POLITICAL,.
LETTER FROM MIL, WEBSTER.
MarshneIdrApril 15, 1851.
To Messrs. George C Smith r Caleb Ed
dy, Asa Swallow, Uriel Crocker, and
. others, of Boston.
Gentlemen I duly received vour let
ter of the 11th of this month, and had ful
ly made up rny mind to comply with your
invitation ; for, although I have entertain
ed no purpose of discussing further, at pres
ent, the political questions which have so
much agitated the country, yet I could not
deny myself the pleasure of meeting you
and your fellow citizens,- for mutual con
gratulation upon an escape, so far, from
dangers which, one year ago, so seriously
threatened the very existence of our na
tional institutions j and upon the prospect
of an early return, in all parts of the coun
try, of feelings ofgood will and reciprocal
regard.
But the newspapers of th is afternoon in
form me that the Board of Aldermen have
refused your request for the use of Faneuil
Hall. I care nothing for this personally,
except that it deprives me of the gratifiea-
don of seeing yon. ; although if I suppos
ed that the general voice of the people of
Boston approved this proceeding, it would
I confess, cause me the deepest regret.
The resolution denying you the Hall has
been adopted, if 1 mistake not, by the
s,ame Board which has practically refused j
io join witn the other branch of the City
Government by offering the hospitalities of
ine city to .President t'lllmore.
Gentlemen, for nearly thirty years
have been in the service of the comit.iv
by the choice of the people of Boston and
the appointment of the Liegjslatureof Mas
sachusetts. My public conduct throusrh
the whole of that long period, is not un
known, and I cheerfully leave it to the
judgment of the country, now and here
after. ."
Since the. commencement of March of
last year, I have done something and haz
arded much, to uphold the Constitution of
the united btates, and to maintain inter
ests ot tne most vital importance to the
citizens of Boston. And I shall do more
and hazard more, whenever, in my judg
ment, it becomes necessary that more be
done, or more be hazarded. I shall per
form, with unflinching perseverance, and to
the end, my duty to my whole country ,-
MR. BcfctiAKAN.-The Richmond Whig I WHIG MEETING IN UGNOIR
hnely touches off this ancient Federalist, A. . . ,
but modern Democrat, who has lately hied tJll f r"scftabl,e P?
to come the game of flattery over the Vir- felF of lfSD. Tr
mmano Tt . uL o-.... Court House m Kmston, the fo
Fatdv lece Preamble ad solutions were adopted,
who call themselves "th Central Snihpm
Rights Association of Virginia," an invita- Whereas, The period is approaching
tionto Visit Richmond :whereto hereolied wnen tne choice of a representative fortius
in judicious terms of prostration to the old Congressional District must be made ; And
local sods, whom hp. sn liitl relieved in whereas, our late able and distinguished
when thev were new nnd whom. lw iru representative, the Hon. Edward Stanly
poses still the idols of Virmnin. Mr. Rnrh. Mias nifule known his determination to with
anan is one of thnsf who. if tbir hr, f tu"aw irom puouc ute : l bererore.
. . . J --'""v n 7 j mt..
travel to Kphesus. begin ciying '-Great is . ."t- mai we concur in rne opin
Diana !" before thev bnvA flmnn tir ion expressed by other counties of this Di
booLs. strict, that a Whiff Convention should be
He is consulted "in regard to tlie best ,neI(J at Washington, at suck time as may
means to be adopted in the present alarm- oe aeemect most advisable, by a majority
i inr i-icio - ' n n I, I . . 7 1 jr.
nor do I, m the slightest degree, fear the
result. Folly and fanaticism may have
their hour. They may not only affect
the minds of individuals, but the' may al
so seize on public bodies, of greater orless
dignity. But their reign is destined to be
short, even where, for the moment, it
seems most triumphant. We, of Massa
chusetts, are not doomed to a course of po
litical conduct, such as would reproach
our ancestors', destroy our own prosperity,
and expose us fo the derision of the civi
lized world. No such future is before us.
Far otherwise. Patriotism, the union of
good men, fidelity to the Constitution in
all its provisions, and the intelligence which
has hitherto enabled the people of this
State to discern and to appreciate their own
political blessings, as well as what is due
to their own '.'history and character, will
bring them back to their accustomed feel
ings of love of country, and of respect and
veneration for its institutions.
I am, gentlemen, with the most sincere
regard, your obliged friend, and very obe
dient sen ant, '..DAN T.i. WERSTER.
Mk. Fillmore Administration-.
The test to which the present Administra
tion ha3 been subjected was one of the most
trying in our political history. Had the ad
ministiation faltered in its gocd purposes,
or had it for one moment listened to the
voice of faction, or had i(7 condescended
to do only what it fancied would be of
value to ihe. party which sustains it, then
it would not deserved, and neither would
it have received, half as much of the uni
ted approbation of tlie people. But, with
an e'e single to the public good, it has
pursued an onward upward course, and,
without being intent on pleasing any par
ticular class of men, it has succeded in
winning the admiration of a vast majority
or the people ol all sections. It has proved
itself to be fully equal to the occasion in
the most perilous crisis through which our
country has been compelled to pass.
That the conduct of the Administration
should be a source of just pride to the
vv htgs is. what was naturally to be expected
The Whigs of the United States generally
we think, regard Mr. Fillmore and hi:
Cabinet Ministers as eminently worthy of
the high trusts which have been confided
to them. Further than tin's, the Whiffs
point admirably to the Administration in
illustration of Whig principles, and as af
fording the best practical commentary on
the spirit tind doctrines of the Whig party
They think, very properly, that tlie selec
tion of Mr. Fillmore, by the National Con
vention in 1848 for Vice-President was a
blessing. He is a thorough Whig in feel
ing and principle, and yet he has not been
so warped by political prejudice as to be
incapable of entertaining those broad na
tional views in which partizan bitterness is
swallowed up in all engrossing patriotism.
He is able, honest, inflexibly just, a pat
riot without sectionalism, and a statesman
without any narrow partvism. And his
coadjutors in the Cabinet are worthy to be
associated with him. Each one of" them
in his seperate sphere of duties has proved
himself to be entirely adequate to the sta
tion he occupies. There has been very
little complaint made by Democratic mem
bers of Congres3 or by Democratic editors
of the manner in which the business of the
Departments of the Government has been
conducted during the presidency of Mr.
Fillmore. Louisville Jour.
inr crisis : and, as lie is consulted from
Virginia, it very naturally occurs to him
that mere can be no remedy which so ex
actly hits the case as tbe old Virginia phys
ic of the doctrines of '93 -the Kin-cure-
all of every ill that flesh . political has had
in this State, for the last fifty years. A
few drops of '98 or perhaps a pill or a pow
der or two of tlie errand universal social
specific will, he is sure, make a cure, radi
cal, rapid and everlasting, of "the present
alarming crisis. "
Ah, rather simple that meant it to be sly,
Mr. Buchanan ! You thoifght this a fine
stroke of policy, did you?--. You said to
yourself "I'll tickle that queer old curiosity,
Virginia, tlie "mother of Statesmen" and
widow of Strict Construction, until her sus
ceptible old heart shall fairly dance a jig
in her. She has, for half a century, break
fasted, dined, supped, slept, awaked, upon
Madison's Report and Taylor's Resolu
tions. They have been meat, drink, clothes,
and money to her. They have filled her
head and emptied her pockets. 'She has
had them for her food : she has had them
for her physic. I'll prescribe them -: they
are the stuff for her, sick oi well. If she's
fondof anything, she must be of them ; and
they'll make her fond of me !"
Alas, sweet insinuator ! somewhat anti
quated gay deceiver ! thou swain of sixty !
thou tempting spark to. thin ultra-sexagen
of die Whigs of tlie District, for the pur
pose ot nominating a gentleman to repre
sent this, tlie 8th Congressional District,
in the next Congress of the United: States,
and that delegates from this county should
be sent to said Convention.
Resolved, That the Hon. Edward Stan
ly has merited the approbation of his con
stituents, for the patriotic and conservative
course pursued by bun, m the late Con-
rrrnco nf tKa Qtnnn
Resolved, That the series of measures
passed by the recent Coneress of the Unit
ed estates, known as the "Compromise,
are Constitutional in their nature, benefi
cial in their operation, and absolutely ne
cessary to the fcouth, to secure the free ex
ercise of her rurhts.
Resolved, That the repeal of the Fu
gitive Slave Law, or the modification there
of, in any of its essential provisions, would
be an act ot gross injustice to the South,
and would be well calculated to disturb
the tranquility which that Law was in
tended to effect.
Resolved, That no gentleman opposed
to the spirit and operation of said "Com
promise," will truly represent the feelings
and wishes of the Whigs of Lenoir Coun-
'y-
Rcsolved, That in President Fillmore,
we have an Executive Officer, who has
been prompt and efficient in the discharge
. . . - . ' J lir I TC 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 " rl 1 t . ,-. . . ...... .. I .
arv dames! thou has mistaken a drug for , , , S,uul.'y imuw,
a dainty. There's such a thing as sur- taat. -f he lias received, as he has
feit. Other practitioners about as honest in,"b the r cordial .approbation of the
and as cunning as thyself have been before I ' f V , lue pe0Ple 01 llie &outn' and
thee, and plied the noor fantastic natient's 01 "ie V101e country
x i r
infirmity with an endless quantum sif 'of
the same elixir of folly, until she loathes it,
and sweats and trembles at the very same !
Were the resolutions of '9S actual
cakes and custard, thinkest thou, oh most
arch' of political purvevers ! that folks for-
" Resolved, That Ave will use all honora
ble exertions to elect the nominee of the
Convention. '
Historical Discoveries. A" corres
pondent of the New York Herald, writing
ever crammed with them bv cook Ritchie irom "ie city otKome, on the 4th of March,
and all the one-dish scullions would never anno"nccs, that very recently there have
get cloyed : . uuc" "iscovereu a numoer oi manuscripts,
K . M.s.mmtmnr.i - sro c,u 1 unuctieu wan me eaiiy history ot
eternal simpletons as we have seemed to country, which will throw much light up
be : not so senseless but that we can see 011 wh:it has heretofore been buried in ob-
A Singular Call A lady in Cam
bridge died on Wednesday last, so the phy
sicians said, and was laid lor burial in her
winding sheets, but from the fact that the
body still retained an apparent warmth,
though there was not the slightest appearr
ance of respiration, interment was suspend
ed. Yesterday, (Sunday) the lady open?
ed her eyes and called on her Lu&band,
"Albert, give rne spnie water."'
- Boston MaU.
that tlie more we have taken of this State
patent medicine, the sicker we have gotten .
It is like that physician mentioned bv Boil-
eau, at the mere sight of whom every cold
turned to consumption, and what wr.s mere-
y blue deyils became -a fixed frenzy.
Could it cure any thiiiij", how should we
ever be ailing? For wc have been dosed
with it ever since we were born.-
Yet again, thou .Esculapius of govern
ments ! consider! The disease, the "alarm
ing crisis," to prescribe for which this loy
al Central Southern Rights Association
las called thee in, is Disunionisin, Seces
sion. And surely the oddest of all reme
dies for that is Madison's Report. Every
body knows that s what originally gave us
the malady. V V ouldst thou heal , like Hah
nemann, with nothing but what, if we
were whole, would give us the precise dis
ease : We have a cracked skull ; and
thou wouldst knock us cn the head for it :
we have a creak in tho neck ; and thou
wouldst hang us. for it!'
(Grr.ce Greenwood, otherwise known
as Miss Sarah J. Clarke, a voting lady of
somewhat piquant style, but who in default
of being able to procure a husband, is some
what prone to Abolitionism, communicates
her impression of the poet Tuppcr , in the
following extract of a letter addressed to the
National Era:
-IJiave had a slight acquaintance with Mr.
Tuppcr, the poet and proverbial philosopher.
From his personal appearance, you would
scarcely pick him out of a crowd as one
likely to distinguish himself in Solomon's
particular line. He is more genial than
grave, and a stranger might expectfromhim
more wit than wisdom. He is a small, neatly-dressed
gentleman, wih the frankest and
easiest of manners, and the rosiest and
smilingest of faces bright-eyed and curly
headed quick in movement, and not slow
in speech. He lias none of the stiff-crafted
and hauteur, gruffness, and arrogance of an
ordinary John Bull not he 4)ut comes to
us as to his kindred or at least as a gracious
noble might meet his foster brothers and
sisters, more affectionately than proudly.
He greets America with the warmest feel
ings apparently; and if he has ever had any
illiberal prejudices against us, they now
seem drowned in a tide of more generous
sentiment. A short time since while look
ing over some prints with a young friend, I
came upon one of the Iron Duke. Said
Miss , "I once had a great prejudice
against Wellington, as the conquerarof my
favorite' hero ; but I have a particular friend
who quite adores him." Of course I could
do nothing less than express to the lady my
hope that F. M.the Duke would reciprocate
her affection.
But there will be no queston of reciproci
ty in this case, if Mr. Tupper's friendliness
be genuine, as we have no reason to doubt
that it is. He has many hearty admirers in
this country many to whom the benevo
lent spirit of his genius has long ago con
mended him. In social circles he will
doubtless be a favorite, he is an agreable and
a handsome man. The potrait in Butler's
illustrated edition of "Proverbial Philoso
hpy" is quite like; butlhave it from the po
et himself that in the picture of Albary, his
residence, there are one or two chimneys
wanting, or one top many I unfortunately I
forget which.
scunty. These manuscripts, so far, com
prise twenty-five packages or volumes.
Mr. Cass, our Minister, accidenlly discov
ered one of these volumes, and has follow
ed up the examination, which has resulted
in the above discovery. The "principal col
lection belongs to the manuscript library of
the Dominican Monks, and is contained in
well-arranged parcels, sewed up in vellum
covers, (probably about the time they were
written,) each containing materials for a
large volume.
The result, thus far, has induced Mr Cass
to extend the examination to the archives
cf the Vatican, with hopes of making im
portant additions. Each volume has not
been thoroughly examined ; but enough
has been ascertained to say that they com
prehend the early reports made by the mis
sionaries of the Spanish, French and Ital
ian nations, and have reference to the Can
adasj the Valley of the Mississippi, and
Florida indeed to the whole territory,
which surrounded the thirteen original States
of our Union. The author of one of these
volumes, or manuscripts, accompanied
De Soto for two years in his expedition
through Florida and along the banks of the
Mississippi, and will no doubt furnish us, in
the simple language of an eye wi' iess,with
a correct detail of the discoveries i. ad adven
tures of one in relation to whom so much of
the strange and marvellous has been written.
In other volumes there is a series of letters
by Padre Vitellis, a priest attached to the
band of La Salle, that child of chivalry, as
he Avas called, who traversed the Canadas
imougiioui uieir enure extent, and a por
tion of our Northwestern country. In the
researches and investigations which have
been made in European libraries by Irving,
Prescott, Sparks, and others, no such im
portant acquisitions have been made for the
elucidation of our history, as these manu
scripts. '. "'"',' ;-.. '.,.'
It is hoped that these manuscripts will be
thoroughly examined and brought to light.
They will no doubt elucidate fully the long
period of sixty-five years,during which time
the French held possession cf Mobile, and
the interior of Alabama and Mississippi a
period that is now involved in almost total
darkness. Mobile Register.
Cotton Factory Burnt. The Cot
to Factory at Franklinsville owned by tfie
Kantiolph Manufactunng Company, on
Saturday evening last, ivas consumed by
file. The fire was first discovered about
nine 0 clock at nisrht, in the dressing room
which f oom was in the upper stoiy of the
building. In a short time the flames were
communicated to the roof whereupon it be
came evident that no effort could arrest their
progress. Money and goods belonging to
tne company were saved, but the machin
ery, being fastened to the building, was de
stroyed with it. No other buildings were
burnt.'. .
ve nave not hearu that any one pre-
lenas to Know, or even conjecture, th3 on
gm of the fire. The loss of tlie Company
is very heavy, the original cost of the estab
lishment being upwards of thirty thousand
dollars. The walls of the building were
brick, but the falling in of heavy burning
tmihers leit them in a ruined slate. No
part of tlie establishment was insured.
Since writing the above, we Icam that
only a part of the yarns were saved.
Herald.
Tub Wheat Crop. We receive fa
vorable reports from the wheat crop in the
eastern portion of North Carolina. It is re
presented to be very promising, and unless
blighted before harvest, we may expect an
abundant yield. The farmers have also
finished planting com, and much of it is al
ready up and growing finely. Thus far the
seasons have been favorable for agricultural
purposes.
I he accounts from different parts of
Pennsylvania.' say that tlie growing wheat
never presented a more promising apjear
ence than at die present lime.
1 he Cleveland (Ohio) Herald says that
the wheat crop throusrh the counties of
Wayne, Stark, Holmes, Tuscarawas and
Mahoning never looked better at this seas
on of the year than now. It has occasion-
aly been a little more rank, but without ex
ception of a single field, it is looking strong
and beautifully, '.',-.'
A Great.. Passage. "Hurrah for
tiik uollins LiiNE ! burst spontaneous-
v from a thousand voices this mornin".
when it was known that the "Pacific." in
nine days and twenty hours, had crossed the
Atlantic. It gave full as much gratification
to the public as if a great battle had been
gained in Mexico, on the frontier, or on the
ocean." ...:
And why should it not? It is a great
victory for our mechanics, our ship-yards.
our iron and steam foundries, our engineers,
our mechanics, in general for our common
country. Such victories are bloodless, but
far more important for pur prosperity than
if five thousand men had been killed, and
ten or fifteen thousand wounded.
New York Expi-ess 19i.
The New Democracy. It was old-
fashioned Democratic doctrine that an ab
solute acquiescence in the will of the ma
jority is the vital principle of republics.
1 his is good Whig doctrine. It will be
seen, however, by reference to the proceed
ings of the New York Senate, that a new
Democratic pruiciple has been established.
I lie received "Democratic" notion is that
ou are to pay no attention to the will of
the majority, but that you are to defeat any
unpalatable legislative measure by reading
it to death, as Mr Soule and Mr. Clem
ens did with tlie River and Harbor bill.;
If that fail, the sovereign panacea is resig
nation. Turn every thing upside down
let chaos reign again but defeat the ma
jority' M all hazards, and let the "minority "
rule "to the last extremity." This is the
new-light Democracy. Rejnibha
The Ohio State Journal, a paper politi
cally friendly to Judge IVade, the newly
elected IT. S. Senator from Ohio, states
positively that the new Senator, who has
been considered an ultra free-soiler, ad
mits the constitutionality of the fugitive
slave law defends the President for hav
ing signed it, and declares that it must be
executed in full while itexists.
RALEIGH TIMES.
iiiiiiiJIM
f-r-iYtvtM"r 1 g - . .-a
-- -!-., -A3, .-El,,,
11 A LEIGH , N. C
FRIDAY APRIL 25, 1651.
It
OUR NEW DRESS. We send out the
Times this week in its enlarged form and
new dress. We trust its friends will be
pleased with its appearance. It has been
delayed one day, in consequence of the ad
- V 1 1 .
uonai moor required to put it in its present
shapej but that will not occur ncain.
No new declaration of principles need be
made by 11s. We love tlie Union and shal
labor for its preservation we glory in th
title ot anJmericaitlxen. North Carolina
gave us birth, and for her honor and prosperity
we shall always feel the deepest solicitude
and contribute our best exertions to promote
spirit of improvement and progress
is believed that the Times is a Whig paper,
and it is known that it supports the present
Administration.
As to our State policy. we favor the call
Convention to amend our State Consitu
tion, as the only true Republican mode, and
shall endeavor to keep public attention in
terested in the subject until a decision
naci. iv e desire mat tne 1'eopie s voice
shall be heard, respected and obeyed, and
protest against any change projected and
endeavored to be forced upon the people bij
parly foi parly triumph. The people of the
State are free and should reject with scorn
and contempt the men and ihe parly who
make Iruck and dicker of the People's rights,
that they may ride into place and power
burn are our sentiments we shall act ac
cordingly.
We offer to the public an independent
and a fearless Journal. We shall conduct
it with such ability as we possess
Wc own our party allegiance frankly but
we shall never be servile and when we re
fuse fair and free discussion upon all sub
jects, we shall vacate the tripod.
We trust the people of North Carolina
will sustain 11s, so far as we may be thought
to deserve it. : We never expect to grow
rich, but we should like to be a little more
easy and comfortable. But we won't dun
anybody.
The President of the United States, af
ter a careful examination of the evidence
taken by the Commissioner in the matter
of the charges preferred against Mr. Col
lector Lewis, and Mr. Surveyor Norris, of
the Port of Philadelphia, has found that
those charges are not sustained by the proof
against cither officer, and has dismisssed
mem accordingly. It is known that the
Secretary of the Treasury had previously
given all the papers a full and satisfactory
examination, and that he concurs entirely
in the decision of the President.
The Pensacola Gazette says that reports
are current there of the revival of the pro
ject for. the invasion of Guba under Lopez.
He will be a prominent actor in the expe
dition, no doubt but, if we are correctly
infcrmud,he is 710 to be, the leader of it.
The New York Legislature. This
body adjourned on the 17th instant, in pur
suance of a resolution pased on the inability
of the Senate to obtain a quorum in conse
quence of the resignation of twelve of the
Senators'. These Senators, as we have al
ready noticed, resigned for the purpose of
defeating the Lne Enlargement bill, and in
doing so defeated also the Appropr' tion bill,
The resolution referred to authorises' the
Governor to call an extra session of the Leg
siture at such time and place as he may deem
expedient for the interest of the State.
Governor Hunt has issued a proclamation
convening the Legislature at the capitol on
the 10th of June. The election to fill va
cancies by the resignation of the twelve j
Senators will take place about the 2,0th of j
May. . ' - ''-;"' ' : -
MISPLACED CONFIDENCE.
Jones is in general a good husband and
a domestic man. Occasionally, however,
his convivial tastes betray him into excesses
which have subjected him more than once
to the discipline of Mrs. Jones. A few
nights since he was invited to 4 'participate"
with a few friends at Florence's by way of
celebrating a piece of good luck ..which
had befallen one of his neighbors. He
did "participate" and to his utter astonish
ment, when he rose to take his leave, at
the "wee short hour ayont the twal," he
found the largest brick in his hat he ever
saw. Indeed, he was heard to remark so
liloquentiy. "I think, Mr Jones, you were
never quite so tight before. "
He reached his home ffnally, but by a
route which was anything but the shortest
distance between two points, not, however,
without experiencing very considera
ble anxiety about the reception which a
waited him from Mrs. Jones. He was in
luck that night, was Mr. Jones, barring al
ways his primal transgression ; he got into
his house, found his way into his chamber
without "waking a creature, not even a
mouse." After closinghis door, he cau
tiously paused to give thanks for the "con
science tindefiled" which secured to Mrs.
Jones the sound and refreshing sleep which
haujrevented her taking notice of his arri
val. Being satisfied that all was right, he
proceeded to remove his integuments with
ai much despatch and quiet as circumstan
ces would permit, and in the course of time
sought the vacant place beside his slumber
ing consort. After resting a moment, and
congratulating himself that he was in bed,
and that his wife did not know how long
he had been there, it occured to him that if
he did not change his position Mrs. Jones
might-detect from his breath that lie had
been indulging. To prevent such a catas
trophe, he resolved to turnover. He had
about half accomplished his purpose we
are now obliged to use the idiomatic lan
guage of Mr. Jones himself, from whom
we receive this chapter of his domestic tri
als "when Mrs. Jones riz right up in the
bed, and, said she, in tones that . scraped
the marrow all out of my bones, said she.
Jones younecd Vnt turn over, you1 r6 drunk
clean throvsh." N. Y. Post.
VRALEIGH AND GASTON ROAD.
' Petersburg MEETiXG.-r-We learn from
a private source that, at the meeting in Pe
tersburg of those interested in the Raleigh
and Gaston Railroad, on Tuesday, about
$100,000 were subscribed to the Stock of
the new Company forming to become part
ner with the State. The meeting was ad
dressed by Genl. R M. Saunders, and very
liberal feelings were exhibited. All honor
to Petersburg she has done nobly. The
public spirit and enterprise of her citizens
cannot be too much commended ; and con
sidering the heavy burdens they have here
tofore assumed for works of improvement
in Virginia, opening highways to their town;
anu, too, uieir losses 111 mis same road; we
confess wc regard this subscription as very
liberal and highly honorable.
Progress in subscriptions is made slowly,
however, elsewhere. Perhaps they hardly
yet reach $200,000 in all ; no positive in
formation has reached us of even that am't.
We are now to hear from Norfolk. Her in
terest is immense. Let her imitate Peters
burg, and we shall consider the thing fixed.
We have never believed that the interests
of the people of the two States could suffer
the Gaston Road to fail, and, notwithstand
ing discouraging circumstances heretofore,
there has been no cause for despair. It
must be rebuilt ; and we believe now that
the offer of the State will be accepted, and
the terms complied with.
Ought not our citizens upon the line of I
this Road to feel encourged enough by the
action above alluded to, to be stirring and
active, and put forth their best energies ?
Petersburg has acted we are doinar well in
Raleigh, and hope to do better. Franklin,
Granville, Warren and Halifax! what say you?
Come forward and help us to achieve this
work of prime necessity and mutual benefit,
John Kerr, Esd. We are pleased to
hear that this talented and accomplished
gentleman designs to fix his residence in
Wake county. The Editor of the Biblical
Recorder, in an account of a trip to Wake
Forest College, says : "We learned that
brother John Kerr, a lawyer of some dis
tinction, has purchased an estate near the
College. Should he open a Law School
there, which we hope he will be persuaded
to do, many more of the young men of our
State will be induced to resort to Wake
Forest. An industrious young man might
make considerable progress in his law stu
dies during his Senior year in the College
classes." .
Important. The Postmaster General
has decided, that under the new Postage
law, which takes effect on the fest of July
next, weekly papers only axe entitled to
circulate free of Postage in the county where
published, and that the office of publica
tion is the starting point and not county
lines. -;
f" An important Movement. We
publish on our first page the proceedings of
meeungs in Buncombe and Henderson,
held for the purpose of favoring the call of
a Convention to amend the Constitution,
and looking to an organization upon this
issue for the coming canvasses in the State.
To our mind, it is getting time to push this
matter of Reform to speedy completion.
The people are awaking upon the subject,
and demanding action. Never can they
be made to submit to the dilatory means
prescribed by Gov. Reid and his party for
reforming their constitution. The major
ity of the last Legislature knew very well
the feeling of the people upon this subject ;
a feeling which, reckless as that majori
ty was, they were bound to respect ;
yet they stopped half-way in the only
measure they proposed by Legislative en
actment. If the abolition of the property
qualification for voters is conceded, tlie ab
olition of all property qualifications should
follo w a radical, and not a partial change
is required to satisfy the people in this re
spect. The principle of property qualifica
tion being given up by the ' Free Suffrage , "
why should property qualifications be requir
ed for the members, when it is no longer
required for the voters ? If it is wrong in
one case, it is wrong in all, and all should
be abandoned together.
But where is to be the end of these par
tial and piece-meal amendments by Legis
lative enactment ? If this mode of reform
obtains, will any of us live to see a thor
ough remodelling of the organic law ?
Not unless length of days like that of Me
thusaleh should be vouchsafed. This
generation surely will have passed away,
before the reasonable desires of the people
for all their rights and privileges shall have
been gratified. We hardly believe, if the
vote of the people of the State could be ta
ken, that a thousand men in it would vote
against the election of Magistrates by the
people yet in the mode proposed, it will
take us' eight or ten years to get the consti
tution so amended as to give their election
to the people; What a rank humbug,
then, is this mode of Legislative enact
ment ! especially when we come to re
flect that at least six or seven salutary a-
mendments have been already proposed,
and favored, more or less, by the people :
some of which will be strongly demanded ,
whenever a proper discussion of them shall
be had, and a propel understanding of them
entertained by the public mind.
It would appear we ahvars so regard
ed it that this matter of amending and 1
reforming the constitution of the State
should be kept distinct from, and above,
the party strifes of antagonistical politi
cians. But let it never be forgotten the
Democratic party of the State have refus
ed to allow the people the poor privilege
of speaking for themselves, and have as
sumed to dole out to them, in broken dos
es, and in their own, mode, only such a
mendments as may suit their schemes of
obtaining and holding power. They guard
the constitution of the btate, as so much
political capital to be traded out, and par
tial reforms only to be granted, upon con
dition that the offices are to be bestowed
upon their men. At the last Gubemato
rial election, they said to the people, in ef
fect, if yo will elect us, you may have
Free Sufl'mse. At the next, thev will
ay, probably, "Elect us, and you may
have the election 01 J udges, or Magistrates;
or some other single amendment. . How
long will the people of ihe State submit to
? What free people, (to whom a free
constitution belongs as a matter of abso-
ute control, to be modelled and remodel!
ed at their pleasure,) can bear such dilato
ry tampering such mockery of reform
such desecration 01 tlie solemn instrument
which guards and secures their rights and
iberties It must not be. The Repub
ican mode of amending the constitution ,
as practised upon by the States all around
us, is by the People themselves in Con
vention assembled. Let them be heard
and let the majority rule. And this is the
true Democratic doctrine, though now re
pudiated py those who call themselves
Democrats in North Carolina, to suit their
own purposes. It has become with them
a struggle for poircr -by the agitation of
one question of Reform, they claimed to
:iave gained it with great professions cf
ove lor popular rights they came in then
reflecting upon the means of keeping office,
they kept "the word of promise to the ear,
Put brote it to the hope ;" they kicked a-
way every plank of their platform of Re
form but Free Suffrage and for that they
propose to make the people wait six years,
dependant at last upon the caprice of a
Legislature elected without reference to tlie
matter, because 'tis not of sufficient impor
tance to influence a general election !
Such is Democratic love for the people !
Had the Whig party been united last
winter upon this subject of Reform, they
could have forced through a bill to take
the sense of the people upon convention
or no convention ; and they would thus
have providea for a speedy and complete
settlement of thi3 matter by that means
disposing of all the hobbies which the
other party are holding back to let slip one
ai a time into every canvass ror tne next
twenty years. But no ; they could'nt
trust the people, those whigs of the East.
Rather than go with their Western brethren
(with honorable exceptions,) they voted
with the Locofocos : and that, when
they were not required to sacrifice any
j 1 - 1 ,i . .
uear pnncipie, dui ramer 10 act upon a
Republican principle, and carry out what
we always thought was a sound whig doc
trine, namely, to consult and defer to the
popular will. A Whig afraid to trust the
people ! Because a man is an Eastern
whig, should he rather aid his politicxl foes
than his Western brethren 1 Then may
he bid good-bye to all hope of establishing
whig ascendency, unmistakably whig
though the Old North State may be ! The
last election went by default of Western
whigs, perhaps if the next be lost, it will
most likely be by Eastern whigs, unless
they are willing to see a setdement of the
amendments to the constitution which are
agitating the State, that we may get rid. of
these issues m the btate canvass. Do
they not now see, that they cannot elect a
whig Governor, when tlie great west,
where mainly the strength of th&Stae lies,
is moving ' for an 'organization which will
ward the ball of Reform ? -And who shall
stop them ? Look at the names of those
wrho participated in thislnovement. Prom inent
among them are as noble and gal
lant whigs as breathe in the State. All
over the West, others, as stout and true
hearted, are ready to spring! to action, and
soon their voices will be heard in unison
with those who have already spoken. -They
appealed to their brethren' last win-'
ter, to suffer this matter to be tested by a
vote of the people. It was refused, per
haps under the hope that they would slum
ber. Not so ; they are awake and active
they will be vigilant and untiring, until
success shall crown their efforts by a Con
vention of the people, as the best means of
defeating the political tricksters who aim
to peddle upon the organic law for the
next quarter of a century, j
J throw down the party lines, and urge for-
f- The Raleigh papers comment upon:
the recent meetings in Buncombe and Hen
derson. We designed to offer some com
ments upon the articles in the Register and
Standard ; but our time will not permit
this week. Tlie Standa-d, of course, oppo
ses a Convention, and ail amendments to
the Constitution save the patent of the De
mocratic party, in the Democratic mode. -'Free
Suffrage" and nothing else now:
that's the ''good enough Morgan" for the
next campaign. f
The Register very faithfully and hcartilv
advocates the policy of taking the sense cf '
the people on the question 01 tailing a con
vention, and favors tbe call j but regrets
the deJcrmination of the gentlemen who
put forth the resolutions "to vote for no
man for the office of Governor, or any oth
er State office, who will not pledge himself
to advocate the call of a free and unrestrict
ed Convention and, indeedj to run, irre
spective of former party distinctions, a can
didate for Governor, placing his election on
that issue." j
If the friends of Reform in the State
deem it necessary to organize upon that
issue, (and if they are really in earnest, of
which we have 110 doubt, it is their best
course,) the reasons are very weighiy which;
demand a canvass of t'ie State. It is a very
sure way of kindling the proper spirit, and .
bringing about a settlement of the Reform
question. Suppose the Whig party, stand
ing aloof from this movement, or opposing
it, put up their candidate for Governor
can they elect him, and regain the control
of the State ? It were idle to think so nor
arc they likely again to succeed, until the
call of die people for reform shall have been
heard and respected. j
We do not, like the Register regard this
as a sectional matter. Some of the amend
ments proposed to the constitution are po
ular everywhere and there are friends of
a convention in every part of the State.
Those who move 111 tlie matter in this way
adopt it as the best method of pushing for- -ward
to consummation that which ihey re
gard as above party allegiance It is not
the fault of these Western gentleman that
unanimity and fraternal feeling does not
prevail upon this subject. . Long- and zeal
ously did they labor last session of the Le
gislature, to produce union and harmony
and a fair concert of action. Their efforts
were defeated and now they) appeal to
the fountain of all power, and enlist for
the war. Parties may retard the call of a
convention they cannot totally defeat it,
and crush the spirit which is abroad. The
East should yield something now, or per
haps the day may come when she will be
compelled to yield all. j
We append the greater part of the Re
gister's article ; and design to discuss this
maUer more fully in our next: j
"While heartily endorsing the doctrine proclaimed
in tlie Henderson and Buncombe resolutions, that it
is the right, the privilege of the Pkople to be consult
ed as to whether they desire a Convention to amend
their organic law, we regret the determination they
express, on the part of the Western gentlemen who
put them forth, to vote for no man .foritho office of
Governor, or any other State office, who will not
pledge himself to advocate the call of a free and un
restricted Convention and, indeed, to run, irrespect
ive of 'former party distinctions,' a Candidate for Go
vemor, placing his election on that issue. We can ,
easily appreciate the feeling which prompts this reso
lution, and can readily and fully undorstaud the deep
anxiety felt by the West that the. people should be al- -lowed
to pass tipor. the sfctionar issue which has
been rais. d, and in the result of which they are so vi- -tally
interested. It is impossible for us, however, to
close our eyes to the fact, that, come what may, the
Locofoco party of the State will not allowthemselves -to
be split up by any sectional or local dispute. Co
hesion, for the sake of plunder, is 'heir motto it is
the motto under which they have always fought it
is the banner under which they will continue to array
themselves and nothing short of an internal commo
tion as violent as that which, in the physical world.
sometimes uproots, the very foundations of nat-.tre, can -
tear them asunder. The Eastern and Western i)e--.
mocracy will not split upon the issue upon which the.
Western gentlemen in the meetings al'tuW to propose
to run a Gubernatorial candidate, -litis we consider.
as very certain. Whatgood, iiien,ca any portion of
our Whig friends, we respectfully submit, who. may
be in favor of such a movement, expect to efiVct 7 It
cannot, ice think, i-ndeh the. circumstances, be pro
ductive of any decisive expression of the popular will.
Local county elections may, and doubtless will, lie-
made to turn upon the issue proposed to be presented. .
And thus, aftei alt, th Legislature will reflect the
popular mind and wish as to tbe propriety of leaving
this question of Convention or no Convention ta the
decision of the sorereigB arbiters of the laBtL
"We have thrown oi these suggestions hastily and
at much random. TTe can bo accuser of nothing im
preper in the premises-. Our position is known. It i
our earnest (fesire that eqnal justice shall be done in
this matter of constitutional Beform, to each and eve
ry section of the State that good feeling and frater
nity shall prevail in onr midst, and too, sa fur as party
organization a Whigs is concerned, whatever may be
the course f the opposite party, that we may hold fast
to that anion, ai.d presenra that concert of action, by ,
which we have hitherto conquered, and without which
we cannot rescue our glonoos old State from the hands
of the Goths and Vandala who have gained a tempo
rary foothold in its citadel, or retrieve the reputation of '
North Carolina for consistency and political honesty."
Upon this same subject, that, sound and.
reliable VThig Joamal, the Greenoboro1
Patriot, remarks as follows : j
''It is gratifying to see this action of our Western,
brethren. After witnessing the seeues of the last Ge
neral Assembly, when incipient eteps were mode for
legislative amendments, founded on party issues, ir
ia gratifying to witness this movement of lh jmplc,.
without regard to ra!-'vt n question of constitui
t onal reform. . , ?
' v .';.."....'; ". ..".'-;:. -.'''.."'''. '' ' . ,