Front the National Intelilgeac"-
Ashtxixx. (N.rC) Octosw U 184a
GiiVtmc: A. you have recently been pub
li.S . "r.e. of litter, in relation tbtl pr
tHf the Alleghany rang, which i ,. ,
North Carolina, you may. perhaps, find nutter
fySiiS snbiect of this communication.
y purpose in m.kfng it is not only to present
iHiated paper, to atiraolate an inquiry as to
tvhetber ennifar phenomena have been observed
in any other parte of tbe Alleghany range.
A number of persona bad stated to me that at
different periode, witbin the recollection ot per
sons now living, a portion fa certain mountain in
Haywood county had been violently agitated and
broken to pieces. The first of these shocks re.
mem be red by any person whom I have seen, oc
curred just prior to the last war with England,
in the year, 1811 or 1812. Since then some half
a dosen or more have been noticed. The latest
occurred something- more than three years ao.
on a clear summer morning. These shocks have
usually occurred, or at Yeast been more frequent
ly observed, in calm weather. They have gen
erally been heard distinctly by persons in the town
of Waynesville, some twenty miles off. The
sound is described as resembling of distant thun
der, but no shaking of the earth is felt at that dis
tance. In the immediate vicinity of the mountain,
and for four or fire miles around, this sound is
accompanied by a slight trembling of the earth,
which continues as long as the sound lasts that
is, for one or two minutes. After each of these
shocks the mountain was found to be freshly rem
and broken in various places.
Having an opportunity afforded me a few diy.
since, I paid a visit to the locality, and devoted a
few hours to a hurried elimination. It is situated
in the northeastern section f Haywood county,
near the head of Fine's creek. The bed of the
little creek at the mountain is probably elevated
some twenty-six or seven hundred feel above the
level of the ocean. The valley of the French
Bread, at the Warm Springs, some fifteen miles
distant, is twelve hundred feet lower- They are
separated, however, by a mountain ride of more
than four thousand feet elevation above the Eea,
and there are high mountains in all directions a
round the localitv in question. The immediate
object of interest is the western termination of a
mountain awie nearly half a mile to the east ot
the bouse of Mr. Matthew Rogers. The top of
this ridge, at the place where it has been recently
convulsed, is some three or four hundred feet -bove
the creek; at its western extremity, but it
rises rapidly for some distance ta it goes off to
the eastward towards the higher mountain range.
Tbe northern side of this ridjje I had not time to
examine, but the marks of violence are observable
at the top of the ridge, and extend in a direction
nearly due sooth down the side of the mountain
four or five hundred yards, to a little branch ;
thence across it, over a fiat or gentle slope, and
up tbe side of the next ridge as far as I went, be-
in for three or four hundred yards. I he tract
- of irrannd examined bv me was perhaps half a
mile in length- from north to south. The breadth
of the surface subjected to violence was nowhere
more than two hundred yards, and generally rather
less than one hundred. Along this space the
ground has been rent in various pUces. The fis
sures or cracks most frequently run in a north
ern direction, and towards the tops of the moun
tains, but they are often at right angles to these,
and in -fact some may be found in all directions.
While some of them are so narrow as to be barely
visible, others are three or four feet in width.
The annual falling of the leaves and the washing
of the rains has filled them so that at no place
are they more than five or six feet in depth. A
long; this tract all the large trees have been
thrown down, and sre lyingrn various directions,
some of them six feet in diameter. One large
poplar, which stood directly over one of the fis
sures, was left open, and one-half of the trunk,
to the height of more than twenty feet, is still
standing. Though the fissures, which passed
directly under its centre, is not more than an
inch in width.it may be observed for nearly a
hundred yards. All the roots of trees which
crossed the line's fracture are broken. The
rocks are also cloven by these lines. The top of
the ridge, which seems orignally tohave been an
entire mass of granite, is broken in places. Not
la a a . . . 1
only have those masses ot rocs, which are cniet
ly uuder ground, been cleft open, but fragments
lying on the surface have been shattered. All
those persons who have visited it immediately
after a convulsion concur in saying that every
fallen tree and rock has been moved. Tbe smal
lest fragments have been thrown from their beds
as though they had been lifted np In confirma
tion of this statement I observed that a large
block of granite, of an oblong form, which, from
its size, must have weighed not lets than two
thousand tons, bad been broken into three pieces
of nearly equal size. This mass was I ji"g fosse,
ly on the top of the ground, in a place nearly
level, and there were no signs of its having rol
led nr slidden. The fragments were separated
only few inches, rendering it almost certain
that ithad been broken by a sudden shock or jar,
which did not continue long enough to throw tbe
pieces far apart.
Some parts of the surface of tbe eaith have sunk
down irregularly a few feet, other portions have been
raised. There are a number of little elevations or
hillocks, some of a few feet only in extent, and others
twenty and thirty yards over. The largest rise at
tbe centre to tbe height of eight or ten feet,
and slope gradually down ; some of these have been
urrounded on all aides by a fissore, which is not yet
entirely filled up. In some instances the trees on
their sides, none of them large, are bent considera
bly from the perpendicular, showing that they had
attained some size before the change of level took
place on the surface where they grow.
The sides of the mountain generally are covered
by a good vegetable mould, not particulsrly rocky,
and sustaining trees of large site. Bat along the
belt of con vulsion the rocks are much more abundant,
and there are only young trees growing, the elasti
city of which enabled them to stand daring the
shocks.
With reference to the mineral structure of the lo
cality, it may be remarked that that entire section
seems to constitute a bypogene formation. It con
sists of granites, gneiss, sometimes porphjritie. horn
blende rock, micaceous schists, clay slate, and various
other metumorphie strata. The nearest aqueous
,0ct lat I know of are the conglomerate s-md-st ones
and sedimentary limestone, in the vicinity of the
Warm Springs, fifteen miles distant in a direct line.
ii auy voicanic rock has been fonnd in hundreds of
miles i am not aware of it. The mountain itself bears
the meat indubitable marVa nfi.An; At-t. It
consists maialy of a grayish white granite, in which
proaominatea, but it is sometimes
rendered dark by an excess of mica in minute black
rXr ir WrU c ' therein small
rather irregular crystals. Some portions of the rock
W Vn!iJireTr,.lUtfcrinTii'i "early
equal proportions; the quarts, in eolor, frequently
approaching ash gray. In several rUcit I observed
that the granite was :t vertically byin8
translucent quart, of from one to six ineha iB thick
ness. There werealso lying in places on the srround
lamps of Common opaque white quart, intecte
by narrowveina not exceeding i an inch in thicVnes,
of speeuhTri iron, of the highest degree of briUhuev
and hardness that that mineral.! capable of pomes,
slag. It nay be remarked that there are, in differ
ent diraetiAba vSthta iwa mil nftVi 1ai:i. .
M-Wabls deponitea of magnetic iron ore. The
bteh I observed there possessing any a p.
. Cv,.. 7"Bcaitoa aeeoM to consist of mica,
lJSZXf1 f,w hours to remain there,
STKh r pother
PWlJ t but I have bo deubt but that
in ogv, fact, singular and interesting in thenri
LitlT h,',t .Un. bv means of your widely dis-
the predominating character of the formation Is such
as I have endeavored t describe it, and 1 b? been
thus minute in order that others may be able to
judge more accurately la relation to the cause of the
disturbances. .
Befare visiting the locality ' I supposed that the
phenomena might be produced by the giving way of
some part of the base of the mountain, so as to pro
duce a sinking or sliding of the parts ; but a moment s
.m;n.t;An a ihia noint. It not un-
mm.mtuiimivu na vu r . ,
frequently happens that aqueous rocks rest on beds
of clay, gravel, Ate, which may be removed from
underneath them by the action of running water or
other causes. Cavities are thus produced, anl it
sometimes happen that considerable bodies of secon
dary limestone and other sedimentary strata sink
down with a violent shock. This, however, is found
to be true only of such strata as are deposited from
water. But at the locality under consideration the
rocks are exclusively of igneous origin, and 1 may
add, too, of the class termed hypogene or 'nether form.
ed.n For though felspar and hornblende have been
found in the lower parts of some of the lavas, where
the mass had been objected to great prr.ure and
cooled slowly, yetquans and mica ha?e never been
found as consti tuents of any volcanic rock, not even
in the basaltic dikes and injected trap, where there
must have been a pressure equal to several hundred
stmospberes. It is universally conceded by geolo
gists that those rocks, of which these minerals con
stitute a crinairjal rxirt. have been nroduced at ere.it
depths in the earth where they were subjected to
enormous pressure during their slow cooling and
crystallisation. Prior, therefore, to the denodation
which has exposed these masses of granite to our
view, tbey must have been overlaid and pressed
down while in a Quid state by superincumbent strata
of great thickness and vast weight. It is not prob
able, therefore, that any cavities could exist, nor,
even if it were possible that such could be the case, is
it at all likely that a granite areh which once upheld
such an immense weight would in our day give way
under the simple pressure of the atmosphere; or,
even if we were to adopt improbable supposition that
the mass of granite composing this mountain had
been formed at a great depth below the present sur
face of the earth, and forced up bodily by plutoaic
action, there is as little reawn to believe that any
cavities could exist. In fact, they are never found
under granites. On looking at the surface of the
ground at this place there is no appearance to indi
cate any jreneml sinking of the mass. At the top
of the ridge, where the fractures are observable
across it, there is no variation in the slope of the
surface or depression of the broken parts. Imme
diately below it, where tbe mountain has great steep
ness, equal st least to an inclination of forty-five de
gress, where the line of fracture is parallel to the
direction of the ridge, the surface is sunk suddenly
ten or fin eeu feet. This state of thing?, however,
would inevitably be produced at such an inclination
by the force of gravity alone, causing the parts sep
arated by the shock to sink somewhat as they de
scend the mountain side. Lower down, where the
steepness is not so preat, the elevations rooeh exceed
the depressions. The same is true of the appear
ances on the south side of the branch, where the sur
face is almost level for several hundred yards ; and I
think that any one surveying the whole of the dis
turbed ground will be brought to the conclusion that
there has been a general upheaval rather than a de
pression, and that the irregularities now observable
are due to a force acting from below, which has
during the shocks uneqnlly raised different parts of
the surface. One of the earner geologist?, wbue
this science was in its infancy, would probably have
ascribed these phenomena to the presence under
neath the surface of a bed of pyrites, bituminous
shale, or some other substance capable of spontane
ous combustion, which hnd taken fire from being pen
etrated by a stream of water or some other acciden
tal cause. . If such a combustion were to take place
at a considerable depth below the surface, and should
to a considerable extent heat the strata above, they
would thereby be expanded and thickened so as to
be forced upward. Such an expansion, thongh it
would be less in granite than in some other strata
as shown by your fellow-townsman, Col. Totten,
would nevertheless, if the heated mass were thick
and the elevation of temperature considerable, be
sufficient to raise the surface as much as it appears
to hare been elevated ; such expansion, however, be
ing necessarily from its nature very gradual, would
not accoant for the various violent shocks nor for
the irregular action of the surface. On the other
hand, if the burning mass were near tbe surface, so
as to cause explosion by means of gases generated
from time to time, it is scarcely inconceivable that
such gases, while escaping through fissures of the
rock above, should fail to be observed, inasmuch as a
great volume would be necessary to supply the re
quisite amount of force, nor is it at all conceivable
that such a state of thiogs would not be accompanied
by a sensible change of temperature at the surface.
The difficulty in the way of such a supposition is
greatly increased when we consider the form of the
long narrow belt acted on. and from the recurrence
of the sudden violent shocks after long intervals of
quiet bach a hypothesis in fact I do not regard as
entitled to mere respect than another one which was
euggested to me at tbe place. As it has no other
merit tban that or originality, I should not have tho't
it worth repeating hut for the statement of fact made
in support of it. While I was observing the locali
ty, my attention was directed to an elderly man who
was gliding with a healthy step through the forest,
carrying on his left shoulder a rifle, and in his right
hand a small hoe, such as the diggers of ginseng use.
His glances, alternating between the distant ridges
and the plants about bis feet, showed that while
looking for deer he was not unmindful of. the wants
of tbe inhabitants of the Celestial Empire. On my
questioning him in relation to the appearance, be
said that he had observed them often after the dif
ferent shocks ; that the appearances were changed
each time nt the surface ;'that I ought to see it jut
after a shock, before the rain and leaves hid filled
the cracks, adding that it did u not show at all now.r
He expressed a decided opinion that the convul
sions were produced by sitter under the surface
On my remarking that thongh I knew thattbat met
al in the hands of men was an effective agent in
cleaving rocks and excavating the earth, yet I had
not supposed it could exert such an influence when
deeply buried under ground, he stated in support
of his opinion that one of his neighbors had on the
northside of the mountain found a spring hot enough
to boil an egg. He alse added that some three years
since he bad seen on tbe mountain, two miles to the
north of this one, but in the direction seemingly of
the line of force, a blazing fire for several hours, ris
ing up sometimes as high as the tops of the trees and
going out suddenly for a moment at a time at fre
quent intervals. He declared that at the distance
of a mile from where he was the brightness was suf
ficient to enable him to see small objects. Several
other persons in the vicinity I found subsequently
professed to have seen the same light from differ
ent points of view, and described it in a similar man
ner. As no one of them seems to have thought
enough of the matter to induce him to attempt to ap
proach the place, though some persons represented
that they had subsequently founda great quantity of
"cinder" at the poiat,- the statement of fact is not
perhaps entitled to more weight than tbe hypothe
sis it was intended to support.
- It is probable, however, that some difficulty will
attend any explanation that can be offered in rela
tion to the phenomena at this place. We know that
the elevation of the surface of the earth is at many
places undergoing a change, so gradual as not to be
ooservea at any one time. Some of tbe north-western
parts of Europe, for example, are experiencing
a slow vpkearal equal to five or six feet in a century,
while on the coast of Greenland the subsidence, or
depression, is such, that even the ignorant inhabi
tants have learned that it i not prndeet for them to
build their huts near the edge of the water. Simi
lar changes are observed in various other places, bat
they obviously bear no analogy to the facts under
consideration. Again, it is well known that earth
quakes from time to time agitate violently portions
of the earth's surface of greater or less extent ; that
while one fling le shock has permanently raised two
or thre feet the const of Chili for several bandred
t?t.w ,7 he elevated or depressed compare
tw -v"11 I0- u mrtly happens, However,
orelk fh.VWk U wfordbleaWn.polnt a. to
tacl Ia tJ!n'lj iuti for considerable dlZ
fr? half . iil IZZX however, the shock
granite of seemingly indefinite extent, and so quloCPT
and sudden as to displace the smallest fragments on
the surface: and yet at the houssof Mr. Rogers,
less than half a mile distant, a alight trembling only
is felt, not sufficient to excite alarm, while at the
distance of a few miles, though the sound is heard,
no agitation of the ground is felt. Should we adopt
the view of those whs maintain that all tbe central
parts of tbe earth are in a state of fusion, and that
violent movements of parts of the melted mass give
rise to the shocks which are felt at the surface, the
explanation of this and similar phenomena is still
not free from difficulty. Upon the supposition that
tbe solid crust of the globe has no greater thickness
than that assumed by Humboldt, some twenty-odd
miles, it would scarcely seem that such a crust, com
posed of roeky strata, would hare the requisite degree
of elasticity to propagate a violent shock to so small
a surface without a greater agitation of the sur
rounding parts than is sometimes observed. Vol
canic eruptions, however, take place through every
variety of strata; but these Volcanoes are rarely if
ever isolated ; oc the contrary, not only the volca
noes now active, but such as have been in a state of
rest from the earliest historic era, are distributed
along certain great lines of force, or belts, the lim
its of which seem to have been pretty well defined
by geologists. But I am not aware of there being
any evidence afforded of volcanic action, either in
recent or remote geological ages, within hundreds of
miles of this locality. Even if such exist beneath
the sea, it must be at least two hundred miles dis
tant. If then we attribute these convulsions to the
same causes which have elsewhere generated earth
quakes and volcanoes, it is probable that this is tbe
only point in the Alleghiny range thus acted on 7
i MMitatt nothing .in or tne una m. oeen,
I 4... .aa a - a I
l mm a .uun. Ull JU3U iu luc nutiu. 13 UJ uv uivua
' . 3 - I
conclusive, since the disturbances here have not on
ly been uu not iced by writers, but are even -unkown
to nine-tenths of those persons living within fifty
miles of tbe spot Is it then improbable that differ
ent points of the great mountain range are sensibly
acted on from year to year? It is true that this
may be the only locality affected. It might be sup
posed that there is at this place a mass of rock, sepa
rated wholly or partially from the adjoining strata,
reaching to a great depth, and resting on a fluid ba
sin, the agitation of which occasionally would give
a shock to this mass. Thongh such be not at all prob
able, yet it is conceivable that such a mass might
possess tbe requisite shape; and if at the top, in
stead of being a single piece, it should have a num
ber of irregular fragments resting on it below tbe
surface, then it might be capable of producing ine
qualities observable after each successive convulsion.
From the form, however, of the belt acted on, as
well as from other considerations, such a hypothesis
is only possible, not probable. It would perhaps
more readily be conceded that there was, in the solid
strata below an oblong opening, or wide fitsure, con
nected with the. fluid basin below, and filled either
with melted lava, or more probably with elastic gas,
condensed under vaet pressure, so that the occasion
al agitations below would be propagated to the sur
face at this spot. Or if we suppose that steam, at a
high heat, or some of the other elastic gaseous sub
stances, should escape through fissures from the
depths below, but have their course obstructed near
the surface, so as to accumulate from time to time,
until their force was sufficient to overpower the re
sistance, then a succession of periodic explosions
might occur. Such a state of things would be anal
ogous to the manner in which Mr. Lyell accounts
for the Geysers, or Intermittent Hot Springs, in
Iceland, except that the intervals between the ex
plosions in this instance are much greater than in
the other. It is easy to conceive that the shocks of
some former earthquakes may have produced the re
quisite condition in the strata at that place
Or, should we reject all such suppositions, it might
be worth while to enquire whether this and similar
phenomena may not be due to electricity 7 The o
pinion seems to have become general with men of
science, that there arw great currents of electricity
circulating in the shell of the globe, mainly if not
entirely in directions parallel to the magnetic equa
tor. The observations nd experiments of Mr Fox
have, in the opinion of a geologist so eminent as Mr.
Lyell, established the fact that there are electro
magnetic curObts along metalliferous veina Ta
king these things to be true, it may well be that the
electricity in iis passage should be collected and
concentrated along certain great veins. During
any commotion in the great ocean of electricity, the
currents along such lines, or rather where they are
interrupted, might give rise to sensible shocks
The exceedingly quick, vibratory motion, often ob
served on such occasions, seems analogous to some
of the observed e fleets of electricity. Jn the present
instance, the line ef force appears to coincide with
the direction of themagnetic needle. It is represen
ted that the sound accompanying the convulsions is
heard more distinctly at Waynesville, twenty miles
due South, than it is within two or three miles to
the east or west of the locality, seeming to imply
that tbe force may be exerted in a long line, though
it is more intense at a particular point. In adver
ting, however, to the manner in which the phenom
ena observed at this place, might possibly be accoun
ted for, it is not my expectation to be able to arrive
at their cause. One whose attention is mainly di
rected to political affairs, and who at most gets but
an occasion il glimpse of a book of science, ought
neither to assume, nor to be expected to accomplish
this. I have adopted the above mode of making sug
gestions as to the causes, solely to enable me to ex
plain the facts observed in a more intelligible man
ner than I could do by a mere detail of the appear
ances and events as narrated. Perhaps those whose
minds are chiefly occupied with tbe consideration
of such subjects, will find an easy solution of these
pbenomeua. Should this letter be instrumental in
eliciting information in relation to similar distur
bances elsewhere in the Alleghany range, then its
publication may answer some valuable purpose.
Very respectfully, yours,
T. L. CLING MAN.
Messrs. Galks &. Scatom.
X3T The following beautiful lines are from the
Louisville Journal !
Lady, a few cold words were only ours,
We met as strangers, and as strangers part.
I've gazed upon thee but a few brief hours,
And yet it seems a life-time to my heart!
I need not praise thee flattered as thou art
In the bright circle of thy radiant sphere.
I dare not praise thee lest my thought, should
start
In burning words thou woulda't not wish to hear!
Words that too oft perchance hav. met thy gentle
ear.
Bnt I may say farewell and dare to ponder,
Upon the low-breathed witchery of thy words,
And on the tones that o'er thy red lip wander.
Sweet as the melody of early birds.'
And oft imagination sweet and warm
Shall picture forth thine almost girlish face,
And the soft beauty of thy matchless form,
Whose every movement is a gliding grace 1
Yes! these within my heart forever shall have place !
Oh! thou whose songs can make the full heart flutter
In the sad bosom like a happy bird,
Whose looks reveal all that thy lips would utter,
Before those smiling lips hav. breathed a word !
The holy breathings of whose hearts ar. heard
Only by angels watching thy sweet dreams,
The holy stillness of whose heart is stirred
Only by seraphs troubling its sweet streams,
Forgive me if too wild ray admiration seems ! -
Forgive the boyish heart that dare, to fashion
Its wild and wsy ward thoughts by thine so long,
Thou glorious child of impulse and of passion
Thou burning Sappho in the reals of song,
Thou round whose heart such heavenly visions
throng,
Twould take an angel', tongue its blui to U1L
Thou unto whom such varied gift belong,
The woman1, witchery and the poet's spell
Of bight and holy thought forgive me and fare-
fi u " TT,or lcted to the Presidency, it
will be the first item of extra pay for forty year,
of the most devoted and glorious .erviees ever
tendered to any country LouisnlU Journal.
Gen. Taylor gain. 597 in Cass Co, Georgia.
the last loqk.
There are few in this World who have not lost
some dear friend, either linked to them by tbe
lies of blood, or by a pleasant cotnpauioiisb p
erwhrined in their hearts, and hallowed and held
sacred; by a true and disinterested affect on. Tbe
instietit tomb has robbed almost every one whotu
it has I spared, of some being on whom his eye
rested; with pleasure,, who so:tened for hurt the
aaperiues of life rough pathway, and into whose
bosom ilie poured his own Lean's rich treasures
feelings, confidence and love. They have seen
them drop and die gradually, perhaps. They
have seen the rose fade the fleah wastear-thtf
muscle's relax and the eye. grow lustreless, or
beam with that unnatural light whirh is some
times born of disease, and only tells of its pro
gress. 1 They have watched in grief and tears
the shirtings of feverthe slow sinking away of
life the hours of agony the day of quiet and
apparent convalesence the hopeless relapse
and the final triumph of death. They have paced
the roojrn where t ho poor body lay shrouded for
the grave, and where Death almost seemed
visibly ;prcsent, casting a shadow upon every wall
and object, and gaxed on the rigid form, the mar
ble aspect, the soulless, unspeaking features.
They have felt too, that deep oppression and
heartsickness which comes over every one upon
such an occasion, where the griro tyrant seemt
to be watching and gloating over his victim, and
the riot of decay is already beginning to be seen
All this has lacerated and crushed their hearts;
but, perhaps, tbe bitterest pang of all came with
i. Iook into the ,e, when ,he coffio h,d
U Li L
. , . . , - . j : m
k a a -. iiiiii.ml (k. lfittal rmipr fTnnjcicrnen to ILS
Ion?, dreamless rear, and the busy spade of tbe
sexton was throwing back the senseless earth
upon it; and hiding it forever.
During sickness, we have the object before
ui, wasted and sadly changed it may be, but
.till capable of communing with us, of apprecia
ting our kindness, of returning our love, and of
throwing a few rays of sun-light over the cloud
of our sorrow faint, indeed, yet .till enough to
gild its gatheriug gloom. There ie .till the old
smile running now and then over the feature.,
and lighting them up with something of their for
mer expression. The voice, too, though it is not
what it once was, falls upon our ear., and we
follow our friend with a .ort of lingering hope,
convinced of his doom, yet half looking for de
liverance, down to the very banks of death's river.
And even when that voice is huahed, and the last
s'ii!e has faded, when the bolt of doom ha. been
launched, and the wreck of mortality lies before
us. we somehow take a melancholy pleasure in
gazing-' at the expressionless features, and linger
in blind devotion at the shrine, though the deity
which hallowed it ha. departed !
But when we gaxe into the closing grave, we
feel that our friend is indeed gone and hidden
from us foi ever. He has made bis final exit from
the stage of life, the curtain has fallen, and we
shall see him no more, till we ourselves pas. be
hind the scenes.
We know that we can listen to hi. voice do
more breathing eloqnence in public, or cheerful
ness in the dailv intercourse of life. We can
never eaxe into his eyes again, flashing- with
genius; beaming with kindness, or shedding tears
for human sufferinir. e .hall meet him no
more in the busy crowd, or at the quiet fireside
The grave has received him. to it. remorseless
embrace, and his sensible presence i. lost to us
forever
All these thought, rush upon the mind at that
moment and .weep over the heart in a tempest
of wild' and bitter agony. The brightness of the
u.t bu renders the present more dark the future
more gloomy. The pinions of hope, though un
broken,: are wet and heavy with tears, and scarce
ly bear. the heart above the grave into whirh it
look., and where it idol lie.. Oh ! the laal look
into the grave of kindred, on the cherished com
companions of life, would, indeed, scarcely be
endaraWe, did not revelation assure u. of a re.
urrection, and whisper to our heart, the sweet
promise of immortality. God help the nun who.
at such' an hour, ha. no faith in that promise.
and believes all which wa. his friend i. thence
forth nothing but duet ! Infidelity shrinks away
from the grave, offering no consolation to her
barren creed, and nothing but Christianity can
throw anv light upon the burial hour, and the
renting place of the dead.
COLD WINTER IS COMING
Cold winter ia coming take care of your toesj
Gay Zephyr has folded bis fan,
His lances are couch'd in the ice-wind that blows,
So mail up as warm as you can.
Cold winter is eoming he's ready to start,
From his home to the mountains afar;
He is shrunken and pale, he looks froxe to the heart,
And snow-wreaths embellish bis ear :
Cold winter is coming there breathes not a flower,
Though sometimes the day may pass fair!
The soft lute is removed from tbe lady's lorn bower
Lest it coldly be touched by the air.
i
Cold winter is coming all stript are th. grove.
The passnge-bird hastens away ;
To the lovely blue South, like the tourist, he roves,
And returns like the sunshine in May.
Cold winter is coming he'll breathe on the stream,
And the bane of his petrifie breath,
Will seal up the waters, till, in the moon-beam,
They lie stirless, as slumber of death !
Cold winter is coming and soon .hall we see
On the panes, by that genius Jack Frost,
Fine drawings of mountain, stream, tower and tree,
Framed and gated too, without any cost.
Cold winter is coming ye delicate fair,
Take care when your hyson you sip ;
Drink it quick ; and don't talk, lest he come unaware,
And turn to ice on your lip.
Cold winter is eoming I charge you .gain
Muffle warm of the tyrant beware
He's so brave, that to strike the young hero he', fain,
He'. Mbold he'll not favor the fair.
Mi '
Cold winter is coming I've said so before '
It seem. Ive not much to My ;
Yes, Winter is coming, and Geo help the poor!
I wish itrwsi going away.
LACONIC CORRESPONDENCE,
hi P0LJ5T TO CASS.
i Washington, Not. 7, 1848.
Sir On behalf of th. Democracy, I have th. hon
or to request your presence at the White House, on
the 4ih of March.
. ! i With high consideration,
! i J. K. POLK.
CASS TO POLK.
Sir I thank you for your polite -letter ineitina
me to visit 'the White House on the 4th of March
next, and: regret to say that CITCUMSTANCES-
win prevent my being present on that occasion.
11 Respectfully yours,
I ! LEWIS CASS.
I . TO THE HUSBAND.
Sneak kindly to her. Little dost thou know
W hat utter wretchedness, what hopeless wo
Hang on those bitter words, that stern replj,
Tbe cold; demeanor and reproving eye.
The death-steel pierces not whb keener dart
Than unkind words in woman's trusting heart.
The frail being by thy side is of finer mould:
keener ber sens, of pain, of wrong greater her love
of tenderness. How delioately tuned her heart;
each ruder breath upon its strings complains in low
est note, bi sadness, not heard, but felt. It wear,
away her life like a deep under current, whilst tbe
fair mirror of the changing surface given not one
igh of wo. i
RAIBIGH REGISTER.
Ours are the plana of fair delightful peace,
Unwarp'd by party rage to live like brothers.
RALEIGH. N. C.
Wednesday Morning. November 22, 1848.
07" Persons desirous of subscribing for
the REGISTER, daring the ensuing Session
of the Legislature, can do so at the follow
ing rates, payable, of course, in advance :
Semi Weekly Paper, 1 00
Weekly do. 50
It is evident that the eoming Session will be an
exciting and important one. The Editor will en
deavor to furnish full and accurate Report, of its
Proceedings.
STATE LEGISLATURE.
Monday last being the day fixed by law for the
biennial meeting of the Legislature of North Caroli
na, the members of both branches assembled at the
Capitol at 3 o'clock, P. M. for the purpose of organ
ization. Not only were the Members unusually
Dunctual in their attendance, (every member of
both House, being present, except Mr. Flemming,
Commoner from Yaney, he having resigned his seat,)
but th. lobbies and galleries were crammed with
spectators, called there to witness the organization
of the two Houses, with parties more nearly bal
anced than was ever before known, we believe, in
North Carolina.
The Senate was called to order by Henry W.
Miller, Esq. Principal Clerk at the last Session, and
the Senator, were .worn in by Wm. Thompson, Esq
a J ustice of the Peace for Wake County 50 Sena
tors the whole number answering to their names.
After which, Mr. Gilmer moved that the Sen
ate proceed to th. election of a Speaker, and
nominated for that station -that sterling, veteran,
Whig, Col. Andrew Joyner, of Halifax. The name
of Calvin Oraves, Esq. (Loco) of Caswell, was ad
ded to the nomination by Mr. Ashe, of New Han
over. The Senate then proceeded to vote, when the
Clerk announced the following as the result :
For Andrew Joyner 24
For Calvin Graves 24
Messrs. Joyner end Graves not voting.
There being no election, on motion of Mr. Halsey,
the Senate proceeded to ballot again, with the same
result; when Mr. Ashe moved an adjournment till
tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, and the Senate ad
journed accordingly.
The House of Common, was called to order by J.
R. Dodge, Esq. Reading Clerk at the last Session.
A quorum appearing, Tho. G. W hi taker, Esq. ad
ministered the usual oaths of qualification ; which
tedious business being over,
Mr. Stanly, of Beaufort, proposed the name of
Robert B. Gilliam, (Whig) or Granville, as Speak-
er, and Mr. Courts, of Rockingham, added to the
nomination, J as. C. Dobbin, of Cumberland ; when,
the House proceeded to vote a. follows:
For Gilliam 59
For Dobbin 58
Mr. Gilliam voted for Mr. Ferrebee, and Mr.
Dobbin for Mr. Courts. 119 members having vo
ted, and it requiring 60 to elect, the Clerk announ
ced that there was ne choice ; when a second ballot
ing ensued, resulting as did the first, with the ex
ception that Mr. Gilliam did not vote at all.
The Horn, then adjourn edio Tuesday, at 10
o'clock.
Both House, met on yesterday morning, pursuant
to adjournment. Several balloting, were had in
each, for Speakers, but both Houses adjourned to
Wednesday morning, without being able to elect.
Upon the Democrat, of the Legislature rest. th.
responsibility of tbi. delay and obstruction to leg
islation. They refuse to concede to the Whigs the
Speaker of the Senate, an Officer who, in tbe event
of the death of th. Governor, become, the Execu
tive of the State! We ask i. this fair i. it just?
At the recent Presidential Election, the Whig Can
didate received the vote oMhe State by a majority
exceeding 8,000 and in warm and aetiv. contest.
forGovernor.the Democrats have failed,ever since tbe
People had tbe .election of the Executive, to secure
that Officer forheir party, by from 800 to 8,000
votes. And veL V the face of these facts, availing
themselves of tbrjwwer accidentally gained, th.
Democrats in the Senate are endeavoring to foist
and force upon the People, ia the event of a contin
gency, that which they have over and over again re
pudiated and refused, vis : a Loco Foco Governor I
What justice, what magnanimity is there in such
conduct? We call upon the Peoplr to mark well
the course of these scoffers of the popular will
some of whom represent strong Whig Districts, and
put the seal of their reprobation upon those who
would thus trill, with their wish land will. .
In th. House of Commons, also, the failure of an
organization is occasioned by the Democrats, In
consequence of the resignation of Mr. Flemming,
there are 119 member, of the House, of which num
ber, th. Whigs have 60, and the Democrats 59
leaving the Whigs with 1 majority. In elsctinr
speaker, 60 votes constitute a majority, if nil pre
sent vote. After the 1st balloting. Mr. Gilliam, tbe
Whig candidate for Speaker, has declined voting,
and had Mr. Dobbin, the Democratio candidate,
done so also, the Whig, would hav. had the power
to havechossn Speaker, and thu. proceeded at onee
to further business. But with unbecoming pertin
acity Mr. D. .till continues to vote, and thus pre
vents the first advancement to an organization. Saeh
conduct cannot tail to receive, as it justly merits,
the disapprobation or th. eanaia reopie of the Old
North State.
Ofldal Vote of Worth Carolina.
The official Returns from all the Counties Is the
State have been received at the Executive Office,
and the vote stands thus, (Taney County excepted.
oa account ef Mine informality in the return) :
aayior, 435,0
Ci 54,86
8,650 majority.
Add Yancy, for Taylor 31 snajority,
MaWng Taylor mjority, 8,681!!!
IMPOIITAWCE of era tATE
In regarding tbe pernicious and corrunt
policy that has characterixed the "t
the present Executive, we are without word i f
press tbe high gratification we feel at the '
the Ute Presidential RWHa ; Wlllt Of
. , mm,
vujurinj. us j. .
in our humble inftm . 1 a.
benefit to the Connr Th. rw.- . "at
buvu gicat any
j, . . . . JW -"vcratic
Cat
T, rcbineiea as to his official acts, in the
his election, by the blind requirements of
riaworm, waa pledged to follow in the footst
his predecessor, and imnrovo ;r f
anti-Republican tendencies of his adminis
We need not stop here to animadvert at any l'011"
upon those for enongh ha. been passing Zf
our eyes, to convince every candid mind tW T
Government .arrayed against the People aJ ,
so far from extending the hand of parental
tion over them, It ha. been engaged Ja dS
achemcs to control public opinion, and force r
channels favorable to itself. The Inst f0P po 1B,
place has been allowed to override and mLA?
considerations of a conservative and liberal cfc
ter. The concentration of an unlimited Bow '
the hands of a single individual has aLJ?
progress of peacefnl Legislative supremacy
spirit of conquest has been diffused abroad tl ' I
the delusive agency of inflamatory appeal, 1
nourtred patriotism ; the disgraceful interfe"
office-holders in the freedom of Election ZlZ'S
so far es such influences extended, a gross t
sion of the original design of our GovernmenT"
Such tendencies and such practises allowed that Z
ertine range, which they would doubtless attain dn
ring another four years of such mal-administration
would render Republican professions but an tm
show of words, and the name of Freedom a mocW
and a reproach. Its early founders, restored for ,
while t the contemplation and study of earth
things, could then never realize in the shatter
fragments and disordered remains of our Constita
tional fabric, the Republic of their aims, theCoun
try of their aspirations. But thanks to tbe intelli!
gence and patriotism of an enlightened People and
the ordaining of a wise, overruling Providence, the
immediate oppressions under which we labor, md
the prospective evils which threaten the Land'htT,
been arrested and prevented, by the happy of
the late Presidential Election.
In Gen. Tatlox, we have a Chief Magi,tru
bound to no other system of administration than that
dictated by the conscientioua exercise of a sound
judgment. Thus far he is pledged -to shape the
policy of the Government by the standard of our'
earlier administrations, and to eonform as nearly at
possible to the Republican usages, doctrinei and ex
ample, of our earlier Presidents. They who re,
pose faith in the sincerity of the man, and lore tho.
good old days of simplicity and integrity, hare,
therefore, great and just cause for congratnlatioa
at this auspicious crisis while those who aredii
trustful or akepticaL need but calmly await the it
sue. of the next four years. Surely, he who thinks
with Washington, that we should never (avaricious
ly) " quit our own, to stand on foreign soil" with
Jefferson, that the undue interference of Government
stipendiaries with the free exercise of the elect
franchise, i. dangerous and totally hostile to the spir
it of our institutions he who reprobates, with Mad.
ison, the idea of an Administration's wielding its
immense patronage with a view to perpetuate itself
he, finally, who entertain, such enlarged and con
servative views of the design of our Constitution,
must truly make, what for so many years we ban
needed a RxruBLiCAM Pmcsmsirr. We firmlv be.
lieve that the golden age of our country is to return
again!
With proper forbearance, then, upon ..the part ef
our adversaries with their co-operation with the
co-operation of all good and patriotic men, we pre
dict and look forward to a peaceful and. prosperous
future, A countrj elevated far beyond the grovel
ling lust for extension and power Aggressive only
in its effort, against injustice and corruption look
ing inwardly to the welfare of its People, and not .
beyond the horizon's scope for Utopian schemes of
territorial enlargement ; this is the model Republic ,
to which our hopes are directed, and to which our
confident expectations tend.
INTERESTING CEREMON?.
The ceremony of the return of the Flag of the
North Carolina Regiment, by Col. Paw, to the
Governor of the State, came off on Monday) last, it
1 o'clock. There was quite a concourse of person!. ;
assembled.
CoL Pains, supported by the CoL of the 35th
Regiment aud the officers of the Cossacks and Ring
gold Artillery, delivered the Colors into the hands
of the Adjutant General, to be deposited in the Mil
itary Archives of the State. His remarks were brief,
appropriate and feeling. He paid the Regiment the
highest commendation for their good order, excel
lent discipline, and patience under the rigid duties
incident upon Camp-life. . '
The response of Gov. Gbabam, was most happy.
He alluded to the uncertain chances under which
our brave Volunteers inarched into the enemy?
Country spoke with pride of the reputation of the
Regiment for efficiency and discipline, and concluded
by highly and deservedly complimenting Colonel
Pains, for his individual exertions in elevating th.
character of his Regiment The applause which
followed this Address of Gov. Gbahah's, but re
echoed bis own sentiments in pronounceing CoL
Pains an able, sealou. and gallant Officer.
It will be wen, by reference to tbe Got
ernor. Proclamation in another column, that behft
summoned the Electoral College to convene in this
City, on Wednesday, the 6th of December.
K7- It commenced Snowing In this City on Sat
urday evening last, and continued until &t7
morning, covering the earth several inches. ,
Oy'We can bear testimony to the excellency on
the many delicacies to be found at tbe Establishmtot j
of Mr. Jown Kank, having had ocular and feeling,
demonstration at our Sanctum, yesUrdsy morniuft
to justify as In recommending them to the Epic"
See his Advertisement in this Paper.
Alkxandkia, Nov. 179 P. M
We have full return, from all tbe counties ia Vir
ginia but 11, in which Polk had 60 majority ortt
Clay, which leave. Taylor, according to our esti'
mate but 443 to overcome to carry tbe State.
A dispatch received here from Richmond, infoB,
us that if is reported there, originating in the
tive Chamber, that aU the returns have been reced
ed, and that Taller, majority in the State is