public patronage, and of the efforts of some of her citizens to promote and improve it ? I answer, Yes yes. North Carolina is entitled to all, that every one of her people can do to promote her prosperity and elevate her 'char acter ; and her sons will be amply remunerated for their efforts for her advantage and their own. Our occupations are essentially agricultural, and embrace all its variety of pursuits planting, farming, breed ing of live stock, and the culture of fruits. Until very recently they were almost exclusively agricul tural, as there were natural obstacles to foreign com merce, difficult to overcome, and but few manufac turing establishments among us. In both these res pects progress has been made and is making ; and there is good ground of hope, that before long fleets of our own merchantmen will sail from our shores, richly laden with our productions for sale or exchange in the ports of our sister States and foreign coun tries; while factories of various kinds, now establish ed in different parts of the State, will be multiplied beyond any present calculation that can be made, not only for the fabrication of the most useful im-' plements of wood, iron, and other metals, but for Our supply of those fabrics out of the great South ern staple, cotton, which have become indispensa ble. Manufactures are already, without doubt, material helps to agriculture by diversifying employments, increasing the consumption at home of our crops and stocks, and supplying on the spot and without delay many articles needful to the planter and far mer. In time they will become a more distinct, pro ductive, and influential item in our political econo my ; but never, I think, as the rival or foe of our agriculture, but as a faithful friend and servant As yet, however, the cultivation of the earth is the great and productive business of North Carolina. It has made us hitherto a thrivingand happy rural people. We are still so; and it will make us still more so, as it becomes improved and more productive. Why should not the agriculture of North Carolina be as improveable and lmpruvea, ua tier sous, engaged in it, as prosperous and happy as those of any other parts of our country ? No reason of weight can be given in the negative, if we will but strive for im provement Every thing is in our favor, if we will make the effort and use the proper means; and of that every one may be satisfied if he will observe and reflect on what is around him. The profits and the comforts of agriculture depend mainly on climate, soil, labor, and the facilities for disposing of surpluses of production. The two first, climate and soil, should be congenial to products re quisite for the sustenance of the husbandman him self, and in demand for others who cannot produce for themselves. In both points North Carolina is highly blessed. In her position on the globe she occupies that temperate and happy mean, which is conducive to health and the vigorous exertion of the faculties and energies of body and mind, in employ ments tending more than all others to the hospital ities and charities of life and the other virtues of the heart, and which constitutes a climate, that, in uni son with her fertile soil, yields abundantly to the diligent tiller nearly all tho necessaries and many of the luxuries required by man. We do not work barely to maintain life ; but, beyond that, to realise gains that may be employed in the addition of other things productive of the elevation and refinement of civilized man. Our winters, by their duration and rigor, do not confine us long within doors, nor cause ' us to consume the productions of our labor during the other parts of the year; butwe are able to prosecute our field operations and comfortably pursue our pro ductive employments throughout the four seasons. Though not of such extent of latitude as thereby to create much variety of climate, and consequently of production ; yet, the dimensions of North Carolina east and west supply that deficiency in a remarka ble degree. The proximity to the ocean of her eas tern coast, and tho difference in elevation between that and the mountains of the west, with the grada tions in the intermediate regions, products a diversi ty of genial climate which gives to North Carolina, in herself, the advantages of many countries con jointly. By nature, too, her soil was as diversified and as excellent as her climate. The rich alluvial of the east, the extended and extremely fertile val lies of the many long streams the Roanoke, the Tar, the Neuse, the Cape Fear, the Yadkin and Pedee, the Catawba, and other rives; which appear upon our map, besides those of smaller streams, al most numberless, all, at a moderate expense of care and labor, return large yields of nearly every grain and other production fit for food. Rice, maize, wheat, rye, barley, oats, the pea, the potatoe of each kind, besides an endless variety of other sorts, veg etables, and fruits, are found abundantly therein; while higher up the country, in addition, the grasses grow so readily and luxuriantly as to afford not little plots on the moist bottoms of brooks, but extensive pastures and magnificent meadows to the mountain tops. Then, there are the great articles of cotton and tobacco, so extensively used and in such great and increasing demand to one or the other of which the greater part of the State is eminently suited. Of fruits, melons of every kind and of the best qualities, apples, peaches, pears, cherries, nectarines and apricots flourish almost everywhere, as do also the smaller, but most valuable kinds, as the straw berry, the raspberry, gooseberry, currants, and, above all, our native grapes, the sweet and proline Scuppernong and the rich Catawba, which mature well, besides some of foreign origin. When to these are added the fish, with which our eastern waters abound through the year, but are alive in the spring our naval stores and lumber, our marls, our mm erals, gold, silver, copper, and especially the exten sive and rich deposits of iron ore, and the coals, one may confidently ask, is there any other country which contains or produces more or a greater diver sity of things to sustain life or to bring money ? And then let me enquire of you, North Carolinians, what better country do you want than your own ? I hold it is good enough too good, I am tempted to say, for sinful man. It requires only to be dress ed and tilled to give nearly all we want on earth, and much for our fellow man less happily situated. There may at some time be a stint below our usual abundance; but we need never fear a famine here while we work. Indeed, that calamity can hardly befall a country where maize which we call Indian corn grows to perfection. There is no record of a dearth, approaching famine, where the principal crop was maize, as it is here. Our climate and soil are so congenial to the other cereals, that a failure of that crop from an unpropitious season is necessarily per ceived in time to provide the others,or some of them, as a substitute. . Such is North Carolina 1 Here she is, and let any man say, who can, whether she be not in every thinr ma eha Iim now been held ud to him. Then, whv should any leave her? I trust the period of her people's deserting her and seeking what they never found a better place, is near its end, and that they will cleave to her and exalt her by uniting in an effort to render her, by increased fertility, yet more teeming in her productions, and to embellish her witn aurable and tasteful habitations, garden and lawns, with substantial farm houses, with or chards and every other thing that can make her beautiful in our eyes and fasten our anecuons on her. True, the soil is not what it once was, and our task is not merely to preserve fertility, but in a great degree to restore that which has been more nr f-na exhausted. We must not blame our ances tors too hastily or too severely, for the system under which the rich vegetable loam they found here was so used up. The labors and hardships of settling a wild country leave but little opportunity for more than nrenarincr for cultivation and cropping such parts of the land as are absolutely necessary for maintaining the colony. Land was in plenty tim ber an incumbrance,and labor scarce and costly ; so that in realitv. it was cheaper, and the sounder economy in them to brine: new fields with their ex ceediiu? superficial fertility into culture, rather than manure those which they had reduced by imperfect tillage and scourging cropping. Throughout Amer ica the land suffered by the exhausting operations of the settlers and their descendants for several gen erations: but that can only eo on to a certain extent, and then it must stop. When eettinir to be so re duced as not to Day for cultivation, necessity for bids a further reduction of the. soil, and then the nrocess of regeneration begins. At first it proceeds slowly ; but every degree of improvement furnishes means for still greater, and accordingly it increases its pace, and by improved culture, manures, rotation of crops, and the like, it ends in a productiveness beyond its original capacity. If not to the lowest, certainly to a very low, con dition, much of the land in the btate had been brought : and the time came.' when, if improvement was ever to be made, it would be commenced. I use the expression, " the time came" instead of "has come," because it is a joyful fact, that some persons in various parts of the State, many in some parts, have improved, and continue to improve their lands and increase their crops profiting much therefrom in their fortunes and setting the rest of us examples by which we ought also to profit Wc have all heard for some years past, that the era of improvement had begun in the great and wealthy county of Edge combe : and I learn from unquestionable sources, that the intelligent and enterprising planters of that county have been rewarded by signal success. I do not propose to enter into a detail of their system . i . i a i a. j i y ' rt . . j lurtner man to say, mat it consists cuieuy in araiu ine by ditches and embankments, making and ap plying composts, the use of guano and plaster of iraris. ana ine neia-pea as an ameliorating crop, as well as food for stock. I advise every one, however, who has the opportunity, by minute enquiries to obtain from those who have put this system into use, detailed information respecting it ; and 1 feel no hes itation in preferring a roquest to the planters of Edgecombe, as public-spirited gentlemen, to com mumcate through our agricultural periodicals, the history of their improvements and their experi ments as well tnose in which they failed as those in whch they succeeded, with all other matters which may be useful to their brethren in other sections. in otner parts ot the country, with which 1 am more intimately acquainted, much improvement has been made, to my own knowledge. Of the counties ranging along our northern border, from Warren to Stokes, inclusive, I have had for about fifty years considerable knowledge. That was the principal re gion of the tobacco culture. According to the course of that culture, wherever it prevailed in our early annals, the country was cut down rapidly, cropped mercilessly . with a view to quantity rather than quality, then put into corn, and exhausted quickly -and almost entirely. When I first knew it and for m hmg tfnuo aftm nii9, were were abounding evi dences ot lormer iertiuty, and existing and sorrow ful sterility. Corn and tobacco and oats were al most the only crops. But little wheat and no culti vated grasses were to be seen in the country. War ren and Granville bought the little flour theV used from- Orange wagons. Large tracts were disfigured by galls and frightful gullies, turned out as " old fields," with broomstraw and old-field pines for their only vesture, instead of their stately primitive for ests, or rich crops for the use oi man. This is a sad picture. But it is a true one; and there was more fact than figure in the saying by many, whose work of destruction rendered that region so desolate, and who then abandoned it, that it was "old and worn out" Happily, some thought its condition not so hopeless, and, cherishing their attachment for the spots of their nativity, within these few years since the time of river navigation and .railroads began set about repairing the ravages of former days. Do you suppose they were content with less crops, and therefore that they cultivated less land than before, leaving a larger area to natural recovery by rest? xnat was not tneir course. They did not give up the culture of tobacco, but greatly increased it, and corn also; and they added to their rotation, wheat, when so much more easily and cheaply carried to market But they greatly increased the collection and application of manures from the stables, and the cattle yards, with considerable additions of the concentrated manures obtained from abroad, and protected the land from washing by judicious hill side trenching and more thorough plowimr. The result has been, that many old-fields have been re claimed and brought into cultivation, the lands gen erally much increased in fertility, and of course, in actual and market value in the like proportion. wane me production has, probably, doubled in quantity and value in all the range of counties men tioned. Such examples are honorable to those who set them, and useful to others, who desire to im prove. For that reason I have thought it proper thus to signalize them, as I would gladly do others, which may, and I hope do exist, were I as well aware of them: contenting myself with adding only, that I think I see the dawn of a better day in the county of my own residence and those contiguous. For our pre sent purpose, it is sufficient that we can hence learn that the effects of the most injudicious and destruc tive cropping may be repaired by good husbandry, in the use of fertilizers aaved on the farm, and oth ers, which are becoming better known and more at tainable than formerly ; and thus all the outlay will be more than reimbursed at a short day by the in crease of products, besides enhancing the value of real estate. Thus will our agriculture be rendered as pleasing and as profitable as that of the most fa vored portions of the earth. Then let me say once more to you, men of North Carolina, stick to her, and make her what she can be and ought to be. For you and your sons she will yield a rich harvest: to some " thirty fold, some sixty fold, and some an hundred fold," according to tho skill and diligence with which the tillage of the good ground is done. The nature of the labor employed in our agricul ture is the next subject for our consideration. It is most important element in the" cost, amount, and alue of production. I very frankly ayow the opm- n. tnat our mixeo laoor oi iree wuuv men w .opean origin and of slaves of the African race, is as ell adapted to the public ana private enas oi wi ;nculture as any other could be masmg our mi ration not less thorough, cheap, and productive . :iian it would be, if carried on by the whites alone. nd far more so than the blacica by themselves wouiu lake it : and, therefore, that it has a beneficial in- luence on the prosperity of the country, and the ihvsical and moral state of both races, rendering both better and happier than either would be here, without the other. Of course, I am not about en tering into that controversy which has connected it self with the contentions of sectional factions, strug- ling for political power. It is unnecessary that I should; for every one is aware, I believe, of tho nature of the controversy and tho motives olthe parties ioiu aim one or the conservative euects oi slavery to impress on us a deeo conviction of the inestimable value of the Union, and a profound reverence for the Consti tution which created it: and hence we naouuauy cherish a good feeling, as of brethren, towards our fellow-citizens of every btate, and any deed or wora tending to impair the perpetuity of the union ana the efficiency of the Constitution and the laws pass ed in accordance with it, or to alienate the affections of the people of the different States from each oth er, is seen with impatience and frowned on with in dignation. Indeed, if there were any thing in slave ry or the interests connected with it incompatible . ... - . mr . .! A. with that fundamental law, l ooubt not mat uur people would willingly abide by that sacred instru ment, though it should cut off a right hand or pluck out a rif?ht eve. But there will be no occasion for a display of our loyalty in that respect, since the Constitution clearly recognizes our slavery, sustains the rights of ownership, and enforces the duty of service and 1 am persuaaeo, mat me ooiigauuu ui those provisions and their execution will be ultimate ly pronounced and carried out by those on whom the Constitution itself confers the authority. My purpose now, however, is merely to maintain that . , . - , , . . t i slavery nere is zavorauie to tne interests oi agricul ture in point of economy and profit, and not un wholesome to the moral and social condition of each race, in support oi tne nrst part oi tne proposition, a decisive argument is furnished by the fact that the amount and value of the productions of slave labor in this country exceeds those of similar productions, nay, of all other agricultural productions, of an equal number of men in any other country, as far as they can be ascertained. In some localities, in- 'deed, and in respect to some articles of great value, the production would cease, or nearly cease, with slavery; since the blacks by the constitutions inher ited from their African ancestors, can labor, with out detriment, under degrees of heat, moisture, and exposure, which are found to be fatal to the whites, whose systems are better adapted to different con ditions of the atmosphere. In truth, if the free men in those States in which slavery prevails be al lowed credit for common sense and the capacity to understand their own wants and interests, the utility of the employment of slave labor and its productive ness are established beyond controversy, simply by the fact, that it is done. Men who aro thoroughly versed in the practical operation of any institution, certainly will not, to their own prejudice, Uphold it from generation to generation, and cling the closer to it as by its natural extension it becomes more and more destructive. If it be saidithat the contin uance of slavery does not prove its utility to the Commonwealth, because 'it was continued of neces sity and would have been, however impolitic it might be found, we must own some force in the suggestion, by itself, since at all times after its in troduction it would have been difficult to get rid of it, and that difficulty has been continually increas ing. It was much easier for those who now con demn so strenuously our toleration of slavery, to capture and enslave the helpless Africans and bring them here, than for us, without crime yet more heinous, to renounce our dominion over them and turn them loose to their own discretion and self destruction. Their fate would soon be that of our native savages or the enfranchised blacks of the West Indies, the misera ble victims .of idleness, want, drunkenness, and oth er debaucheries. But the argument goes only to show that wc would have done right even though enforced thereto by the necessity spoken of in still holding those people in bondage. It is far from showing that slavery would not have been and ought not to-have been maintained, though there had been no such hypothetical necessity for doing so. Fur thermore, there are numerous facts to prove a clear opinion to the contrary in every class of our popu lation. When did any man, for example, leave North Carolina in order to get clear of his slaves or of slavery ? We have, indeed, a respectable and peaceful religious society less numerous than for merly who are forbidden by an article in their creed from holding men .in slavery. Even they nev er warred or contended against this institution here, nor sought to seduce or spirit away their neighbor's slaves ; but like the quiet and Christian men they professed to be, they left us and immigrated chiefly to the States of the North-West in which slavery did not exist With that slight exception, the public sentiment is so generally satisfied with the existence of slavery and its propriety here, that it may prop erly be called universal Some men have emanci pated some or all of their slaves by sending them to other States. But I know not of an instance in which the former owner went with them, or left North Carolina because other owners would not fol low their example. On the contrary, when our slaveholders remove, they carry their slaves with them further south, where slavery is, if possible, more firmly fixed than here, because they expect the labor of the slaves to be more productive. Be sides, there are many inhabitants of this State who do not hold slaves, some from choice and some from inability to purchase them, and nevertheless, they are content to abide among us and our slaves. And it is also true, that even when those men migrate, much the larger part of them likewise go to the south of us in the thick of slavery, because . they hope to make a greater profit from their own exer tions. These facts, which cannot be denied, will bear reflection, and furnish evidence sufficient to sat isfy any fair mind that there is an unanimous con viction of our people that slavery, as it exists here, is neither unprofitable, nor impolitic, nor unwhole some. For certainly, though slaveholders, we may claim to possess as clear understandings, and as clear consciences as generally fall to the lot of other men. It would, indeed, be otherwise, if it were true, as supposed or set forth by some, that slavery degrades free labor, and, consequently, that our population are too proud or too lazy to work, and become, espe cially slave -owners, dissolute and profligate in mor als, as well as atrocious tyrants. But that is not . true not at all true ; and there never was a greater mistake than to suppose it true. It cannot but ex cite a smile in us, who know the contrary so well, when we are told that white men do not work here, and that they do not because it is considered dis graceful. Why, there is not a country on earth in which honest labor and diligence in business in all classes and conditions, is considered more respecta ble, or is more respected. We, like every other geople, have the idle and the vicious amongst us. ut they are chiefly those who have the least con nexion with slaves, and particularly those employed in agriculture, and are to be found, without means, lounging about cities and villages. Many most in dependent farmers, who own slaves, but not enough to make their superintendence full employment, work, they and their sons, with their slaves; and it is sure, that no one here ever treated them or thought of them as disgraced by it Indeed, every one, who by intelligence, integrity, and industry, provides for himself and his household either in the field or at the forge, or any other mechanical pursuit, is as highly respected here, as in every other well ordered community; and many of them are of great and useful influence in society. It is a mistake, too, equally notable, that slave holders are above or exempt from the cares and the business of life; and it is a gross calumny to represent them as the ruthless and relentless tyrants, of whom some persons delight to draw over-charged and exaggerated caricatures. Although the labor of a large slaveholder is not manual, yet it is not the less engrossing and onerous ; and the feelings be tween masters and their slaves in the great bulk of our population is kindly on the part of the former, ; and affectionately faithful on the part of tho latter. Slavery, indeed, is not.a pure and unmixed good. Nor is any thing that is human. There are instan ces of cruel and devilish masters, and of turbulent and refractory slaves, who cannot be controlled and brought into subjection but by extraordinary sever- ! ity. But these are exceptions, nu rrw oa,Fww. Great seventy. in masters is as uucu vyr. -usages of our people as to the sentiment of the age, and, indeed, to the interest of the master. Modera--tion in the punishment of dependents is founded in nature; and unjust excessive, ana oaruaruu tv is not to be presumed, but quite the contrary.- The ineek man who led tne Israelites mrougu wilderness, and legislated for them by inspiration, understood this better than those who paint us so frightfully, without knowing much about us. In treating of the different degrees of homicide, he had regard to the known motives of the human heart, and thereon founded the presumption, that the slay ing of a slave by the master, is by misadventure, 44 because he is his money," unless it should be re buked by such excess in the degree or duration of the infliction as to make him 44 die under his hand," and thus evince that discipline was a pretence, and the killing of designed malignity or wanton brutality. I appeal to every one, if our experience is not in ac cordance with the divine statute. The same motive induces the master to be observant of the health and morals of his slaves; to care for them, and provide for them ; to restrain them from baneful excesses, and employ them in moderate, though steady labor. That this is the course the established habit of the slaveholding portion of the country, is plainly, to bo deduced from an increase in the numbers of our slave population beyond the ratio of natural increase in the population of any other' nation; which could only arise from tho abundant supply of the neces saries and comforts of life, and a contented state of mind. But the interest of the owner is not the only secu rity to the slave for liumtne treatment; there is a stronger tio between them. Often born on the same plantation, and bred together, they have a perfect knowledge of each other, and a mutual attachment ' Protection and proyision are the offices of the mas ter, and in return the slave yields devoted obedience and fidelity of service ; so that they seldom part but from necessity. The comfort, cheerfulness, and hap piness of the slave should be, and generally is, the study of the master; and every Christian master re joices over the soul of his slave saved, as of a broth er, and allows of his attendance on the ministry of God's word and sacraments, inany church of his choice in his vicinity. The condition of a slave de nies to him, indeed, opportunities of education suffi cient for searching the Scriptures for himself, and working thereout his own conversion; tut God for bid that should be necessary to salvation! It is not; for to the poor and the unlettered the Christian gra ces are promised and given in an especial manner, because they have less pride of intellect, more sim plicity of faith, and more singleness of heart ; and among the slaves of this country there are many ex emplary Christians. Indeed, slavery in America has not only done more for the civilization and enjoy ments of the African race than all other causes, but it has brought more of them into the Christian fold than all the missions to that benighted continent from the Advent to this day have, or, probably, those for centuries to come would, excepting only the recent Colonies of blacks on the western coast of Africa, by which one may hope and believe that under divine direction the lights of civilization and the knowledge of the true God may be reflected back on that whole land. Such are some of the beneficial effects on that race of their connexion with us. Upo j the slaveholder the impressions are not less distinctly durable, nor less beneficial lie is habit ually a man of employment As in military life, he must train his troop to their duties, lay out their work, and superintend its execution ; and by a mild and just, though firm discipline, reward and punish according to their deserts ; and he must never fail in sympathy with them in regard to innocent enjoy ments at proper times, and their needs in sickness and in health. Sometimes matters, very trivial in themselves, have exceedingly great effect in improv ing the slave and uniting him to his owner. I know a gentleman, one of the most successful planters, who produced a marked change for the better among his slaves, by the small boon of a cheap looking glass for each of their quarters. Another bound his people to him by a devoted affection, by joining with solemnity in their processions at the burial of their dead, in a grave yard, which he had protected by a plain post and plank enclosure. It is a great error in those who do not know our slavery, to confound authority in the private rela tions, though it be that of a slaveowner, with the absolute power of a prince on a throne. A political despot is separated from his subjects. He knows them not nor loves them. He sympathises with none of them, but their positions and feelings are in constant hostility. But authority in domestic life, though not necessarily, is naturally considerate, mild, easy to be entreated, and tends to an elevation in sentiment in the superior which generates a hu mane tenderness for those in his power, and renders him regardful alike of the duty and the dignity of his position. It is only when the authority is dis puted and resisted, that a conflict occurs ; and the slaves, if kept to themselves, unprompted from with out, will seldom give occasion in that way for rigor. Why should this propitious state of things be changed ? Why should any wish a change ? Es pecially, why should persons who havo no concern in it, who are not of us, and know not what they do, officiously interfero in a relation so entirely domes tic and delicate ? We know that our slaves are gen erally humble, obedient, quiet, and a contented and cheerful race of laborers. Scattered over the plant ations in rural, occupations, they are never riotous or dangerous, as the same number of uneducated working men have often been in other parts of our country. Slaves arc no part of the State, with no political power, and seek no violent or sudden changes in tho law or policy of the country ; and where slavery exists labor and capital never come in conflict, because they are in the same hands, and operate in harmony. It is not then, a blot upon our laws, nor a stain on our morals, nor a blight upon our land. A signal instance of its beneficial politi cal influence just occurs to me, to which I cannot refrain from asking your attention. The sad fate of the Indian tribes in the territories, now forming the United States, is familiar to every one. With the exception of a few small remnants, seated among the whites, as a degraded caste, in one or two of the northern States, all belonging to that region are ex tinct They had no separate property, and there fore they never engaged in the pursuits of civil life, and could not be civilized. They were killed up in wars with the -whites, or, at their instigation, with each other, deprived of their land, and, consequent ly, with reduced supplies of food by the diminution of game, and brutalised by intemperance, they wasted away while they were yet savages. The same fate befell most of those at the South, and from the same causes. But there are exceptions worthy of grave consideration. There were five large tribes on this side of the Mississippi the Cherokees, the Creeks, the Chickasaws, Choc taws, and the Semi noles. The two former were nearer to us, and, in deed, part of their territory was within our borders. Therefore we are more familiar with them, and I will speak only of them, though I believe the same is true of all of them. , The Cherokees and Creeks suffered losses of land and people like the other tribes ; but they differed from them in one circum stance, and only one, from which, however, most important consequences resulted. It so happened, that, while yet respectable in strength, they got, in some way by capture or purchase some negro slaves. Immediately there was a change in their whole polity, which preserved their existence, and increased their numbers and their wealth. The ac quisition of slaves gave them the idea of property in individuals, and in order to make the labor of the slaves beneficial, a qualified property in the lands occupied bjjr each Indian, and worked by his slaves, was recognised by the nation, and the pursuits and arts of civilized life were established amcngthem; farms were extended, dwellings erected, traffic prac tised, clothes worn after tho fashion of the whites. schools and churches opened, and the red man be came as the white man in bis occupations, property, education, and religion. And now those tribes form intelligent and thriving people beyond the Missis sippi, with enlarged knowledge, property, and pow er ; with a printed Btatute book, with a legislative body, and regular tribunals of justice. Such works nam American slavery wrought upon those tribes I Is that a reproach to it t And is it not marvellnna that, still, it should be pursued by persons having no knowledge of its practical operation, under a phrensy against slavery in the abstract fatally bent on its restriction and destruction, though they there- uy duvuiu uesoiate our neias, desecrate our altars, and cause tho blood of both races of our people to flow in rivers ? Such philanthropy is both fanciful and ferocious, and must gall and irritate, and may, to a certain extent, alarm some. But I believe we need not apprehend much danger to our personal rights or political institutions. Occasionally dema gogues may sway popular or legislative majorities against us. But it can only be for a season, and a short season. For, in every part of our beloved country there are men, and, I trust, many men, of sound heads and sound hearts, who are as able as we to understand and explain the constitution, and calculate the value of the Union as justly. Such men must have great influence in society, however it may be constituted, and will assuredly instruct persuade, and lead back the masses to a due regard for the Constitutional rights of their fellow-citizens not less their fellow-citizens' because living far apart for multitudes, proverbially prone to change, nev er do so more readily, than when, under the guid ance of wise and good men, they can retreat from an extreme wrong, and escape from the domination of -those who dishonestly led them into it The very excess of the error ensures its speedy perception, and a more perfect reaction. I believe we shall be one people again in good feeling; and therefore 1 cherish the spirit of brotherhood even towards those who may now seem to hold it in the least respect : and in that I only sympathise, I am sure, with the great bulk of my fellow-citizens at home. On the remaining point, on which the interests or agriculture, and, - indeed, of all other employments depend namely, the facility of transportation, I have to offer to all North Carolinians heart-felt con gratulations. The carriage of bulky and cheap ar ticles long distances in wagons over bad roads, was a great draw-back on the prohts of capital and labor for a long time here. Some relief in particular parts of the State was derived from even the imperfect im provement made in the navigation for boats on a few of our rivers. But it was far below the wants and demands of the people ; and afterwards resort was had to Kailroads. Ine wonders worked by steam, and railways are indeed astonishing throughout the world. In no part of it can they be more requisite or4bcneficial than in this State, the extent of which and the want of navigable waters at only a, short dis tance from the sea, rendered themindispensible. fe.v ery one, therefore, ought to commend the legislative policy in providing them, and in extending them from time to time as the funds of the State may be found adequate. It will not, I trust, be going out of tho way, . while on this subject, to say a word in honor of the memory of a great and good man, who first presented the utility and construction of Rail roads to the notice and patronage of this State ; I allude to the Rev. Dr. Joseph Caldwell, the late em inent and zealous president of the University. Up wards of thirty years ago he visited Europe on .the business of the college, and there saw such roads in use ; and soon after his return, I remember, he pub lished a scries of essays under the signature of 44 Carlton," in a newspaper printed in this city, ex plaining the practicability of their construction and earnestly urging a "central one from Buncombe to Beaufort The novelty of the subject and the dread of the expense, operating upon timid counsels, pre vented his suggestion from being then adopted. But it is honorable to his sagacity, that at the late session of the legislature charters were granted for completing a line of Railroad on the very route rec ommended by him, when probably it was unknown or had been forgotten by the acting generation of legislators, that he had ever advocated the measure. I shall be pardoned for desiring to rescue from ob livion for a brief space longer his early service in a cause now so generally and justly advocated, and of such surpassing importance. I have thus endeavored to lay before you the re sources and advantages enjoyed by North Carolina, and her capacity to supply the wants of man, and satisfy his reasonable desires for accumulation and the higher enjoyments of both laboring and educa ted and more refined men. It has been done with out setting up any claim for her, which I do not be lieve to be well founded, or any statement in which I do not expect your concurrence. In truth I have said nothing new, and I have not sought so much to impart information as to excite reflection on what you already know. For wc take no note of things that wc see every day, and it is a more common fault not to make a proper use of knowledge, than it is not to possess it; to fail in duty, not because we are ignorant of it, but because we are indifferent to it My purpose has been to present to you, wjth much plainness of speech, things that none can deny and are fully known among us. You know that all these things are true. If they be, let them make their impress on our minds and hearts, that wc may be duly sensible of, and thankful for, the goodly bounties of health, competence, and wealth, which may be derived from the agriculture and other oc cupations of North Carolina. I am quito sensible that I have performed most defectively the task set for myself- After the lapse of more than thirty years since I engaged in public discussion, I ought not to have undertaken it, and regiet that I did so, especially as this address has been hastily prepared under many disadvantages. I beseech your forgiveness, and will make the best reparation now in my power, by promising not to offend in the same way again ; and, as I have very nearly arrived at the scriptural limit of man's life, I think I may, in conclusion, safely make the promise. I cannot close, however, without , asking you once more to cleave to North Carolina. Stay in her, fer tilize her, till her, cherish her rising manufactures, extend her rail-ways, encourage and endow her schools and colleges, sustain her institutions, devel op her resources, promote knowledge, virtue, and religion throughout her borders, stimulate State pride, and exalt her to renown : And may the bless ing of Almighty God be upon each one of you, and on all North Carolina, and make hec good name and fair fame endless! The ladies of Bardstown, Ky., through the Editor of the Louisville Democrat presented to George D. Prentice, an urn, with the following address in com memoration of his signal services, during the elec tion butcheries i a Louisville, viz : Louisville, August 7th, 1855. Geo. D. Pbestice, Esq. Dear Sir: I have been requested and instructed by the ladies of Bardstown, to present to yon, in their name, the Urn, which Xhe bearer of this note will deliver to you, as a slight testimonial of their appreciation of your dUtinguuhed services in behalf of the American party. They feel that the country is much indebted to you for your devotion to the great principles on which our government and party are based, viz : The burn ing of the churches of the impudent Papists, the roasting, stewing, and frying alive, of the vile Dutch and Irish, women and infants, so victoriously, tri umphantly, and gloriously achieved in this city on last Monday night, by men whose souls were in spired and arms nerved at your patriotic instiga tion. This Urn contains some of the trophies won by the 44 American" party on Monday, viz : The hearts of Dutchmen, the ashes of Irishmen, the brains of anti-American infants, and a portion of the burned flesh of Quinn (brother of a deceased Popish priest), all of whom were burned alive on Monday night4 for the safety and perpetuity of our national wel fare. The offering will be the more acceptable, we are assured, when you are informed that the charred and burned particles, and tho brains of infants here with tendered are the remain, the identical remain of the women and infant who so shamefully fired upon and killed the bravo men of the great Ameri can party, whe died 44 breathing lofty aspirations, in the cause of liberty, the Union, and the. national prosperity." Accept, sir, this Holocaust these remains of wo men and rascally Dutch and Irish suckling infants, as a testimonial of your devotion to the protection of 44 American rights." Ky. Statesman, i i m Heaven knows' how many simple letters, from simple minded women, have been kissed, cherished and wept over by men of far loftier intellect So it will be to the end of all time. It is a lesson worth learning, by those young creatures who reek to al lure by their accomplishments, or dazzle by their genius, that though be may admire, no man ever loves a woman for these things. He loves her for what is essentially distinct from, although not in compatible with, them. This is why we often see a man of high genious or intellectual power pass by the De Staels and Corinnes, to take into his bosom some wayside flower, who has nothing on earth to make her worthy of him, except that she is what few 44 female celebrities" are a true woman. usrr OF PREMIUMS Awarded at the Third Annual Fair of tX, v State Agricultural Society. C' We give below a list or the Premiums awan. by the Judges at the late Fair. There may 1 few omissions or errors in the lint W. u-I. been able to procure the report on Fruit and Trees, as it was not handed in before the hour il rMlllTlff rill t Ihn nramX.tma UT O ' -" f -"'""O. BRANCH I LIVE STOCK FIRST DIVISION. Firtt Clan Thoroughbred. Best Stallion over 4 years old, Gen. 1L T. H4W. kins, 1st premium, 2nd best Stallion over 4 years old, W. F. Petta. 2nd premium, .j Best Brood Mare over 4 years old, Gen. M. T. Hawkins, 1st premium, jg 2nd best Brood Mare over 4 years old, P. C. Cam eron, 2nd premium, j n Best Mare over 2 and under 4 years old, Gen. H. T. Hawkins, 1st premium, The committee cannot withhold their admiratioa of a yearling colt, the property of Gen.M. T. Haw. kins, and recommend him to the consideration of the Discretionary Committee. William B,-Holt, J. U. Kirkland, Walter Gwynn. Committee. 2nd Close Quick Draught and Saddle Hortet. Best Stallion over 4 y'rs old, S. O'Bryant 1st premium, ( 2q Second best Stallion over 4 years old, F. M. Par ker, 2d premium, jq Second best Brood Mare over 4 years old, S. O' Bryant, 2d premium, g Best pair matched Carriage-Horses raised in the State, W. H. Holderness, 1st premium, 20 One Colt 2 years,' old, Ab. Scott 1st premium, 5 One Black Horse, Jacob Sorrel 1st pre. jq One Harness Horse, S. T. Cutbberston, 1st pre mium, C. H. Jordajt, Ch'm. 3rd Class IItaty Draught Horses. 2nd best Stallion over 4 years old, Jno. Hayes, 2nd premium, q Best Brood Mare over 4 years old, Starling Par rish, 1st premium, 15 In this class the committee examined a very fine Gray Horse, 5 years old, exhibited by S. O'Bryant of Roxboro, being superior to any horse in this class on exhibition all other hordes were ruled out for . the first premium. In consequence of this horse having drawn a premium at the N. C. State Fair last year, the committee could not award the same horse a premium this year. Given under our hands this 17th of October, 1855. H. T. Clark, J. A. WhiUker, J. M. Cunningham, Committee. JACKS AND JENNETTS. Best Jack, with approved certificates, imported, A Walker & Co., 1st premium, 20 Best and largest Jack, raised in the State, Gen. M. T. Hawkins, 1st premium, 20 Best and largest Jcnnette, raised in the State, S. W. Cotton, 1st premium, 10 - John S. Dancy, & P. Hilf, Alexander B. Haw kins, Committee. SECOND DIVISION. CATTLE. 1st Class Short Horns and Durham. Best Bull over 3 years old, N. Devon, S. Smith, 1st premium, $15 Best Bull over 2 and under 3 years, Durham, Wm. Russell, 1st premium, 10 Best Bull over 1 and under 2 years, Wm. Russell, 1st premium, 5 Best Ileiler over 1 and under 2 years, Wm. Rus- sell, 1st premium, 3 Best Cow over 3 years old, N. Devon, Dr. R. H. Mason, 1st premium, 10 Best Calf, N. Devon, S. Smith, 1st premium, 3 Best Calf 6 months olQ, Devon & Durham, Wm. Russell, 1st premium, 8 Best Heifer 15 months old, N. Devon, Dr. Wm. R. Holt, 1st premium, 3 Best Bull Calf 1 year old, N. Devon, Dr. Wm. R. Holt, 1st premium, 3 Best 2 year old N. Devon, Gwynn, 1st premium, 3 Best Heifer over 1 and under 2 years old, Devon, E. Hall, 3 Jas. E. Williams H. G. Williams, A. W. Tenable, Committee. Grades or mixed blood axd kative cattle. Best Bull, Xativer 3 and a half years old, M. S. Ilenly, 1st premium, $15 Best Cow, Grade, 4 years old, Seth Jones, 1st premium, 10 L. O'B. Branch, Thos. Ruffin, R. R. Bridgers, Committee. Wokkixo Oxen. Best pair of Work Oxen, John Hayes, 1st pre mium, . $10 C. L. Uinton, Thos. Miller, Committee Fat Cattle. Best fat ox. Dr. E. A. Crudup, 1st premium, 5 W A. Graham, C. Graves, Bryan Grimes, Com mittee. Milch Cows. Best Milch Cow giving not less than 20 quarts on exhibition, Scth Jones, 1st preminm, $20 2nd best Milch Cow giving not less than 16 quarts on exhibition, Jno. Hayes, 2nd premium, 10 A. W. Venable, E. J. Mumford, Committee. THIRD DIVISION. Sheep. Best Bucks, 4 years old, South Down fc Leices ter, Dr. Wm. R, Holt, 1st premium, $10 Wm. Long, John n. Bryan, G. J. Ward, Com mittee. FOURTH DIVISION. SwiSE. Firtt Class Large Breed. Best Breeding Sow over 2 years old, with not less than 4 pigs, W. T. Hopkins, 1st premium, $5 2nd Class Small Dreed. Best boar under 2 years old, J. C. Partridge, 1st premium, $3 Best sow under 2 years old, J. C. Partridge, 1st premium, 5 3rd Class Xa tires. Best single fat Hog, raised in the State, S. 'B. Ireland, 1st premium, $5 . Rich'd H. Smith, L. W. Humphry, Committee. POCLTRT. Best pair of Shanghais, F.J. Haywood, 1st pre- uium, $3 Best pair Brahmas, Mrs. J. C. Partridge, 1st pre mium, 8 Best pair Game, J. D. Newsom, 1st premium, 3 Best pair Cross-Brecd, E. E. Hunter, 1st pre mium, 8 Best pair Domestic Turkies, Mrs. Dr. Mason, 1st premium, " 8 Best pair Muscovy Ducks, James McEimmon, 1st premium, 8 Best exhibition of Pigeons, F. M. Ironmonger, 1st premium, 5 Best and largest exhibition of Poultry by one ex- hibitor, Mrs. J. C. Partridge, 1st premium, 1Q Golden and Silver Seabrigbt Bantams, Mrs. J. C. Partridge, 1st premium, 8 Best Wild Indian Game, Thomas Greer, 1st pre mium, 8 Thomas Mcllhenny, Thomas S. Ashe, A. M. Lew is, Committee. BRANCH II. AGRICULTURE. Second Class Agricultural Productions, Itaiui by the Exhibitor. For the best varirety of Bread Corn, T. S. Hoskins, 1st premium, I Best Tariety of Stock, do. W. D. Jones, 1st pre mintn, Best variety of Wheat, W. D. Jones, 1st pre mium, Best variety of Oats, W. IL Robards, 1st pre mium, Best variety of Rye, Dr. E. A. Crudup, 1st pre mium, " Best variety of Field Peas, W.D. Jones, 1st pre mium, Best variety of Svrect Potatoes, Crawford Taylor, 1st premium, , Best variety of Irish Potatoes, P. R. Hines, 1st premium, " Best variety of Grass Seed, John Stafford, 1st fi premiumv
The Weekly Standard (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 24, 1855, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75