SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
. ,
The Tarboro' "Southerner" devotes its
columns mostly to .Agriculture and local
matters. It publishes, however, Mr. Buch
anan's Wheatland letter, containing the
following bid for Southern Secessionists :
"Madison's Report and Jefferson's Ken
tucky Resolutions are the safest and surest
guides to conduct a Democratic Adminis
tration of the Federal Government. It is
the true mission of Democracy to resist
- centralism and the absorption of unconsti
tutional powers by the President and Con
gress. The sovereignty ot the States and
a devotion to their reserved rights can a
lone preserve and perpetuate our happy
system of Government."
The Weldon "Patriot"" contains an ac
count of a trip to Petersburg ; of course
the Editor was well treated, and we may
add "very" grateful. He mentions me
strange thing though "the arrival in the
city of two lots of cotton , consigned to two
different houses, and all belonging to one
editor!" After that we are not surprised
to find him popping into China Stores and
Tin"hops.
The "Mountain Banner" has trouble a
. bout many things. " Some lazy scoun
drel has stolen another axe from us." It
was a broken axe. "Watch out, black
smiths, as it will probably be brought to
some of you to be mended." It is next
exercised about mail facilities, and then
about-the mails. "Growlingwe are told)
seems to do no good, but we can't help it. ' '
It then pitches upon those "spungers" of
society, " newspaper borrowers," and
thinks "mighty little of the man that de
pends upon others for a newspaper, when
they are so cheap, and he can so easily
have one of his own ;" and we agree with
him.
The Editor also" continues his " Tom
Fannon, the celebrated Tory Partisan ; a
Revolutionary Romance:" of which we
wish him a successful delivery.
The Greensboro' "Patriot" addresses its
Whig brethren at the East upon the Con
vention question ; from which we quote
in another column. We also give its arti-
-cle about the Mutual Insurance Company.
To the " Standard's" several questions,
"Where are you, gentlemen? What are
you up to? who are you for? what are
you for?" it answers, "We are here, sir!
Up to snuff ! For Fillmore and Graham
-now, and the Union forever! And afraid
-of nothing but the elephant !"
." The WarrenttHy' News' ' says something
of Venable's speech which "the crowded
state of its columns prevents it from giv
ing at length. But it makes no mention
of Abraham's political cuts at the "dodg
ing" of Cass and Douglas. It goes for
"harmony, we reckon, though it thinks
it "probable that Hon. James Buchanan-
will get the nomination of the Baltimore
Convention :" and "if the Whigs ever a
gree upon a time and place of holding a
Convention, they will doubtlessly norm
nate General Scott." The Editor don't
appear to be well posted up on either side.
He must look sharper at the political
world.
The Graham " Democrat " is easily
suited with a candidate for the Presidency
"We prefer Buchanan, and shall con
tinue to press his claims until the nomina
tion is made. We hope he may receive it
he is our first choice: and we believe the
choice of the Southern Democracy, but if
that disUnguished honor is assigned to Cass,
Douglas, Dickinson, Marcy, Butler or any
other good and true Democrat we shall
support him with no less zeal than if it was
our favorite Buchanan whose claims we
were pressing."
The Wilmington " Herald," in remark
ing upon the release of Thrasher and oth
ers, commends the Administration very
'.' highly for the course pursued.
"We consider the management of this
"Cuban affair difficult and irritating as it
was, as a proud feather in the cap of the
Administration. It is the result of a sound
discretion, and of a calm and dignified pol
icy, the most proper under the circumstan-
ces, and must be so regarded by all unbi
assd minds."
The "Herald" also has articles upon the
French constitution and Valentine's day
the last a skittish subject, as appears from
the following: "The question meets us,
"Do you expect a Valentine ?" No ! We
are going into our 50th year now, according
to history, therefore none of your jokes.
What do we care for fat Cupids with wings.
Chubby pinguid rascals, don't bring your
bows and arrows this way. None of your
blarney. Quere. Is Cupid an Irishman,
-or a native American ?" ,..''
The " Observer " of the 12th commends
- Judge Strange's Address at the first anni
versary of the Agricultural Society of Cum
berland. We quote "We presume that
this country is now one of the richest in the
State, made so by its timber, lumber, and
turpentine, If to this our farmers will only
add the gain which may be made by skillful
cultivation, it will vie with any, iu the State
or out of it,, as a desirable place of residence.
Its pure springs, its water power, its health
rAiIness, its contiguity to this and the other
markets of the world, are pointed out in the
Address-; and it needs only that we should
establish and pursue a system of skillful farm
; ing, to add to thtat tide of immigration which
?.has already largely increased our popula
tion. It should no longer be our reproach,
'that corn, a-nd flour, and bacon, and hay,
are brought to us a thousand miles by sea,
instead of being supplied at home and ship
ped to, instead of from, other States. We
have within a few weeks repeatedly seen
Northern hay going into the country from
this place, in waggons and carts. The
sight was humiliating."
The same paper says, in regard to the
Bladen meeting '-We learn that our in
formant was mistaken as to the vote in the
Whig meeting ia favor of a district conven
tion. We now learn that there was no op
; position to the proposition ; namely, for a
District Convention to appoint a Delegate
..to the National Convention.
The " Carolinian" gives up the point
,of, .having Delegates oppoinied to Balti
t more,' by the Democratic State Conven
; tvoa, in favor of a District Convention.
It refers, however to precedent in Ten
nessee and Alabama, where the Dele
gates were appointed by or at the State
Convention. We have not heard Iiqw it
was in Tennessee-; but in Alabama, they
nearly all turned out to be Secessionists.
The Carolinian has also the proceedings
of the Democratic meeting in Cumber
land on the 10th, in which they recom
mend Reid for re-election, and express
their choice for President and Vice Presi
dent, Buchanan and Strange. Delegates.
were appointed to the State and District
conventions ; and Democracy in general
glorified by addresses from Messrs. Dob
bin, Wright, McDuffie and Sheperd. No
accident occurred, we believe. The Car
olinian remarks "It is perfectly immate
rial who the whig party nominates, Da
vid S. Reid will be Governor for two years
more."
The Wadesboro' " Argus " follows up
the nomination of Hon. John D. Toomer
for Governor, with the following remarks :
"If Judge Toomer shall be the nomi
nee of the Convention, he will receive a
most hearty and enthusiastic support from
all the true and faithful Whigs in this re
gion of the State. Indeed we know of no
man in the whole State for whom our peo
ple have more affection than they do for
Judge Toomer. He has been amongst
them much ; and there is a daily beauty
iii his life that charms them always. We
believe that he would be triumphantly elec
ted. Surely the people of North Carolina
would not select David S. Reid in prefer
ence to John D. Toomer. It would be
taking a Satyr for Hyperion."
The "Argus" also takes "a stare at the
face and platform of Democracy," in
which it exhibits its tico-faced portrait on
the slavery question, North and South, on
the Tariff, on Internal Improvements,
National and State, &c. "At one time it
looked with the utmost benignity on inter
nal improvements, and seriously urged the
State to borrow three millions of dollars for
the purpose of building roads for the con
venience of the dear people. In a very
short time afterwards, when two or three
attempted works of internal improvement
had in a great measure miscarried, and the
subiect had become unpopular, this same
Democracy set its face against all improve
ments whatever and denounced the wings-
as the "Internal Improvement party." ;
Again it set its face against the Uanks,and
raised such a Hue and Ciy that it succeed
ed in getting a majority of its disciples in
to the State legislative, where it Gerry
mandered the State in a most abominable
manner, but left the Banks" in all things
untouched. Last summer it was an ene
my to the Compromise measure of the last
Congress and red-mouthed advocate of the
right of a single State to secede from the
Union whenever it thought itself aggrieved
by the Government of the United States.
Since the elections of the last summer and
fall it has declared that it will support no
man for office who will not pledge himself
to sustain the series of acts known as the
Compromise Measures of the last Congress!
Verily, "Democracy ha3 but one face and
but one platform" at the same time."
"But the platform. The platform, we
acknowledge, "is large enough for all sec
tions." On it we see, cheek by jole,
Rantoul and Rhett, Secession and Aboli
tion, Free trade and Restriction, Interven
tion and Non-intervention. It is such a
platform as Burke once described in the
British Parliament ; a tesselated pavement.
Here a bit of black stone, and there a bit
of grav. And if it were not for the "co
hesive power of pubhe plunder," it would
instantly lall to pieces oeneaui me ieei oi
those who occupy it."
The Concord "Mercury" noticed "that
the contractors were at work- on a large
proportion of the sections on the Railroad
line between this place anu feahsDury, anu
are progressing finely in the noble enter
prise. This road bids fair, under die pres
ent energetic management, to be complet
ed in a shorter time than any other road of
the same length has been in the United
States.".
The Plymouth " Villager" calls public
attention to the re-opening of Nag's head
Inlet, which it thinks better worthy of the
attention of the nation than the Kossuth
humbug : Hear ! Hear ! "Let our Rep
resentatives from this State, again, lay the
matter before Congress in its proper light,
and inform that body, that it is the will of
the people, that an appropriation should be
made for the purpose of re-opening Nag's
Head Inlet; and then, if that honorable
bodv shall refuse, let it go on with its Kos
suth humbug and five hundred a day, un
til its cup of glory shall have been filled,
even to overflowing. 'Kossuth, like a
ship's keel, ndey displaces the waters
where he moves, nut wnea ne is go le,
everv thing resumes its old place' so we
hope to hear from Congress, some'aing j
concerning an appropriation for the re-o-1
pening of Nag's Head Inlet.
The Goldsboro "Republican and Patriot '
comes out for Buchanan as its first choice
for President, as belonging to the "State s
Rights school of .politics," and for Robert
Strange, an appointed (not attending) Del
egate to the Nashville Convention, for Vice
President. It thinks "that Mr. Buchanan
is preferred by the Democracy of nearly every
Southern State. Concert of action among
them will enable them to take a stropg po
sition in the Baltimore Convention, and,
even if Mr. Buchanan is not nominated.the
Convention will be compelled to select a
man entirely agreeable to the Southern De
mocracy." Mighty well ! mighty well ! the same
papers, it is likely, who are so zealous for
Buchanan now, after the Baltimore Conven
tion, will be equally as fervent for W. O.
Butler, the Freesoil candidate, whom .Van
Buren, Blair, Benton, Giddings and the rest
of the Free Democracy, are moving Heaven
and earth to place iu nomination. We
shall see. The object of these presses is
very plain -to unite the Democracy on the
nominee, so that, at the proper time, they
may be bodily sold to Van Bureu, Butler &
Co. "State's Rights school," indeed !
The Charlotte "Whig" has a statement
of the operations of the Branch Mint at that
place, from which it appears that the receipt
of gold bullion in 1851, amounted to $316,
060 52; and the gold coinage, same year, to
$324,454 50. Total, since 1838, gold bul
lion $3,071,58432; coinage $3,053,984 50.
The "Whig" also has an article upon the
Governor's Proclamation, in which it takes
ground against Legislative amendments to
the constitution, and in favor . of an unre
stricted Convention. We quote " The
whole history of this question (free suffrage)
from the first proves that the people have
twice condemned it as a matter of constitu
tional reform. His Excellency was beaten
upon it in 1848, and would have been in
1850, but for the unfortunate position which
Gov. Manly occupied towards certain sec
tions of the State. This is proved, first, by
the fact that Manly's vote was increased
from 1848 to 1850 in those sections where
he was not personally unpopular ; and se
condly, by the fact that those members ojf
the Whig party who represented those sec
tions where Gov, Manly was rendered ob
noxious.and whose yotes and influence elec
ted Gov. Reid, every one, we believe,voted
against the present proposition to amend
the constitution. Then, we say, let the Leg
islature not attempt to dictate to the people
any longer, but give tbem the right to amend
their own constitution. Give them an un
restricted convention, where they may amend
it in all the particulars they desire."
The Salem "People's Press," on this same
subject says: "Amendments of. the State
Constitution by Legislative enactment, we
consider very uncertain, at best, aside from-
other objections, which the passage of Free
Suffrage through the last Legislature clear
ly shows. It is well known that that pop
ular measure, barely escaped defeat in the
Legislature by the reluctant votes of a few
Eastern members, who finally concluded to
grant this boon to the People, in hotes that
it might at least put off the C'onventioi
question, if not silence it forever."
The Asheville "News'1 says, "The plat
form laid down by the Whigs of Buncombe,
has secured the unqualified approbation of
the friends of an unrestricted Convention
throughout the State."
The "Messenger, we believe has quit
i writing Editorials, and gone to making mo
nev. How are vou friend "Jeemes,, and
what are you for, now-a-days, besides Tern
perance? Any Whigs up your way ?
The Milton "Chronicle" reads Mr. V-en
able something of a lesson, and puts him
through in this way: "We are glad to see
that he has such a horror of Federalism and
Abolitiocism. What does he think of the
democratic papers of this State advocating
James Buchauau for the Presidency ? We
are no lawyer, but we can take a jury of 12
honest, common-sense men, and convict
Buchanan not only of black-cockade feder
alism, but of Abolitionism. We can do i
by democratic testimony. By democratic
testimony we can prove him a federalist oi
the deepest die, and the bitter opponent to
slavery. Can Mr. Venable swallow him?-
If so he'll swallow a bitter pUJ, as we esn
show should he CMr. B.) be the candidate
v
for the Presidency. " Old documents are
dangerous things," and well would it be for
Jimmy Buchanan if they were all in ashes."
The "Chronicle" also gives us to under
stand that "next to our countyman, Joiin
Kerr. Eso.. Henry W. Miller is our choice
for a candidate for the Gubernatorial chair.'
Mr. Miller would make a Governor credita
Die in the highest degree to North Carolina;
and so too would Mr. Kerr. Either of them
would do honor to the office.
THE GREENSBORO' MUTUAL
We have heard of three dwellings, with
their contents, being recently destroyed by
fiie in Randolph county.
How comfortable the owners would now
feel, had their property been covered by
policies in the Mutual Insurance Compa
ny of Greensboro.' For risks are taken on
dwellings, barns, etc, in the country, as
well as all sorts of town property. And
the per centage is generally so much chea
per on the former than the latter, that coun
try nroprietors c?n afford themselves this
protection without feeling very sensibly the
expense. '
Our merchants and business men are be
ginning to understand the beauty of effec
ting their insurance at home; and instead
of sending North, are successfully building
up State establishments. Right ! If any
profits are realized to any body let it be by
our own people.
The Greensboro' Mutual Insurance
Company has already assumed a perma
nent and flourishing stand, under the aus
pices of the indefatigable Secretary Mr.
Adams. He remarked to us a fortnight
.... J - 1 A A
siiip. that, ne liau issueu uei a jiuuuicu
policies, and that applications were con
stantly coming in for consideration . If our
jocular .remark, made some weeks ago, a
bout keeping the office in his hat had been
indeed true, an enlargement and fixed
localityvould now be required, for the a
mount of business is such that the docu
ments are no longer portable.
We trust that no pains will be spared by
the friends of home enterprise, to turn the
attention of all who have been in the hab
it of insuring their' effects, and all who
ought to insure, from the wealthy and o
vergrown corporations of .the northern ci
ties, to the equally safe and more deserving
establishments widiin our State.
''" Patriot.
Nkw Okleaxs Feb. :9. The four
Massachusetts free negroes, charged with
attempting to abduct a slave, and sentenc
ed to be sold to slavery, in consequence of
their inability to pay the fines, at Galves
ton, Texas, have been sold to the highest
bidders, as follows: Sam'l Enalls, of Ala
bama, bought Anthony Hays for 325;
Levana Smith for $370; and Wm. Brown
for 505, intending to resell them again at
Mobile; John Fourtky, of Galveston,
bought Jacob Thompson for $395, on
speculation.
The Spanish steamer Colon, from Ha
vana, arrived to-day, having on board Mr.
Laborde, the late Spanish consul for this
city, who now returns here to resume hjs
official duties. The Spanish flag saluted
on the arrival of the steamer, and all prop
er honors shown to the Teturning consul.
ARRIVAL OF STEAMER PACIFIC.
FOUR DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE.
New York, Feb. 12th. The Amerb
can Mail steamer Pacific arrive at her wharf
at 4 o'clock this afternoon, after a stormy
passage of 15 days, bringing Liverpool dates
to the 28th of January.
FRANCE.
Paris, Jan. 27th. The Moniteur to
day publishes the names 72 member of the
new Senate and officers of government.
M. Baroche is named as Vice President,
and is to preside over the Senate in the ab
sence of President Napoleon. There are
also 34 Counsellors of State -named.'
The Ministry has been definitely consti
tuted by the following appointments: Cas
sabianca, Minister of State; M. Stamand,
Minister of War; and M. Turgot, Minister
of Foreign Affairs, ; - ;
The Mohiteur contradicts the rumors of
fresh measures of severity about to be adop
ted on the part of the government.
M. Ie Montalembeit, and several oth
er members of the consultative committee
have resigned their functious in conse
quence of the severity of the decrees rela
tive to the Orleans family.
Three persons were arrested on the 23d,
at Montreuil on the charge of having en
gaged in the insurrection of the 4th of De
cember. Forty-six persons were also ar
rested in Loinen Garonne, to be transpor
ted to Cayevine and Algeria.
M. J iies Fabre, president of the civic
tribunal of Houen, lias been arrested on a
warrant charging him 'with. having'. incited
the inhabitants to civil war.
Accounts of trade in the provinces of
France arc generally favorable.
Among the French Senators are Prince
de Beauhariiois, Mural, Gen. D. Polliers,
Count de Canbaceros, Drouyn deL'Huys,
Dumas, Dupm, Count Lamorcierj Gen.
de St. Arnmud.
Napoleon is nominally president of the
Council, M. Baroche is V ice President,
with a salary of SO, 000 francs. The pre
sidents of the Secligns, are to have 3o,000
francs, and the Councillors 25,000 francs.
Napoleon lias published a decree abro
gating that of the hue. provisional govern-
i -i t 1 1 . . f "-.;
inetit aoousniiig an iiues oi nouiiity.
The impression is. gaining ground in
Paris that Louis Napoleon will seek an
earl y .opportunit y to provoke a war with
England, the probabilities of an invasion
beinf earnestly discussed. The attention
of the whole -country is thoroughly arous
ed in regard to the national defences, and
extensive measures of preparation were
contemplated. .
The French papers state that m con
seuueuce of the engineers strike in England
larsre orders fur niacLincerv have been re
ceived in Fntsirf. ; :
r.vc.r.AM).
Liverpool, Jan.: lSih, noon. The la
test iiitelliigence by telegraph from London
brings the. aniiorncement that the report
of the threatened invasion of England by
Napoleon was current in that city. The
'government has ordered 30,000 stand of
arms from Birmingham and 25,000 troops
to London.
The London Daily news says that an
order has also been sent recalling three of
the principal ships of war on the Tagus to
return with all despatch to England.
A Paris correspondent, writing to the
London Standard, says that the President
entertains no warlike intentions, and that
the conscript system will be abolished,
The formation of volunteer rifle corps
iu London is attracting much attention.
The cotton mill of Messrs. Frost, at
Manchester, was destroyed by fire on the
evening of the 24th. Loss 30,000. The
mill contained 40,000 spindles, and 300
hands have been thrown out of employ
ment, ' . - ' -.
::' AL'STRIA.
Prince Wrmdischgratz has definitely ac
cepted the post of civil and military Gover
nor of Hungary.
The Customs Congress of Vienna, hav
ing agreed upon no material points would
be dissolved on the 2Sth of January.
THE MARKETS.
Liverpool, Jan. 2Sth. McHenry's
Circular of the 27th says that in Cotton
since the sailing of the Europa, there has
been an increased demand, the sales of the
three days' being 32,000 bales, fully 12,
000 of which were for export or speculation.
Prices had bare! advanced Ad. the ex
ports are in qualities below middling.
At a concert recently, at the conclusion
of the song, 'There's a good time coming'
a country farmer got up and exclaimed ;;
"Mister, you couldnt fix the" date could
you r
Arrest of a Fugitive Slave in New
York. The arrest of James l asker, the
fugitive slave of Jonathan Pinkney, Esq.,
Secretary of the senate of Maryland, took
place in Newr York. According to the
testimony of Mr. Walter Phelps, Tasker
ran away in May, 1844, in company with
several others. lie had , it appears, been
in the employ cf Messrs. Battelle & Ren-
wick, in New York, for eight years, and
has three children in that city.
-Tasker stated to the U. S. Commission
er that he had been enticed away, and that
he was perfectly willing and anxious to
return home with Mr. Pinkney, who had
always treated him well, but desired to
take his children with him. The Com
missioner after a brief examination, order
ed him to be delivered up to Mr. Pinkney -
who accompanied by the Assistant Mar
shall, started immediately for Maryland.
Ax Insult to the Austrian Minister.
Mobile :, Feb. 10. Chevalier Hulse
mann, the Austrian Minister.to the United
States, ho arrived in this city yesterday,
was grossly insulted last night by a crowd
of persons, composed of Germans and oth
er foreign residents, w ho assembled around
his hotel, greeting him .with jeers and
shouts, and closing with a chariyari seran
ade of the most discordant sounds. Great
indignation is felt, by. oqr .citizens at the
conduct pf these . disorderly persons; and it
is believed that there was not a single A
merican citizen among them.
Divideisd. The Commercial Bank of
Wilmington has declared a semi-annual
dividend of 4 per cent.
RAIL ROAD MEETING.
At a meeting of a portion Tif the Stock
holders of the North Carolina Rail Road
Company ( representing $26,000 of said
Stock) held nt Nevvberneon Wednesday the
4th day of February, 1852, on motion of J.
Blackwell, Esq., Dr. J. G. Tull was called
to the Chair, and on motion of Alonzo T.
Jerkins, Esq., Richard N. Taylor, Esq. was
appointed Secretary.
The Chairman stated the object of the
meeting to be, to take into consideration a
change of the route and Eastern terminus
of said Road, made at a recent meeting of
the Directors; whereupon,
On motion of Dr. John R. Justice,a com
mittee of five persons, viz: Wm. H. Wtfsll
ington, John Blackwell, John R. Justice, M.
W. Jarvis and Edward R. Stanly, were ap
pointed by the Chair to draft resolutions ex
pressive of the sense of the meeting on the
subject which had called them together, to
be reported to an adjourned meeting on
Friday at 3 o'clock, P. M. and on motion,
the chairman was added to the said com
mittee. On Friday tha 6th of February, the meet
ing having assembled acptfftfcing to adj urn
ment, the Committee througlptheii Chair
man. W. H. Washington, rejjorted the fol
lowing resolutions, viz:
1. Resolved, That we ccu-jiSe it to have
been clearlv the obiecti'and'intention of the
Legislature in grantiniMbe Charter for the
North Carolina Rail Road to connect the
same with Neuse River as well as the Wil-r
mington and Raleigh Rail Road; to estabr
lisli a great State work for the benefit of the
people of the State at large and nofcto build
up any particular town oi towns; to. give to
the farmers of the country a choice of mar.
kcts for their produce and not to furnish a
monopoly to any particular people or place,
And we cannot but regard any unnecessar
ry departure from the provisions and in
tention of the said charter by which a pre
ference is shown to a particular section of
the State and a large portion thereof denied
a participation in the benefits arising from
said improvement, as a violation of the spirit
of the Charter; and an act of gross injustice
and wrong not only to the stockholders and
people in Uiis section of the Slate, but to all
persons who may have occasion to send
their produce on said Road,
2.. Resolved, That we had supposed iheronteof
the said Road and the terminus thereof had been
definitely set'Jed mt n!y by the provisions of the
Charter itself.biil also by actual survey and by a
solemn, vote of the Directory in full meetiug assenir
bl-d.
3- Resolved, That we have heard therefore with
surprise and .regret, that at a recent meeting of the
Directory in which our views and interests were
neither represented i r regarded, a cbanjre was made
in the .Route, of said Road and in the Eastern ler-
; minus thereof, which we consider important in" it-.
.p If -ami-tending to the manifest wrong and injury
of this section of the Stale. And though we have
not seen ihe report of the Engineer on the subject,
yet We are cnmpeljed to say that, the reasons ns
signed for said change in a recent letter to the Pre
sident of the Company, are wholly unsatisfactory.
4- Resolved That whije as members of a large
tax-paying community, as good citizens oft he State
and (underalj tha circumstances) liberal subscri
bers to this great improvement, we are not only wil
ling but siucerely desironsto do all in our power
for the accomplishment of so noble an enterprise in
the true spirit of the Charter, and in good fa ith to
all the parties concerned, yet we are determined to
employ all lawful means to resist a .violation of that
instrument and to prevent gross infractions o f our
rights, ar.d an inter ruin of our interests.
Said resoiutions were unanimously adopted.:
J. G. T.ULL, Chairman.
It. N. Taylor, Sec. '
Justice to Mr.; Clay. The calum
nies heaped Upon Henry Clay have been
legion. No man ey.er suffered more from
slander, and few i here are living who have
not better merited reproaches than Mr.
Clay, who has received so many without
cause. Of all the falsehoods, the most a
trocious and the most blighting upon his
political prospects was the cry of "Bargain
and Sale" in 1825. It was a most foul
conspiracy, which some of the parties to it
have done what they could to atone for.
The recantation of Carter Beverly, the pli
ant and credulous follower of Andrew
Jackson; the flank letter of Gen. James
Hamilton; the long sought after letters in
the possession of Francis P. Blair, have all
been published as so many evidences, not
only of the innocence of Mr. Clay, but of
the sad consequences of this stupendous
plot. Mr. Buchanan's agency in the
great event of the year 1825, is well known.
Charges of the most serious character naye
rested upon him for the past seven years,
with an overwhelming accumulation or ai
finuative and negative testimony. His
friends have not come forth to defend hi.n.
He has offered no apology. In view of
Mr. Buchanan's position, a correspondent
of the Boston Journal says:
He has imposed upon lixmselj a silence
hat betokens the consciousness of harrow
ing guilt. It is in his power to do justice
tolienry Clay, while he yet lives, so that
his setting sun, whenever witnessed, shall
be what it was in its mid-day splendor.
But he will not do it. Magnanimity , an
attribute of genuine greatness, does not De-
long to his character.
Perhaps the writer may be wrong in this,
but it is most certainly true he knows the
falsity of slanders, which, if not by speech,
by silence at least he has done more to
propagate than any other public man.
The Washington Correspondent of the
Baltimore Patriot says that Mrs. James
Brooks has been presented with a splendid
carriage, and appropriate harness and e
quipments, as a tribute of respect to her
husband for his judicious and patriotic
courss in sustaining the Compromise meas
ures of Jast. Congress, and generally for his
statesmanlike and high minded career in
favor of the.Union, the best interests of the
country, and the whole country without re
gard to section or geographical lines. The
writer says : . ".It was accompanied by a
complimentary and appropriate letter from
Messrs. Tomlinson Co., carriage ma
kers, setting forth the motive for the public
spirited act, without communicating the
names of the contributors."
A country editor having received two
gold dollars 'in advance, for his paper,
says, that he 'allows his child to play with
the other children as usual'.
flALEIGfl TIMES.
aiaitiiiiiLii
KALE I (i II, N. C.
IT
FRIDAY FEB. 120, 1852.
CONVENTION QUESTION.
Attention is invited to the articles we
publish from other papers upon this impor
tant subject.
We are very much pleased to have this
preliminary discussion go on now, before
the meetimr of the State Convention. If
we are in the wrong; we arc willing to be
set right. S Our desire is to advance the ii.
terest of the State, and promote the success
of the party to which we belong.
It has been said that we o'ught not to bring
the question of a Convention "to amend the
constitution into the canvass for Governor,
because it has no legitimate connection with
the office, and we should have regard to the
fitness of things.
The subject of Reform is already in the
canvass for fJoverjior it is Governor Reid's
strong, if not his only point. It is the plat
form adopted by the Democratic Convention
in 1850, upon which he was elected, and
carried out in part by the Legislature of '50
'51, in the Free Suffrage bill. If this
were not so,: it would be sufficient to say
that our wishes do not govern in this res
pect. In all the States where the Governor
is elected by the people, the candidates are
expected to canvass on all matters before
the people: It would be strange if it were
not so. How would it look ? Here is a
question agitating extensively the people of
his State controlling, in many portions of
it, the legislative electionsone candidate
for Governor, and his party, have already ta
ken ground upon it. and his election is urged
mainly upon this ground, with the preslige
of a former election upon it in his favor.
The other candidate, instead of meeting the
subject of Reform fairly, as becomes a true
man and a good Whig, is desired to stand
up before the people and say "I take no
ground on this question my election or
defeat will decide no issue in regard to it
it does'nt belong to the canvass for Govern
or, because he has nothing to do with alter
ing the constitution. the candidates for the
Legislature must discuss this question, for
they will have the power to decide it. "
Well then he must turn a deaf ear to every
question put to him in relation to it ; and
refuse to answer what he is for, or what he
is against. What a position will such a man
occupy ? Really, we cannot contemplate
such state of things.
Agaiif this kind of reaspning will shut
out from the canvass almost every othe
question that comes before the people.-
The -. Presidential question usually enters
largely into the Gubernatorial canvass but
the Governor's election has no legitimate
connection with it, upon the same principle.
The office of Governor has less to do with
National than State policy -that then must
come into the canvass for members of the
Legislature who will have the right and 'du
ty', of.passing upon National measures. So
of almost every issue that rnay ba presented.
Yet we see that all these questions, and
every other discussed by the press and the
people, most cf which have n legitimate
connection with the office of Governor .in
variably come into the canvass, and the peo
ple expect to hear clearly the views 'of the
respective candidates upon them all.
It is only necessary t refer to the man
ner in which this subject of 'State Reform
was intrnded into the canvass in 1S4S, to
bring before the minds of all. the necessity
which demands its presentation now, and
the insuperable obstacles against its being
altogether diverted from the Gu! ru.-Hori:,!
to the legislative campaign. ine con
vention which nominated Gov. Reid, in
1848, was silent in regard to it, and brought
him out on National grounds alone. He
first introduced it in his public discussions
at Newbern pnd JJeaufort, it was immedi
ately, taken up by the presses and partisans
of Democracy, discussed arjd advocated,
Governor Manly found himself compelled
to take ground upon the subject, and he op
posed the proposition of his opponent, be
lieving the people to be satisfied with the
constitution at it was. lie was sustained by
the Whig presses and the people of the
State but his majority was less than a thou
sand votes.
Gov. Manly took the very ground now
urged upon us, that this subject did not be
long to the Gubernatorial canvass. In
1850, accepting the nomination of the Whig
State Convention, he recapitulated his ex
perience as follows :
" Knowing full well the excitement, the
sectional disturbance and the paralysing in
fluence on the progress of our State in times
past, caused by the agitation of this ques
tion of constitutional reform ; having no
authority as the organ of the Whig party to
declare their sentiments in "regard to it, and
neither opportunity nor time afforded during
an ardent contest "to obtain their opinions ;
it became my steady aim and effort to shut
out the topic ; to exclude it from the can
vass ; to warn my party friends to beware
of such political trickery, and not to permit
themselves to be divided upon this new is
s je about amending the ConstUation of the
State An issue which had not been mooted
by the people," &c, &c.
" They knew full well that such questions
of reform pertained exclusively to the legis
lative power and to the people in their sov
ereign character that the governor had no
power to adjust this measure no voice to
establish it, no veto to prevent it. That his
election on the one side or the other would
neither advance nor retard a single step the
progress of such reforms." j
" It became my steady aim and effort to
shut out the topic ; to exclude it from the
canvass," &c. Did he succeed ? Did he
neutralize its influence ? Did he even find
himself able to abstain from its discussion
in the canvass which succeeded. B.y
manner of means. We all know the con
trary ; and every man may estimate for him
self, the power it had in deciding the con
test of that year -.the result iq one will dis-.
pute. We lost the Governor and-the ma
jority in both branches of the Legislature.
Since that time, the subject has increase!
in importance ; if it was found impossible
to shut it Out of the canvass ! in 1848 ant
'50, how are we to exclude 'it now ? i
must de met in some way. It is not optioi
al with the Whig party to discuss the Frc .
Suffrage bill or not. That is presented Lc
fore the people in every paper of the St'
by the authority of the Lislature. If .
Whig party divide upon it, as! now seeiiis
likely, we regard the chance of electing a
Whir Governor desperate. Our desire is
to obtain some ground upon which we can
all stand: for the idea of inaction or neu
trality is clearly out of the question,
1. Shall we occupy our former ground,
on this question ? j
2. Shall we advocate the call of a Con-:
vention to amend the Constitution ?
3. Shall we leave it to-our nominee to
meet his opponent upon such grounds as to,
him shal seem, best ? j
These are questions for the wisdom of out
State Convention to decide, upon a com,-,
parison of views amon'g the Delegates, in
April next. We expect to sppport their
nominee, as every body knows.! If our views,
do not prevail, though they appear to us
right, it will cause no abatement in our at-:
tachment to the cause, or zeal in its service.
If there is no way of stopping this trading
in Reform by Democratic aspirants for. tho
Governor's chair, why then we inust submit
to it; and it bids fair to go on for very long
time to come.
RUMORS OF WAR.
Our readers are referred to the news by
the Pacific relating to-the threatened inva
sion of England by France. The. anticipa
tion of war between these twogreat powers,
we confess we hardly know how to enter
tain; and yet it is not stranger, in our mind,
than the coup d'etat by which Lo"is Napo
leon, overthrowing a settled constitution,
under which, his rank and power had been
obtained, erected a government 'dependant
upon his own will, and subject f.q h'3 own.
revision. The French nation followed hina
blindly rratified his acts by such a vote as
the world never saw and stooped the neck
to the yoke with a yielding pusillanimity
which we never expected to see among any
civilized people o earth. Jf now his pur
poses require war and the invasion of EnT
ghind, who can doubt that his actions will
be approved and his designs seconded by
the French nation? If N.apoleon really em:
bark in this business, will not the conse
quences be most disastrous to France, and
therefore to himself? We cannot doubt it.
England is too powerful -too strong in fleets
and armies for France at any time. She
proved so in the great struggle which ended
in her splendid victory at Waterloo- butall
time which has since passed has; added tg
her strength and resources-r-and, ajtlhe pre?
sent day, with. perfect tranquility at home,
and with prosperity pervading all her wider
spread empire, she will undoubtedly prove
the most formidable antagonist in the world,
under the able and sagacious statesmen now
at the head of her affair.?. Who can have
the s.ame confidence in France, under Louis
JVapoleon ? ' j
Further intelligence will be looked for
with great anxiety. What we know is that
England is engaged in extensiv preparar
tions for defence, 25,000 troops having been
ordered into London, and the principal ships
of war re-called from the station in the
Tagus. The Morning Chronicle publishes
a letter from its Paris correspondent, the
statements of which ate .quite alarming:
"I am credibly informed that at the pre
sent moment the President's 4whole idea is
with respect to the invasion of England: .
that he has consulted generals, studied the
plans of the Boulogne expedition, received
reports on the feasibility of the Channel,&.c.
There is not a man connected with the Ely
see that does not affect to speak of the in
vasion as an affair that is not only practica
Me, but which will be attempted. Let it
not be supposed that a pretext is necessary.
There are, unhappily, too many points on
which it would be easy to rouse the feelings
of the French nation, and any one of which
would be an excuse for war." j
DEMOCRATIC MEETING.
A meeting of our Democratic fellow-citizens
was held at the City Hall on Monday
afternoon. Kimbrough Jones, Esq. was
called to the chair, and W. W. Ilolden act
ed as Secretary. Addresses were delivered
by Messrs. Saunders, Wilder, Bracch and
Busbee. Gov. Reid was nominated for re
election, and delegates appointed to the
State and District Conventions. A resolu
tion was aho adopted, calling a County,
Convention at May Court, for the Nomina
tion of candidates for the Legislature. The
meeting was a respectable one, and very
harmonious. . . . j
Hon. George E. Badger will please ac
cept our thanks for Mechanical part of
the Patent Office Report, 1S50, Sv '31.