From ihc Salem People's Press.
REMINISCENCES OF A FORSYTH
RIFLEMAN. No. 2.
My last number closed with an account
of our company's return to Sackett's Har
1 bor, after having, to the great joy and sat
isfaction of the whole American force in
lhat quarter, succeeded in our attempt to
uip in the bud" the nefarious schemes cf
rapine and murder, then on the eve of be
ing executed upon our defenceless women
and children, by the old tory, his abettor
John Bull, and their gold-paid blood-thirsty
Indian accomplices.
Our stay at the Harbor was brief, as we
were ordered into winterquarters at Ogdens
burg. The winter of 1812-'13 will, by
myself and fellow survivors of that inclem
ent period, be remembered as one of the
greatest severity, particularly in Canada
and on the Northern frontiers of New York.
The snow there averaged full three feet
in depth all winter, and by the latter part
of December, the ice in the St. Lawrence
had attained the thickness of four feet, con
stituting a mass that united the British and
our shore together, for the time being, as
lirmly as if die river had been a vein of solid
granite.
Our sufferings from the intense cold at
that time and place are indelibly impress
ed upon my memory by the deplorable fact
that two of our ill-fated Riflemen, while
on duty as sentinels, were frozen to death
As a military post, Ogdensburg may be
said to have been utterly destitute of any
thing worthy the name of a fortification.
The old French Fortification, where we
quartered, was nothing more than a range
of dilapidated barracks, erected during the
old French War. Our Rifle Corps, con
sisting of 104 men, and a company of mi
litia numbering about 90, under command
of Col. Benedict, of the New York Mili
tia, whose rank made him commanding
officer of the station, constituted all our
force at that point. Opposite to us on the
British side of the river, distant only one
mile, at Prescot, were about one thousand
English Regulars. Thus stood matters,
till on about the first of January, when our
company under the guidance of its intrepid
Captain, and covered by the darkness of a
winter's night, made a succesful expedition
to Elizabethtown, since called Brockville,
in consequence of General Brock and two
of his Aid-de-camps having been killed
there during the war of 1812 by ourtroops,
commanded by that bravest of brave spirits,
(Jen. Van Rensselaer.
. Elizabethtown, situaded on the Canada
side of the river about 12 miles distant
from Ogdensburg,was reached by us with
out being molested or even discovered, On
arriving there, we found, as expected, 15
of our patriotic citizens, closely confined in
the jail of that place, waiting to be trans
ported the following day towards Halifax,
Nova Scotia, where it had been decided
by the British authorities in Canada, they
should be hanged, or imprisoned during the
war, for the unpardonable crime of indig
nantly refusing to bear arms for King
ieorge, against Uieir own beloved country,
We rescued them from the insatiable
jaws of English tyranny, and took as pris
oners the guard , composed of 5S well armed
English Lak eprivateermen and a lieuten
ant of Dragoons ; we brought off all with
out the loss of a man, to Ogdensburg, where
we arrived early the following morning.
The 58 privateersmen and the dragoon of
ficer, were soon exchanged for 61 of our
own soldiers the officers being estimated
in exchange equal to three of our privates.
From this time onward, no incident of
note transpired, until about noon of Sun
day, the 8th of February, when in the
midst of a blinding snow storm, to our sur
prise, Adjutant Ridgeway, belonging to
the enemy's force stationed at Prescot,
came dashing with his foaming steed into
our fort, exclaimed, at the top of his voice,
"Didn't you hear the d d rascals firing
at me as I made my escape past their lines?
Where is your Commanding Officer. I
have come to join you as a deserter from
the d d English !" Whereupon, Cap
tain Forsyth, with his accustomed bland
ness. invited die pseudo deserter into his
private quarters ; who, as he accepted our
Captain's invitation, concluded his tirade
of pretended abuse towards his countrymen
by saying, "Thank God, I am now clear
of the dd English rascals." So admira
bly did he play the part of a genuine de
serter, that he completely deceived every
one f us, and most especially our frank,
open hearted, unsuspecting commander,
by whom, after being escorted throughout
the town and our slender iortmcations, he
was suffered to roam about at his pleasure,
and take lodging as was supposed for the
night, at the house of one of our towns
men, who, with good reason, was ever af
ter suspected of the rankest toryism and
treachery.
Snow continued to fall in huge flakes
that filled the air throughout the day and
night, ceasing about day break, when we
- were aroused from our gloomy revenes by
the unceremonious visit of 800 English
soldiers, armed to the teeth, and headed
by the aforesaid Ridgeway : he having in
the course of the preceding night made
nis escape oacK to nis companions m Pres
cot, reported to them the extent of our force
and means of defence, the insignificance of
which tempted or rather compelled them
to attack us, and they did so 'nstanter, with
wi overwhelming force of 800 British
tfroope, all of whom considered themselves
is a. oeleet portion of the "flower of his
Britacie Majesty's Army." This, in com
parison to our force, large body of the en
emy, approached almost within gun-shot of
our ram parte, where they halted, and Ad
jutant Ridgeway. the double deserter of
the previous day and night, mounted on
the same trusty charger lhat had bome him
into our fort tlie day before, advanced with
ii flag of truce within speaking digtance,
and there, with indescribable audacity, af
ter calling for our commanding officer, or
dered us to surrender forthwith as prison
ers of war, on pain of being shot down to
a man. Capt. Forcvi'g reply, although
t.i-Av 1-winir.. hreaiheo volumes nf rtpfinna
It was JttHaws: "Base scoundrel of a
py, you nl your minions will have some
jaard fhtmg to dor -before you can make
yjiswacsrs of toe o'.ray bjave mcaj"
These words weie spoken, uhout a qui
ver of the lip, or blanch upon the cheek of
our apparendy inspired commander, whose
daundess mein and , bearing under such
trying circumstances, as quick as thought,
made every one of us feel as if he were a
host within himself. - - -
And here let me remark, that, solely
through the undeserved magnanimity of
our Captain, (although to the everlasting
regret of all his men, )the wretch, Ridge
way, was permitted to return unharmed to
the rear of the British lines, notwithstand
ing more than fifty of our death dealing
rifles were levelled with fatal aim, and
would have been fired at him, but for the
all-potent order of our commander, who in
a voice of thunder cried out, "Men ! don't
fire at the bearer of a flag of truce, it is
against the rules of war !"
Our flag was raised, and an alarm gun
fired the moment, we discovered the British
Col. Benedict being absent on a visit to
his family, the chief command devolved
upon Capt. Forsyth.
As soon as Ridgeway had gotten safely
behind the ranks of his friends, they open
ed to me right and left, arraying themsel
ves in two formidable divisions, the princi
pal one, being intended to attack us in the
fort, and the other to take our militia who
were stationed in the heart of the town dis
tant about one-fourth of a mile. Unfortu
nately, nearly all of them abandoned their
post, leaving our Magazine and other
public stores entirely at the mercy of the
enemy.
A few of Col. Benedict's men rallied
under our standard and fought like tigers.
For two hours our little band, not exceed
ing in all 120, by pouringfourth a constant
stream of balls from our breastwork, kept
at bay full 500 British Infantry ; and but
for our ammunition becoming exhausted,
we should not have surrendered the fort
without resisting to the death.
As soon as our last round was fired, our
commander, biting his lips and stamping
his feet with rage, summoned us around
him, and with the air and look of a true
Ihero depicted in every feature of his coun
tenance said : "Men ! it is our misfortune
at this time to be completely overpowered,
but the day may come when we can avenge
ourselves ! Our ammunition being exhaus
ted, we must retreat ; therefore let every
man take care of himself. " Capt. Benja
min Forsyth was the last man to leave that
fort ; and miraculous as it may appear, we
retreated almost in solid column through thel
deep snow-drifts beyond the reach of our
enemy's numerous guns, without losing a
single one of the Forsvthe Riflemen.
WM. EATON, sen.
From the London Punch.
Last Hours op a Single Gentleman.
This morning, November 11th, at half
past eleven o clock precisely, an unfortu
nate young man, Mr. Edward Pinckney,
underwent die extreme penalty of infatua
tion, by explaining his attachment to Mary
AnnCale, in front of the altar railings of
Saint Mary's Church, Islington.
It will be in the recollection of all those
friends of the party who were at Jones's
party at Brixton two years ago, that Mr.
Pinckney was there, and then first intro
duced to Mary Ann Gale, to whom he in
stantly began to direct particular attentions
dancing with her no less than six sets
that evening, and handing her things at
supper in the most devoted manner. From
that period commenced the intimacy be
tween them, which terminated in this morn
ing's catastrophe. -
Poor Pinckney had barely attained his
28th year; and there is no belief that but
for reasons of a pecuniary nature, his sin
gle life would have come earlier to an un
timely end. A change for the better, how
ever, having occurred in his circumstances,
the young lady's friends were induced to
sanction his addresses, and thus become
accessories to the course for which he has
just suffered.
The unhappy young man passed the
last night of his bachelor existence in his
solitary chamber. From half past eight to
ten he was engaged in writing letters.
Shortly after, his young brother, Henry,
knocked at the door, when the doomed
youth told iim to come in. On being
asked when he meant to go to bed, he re
plied, "not yet." The question was then
put to him how he thought he would sleep?
to which he answered, "I don't know."
He then expressed a desire for a segar and
a glass of grog. His brother, who sat down
and partook of the like refreshments, now
demanded if he would take anything more
that night. He said "nothing," in a fim
voice. His affectionate brother then took
his leave, when the devoted one consider
ately advised him to take care of himself.
Precisely at a quarter of a minute to se
ven, the next morning, the victim of Cu
pid having been called, according to his
tlestre, arose and promptly dressed himself.
He had the self-control to shave himself,
without the slightest injury ; for not even
n scratch upon his upin appeared after the
operation. It would seem he devoted a
longer time than usual at his toilet.
The wretched man was attired in a light
blue dress coat, with frosted buttons, a
white vest and nankeen trowsers, with pa
tent boots. He wore round his neck a va
riegated satin scarf, which partly concealed
the Corrazzo of the bosom. In front of
the scarf was inserted a breast-pin of con
spicuous dimensions.
Having descended the staircase with a
quick step, he entered the apartment where
his brother and a few friends awaited him.
He then shook hands cordially with alfpre
seut; and on being asked how he slept, an
swered "Very well;" and to the further
demand as to the state of his mind, he said
he "felt happy."
One of the party hereupon suggested
that it would be as well to take something
before the melancholy ceremony was gone
through; he exclaimed, with some empha
sis, "decidedly." Breakfast was accord
ingly served, when he ate a French roll, a
large round toast, two sausages, and three
new laid eggs, which he .washed down
three great breakfast cups of tea. In reply
to an expression of astonishment on the
part of persons present, he declared." that he
never felt heartier in his life.
Having inquired the time, arid ascertain
ed that it was ten minutes of eleven, he re
marked that it would soon be over. His
brother then inquired if he could do any
thing for him; when he said he would take
a glass of ale. Having drank this, he ap
peared to be satisfied. V
- The fatal moment now approaching, he
devoted the remaining portion of his time
to distribute those little articles he would
no longer want. - To on i he gave his se
gar case; to another his tobacco stopper ;
and charged his brother Harry with his
latch-key, with instructions to deliver it,
after all was over, with due solemnity, to
the landlady.
The clock at length struck eleven, and
at the same moment he was informed that
a cab was at the door. He merely said,
"I am ready," and allowed himself to be
conducted to the vehicle, into which he
got with his brother, his friends following
on behind in others.
Arrived at the tragical spot, a short but
anxious delay of some seconds took place ;
after which they were joined by the lady
and her friends. Little was said upon ei
ther side. Miss Gale at first smiled upon
her victim; and then with customary de
corum shed , tears.. Pinckney endeavored
to maintain his tranquility, but a slight
twitching in his mouth and eyebrows pro
claimed his inward agitation.
All necessary preliminaries having now
been settled, and the prescribed melancho
ly formalities gone through, the usual
question was put
"Wilt thou have this woman to be thy
wife?"
"I will."
He then put the fatal ring on Miss Gale's
finger, the hymenial noose was adjusted,
and the poor fellow was launched into ma
trimony. OUR MECHANICS.
There is no doubt that Raleigh can boast
as skilful mechanics, as any Town in
North Carolina. They can turn out as
good work , and as cheap, (all things consid
ered) as those of Northern cities. We
were particularly struck, last week, in pass
ing the Coach Manufacturing Establish
ments of Mr. Willis D. Williams, situated
about 100 yards east of the Baptist Church,
and Mr. P P. Williams, 100 yards west
of the Presbyterian Church, to observe not
only the large number, but the beauty, ele
gance and style of finish, of their stock of
Carriages, Buggies, &c. Every variety
of vehicle is manufactured by them in a
finished yet substantial manner. Purchas
ers need not trouble themselves to go to
Jersey, when such fine carriages may be ob
tained at their own doors.
The extensive Machine Factories of Mr.
Jos. Woltering and Mr. Silas Burns, are
also a credit to the Town, and have turned
out a variety of Machinery and other work
in their lines, just as good as those obtained
further North.
Almost every other branch of Mechanical
business is carried on in the best styles in
this City.
If our people generally would study their
own permanent interests, as well as the
prosperity of Raleigh, they would manifest
their appreciation of this worthy class of the
community, by patronizing them and build
ing up the Town, instead of spending their
money in some distant market, to the neg
lect and disparagement of the section in
which diey live . - Let us learn to encourage
home industry, and in this way build up a
home market for our productions.
Spirit of the Age .
The Everv-Day Married Lady.
The every-day Married Lady is the inven
tor of a thing which few foreign nations
have as yet adopted either in their houses
or in their languages. This thing "com
fort." The word cannot well be defined j
the items that enter into its composition be
ing so numerous that a description would
read like a catalogue. We al? understand,
however, what it means, although few of
us are sensible of the source of the enjoy
ment. A widower has very little'., comfort,
and a bachelor none at all ; whilst a mar
ried man provided his wife be an every
day married lady enjoys it in perfection.
But he enjoys it. unconsciously, and there
fore ungratefully ; it is a thing of course
a necessary, a right of the want of which
he complains without being distinctly sen
sible of its presence. Even when it acquires
sufficient intensity to arrest his attention -when
his features and heart soften, and he
looks around with a half smile on his face,
and says, "This is comfort I" it never oc
curs to him to inquire where it all comes
from. His every-day wife is sitting quiedy
m the corner ; it was not she who lighted
the fire, or dressed the dinner, or drew the
curtains and it never occurs to him to
think that all these, and a huudred other
circumstances of a moment, owe their vir
tue to her inspiriting ; and that the corn
foil which enriches the atmosphere, which
sparkles in the embers, which broods in
shadowy parts of the room, which glows
in his own full heart, emanates from her
and encircles her like an aureola.
The. Mock Auctions. Notwithstand
ing die efforts of the Mayor to put a stop
to the operations of these establishments,
several strangers in our city have been
swindled out of large sums of money by
them within the past two or three weeks.
On Saturday last, a gendeman named J.
O. Wilbar, from Greensborough, Guilford
county, N. C, went into a notorious mock
auction shop, on the corner of Wall and
Pearl streets, to make purchases. Sever
al articles were knocked down to him at
what he considered a reasonable price, but
when he came to look over his bill he
found that he had. been charged $225,
more than ten times the price demanded,
and which he was foolish enough to pay.'
At the advice of some of his friends, Mr.
Wilbar presented his case before Justice
Lothrop, of the city police, who has issu
ed a wan ant for the arrest of the swindlers.
N. Y. Ev. Post.
Large Haul op Sinners. The Boston
police made a descent on Wednesday night
upon the haunts of vice in Ann street and
vicinity, and captured 153 men, women
and girls ! Some w ere fined, some sent to
the House of Correction, and others were
indicted for violation of the lav.
REFORM MEETING IN YANCY.
In another column will be found the pro
ceedings of a meeting- of the citizens of
i ancy County, which took place on the
week of Court, in the Court House in Burns
ville. We hare nothing much to do at
home, and thinking that we might get some
thing to do in this county, left home on
Sunday morning previous and winding
our way over to Burnsville, we arrived there
the evening of the name day, had the pleas
ure of seeing how things are done up on the
Democratic principle, and of witnessing the
spirit of the people in this public meeting.
This County is Democratic in the right way,
their democracy does not lead them to bind
themselves up in the shackles of party, so
thst they go for their party right or wrong;
but they go for right, and in this they fully
see the right and feel oppressions that have
been brought on them by this Constitution,
that they are joining with the other western
counties to reform. It was significantly
called by Mr. Flemming in his address, a
magnificent humbug. It has been truly thus
styled by him, for in our opinion it is the
most splendid humbug that a free and en
lightened people have ever lived under.
The people we are satisfied throughout the
whole of the county of Yancy understood
this matter, and we are equally certain
they are determined to acton it. The meet
ing at this place proposes that there should
be a State Convention with a view to organ
ize a state party, on the questions of the
proposed reforms of the constitution by a
convention, and to nominate a candidate
to be run by that party for the office of Gov
ernor of the State. We are pleased with
this movement for several reasons. In the
first place, we think that a convention is
the only proper Republican mode of, alter
ing the constitution, and being satisfied the
people desire amendments in their organic
law, and that amendments arc needed to de
velop the resources of the State that are
now lying dormant, we think the best "and
speediest and most certain mode should be
adopted to obtain the changes that are ulti
mately to reform the whole legislation of the
State, and to fully provide for a fundament
al system of internal improvements, and
give employment to much capital and labor
that is now unemployed. We regard the
amendment of the constitution by a conven
tion as the only mode practicable ;'. we are
certain at least that no amendment can be
made to that instrument, that will be of any
important service to the State generally, by
Legislative enactment. Until the western
people can obtain their due and jutt weight
in the counsels of the State, she never can
improve, but will and must, for all time to
come, pursue that non-acting policy that has
kept her behind all her sister States. Will
the people of this Siate consent to remain
in their present condition? Look around
you but for a moment . and what do you
see ? you see the most energetic of your
population leaving the state, you see the
money of the state leaving it- the capital
that could be profitably invested in business
within her borders is changed to other pla
ces, for the reason that it cannot find em
ployment here. Fellow citizeus, are you
willing to submit to this policy
longer :
we
hope not, we think not.
We are gratified at the action of the
meeting of Yancy for another reason, and
that is, it shows clearly that it is no party
movement, that it has not been brought a
boutto effect party er is'and party purpos
es, but that it is the movement of an in
censed and indignant people, a people that
by the present organization of our funda
mental law have suffered much and enor
mous injury. They have determined in their
sovereign will, that they will bear it no long
er, but will appeal to justice and the laws of
nature to vindicate their cause at the baliot
box. Jsivillc Jeeves.
South Carolina Military Prepar
ations. The South Carolinian chivalry ,
it is known, have recently appropriated
$30,000 for bloody weapons, and some
Massachusetts Yankees have got the job
to make them -or apart of them, at least.
A friends informs the editor of the Woon
socket Patriot that "Messrs. Waters, of
Milbur3r, Mass., have obtained the con
tract for the small arms, viz : 6,000 mus
kets, 3,000 rifles, and 2,000 pistols. The
field artillery are to be made in South Car
olina, and the authorities were very anx
ious that Messrs. Waters should manufac
ture the small arms there also ; but this
could not be, and get the arms completed
within the time allotted by the contract.
Messrs. Waters, however, have contracted
to establish the armory in south Carolina,
after the completion of this order."
So the valiant souls who are going to
dissolve the Union, whip Uncle Sam and
"the rest of mankind," can't even manu
facture their own guns, but have to travel
all the way to old Massachusetts.
Euormous Mass of Pure Copper.
We stated a day or two since that the Cliff
mine on Lake Superior has more copper
uncovered than could be got out by the
present force in three years. We have
since ascertained the' dimensions of one
single sheat which they are at present work
ing on, which presents the following almost
crediMe'tTrrmensions': Forty feet long,
eighteen feet high, and from six inches to
three feet thick. It probably weighs three
hundred tuns, and the miners have not yet
reahed either the end or the top of the sheet.
It ma v possibly be two or three times as
large as has yet been developed. The pub
lic are entirely in the dark in regard to the
riches vfthe Lake Superior meneral distrcts.
V. Y. Tribune.
Yet Another Lettfr from Mr. Web
ster. The Boston Transcript informs us
that Aid. Rogers, chairman of the joint com
mittee of the Boston Aldermen and Council,
has received a reply from Mr. Webster, in
answer to the request that he would address
the citizens in Fanuil Hall. On dit, that
the said reply is short, in more senses. . than
one, and a severe rebuke to certain cliques
and persons in lui, authority. This letter
will be read at the meeting of the board to
day. -In the letter to the council in rebuke
of the Aldermen's previous refusal to grant
them Tanuil Hall, the quotation from Mil
ton's description of the gates of hell, and
its application to :the "Cradle of Liberty'"
under the abolition control, is about as hard
a hit as we have seen for a long time, The
word arer s. ' ,: ;.;
f'Not with inipetuous recoil, grating h.arsh
thunder." . . .. : .. - .
Ths Patent for Paine's Light taken out in
Engltnd, Jane 12, 1850, is published in the
Scientific American., ' :
The'Contemplated Cuban Invasion.
Movements at Washington The following
items relative to information and move
ments at Washington, in connection with
the contemplated Cuban invasion, are of in
terest. The steam frigate Susquehannah,
Capt. Aulick, is ordered to be in readiness
to frustrate the expedition.
The Spanish Minister has had a long in
terview with the president on Friday, in re
lation to the meditated attack upon Cuba.
The Secretary of War and the Secretary of
the Navy were sent for, and remained du
ring the interview. In addition to instruc
tions to the Marshal and other officers, the
vessels of the Home Squadron have been
ordered to cruise in such a way, as to render
an attempt to reach Cuba almost, if not
wholly impossible. The Saranac is at Pen
sacola, and the Germantown at Havana.
The Albany will reach there by the first of
May.
A despatch from Washington, dated at 1
o'clock on Saturday says ;
"Authentic information has been receiv
ed by the Government authhrities here, that
large numbers of men have assembled at
Mobile, Apalachicola, Srvannah, and other
cities South, for the purpose of embarking
in the expedition against the island of Cuba.
Amorig these persons, it is ascertained
there are considerable numbers of Hungari
an refugees, recently arrived in the United
Staces, men who have had an extensive ex
perience in war of latei and who are there
fore expected to make first rate soldiers.
"This information has created no little
stir, here, but the general opinion is that if
Cuba is invaded, the invaders should not
rendezvous upon the soil of the United
States, if the Administration at Washington
can prevent it.
"Orders have been forwarded to New
York for the immediate despatch of a Reve
nue Cutter, to cruise along the Southern
coast.".
The Cuba Hunt. The Wellington
correspondent of the "Journal of Com
merce' ' says that some of the Georgia ad
venturers in the Cuba enterprize, arrived
there on Friday, on their way North.
They stated that the expedition was on
foot, and would not be easily frustrated ;
that it would probably proceed from differ
ent ports, &c. The writer adds :
"They may have probably been kept in
the dark as to the true state of the case,
and there is reason to believe that the re
sources of the adventurers are very slen
der, and their numbers small.
The Home Squadron has been so dis
posed as to be effective for the frustration of
any expedition against Cuba."
The Rome (Ga.) Courier says that an
expedition was to sail from Savannah, for
Cuba, last week. The same paper says
that men of influence in Georgia had en
couraged the expedition.
Late and Important from Havana.
Charleston, Friday, April 25. The
steamer Isabel has arrived from Havana.
Much excitement continued to exist on ac
count of the invasion which was expected
to have landed on the 19th inst. The
Captain General had received a dispatch
stating that an expedition had sailed from
New Orleans.
The troops were sleeping w their arms ,
horses were saddled for expresses, and one
steamer keeps her steam up continually,
but, when the Isabel lefty nothing had oc
occurred. One Spaniard had been con
demned to death, having been detected in
bribing a pilot to assist Lopez. The peo
pie are said to desire the invasion, and are
ready to join when a respectable force
lands on the Island.
New Orleans, April 25. The barque
Charles Loden has arrived from Vera Cruz
with Mexican papers to the 9th inst-, from
which we learn that Congress was in sess
ion, and that a proposition had been made
in the lower House, which would proba
bly be assented to in the Senate, to con
tinue the session till the 15th.
Mexico appears to be in a desperate con
dition, and none of her public men seem
disposed to hazard their reputation in an
attempt to restore her prosperity. Gen.
Arista, who had the management ef the
treasury for a short time, gave it up as a
hopeless task.
Addresses had been issued to the com
missioners of the different wards in the cap
ital, to ascertain the number of foreigners
in the city, together with an account of
their nationality, character, employment,
&C .-'.,...:
A bill has also been introduced to abol
ish the tobacco monopoly.
The 1 ndians hi Chihuahua were suing
for peace.
The working of the Mexican mines was
attracting the attention of capitalists.
The Cotton Crop. Letters from the
South, state that the plant is up and in a
flourishing condition, and though the nights
have been cool, there lias been no frost to
injure the young plants, as diere was in
the spring of last year, and of the year be
fore tliat. The high pike, and great profit
obtained by the planters, has no doubt
stimulated the cultivation of a great quan
tity of land, and with a fair season, we
may look for a crop much exceeding that
of any previous year, and fully up to the
ability of the whole force of the plantations
to gather and prepare for market. The
present downward tendency of prices bids
fair to continue some time.
Washington, April 27.- Ch?.rles I?.
Stansbury, Esq, of Washington, now in
London, has been appointed by ;he Secreta
ry ofthe Interior to. r.akQ a report pf all
niatters connecipa wi.ln the London Indus
trial Exhibition which may be useful to scir
ence,,o tend to prorfjoeth8 mechanic arts.
The report will bp embellished with suitar
ble engravings , apd published as a patent
office docqrnent.
General R. Weightinan has been appoint
ed chief clerk in the Patent Office, in the
place of Mr. Lawrence. V
Henry Baldwin, Esq., of Tennessee, and
Ti H. Dewitt, of New Yoik, have bee?j ap
pointed assistant examiners. ,
General WinfieldScott is still suffering, tis
said from disease contracted in hts Mexican
campaign The Louisville Journal'says he
would have protraoted his stay in that city
bad not the feeble state of his health made
it advisable for him to hasten sohward. ,
RALEIGH TIMES.
RAtEIGH, N. C.
FRIDAY MAY 2, 1851.
Democracy and Abolition.- It is
well known that the election of Charle3
Sumner as United States Senator from
Massachusetts, was effected by a disgrace
ful coalition and bargain for offices between
the Democratic and Abolition members of
the Legislature. For this result (says the
Boston Journal,) the Democratic party of
Massachusetts is directly responsible, and
to that party will attach whatever of honor
or opprobnum is gained by Mr. Sumner,
during his six years of public service. The
Whigs wash their hands of his election ;
they have had no lot or part in the matter.
They have seen their Democratic oppo
nents fraternising time and again with the
Free Soilers and have stood firm ; they
have maintained their distinctive organiza
tion, and kept themselves aloof from de
grading coalitions, even when they were
convinced that defeat would result from
their unwavering devotion to principle.
The Democrats have chosen a different
line of conduct. They have united with
the Free Soilers to defeat the Whigs,
thereby galvanising into the semblance of
life the decaying elements of the northern
sectional party. They have identified
themselves with the abolition movement,
and have elected one of its most earnest
champions to a position where he can for
a period of six years fan the elements of
discord, and keep alive the agitation which
the earnest efforts of the friends of the U
n ion are now directed to allay. The De
mocratic party of Massachusetts is no lon
ger national. As in New York and Ohio,
so in Massachusetts, it has sought the com
pany of the Free Soilers, and the taint of
abolisionism will adhere to its skirts. The
Democrats can hardly boast of their na
tionality hereafter.
South Carolina Convention. Next
Monday is the day fixed for the convention
of delegates from the State Rights Associ
tions of the several disu icts in South Caro
lina, at Charleston. The question is to be
agitated and decided on whether it is expe
dient for South Carolina to secede imme
diately from (he Union, or await the co-operation
of other Southern States. The
party in favor of separate State action and
immediate secession, seems to be very ac
tive and decided. This Convention will,
through its recommendation, decide the
course of the State Convention which is to
meet next winter, and determine the future
action of the State. We learn that Re
porters from the North and South are al
ready on the spot, and the" Charleston pa
pers will also doubtless give full reports of
the proceedings. They will be looked for
with great interest, now that political anti
slavery, with its Locofoco aid, has achiev
ed such signal triumphs by the elecdon of
its pledged representatives to the United
States Senate from several States. There
is no telling how. far South Carolina may
go. We incline to the opinion that she
will try secession. If het presses properly
reflect the ruling public sentiment, we see
not how her people can avoid it.
THE CONVENTION QUESTION.
The popular movements upon thisques
tion condnue. Ou r readers may find on
our first page the proceedings of a primary
meeting in die county of Yancy, where
resolutions of a strong and determined char
acter were adopted, and such as cannot
fail to arrest the attention of those who
look with interest on the struggle for pop-
ular rights now commencing in the State.
We must take ground either for or against
this movement, in the posidon in which
we are placed. It has pleased one of the
parties of the State (the Democratic party)
to set up the principle of arnerulments to
the consdtution by Legislative enactment ;
and they propose to put them through one
at the tirat!. 7e are opposed to this prin
ciple and mode f amendments we are
and, always have been opposed to FreeSufr
frage-4tis a mere half-way abandonment
of property qualificatqiis ; ponfers no sub
stantial right and benefit upon the people ;
and will be unsatisfactory, as the entering
wedge merely to the entire breaking up of
the safeguards upon property in our pres
ent constitution. The wisdom the ypife
Cf the people, would never call for suph an
alteration as that, jit is a deceptive trick
of politicians, and, as a. trick, may be suc
sessful, for what we knqw but never can
ft satisfy the call for Constitutional Reform
which has been raised, and jy'hicfy is nw
exhibiting its importance and power in the
action of the popple. The charlatans who
throw put this bliqd concession, by way of
stopping the popular demand, and who &
doptit as a platform for their party, are
most wofuRy deceived. We grant them
temporary success by the false position of
their opponents but a Convention must
come, to- end this struggle for shadows,,
and to gain substantial rights ; and place
and power will they never know afterwards
in the Old North State, j
So that, if we were disposed (o be gov
erned by party in this matter, and should
consent to act in it only from motives con
nected with future whig success, our coun
sel to our party should be to "fTer this
Convention to be held as quick m possible
have it over and done with give the
people free swing they are sure to do
right, and The interests of all getUcra will
be safe in their hands. Does any ene
doubt it? It is said the East has the powerr
of the State, when Federal population isc
counted. Very well, it is proposed to cali
die Convention upon the Federal basis ;
and what has the East tofenr? In like
manner, it is said that the whig party have
the majority in the State ; then the Whig
party, by proper exertions, can cohtiol the
convention ; and what have they to fear?
Now is the time to move in this matter,
take it either way if the East wishes to
secure and maintain its power ; or if the
Whig parly wishes to regain power and
secure themselves against future defeat ;
nay, establish their ascendancy forever.
Several of the Editors our friends a
gree with us in our positions,; that a Con- -vention
is the only true Republican mode
of amending the constitution ; and that the
question of Convention oe No Convention
ought to be submitted to the people but
they dissent from any separate organiza
tion having in view the making this issue -distinctly
before the people at the next e
lection. We exceedingly dislike to differ
with our brethren, and we shall avoid con
troversy with them oa far as possible. Our
assertion last week was (and it is the truth)
that the Whigs defeated a bili to submit
the question to the people in the last Leg
islature, and passed the Free Suffrage bill
in preference. Yet, in the last Register it
is asked, "who would be afraitZ to trust the
the people? Who wishes to f stifle their
voice ?" j
We are afraid that the course proposed '
by the Register, is not one which cm or
ought to satisfy the true friends of popular
reform, who cannot and will not be tied
down and controlled by parti iii this mat
ter ; namely, for the Whig party to run a
candidate for Governor who is in favor of
submitting the question of Convention or
fo Convention to the people. How does
that differ from the platform upon which
Gov. Manly run last year, as laid down
in the Resolutions of the Convention which
nominated him? They declare that the
Legislature ought to, adopt some mode, in
accordance with the provisions of the con
stitution, for taking the sense of the peo
ple upon certain amendments. The plat
form of the Register, now is, that the can
didate of the Whig party should be in fa
vor of taking the sense of the people upon
Convention or No Convention and it is
asked "what could there be in the way of
success?.''' Why, the Democratic party
and Free Suffrage, to say nothing of those
Whigs in. 'the last Legislature, some of
whom acted so strangely on this very issue,
while othe.es broke solemn pledges to de
feat the submission of mis very question to7
the people, j
If there be division, it is not the fault of the'
Western Whigs, and the appeal for unanimi
ty must be made in another quarter. The
county of Yancy is Democratic, having cast
at the last election, 632 votes forReidand
456 for Manly but lliere party is discard
ed, to go for reform. We 8,ye mucb, mista
ken if it do not soon appe&r that the strength
and importance of this movement is vasdy
beyond the papulations of politicians, and
little likely to yield to party calculations
and party tactics.
Extrapt from a letter to the Editor from a
gentleman up West, dated 29th April,
'. I Sol. :
"I reioice to learn that vou are about to.
enlarge and improve The Times ; as you
seem to be the only Jkditonn Jttaieign wno,
in heart, has any sympathy with the peo
ple in the movement that they are now
making to secure an unrestricted conven
tion to amend the Constitution" of the
State. You will please to set me down as
a subscriber. If the Hegister, UDsener,
and other Whia naDers think they can
take any other ground and succeed in e-
lectmg their candidate tor governor, mey
will be mistaken. - 1 he Uemocraui are
hnnnil tn succeed at the next election, take
what ground we a- The Whigs may
run a candidate either for or againsi an u-
pen convention, and he will, I admit, in
nil nrnhahilitv be defeated : but, should
our candidate be defeated when run in fa
vor of an open juonventipn, u win uiumaie
lv ndH a thousand fold to his strengrth j as
,UA Wna KiiflVaorft fo David S. Reid. "How
t- "tj- r " - i .
invulnerable has he become by making an
issue aud sunenng himseij jto pe aeieaiea.
The Register was pnee jn i iyor of letting
Gov. Manlv walk over the track the sec
ond time, and, if I reccpje.ct aright; prornis-
ed, or rather hair-way pieagea mo
party fo show a dm(Uyc respect to the Dem
ocrats the ensuing cajjopaign'. Let this be
done by gallopping our .candidate over the
Republican track, who is pledged m favor
qf an .open and unrestricted Convention,
and let the Democrats make all they can
out of their triumph. They may make
the welkin ring for ,a short time with their
shouts of triumph ; bait we will rejoice al
so in the hope of a speedy and permanent