il
I
VOL. 1.
LEXINGTON, NORTH ; CAROLINA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER; U, :I855.
no: ,inL
.mm n
fcrington anb tlabkin Hog;
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PLATFORM t OF TUP AMERICAN
PARTY OF WORTH CAROLINA.
At a Convention of the. American party,
held at Raleigh, on the 10th of October,
1855, the following resolutions were adopt
ed. Resolved, That, as the causes which ren
dered the secrecy of the American organi
zation necessary in its infancy, no longer
exist alLthe secret ,cermonials ot the or
der whether of initiation, obligations, signs,
constitutions, rituals, or passwords be abol
ished that we do Constitute 'ourselves into
a publicly organrzed Mry that we do chal
lenge our opponents to the public discuss
ion of our principles and we do hereby
invite and invoke the aid and co-operation
of all the citizens of the State, without re
gard to their former politicals affiliations, in
maintaining and carrying out the great aims
principles and objects of the American par
,ty."
Resolved, That we do hereby ratify and
.endorse the principles enunciated in the
platform of the American j party, by the
National Council of the same,' begun and
held at Philadelphia, on the 5th day of June,
.1855, in relation to the political policy of
the Government whilst at the same time,
we consider the. three great primary princi
ples of the organization, which constitute
the basis of our party, as paramount in im
portance to any issues of mere govermental
policy. ,
Resolved, That these" three; great primary
principles are, first, the confinement of the
honors, offices and responsibilities of polit
ical station, under our government, to native-born
Americans, "with a due regard, at
the same time, to the protection of the foreign-born
in all the,7civil rights and privileges
guaranteed to freemen by the constitution,
whether Federal or State. I
Secondly, Resistance to religions intoler
ance, and a rigid maintanance of the great
principle of religious freedom by exclud
ing from office and power, those who would
persecute for opinion's sake, who would
control the politics of the country through
Church influences or priestly interference ;
and who acknowledge an allegiance to any ,
poAyer on earth, whether civil or ecclesias
tical, as paramount to that which they owe
to the Constitution.
And, Thirdly, unswerving devotion to the
Union of these States, and resistance to all
factions and sectional attempts to weaken
its bonds.
1 Resolved, That in all nominations for po
litical station here after to be made by the
American Party, it is recommended that the
same be done in open public meeting and
that all those who agree with us in principle,
and who concur in our aims antt objects,
shall hereafter be recognized as members of
the American party.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the
American Party in this State to hold a Con
vention of delegates, to be appointed in pub
lic primary meetings in the respective coun
ties, in Greensboro,' on Thursday the 10th
day of April next, for the purpose of nomi
nating a candidate to be run by the Amer
ican party for Governor at the next election
that each county appoint as many Del
- egates as it chooses, and that the mode of
voting' in aid convention be regulated by
the convention itself.
Resolved, That we consider the 22d day
of Febuary next the time heretofore se
lected bv the National Council of the Amer
ican order, for the nomination of candidates
for President and Vice-President, as toa
early a day for that purpose, and we do
hereby recommend to our breathren of the
American party throughout! the Union, the
propriety of postponing theiholding of said
convention, to some time id the month of
June or July.
Resolved, However, lest jsuch postpone-r-ment
may not take place, it is deemed ad
visable to appoint two delegates to represent
the State at large in such nominating- Con
vention, and it is recommended to the A
merican party in each Congressional Dis
trict to hold primary meetings in the respec
tive counties, and appoint delegates to Dis
trict Conventions, for thej selection of a
delegate from each respective District to
said nominating Convention. "
Resolved, That an Executive Cential
Committee offivebe appointed by this body
whose duty it shall be to attend to the
general concerns of the American party in
this State, to carry on the, necessary cor
respondence, and take such incentive steps
9a mav be deemed necessary , for the more
thorough organization of the said executive
committee be authorized and requested to.
appoint a County Executive Committee for ,
each tJounty in tne joiaie; anu mar sam
County Executive Committee do further ap
point a sub-committee for each electi6n pre
cinct in the county, with a view to 'a more
thorough and complete organization of. the
American party in North Caroljnaf , .
Hon. L. M. Keitt, of South Carolina,
addressed his constituents at Barnwell
Court House, the 15th; October, on the
state of parties and the aspects of poli
tics in the country. For a Democrat, he
gave a portraiture ol the Great Demo
cracy not so flattering as some we have
seen sketched Dy its friends in this State.
After speaking of the dismemberment of
the Whig party, he asks:
How fares it now with the Democratic
party ? ' Its banners still glance in the
sun, and its legions still rally at their
chieftains' biddings. But what inscrip
tions are on the banners ? And what
cries resound over the field! Are not
the Softs the Democratic party in New
York ? and have they not upon their flag
the Wilmot Proviso, in the shape of" un
compromising hostility to the extension
of slave, territory ?" Did not Bigler, in
his canvass for Govenor of Pennsylvania,
carry a banner with freesoil on one side,
and conservatism on the other? Did
not the party in all the New England
States skulk from the slavery question ?
Is the picture any brighter in the North
west? Where, in all that region, save
Illinois, have the constitutional rights of
the South been boldly upheld ? How
stands the party even upon the Nebraska
bill ? In the free States it is maintained
upon the ground of squatter sovereignty,
and alien suffrage, and Northern facili
ties for colonization. Can the South
uphold it upon these grounds ? Who,
fyere, will endorse the monstrous doctrine
of squatter sovereignty, born of political
cowardice and selfish ambition ?- Where,
then, is the unity of the Democratic par
ty ? It differs in the defence even in its
fundamental measures. Here and there,
at the North a noble leader and a body
guard stand firm, but they fight a hope
less battle. The President is true, but
his party has betrayed even him. The
plumage of authority, the profits of placer
and the greater relative strength of 'the
Southern wing, has kept the Democratic
party together, since the dissolution of
its Whig rival. But Abolitionism is fast
rending the gorgeous trappings of office,
and beating down even the strong cas
tles of the spoils. Partisan presses and
venal declaimers may exhaust sophistry
and fraud, but the fact still glares out up
on us, that the Democratic party is
denationalized by Abolitionism.
;A DDR ESS
ALFRED Gfc POSTER, ESQ:,
DELIVERED" BEFORE THE AGRICTJLTtTRAL SOCIETY
- OF. RANDOLPH COUNTY, - 4
. October 26TS55- 4.
j t : ; , : - - -; i-
Mr. President i - ' ' ' . :
Chastity in Roman Cataolic Coun
tries. Facts and statistics, says the
Philadelphia Sun, speak louder than the
best constructed arguments. With them
we now have to deal. In Brussels, a
Roman Catholic city of Belgium, the
number of illegitimate births average
twenty-five in every one hundred. In
Popish Munich the capital of Bavaris,
they reach forty-eight in every hundred,
or nearly one-half. In Vienna, during
the year 1849, there were 19,241 births,
of which 10,360 were illegitimate, or
considerably more than one-hal In
Rome itself, the City of the Church, the
annual average of births is 4,373, out of
which 3,169, or nearly three-fourths, are
exposed as foundings. It appears, there
fore, that the nearer we approach the
great centre of this religious system, the
greater becomes the amount of bastardy.
These are statistical facts, whose arcura
cy cannot be questioned, or which, if
doubted, can be proved. On the contra
ry, in the Protestant city of London,
with its population of nearly two and a
half millions of souls, the number of il
legitimate births annually, averages but
four out of every hundred. The inferen
ces from these facts are as plain as the
facts themselves The vow of celibacy
taken by the priesthood of the Popish
Church, does not practically involve that
of chastity, and the example thus set by
their superiors is faithfully imitated by
its laity. Indulgences and dispensations
are freely ; sold, and purchased, under
which the seventh commandment is vio
lated with impunity.. Under the very
eye. of the Pope himself, its precepts are
the rnosV extensively and unblushing ig
nored. Well does a contemporary asky
if Sodom and -Gomorrah, were, wicked,
what is Rome ? If Babylon the great
was the mother of harlots, what is Rome?
If the Paple priesthood becontihent,"what
was Praipus? If tiny be chaste, what
were the Fawns and Satyrs ?
American Organ.
and Gentlemen of the Randolph Agricultural Society :
I enter upon the duty", "which by your partiality has de
volved upon me with unaffected embarrassment ; and not
withstanding ray aversion to apologies g-enerallv, I must
. be.permitted to say, that I never felt a stronger disposition
iu ucspcatv, me num. Miuuigence 01 an auuience in my nie,
than I do upon "the present occasion ,
Agriculture is. a subject so comprehensive in its charac
ter so important; .in its details embracing under one
general head, so many subdivisions, either of whicK is T6fi
moment sufficient to command our attention, and the dis
cussion of either of which. would exaustthe brief hour'al
lotted me, that the mind is at a loss as to the mode in
which it can be best treated in the compass of an address,
short as this must necessarily be.
I shall with your consent, avoid going into details, and
confine myself to an etlort to induce the farmers of Ran
dolph County, to rise up to the dignity of their calling
to renuer inose aireaay engagea in Agriculture more con
tented; and more j deeply impressed with the importance
of its improvement to induce the wavering, the young,
the intelligent and educated more especially, to engage in
this or some other kindred branch of profitable and honor
. able industry and to give to all, if possible, an increas
ed stimulus to exertion, and inspire all with a laudable
ambition to excel. .
The exhibition before usv to-day, the evident interest
manifested in the success of our Fair, by the large, re
spectable, and intelligent audience here assembled, can
not fail to be gratifying to every citizen of Randolph
County. We have met to-day for a higher and nobler
purpose than the discussion of party politics, or even 'the
celebration of a national festival. We have assembled to
do honor to Agriculture, and to acquire improvement in
that most important branch of National industry, by a
free and full interchange of opinion.
It is said that the Emperor of China, upon the recur
rence of every spring season, goes forth in the presence of
his subjects; himself holds the handles of the plow, and
turns a furrow in order to do honor to Agriculture, and to
show to those over whom he rules, the. estimate which is
placed by his Government upon this branch of industry.
I behold before me to-day, hundreds vho, according to the
theory of our Republican Government, are politically the
equals, and I venture to say, are intellectually the supe
riors of the Emperor of China, the kings of America,
who daily and habitually, thus honor the plow, and are
here assembled, to give to the World a demonstration of
their pride in-their calling, and to evince their interest in
its improvement and advancement. And well may they
be proud, for Agriculture holds out to her votaries, rewards
which are in the gift of no other profession. She promis
es to them Health, competence, peace, contentment, and
happiness, as far at least as these blessings can be found
in the prosecution of any earthly avocation. And we are
told by one of England's most gifted bards that
r
" Reasons whole pleasure, all the joys of sense
Lie in three words peace, health, and competence."
The greatest error of this age, especially in this country,
is a feverish thirst for the sudden and rapid accumulation
of wealth by extraordinary means. Our young men scorn
the slow, sure, and regular accumulation of property by
farming as altogether too old-fogyish for them. They pre
fer by some sudden speculation to quadruple their wealth,
and hence, they plunge headlong into the busys marts of
the world, lending every energy of their natures, straining
every nerve" to its utmost tension in the eager, exciting,
and alas, too often destructive pursuit of wealth ; forget
ting in their haste to become suddenly rich, the warning of
he wise man, that " an inheritance may be gotten hastily
at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed."
It is in vain that prudent friends remind them that Rome
was not built in a day." In vain do they point them to
the Coral Isles of the Ocean, formed as they have been
by the labor of insignificant insects piling together all the
particles of which they consist, as evidences of what can
be achieved by patient and persevering industry. The
success of one or two who have preceeded them in the
struggle, is ever before their eyes, luring them on, while
they cannot see the thousand victims by the wayside, who
have failed, and are noy writhing under the burdens, f gre
vious to be borne," of poverty, shattered health, prema
ture loss of energy, and too often, that still greater, and
morelamentable loss loss of reputation, and character.
They press on, and if they do at last succeed, it is at the
sacrifice of every ""domestic enjoyment, of all mental and
moral improvement; and when they stretch forth their
now weakened and palsied hands to grasp the much co
veted treasure, they find themselves totally unqualified for
its enjoyment, and the mortifying conviction forces itself
upon them, that the golden fruit for which they have
striven, is like Dead Sea fruit, beautiful to behold, but
which turns to ashes on the lips." ,
The unnatural and constant excitement attending their
speculations and hazardous enterprises, tells rapidly up
on thejr physical systems, and when a premature decline
comes upon them and they are forced to forego the accus
tomed stimulus, they encounter all the horrors which the
Opium eater and the Drunkard feels wrhen the means can no
.longer be had of gratifying his insatiate appetite. Their
very existence becomes a burden, and they "repine and
groan, and wither from the earth."- Again, many of our
young men, stimulated by ambition, make fame, political
fame particularly, their idol, and fall down and worship it;
and the more effectually to succeed, they enter the learn
ed professions, as they are termed, and toil assidiously by
night and by day, with restless and ceaseless energy,; to
rise into the notice of their fellow men. Their young
hearts are burning with an ardent desire to inscribe-their
names on the rising column of their countrie's greatness,
and political distinction becomes the goal of all their hopes.
They watch for opportunities for distinction, and become
ever ready and anxious aspirants for office. To be a far
mer, ;involves in their estimation, the sacrifice of all pre
ferment and distinction, and they turn from such an avo
cation with disgust. And it is too often .the case among
farmers themselves, who have accumulated by industry
and frugality, a fortune sufficient to justify them in giving
to their sons the blessings of a liberal education, that
prompted by paternal pride," they place them in profes
sions,. and lyopk forward with much self-complacency; and
confidentBXDectation to the time, when tneir fond hearts
-shall be made hannv in seeiner them occupy positions of
Tvrnfesainnal nr nnlitiml hnnnr. - And in the families of
farmers where there happens to be a son less liberally en
dowed by nature than his brothers, how often do we hear
the misguided father declare; hie ' designs his other sons
for professions, but of this one he" will make a farmer.
The-plain eriglish of which is, that he will make farmers
of tne fooli, land lawyers, doctors, and politicians of those
who give evidence of possessing a fair share of native in
tellect - z. " r ' :
7 ii mere oe any young man now in my neanng, wno nas
marked out the course for himself I have indicated, or anv
iatner wno is looking to political distinction as the end
tor which he is, educating his sons,.let me entreat him to
study well the Parable which Jbthara delivered to the
men of Shechem, which' they will find in the 9th Chapter
of Judges, and which has been often quoted for the bene-
hj ot otiice-seekers and, office-holders : "And when they
told it 16 Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount
Gerizim, and lifted up his voice -and cried and said unto
them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem that God
may hearken unto, you. . .
t The trees went forth on a ; time to anoint a King over
them : and they said unto the olive tree, rein thon over ns.
m i ;
But the olive tree said unto them : should I leave my
fatness wherewith by me they honor God and man, and
go to be promoted over tbe trees ?
And the trees' said to the fig tree, cornc thou and reign
over us. But the fig tree said unto them : should I forsake
myi sweetness and good fruit and go to be promoted -over
the trees?
OThen said the trees unto the vine; come thou and reign
over us.
And the vine said unto them : should I leave my wine
which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over
the trees ? - '
Then said all the trees to the bramble, come thou and
reign over us.
. And the bramble said unto the trees. If in truth ye
anoint me King over you, then come and'put your trust
in my shadow, and if not; let fire come out of the bramble
and devour the Cedars of Lebanon," , -
So that even in the days. of. Jotham, the best men and
most useful citizens were not generally to be found filling
the offices of a country, and the bramblej the most useless
and worthless, of all the trees of the forest could alone be
induced to accept of office. Office, itself can never alone
confer honor, fcr we are told that
ct Great Cincinnatus at the, plow, with greater glorry shone
Than guilty Caesar e'er could do, though seated on a throne."
There is much false pride among us and many false esti
mates made by our people as tolhe degree of respectability
to be attached to particular pursuits. Ave may however,
lay it down as a safe rule, that any pursuit is honorable in
which, by industry an honest livelihood is obtained.
The celebrated Dr. Channing,-. in speaking of the- great
mission of this country, said : " The prejudice that labor
is a degredation, (one of the vorst prejudices handed down
lrom the barbarous ages) is to receive here a practical re
futation. The power of liberty, to raise up the whole peo
ple this is the great idea on which our institutions rest,
and which is to be wrought out in, our history." And as
Hiram in a spirit of dissatisfaction with the twenty cities
given him by Solomon, characterized them as dirty ; s.nd
they are, therefore, we are told, called . Cabul until this
day, so we, because our forefathers, in the barbarous
ages spoken of Dr. Channing; looked ' upon labor as de
grading, are too much disposed to perpetuate the preju
dice, and even at this day to write Cabul upon many useful
and honorable avocations. " "We are too prone to yield to
the promptings of our pride, which either like an Igneus
Fatuus, lures us into a fruitless race after fancied and un
attainable blessings,. or else, makes us satisfied to lead a
profitless nd aimless existence, instead of endeavoring to
earn for ourselves in some useful' calling, an honest inde
pendence. The Poet Burns shows us the estimate which he placed
upon a competence, honestly earned for one's self in the
very appropriate advice whichjie gives to a young friend."
He tells him- : ? '
" To catch dame fortune's gulden smile
Assidious wait upon her ;
And gather gear by ev'ry wile
That's justified by honour ;
Not for to hide it in a hedge,
Not for a train attendant ;
But for the glorious privilege
Of being independent.'''
Let us now turn to the farmer's life and see if it is not'
one in which a man may be useful, honorable' and happy.
If authority be asked for, we can proudly point not only
to the writings but to the example of ihe sages and patri
ots of our land, to those, whose names have come down
to us from a former generation, and whose memories will
be cherished as long as virtue and exalted patriotism can
find admirers on the earth. ,
The great Washington, whose writings should be treas
ured as our richest national legacy, and whose opinions
and advice upon every snbject should be well pondered
in these day's of degeneracy, writes in a letter to Sir Jno.
Sinclair "I know of no pursuit in which more real and
important services can be rendered to any country than
by improving its agriculture." Chancellor Kent, as far
back as 1796, spoke ot agriculture, as " the absolute means
of our subsistence, the source of nutriment to the arts, of
freedom, energy, commerce, and civilization to mankind;
and in short, as the firmest basis of national prosperity."
Chancellor Livingston, whose reputation as a farmer, was
only equalled by his reputation as a Jurist, says : If hap
piness is to be found upon earth, it must certainly be sought
in the indulgence of those benign emotions which are the
reward of rural cares and rural labors. As Cicero sums
up all human. knowledge in the character of a perfect Ora
tor, so we might with much more propriety, claim every
virtue, and embrace every science, when we draw that of
an accomplished farmer. He is the legislator of an exten
sive family, and not only men, but the brute creation are
subject to his laws. He is the Magistrate who expounds,
and carries these laws into execution. He is the physi
cian who heals the wounds, and cures the diseases of his
various patients. He is the Divine who studies and en
forces the precepts of reason ; and he is the great almoner
'of the Creator, who is continually dispensing his bounties,
not only to his fellow-mortals, but to the fowls of the air,
and the beasts of the field." And it is a fact, worthy to be
noticed, at least, by farmers, that every President of these
United States,-after the expiration of his term of office,
has sought quiet and happiness in the peaceful pursuits of
agriculture. y.: : '
. Ex-President Van Buren declared in a public address,
in New York, that the years immediately succeeding his
administration, which he spent in farming, were the hap
piest years of his whole existence. ,
And that immortal,-and world renowned trioofcotem
porary statesmen -Clay, Calhoun," and Webster, whose
equals have never been "produced in any country, at any
epoch of the.world's history, were .cnthuseastic, and ac
complished farmers. , When the great expounder of Con-
siiiuuons, men ine uiuy sunnm
found himself disappointed in the last "and only remaining
aspiration of His life, and; felt keenly that in. his case was
another illustration of the truth, that Republics are ungrate
ful, he sought consolatian for his wounded feelings amid
his docks and herds : at Marsh field. - One of the last acts
of his life was to have his splendid Oxen driven before his
door that.'he might feast bis eyes,. yet once more and for
the last time upon their noble formsl ' -
Did time permit, we might' cite the words and examples
nf manv nthfiM. who have borne ' their testimonv to the
is, on the will of the peo'ple. 'the old rule that the govern
ed are the subjects of the'governing" power, is reversed,
and the rulers here are themselves but the agents of the
ruled;' Our wise and patriotic forefathers foresaw that the
perpetuity of our institutions depended upon the elevation
and intelligence of the industrial classes, and that the agri
cultural class being much the largest, would necessarily,
become ' the controlling power in the government,: and if
ignorant and illiterate, instead of yisely controlling, and
directing its affairs, it might. become: the engine in ih
.hands of unscrupulous demagogues, of the' ruin and over
throw of our system of government. -Hence, much bf the
advice which .they, left behind them for our instruction and
guidance was given with a view of keeping this factprom
inently oeiore tne minus ot our people, uui ler inc au
thorities already adduced answer for the present, r e -. J
The farmer s vocation is - one which can bring into ex
ercise the noblest faculties of mind and heart. And
while. the loftiest intellect may find ample scope for inves
tigation it is eminently fitted for the development of those .
domestic and private virtues which most adorn life, atjd
is favorable to, the growth of those christian graces so es
sential to happiness here and hereafter. He who 'makes
Agriculture his study'cahnot fail to have forced upon his
mind however unwilling to recieve it the conviction of
the existance of a gTeat First Cause, who not only crea
ted this beautiful world of ours, but continues, by his
Providence, to control, uphold and govern i it-proofs Of
which truth will meet him at every step in his investi
gations. And no man can be .so. truly said , to look
through Nature up toNature's God," as "the intelligent,
reflecting, Christian Farmer.' " ' - ' ' " :
And as it begets a contented spirit, it is comparatively
free from temptation, to extravagance, profligacy and
crime. It was the restless and discontented spirit or Bene
dict Arnold which prompted him to commit treason and
thus purchase for himself an immortality of infamy.
The history of the world proves that discontent is a fruit
ful source of crime, and hence the victims of vice arc not
to be sought amongst tliose who breathe the pure air of
our rural districts, but amoi:g the crowded denizens of the
great cities of the earth. -
AVhrn the Rnrlish officer waited upon General Marion
and found he and his staff contentedly dining upon roasted
sweet potatoes, with a fallen log for a table, he left deeply
impressed with the conviction that the w hole power of
Great Britian would be .inadequate to the, subjugation of
a country whose officers and soldiery "could live not only
contented but happy onisuch fare. ' "l " 4
The farmer's business, too, is comparatively free from
those fluctuations and changes incident to so many otner
callings, while its profits, if not so large, are, at least,
more certain. . . '
We have the promise that, "he who tilleth his land,
shall have plenty of bread," a promise vouched safe to
no other calling. Members of the learned professions
will search the pages of . the inspired volume in vain for
any such consolatorv promise.
With a calling, then, of such importance to us as a na
tion, so congenial to our tastes, so elevating to our na
tures, so cahulated to ensure our prosperity and happi
ness as individuals, at c we not called 'upon by every feel
ing of patriotisn. by1 every consideration of interest,' to
endeavor, by all the means in our power, to further its ad
vancement and attempt its improvement !
I hesitate not to affirm, that there is no other interest in
our Govenment of anything- like proportionate magnUude,
no business which has invested in 14 one tenth part of the
capital invested in Agriculture.. hich has not more ; nu
merous and jealous guardians in eyery branch of the Gov
ernment. The manufacturing interest sends to our Na
tional Legislature its very best talenv men well versed
in their interests, accurately posted ac to every thing
likelv to affect them,' and intimately acquainted with their
wants. But the Farmers' seem .to say by their cna,;ct
as did the French merchants, who, when as.ced, wnat
Government could do for them, replied, "laissez nous
faired (Let us alone.) This -boon, However, is nu ai-
ways granted them, for IcgisiaMon can, au uuuu,
does often take place directly affecting the interests of the
farmer, while he plows on, totally unconcious of the fact.
Now because we are regularly stuffed with flattery, com
plimented with the idea that we are the bone and siflew
of the land, and 'though all unconcious of OCf 6rf
charms, yet yield our confiding hearts to the soft woo
ings of aspirants for office, let us not, therefore, take
it for granted that our interests "will be well attended to,
without ever taking the trouble to ascertain whether it is
done or not. In fact your representatives, however will
ing to oblige you, yet need instruction from you. You
must know your wants, understand what is for your inter
est, and call upon them as your agents to secure them
for you. ..-.:' , : r . ....
The recent Reciprocity treaty with Great Britain is an
instance directly in point of a most unjust discrimination
against the interests of the Agriculturist. By this treaW
the productions of Canada are admitted into our ports free
of duty, so that the Southern farmer is brought into corn--petition
not only with his Western and Northern brethren,
but also with his Canada neighbor. Now the British
possessions on this continent arc as large as, or larger
than our own containing, it is said, more than four mill
ions of square miles. The two Canadas cpntain 242,482
square miles and 155,188,425 acres, between seven and
eigh't millions of which are cultivated. Of the popula
tion of the Canadas, eighty per cent or four-fifths are en
gaged in Agriculture. Of" the productiveness of the soil,
it is said that the averages of wheat and barley, as prov
ed by their census of 1852, exceed our own productions
per "acre of the same staples in any State in jhe Union.
It was calculated that of the wheat crop qf 1854, they
would export twelve millions of bushels, which is above
the average of our exports of wheat and' flour prior to
last year, except in the year of the. Irish famine, (1847.)
This is the character and strength of the rival which
the Wheat grower of North Carolina is to meet on equal
footing in our Northern markets. But this is not all. You
are taxed 30 per cent by the tariff to build up for youjtlf
a home market and. to sustain Northern manufactories ;
and. in 'addition to all this, you are hot allowed to ship
your flour or wheat from Wilmington to New York, 'un--less
you do so in an Americau vessel, r British flour and
wheat is allowed to come in competition with yours and
mine, but British carrying vessels are not allowed to
compete with American vessels in the coast-wise trade
The farmer-has always cheerfully acquiesed in paying Am
erican vessels more for transporting his- produce, than for
eign vessels "would have asked him, were they hot exclu
ded from a participation in the coast-wise" trade from a
patriotic desire to build up American commerce. Tbis
treaty , benefits New York. Rail Roads -and New-York
millers and consumers .to tlie manifest injury of the
wlieat-ffrOwers in fifteen States of this Union. It'is true
that while we are realizing- war prices for our wheat and
flour we may not feel it, but the war cannot lat always.
Now had a treaty thus seriously affecting the manufac
turing, or any other than the farming interest been barely
mentioned as likely to be entered into by our Government,
Mass Meetings would have been held, protests made and
committees sent to Washington to try to influence the
importance of agriculture ; in pur Government, based as it j Senate to reject it. The whole; commercial press of the
t