Newspaper Page Text
From the Savannah Republican.
THE VALUE OF LABOR.
Tlio more labor tliero is required the
higher will be its remuneration. Like any
other article, its price is regulated by the
demand, & yet in turn it gives value to eve
ry thing else. Golden ore would be worth
less without the labor that purifies and re
fines it. Cotton would be valueless without
labor is used to make it ready for wear.—
A pound of cotton becomes quadrupled in
value when made into common cloth, and
doubled when spun into yarn. It therefore
follows, that that the more of manufactured
articles, or articles made valuable by home
labor, a country’ exports, the richer that
country will grow. And therefore the
growth and exports of raw materials mere
ly, is less to be desired, than the pro.’,notion
and shipment of manufactures, For in
stance, it is so much better for the wheat
growing Stales, as far a;, possible, to export
flour instead of the unground wheat, be
cause the wood, for the barrels finds a de
mand, the cooper and the miller find em
ployment for their labor and there is less
w’aste of the raw material in the end. On
this same principle, it would be much bet
ter if Georgia were to export all her cotton
(as she does now a part,) in the shape of
yarn, for then every pound spun and
sold brings a sum equal to two pounds of
the raw material, and the crop of cotton is
doubled in value. In other words, if the
cotton crop of Georgia in its raw state is
worth five millions of dollars, if it could be
spun into yarn, it would be worth ten mil
lions, but the trouble would be to find a
foreign market. For notwithstanding the
talk about the free trade, every manufac
turing country protects its own labor, by
charging heavy duties on the labor of oth
ers. They will patronize our soil and cli
mate, and the moderate degree of labor re
quisite to produce the raw’ material, and
will buy as much as convenient and no
more, but they’ will not if we find this un
profitable, let us do any thing else As far
as possible however, it is our interest to ex
port as much of our manufactures as we
can find a market for, whatever it may be,
because the chief value of most articles, is
the labor bestowed in making them.
INVENTION IN PRINTING.
A late number of the London Phalanx
has the following paragraph relating to a|
new invention connected with the art of 1
printing:
“Amongst other interesting movements,
we may mention the fact, that the principal
portion of this number of the Phalanx has
been composed in type of a newly invented
composing machine; and it is the first piece
of periodical literature which has ever been
typographed in this manner. It is the be
ginning ofa new era in the art of printing,
which, with a very little practical experi
ence, will render the art of composing type
so simple and elegant that ladies may sit
down as to a pianoforte, and set up in type,
their own effusions, with as much case as
they can commit them to writing. The
keys are marked with the letters, and when
touched with the finger, the corresponding
type falls into its place with the rapidity of
spelling. It will multiply printing, and
reduce its price, without diminishing the
number of workmen, or lowering their wa
ges ; for cheap production multiplies de
mand.”
From the New-Orleans Picayune.
AN IMPORTANT SUIT.
The Baton Rouge Gazette gives the out
line of a very important suit which has re
cently been commenced in Philadelphia.
One of the Plaintitf’s, Capt. Reeder, is a
citizen of Baton Rouge. The Gazette says
it is impossible to estimate accurately the
amount of money involved, but we cannot
be far wrong in putting it down at fifty mil
lions of dollars !
The suit is brought by the heirs of Mr.
Nethermark, for nearly all the land on
which tiie city of Philadelphia stands. The
tract claimed extends from the upper end
of the navy yard, half a mile up the Dela
ware, and back to and across the Schuyl
kill, embracing all the wharves and the
principal business portion of the city.
The grounds of the claim are as follows:
Mr. Nethermark, was a wealthy Swede,
who settled in Philadelphia before the rev
olution, while that city was comparatively
a small town. He became proprietor of
the lands along the river, below the city,
and some missionaries of the Swedish
church, to which he belonged, coming over,
he gave them a life lease of this land, on
condition that after their death, or in case
they apostatized from their church, it should
revert to his heirs. Although four of the
said missionaries did afterwards abandon
their faith, and join the Episcopal church,
in consideration of the fifth, who remained
true to the cause, the lease was not distur
bed. In the mean time the city extended
down the river, covering all the lands in
question, and nothing appears to have been
done until death closed the contract of Mr.
Nethermark, by carrying off the last of the
lessees, about six years ago. Since the
latter period, the heirs, who arc not numer
ous, and some of whom are wealthy, have
been preparing for the-struggle, and they
have now commenced suit, and under aus
pices so favorable, that two capitalists of
Philadelphia voluntarily proposed to risk
all the expenses of the law, provided they
should be admitted equally in the division
ofthe property, if the case succeeded. This
proposal was declined by the heirs.
New Remedy for Hydrophobia. —Dr. Hel
ler, member of tiie Royal Academy of Med
icine, Paris, lately communicated to his so
ciety, that in Greece it is a practice to ob
serve the tongues of those persons who have
been bitten by dogs, because at the end of
eight or nine days there appear on each side
ofthe tongue, and near the upper part, pus
tules called lysses by the Greeks. These
pustules contain the whole rabid matter,
and immediately they are cut out and the
wounds cauterised, which prevents hydro
phobia.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE.
The Washington Correspondent of the
New York Courier and Enquirer make the
following extraordinary disclosure in re
ference to the removal of the Creek In .’ii.
ans from Alabama :
I have learned the details qf a curious
affair, which, although it transpired a half
a dozen years since, has. never, I believe,
been made public. ,<fy informant is a gen
tleman, on who->3 veracity and intimate
acquaintance with the facts slated, implicit
reliance iqay bo placed.
I' l ‘ic year lSlfti, General Jessup having
00 ’iiimand of the Army at the South during
the Creek war in Ala., advertised to receive
proposals for transporting the Creek Indi
ans to their new home west of Arkansas.
The terms of the advertisement were, that
no proposals would be received from any
individual or company offering to trans
port less that a thousand or more than fee
thousand Indians.
On the day fixed for opening the propo
sals, a large number of contractors were
assembled. The proposals were opened and
read. All of them conformed to the terms
of the advertisement except George Whit
man & Cos., who offered to transport the
whole nation (numbering about 25,000 in
dividuals) at the rate of'§3o per head.
Various other contractors offered to re
move from 1 to 5,000 at 25 per head.
Notwithstanding tiie advertisement had
expressly stipulated that no proposals
would be received from any one company
for removing more than five thousand, the
proposition of George Whitman & Cos. was
received and favorably entertained.
When the other contractors learned that
this was the case, five companies of them
clubbed together, and offered to transport
the whole nation at 27,50 per head.
Notwithstanding this offer the contract
was given to George Whitman & Cos. at the
rate of $28,50 per head—sl advance.
While this Company were acting in the
fulfilment of their contract, they sold to the
Messrs. Barclay the privileges of transpor
ting a number of those Indians at the rate
of $25 per head—pocketing the difference
themselves.
Nevertheless, and though the fact last
mentioned is good evidence of the profita
ble hature of the transaction even at a re
duced price, the firm of George Whitman
& Cos., has as I am informed, received at
different times from the Government about
half a million of dollars as extra compensa
tion for complying with the terms of their
contract.
And now for the explanation of this ex
traordinary ailair.
The firm of George Whitman & Cos. ap
pears to have been only a cloak for the
names of the real contractors who were a
man named Iverson, a son-in-law of the
late Secretary, Forsyth, and several other
persons. The very men by the way who
have been charged with defrauding the In
dians, and by their unjust and oppressive
conduct bringing about the war.
General Jessup, in giving preference to
the firm of Whitman & Cos. in the face of
usage and justice, undoubtedly acted under
tiie instructions of General Jackson. Here
then i.s another instance of favoritism and
gross corruption. The public have alto
gether paid more than half a million of
dollars unnecessarily, save fertile purpose
of the Son-in-law of General Jackson’s Se
cre'ary of State. When cases of this kind
are disinterred from the hidden recesses of
Cabinet secresy they ought to be laid be
fore the public. A. Z.
RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE OF THE
INDIAN.
An event took place at Prairie Du Chien
last week, which strongly marks the Indian
character. Two Indians of the Winneba
go nation quarrelled, on which one stabbed
tho other to the heart ; he attempted to es
cape, but was overtaken, brought back, and
placed upon the body of the dead Indian,
by the relatives ofthe latter. Several gen
tlemen interfered in behalf of the captive,
and requested that he might be allowed to
go, because lie was not so much in fault as
the other. They were answered, that, if
“white men” would pay fifteen dollars to
the mother of the deceased, he might go,
otherwise he must die. This condition not
being complied with, be was doomed. Du
ring this negotiation tho savage sat upon
the dead body of his foe, smoking his pipe,
perfectly indifferent as to the issue, and
when told that he must die, he deliberately
removed his pipe, giving the usual “Ugh!”
His executioner then stepped behind him
and with a single blow of the hatchet se
vered the right arm at the shoulder: upon
this the Indian resumed his pipe, and be
gan to smoke as if nothing had happened ;
i;\ a short time the executioner, with a blow
severed the left arm. The Indian still re
taining bis upright position, not a muscle
of his face changing ; a third blow across
the small of his back, brought him to the
around’ eve;: then his countenance wore the
same cold, serene and stoic expression.—
He was, however, soon ci.' t to pieces by the
relatives of the dead man. The savage
made almost superhuman efforts to escape,
but the moment his pursuers touched him
he surrendered and walked back, and sea
ted himself upon the dead body, without
once attempting to- escape. This was an
instance of Indian retribution and savage
forti tude. — Vubeqae Express.
An editor “down east” stopped his press
to write poetry, when after a few days la
bor, he brought forth the following:
“I love to see the waving grass,
.1 ust before the mower mows it;
I love to see an old dray horse,
For when he goes, he goes it.”
As it is likely that hereafter cities will
dispute touching the birth-place of the au
thor ofthe above poetry, we think it proper
to say that it bears internal evidence of not
having originated “down east,” inasmuch
as there are no drays there—they have
“trucks,” or carts. Important distinction
this.—F. ,9. Gar
I From the New-York Evening Post.
STIRRING TIMES IN RIIODE4SL
AND.
The political affairs of Rhode.lsland up
pear to be approaching a crisis. On the
second of April, the Legislature passed an
act, entitled “ an act in relation to offences
against the sovereign power of this state,”
which lias given great umbrage to a large
portion ofthe people. It provides that no
person shall hold any county or township
office, contrary to the existing laws, under
high pains and penalties ; that any one who
shall signify his willingness to accept of a
nomination under any pretended new con
stitution, shall bo imprisoned one year and
fined two thousand dollars, and that all
persons who shall act in any legislative,
judicial or ministerial office, under such
constitution, shall lie deemed guilty of trea
son, and imprisoned for life. These pro
visions are directed at the friends of what is i
called the “People’s Constitution.” They
have provoked a most determined and un- i
| wavering resistance.
The Providence Express of yesterday,
says:
j “This law, so barbarously introduced,
! and so rapidly hurried through tiie legisla
ture, can never be enforced ; but its authors
may adopt the style of an ancient martyr
and exclaim “we have this day kindled
such a torch in Rhode Island, as shall ne
ve* be extinguished!”
But a letter which we have received
from Providence, too long to he published
to-day, speaks in much stronger terms. It
says, if a single person, acting under the
new constitution, is imprisoned, “we shall
open the prison doors forthwith. We have
two thousand men at least, pledged to de
fend, at all hazards, the lives, persons, and
properties of our candidates. Two thou
sand men in Smti'nticld and Cumberland
are ready for every emergency.”
The Governor of the State seems to ap
prehend serious results, forlie is issued or
ders to the Independent Charter Compa
nies, to report immediately to the adjutant-
General, the number of men lit for duty
and the quantity of arms and ammunition
on hand. The friends of the new constitu
tion on the other side are rapidly furnish
ing themselves with arms.
Comfortably Modest. —An editor in Mis
sissippi says it is about time candidates for
Congress were nominated, and concldcs
with recommending himself thus :
“We know no one in our section ofthe
state, more deserving the office, or better
qualified to represent us, than ourself.—
We are opposed to the State Bonding sys
tem in toto, to the bonds of sin, to all bonds
but the bonds of love, and are sound in pol
iticks We are strictly moral in every res
pect ; and no one can charge us with a bad
j act committed since we came to years of
discretion—that is, since we cut the credit
system. The democrats of Lafayette will
go for us heart and hand. Will our anti
bond friends have a meeting aiiu prevail
upon us to consent to serve the party? We
only want a coaxing, like a bashful young
widow. Tis true we are no orator, but we
have got a good voice, and have joined the
debating club for the express purpose of
learning ‘to speak in public on the stump.
We havn’t joined the tetotallers, but we
shall take the pledge at their next meeting.
What more need we say! Editors through
out the state will please announce that we
are a candidate ; provided they will wait
for their fees until we receive payment for
Chancery Court advertising done by us du
ring the past two years. We shall issue a
horse-bill at .an early day, describing our
parts, pedigree and pretensions.”
From the Philadelphia U. S. Gazette.
THE RIGHT OF SEARCH.
A French writer, on looking atthe ques
tion on the right of search, upon which Mr.
Cass’s pamphlet is founded, holds the fol
lowing language with reference to the posi
tion which Great Britain and the United
Slates have held towards each other since
the treaty of Ghent:
We are aware that the dispute between
England and the U. States, has lasted for a
longtime. England, refused to recognise
this right of neutrals, and claiming imperi
ously the sovreignty of the ocean, frequent
ly violated the American flag between 1801
and 1811. She laid claims to the right of
boarding American vessels, even including
those ot the government, and there to im
press seamen. We saw in a state of pro
found peace, the frigate ofthe United States
—the Chesapeake—submit to the indignity
of an inspection, after a long and honorable
struggle against superior forces. A num
ber of American seamen were taken away
from merchants’ vesselsofthe Union, under
pretext that they either were, had been, or
appeared to be English. War followed,
and lasted three years. When the peace
was signed at Ghent; the English Cabinet
made no renunciation of the pretensions a
gainst Neutrals ; the Americans ; on their
part, sacrificed none of the rights that they
had claimed. It was an armistice, rather
than a peace. The armistice, however,
has lasted 27 years; but the question is yet
unsettled between the two nations. They
remain in a position ot respectful observa
,;on, in form, but in reality, in one full of
mistf.'isL
Obadiah fituck.—‘ “What do you ask for
this article ?” sfiid Obadiah, to a modest
young miss in one of our s b°ps.
“Fifteen shillings, siV— il ’ s a superb ar
ticle.”
“You are a little dear, are vou not?
! said Obadiah.
“Why, all the young men tell me so,”
she replied, dropping her eyes and blush
ing. Obadiah came straight away.
Every man has in his own life, follies
enough ; in his own mind, troubles enough;
in the performance of his duties deficiencies
enough ; in his own fortune, evils enough;
without being curious after the affairs of oth-
From the Philadelphia Courier.
THE MILLERITES—THE END OF
THE WORLD—THEIR SYSTEM OF
FAITH.
Every rcaderofthe newspapershas heard
of Mr. Miller, who lias been for about
a half a dozen years, in different parts of
the country, preaching that the world i.s to
come to un end in 18411. It may be a mut
ter ofeuriosity to present a synopsis ol tlie
system of faith, adopted by Mr. Miller and
his followers. The Essex (Mass.) Banner
tlius sums it up:
“They believe, or profess to believe, that
the end of all tilings will come in little more
than a year from this time ; that Christ will
then come in the clouds of heaven with
great power and glory; that he will then
raise the righteous dead and change the
j righteous living, who shall ascend up to
gether to meet him in the air. Intlio mean
time, fire shall come down from the Lord
to burn up the bodies ofthe wicked, and so
refine and modify the whole matter of this
material universe ns to prepare and fit it
up into anew heavens and anew earth.—
This being done, the Savior with ail his
ransomed people, shall come down and take
possession of this new place of residence,
wherein dwelleth righteousness, and con
tinue to occupy it without molestation for
at least a thousand years. This state of
things is what the new set in question un
derstand by the millennium referred to in
the 20th chapter of Revelations, and also
what they understand by the setting up ofa
kingdom by the God of Heaven, as men
tioned in the second chapter of Daniel! At
the expiration of a thousand years from the
commencement of this state of things, they
believe that a sort ofsecond judgement will
take place, and a more formal and decisive
destruction will come upon the wicked.—
By Gog and Magog, mentioned in the 20th
chapter of’Revelations, they understand the
wicked, all the wicked, whose bodies, by
the way, were all burned up a thousand
years before, when the eartli was refined
by fire. These wicked, Gog and Magog,
will now be raised from the dead, and
raised of course out ofthe new heavens and
earth, where their bodies were when the
refining process by fire took place ! Being
raised from the dead, they will go up on
the breath of the earth, with Satan at their
head, to deceive the nations in thefourquar
ters ofthe earth, compassing the camp of
the saints and about the beloved city! But
just at this moment, fire will come down
from God out of Heaven and devour them!”
From the Boston Transcript.
MOONSHINE.
An anecdote may serve to illustrate these
remarks. A little boy was walking out
with his grandmother in the country, among
the groves of trees one moonlight evening.
Ho had not gone far before the old lady
perceived something on the ground that ap
peared like a white handkerchief, and as
she stooped, intent on picking it up, she
perceived that it was hut the light of the
moon shining, through an opening in the
branches above them, and called, ula,grcm
ma, it’s all moonshine!” “It is but moon
shine, truly,” said she, rubbing her fingers
in evident disappointment, “but many peo
ple grasp at moonshine.”
We have since often witnessed the truth
of her remark.
When we see a young man pursuing a
gay butterfly of a girl because she is beau
tiful, though she possesses none of the qual
ifications necessary to make a good wife,
a good housekeeper, or a good mother ; it
brings to mind the old phantom it is all
moonshine.
When we see pleasure hunters and those
who are seeking after happiness plunge into
dissipation, or seek gay or giddy company
as we know the disappointments that bring
with them peace and content ; they are
worthless ; they arc nothing but moonshine.
When we see a gambler forever at the
billiard table, with eager hopes of making
money thereby, and carrying with him the
means by which alone his family can be
supported, to squander it there, we think
with a sigh, how sadly the poor man mis
takes the path of wisdom and labors after
that which is all moonshine.
He is grasping after moonshine who
strives to raise his consequence in the world
by a suit of fine clothes, or an unpaid side
board ; and so is he who is aiming to build
a foundation upon which to elevate himself
in the estimation of the world, consisting of
a few thousand dollars; for as Burns says—
“ The rank is but the guinea’s stamp,
The man’s the gold for all that.”
And none can ever become truly great but
those whom nature has fitted to be so.
These are plain, palpable cases. We
have sometimes thought men were gras
ping a moonshine, who attempted to live by
literature, or make money bv printingnews
papers; or dreamed of collecting their debts
or of receiving legacies in these times; yet
as these may be doubtful we will not per
sist in them.
“Ah, Bob, good morning.” “Good mor
ning, Dick.” “How did you make out with
your speech last night?” “Bad enough.”
“How so?” “My voice failed me!”—
‘Why, I thought you had a powerful voice?’
“It filled the room, to be sure, but it soon
emptied it./
Yarrow Plant. —lt is said that yarrow,
a plant very common by our road sides, is
held in great estimation in England as pas
turage for sheep. If there is no mistake in
this, it is worth looking to, as the plant will
grow in any soil, and bids defiance to the
severest drought.
A duel with swords took place a few
days ago between two ladies of Paris! The
fair combatants, who were known for their
wit beauty and fashion, quarreled about an
affair of love, and a hostile meeting was
the consequence. One of the ladies was
wounded, but not dangerously.
From the, Georgia Journal.
USURY.
A gentleman, well known to many of our
readers who has been engaged the greater
part of his life in fanning operations, cul
led upon us a few days ago, for the purpose
of favoring us with his views in relation to
Usury, lie stated to us, that, a few years
ago, he was pressed for the sum of $2,500.
This debt he has no means of paying, at the
time it was demanded, but by the sale ot
valuable negro property, or by borrowing
from the Usurer at a high rate of per cent.
The negroes ho felt loth to part with, and to
the Usurer he disliked to go. The debt,
however, had to be paid, and hoping to rea
lize the amount, by the sale of his crop,
the next year, he ventured to deal with the
Usurer. The $2500 was borrowed, at
what is termed, by Usurers, a very low
rate percent. Our friend agreed to give
12! l )cr cent, with the hope, that, by so do
ing, he would beablo to pay the debt and
save his negro property. xVt the end of the
year he was disappointed on every side
After paying his overseer, plantation ex
penses, and so forth he found that there was
nothing left to pay even theinterest on the
debt that he had been called upon unexpec
tedly, to pay. But times, he thought, would
get better, and he resolved to try it another
year. lie did so, and the result was the
same as before, with this exception; the
$2500 had increased to a larger amount.
Like a wise man, he came to a determina
tion at once. Sirs, said lie, the last year I
had not the Cotton wherewith to pay the
debt, and I saw that by persisting in the
course I had marked out for myself, inevi
table ruin would be the result. I therefore
carried to a commission merchant in Macon
seven likely negroes, and gave him direc
tion to sell, which lie did, and with the pro
ceeds ofthe sale I paid the Usurer’sdemand.
And had I continued my effort to pay the
debt with 12! per cent, interest, from the
proceeds of my farming operations, I should
have totally failed. No farmer can do it
and thrive.
Now, the above is the experience of one
whose standing as a prudent man, a good
farmer, and an estimable citizen of our
State, is not surpassed by that of any other
individual in Georgia. Let his example be
followed by others, and our people will soon
be in an easy, if not a prosperous condition.
But, we have another example to adduce,
to which we beg leave also to call the atten
tion ofthe reader.
A respectable and worthy citizen of an
adjoining county, to save his property,
thought proper, likewise, to resort to the U
surer. He borrowed in the first instance
$2500. lie has laboured for years, to pay
the Usurious exactions of the individual
from whom he borrowed that sum, and has
actually paid over SSOOO Usury. But this
is not the worst part of the whole affair.—
There now remains due, and is claimed by
the Usurer $2700 balance.
Now, we ash our readers, whose plan
was the wisest ? That of our friend, who
after making the experiment, came to the
determination to sell property, pay up, and
get rid ofthe Usurer—or that of our other
friend who paid usury upon usury, until he
had actually paid double the amount of the
principle originally borrowed by him, and
who is indebted now an amount of $2700 ?
Every man must admit, that the wise
course to pursue, where the alternative pre
sented is to sell property and pay up, or to
borrow money at the usurious rate of inter
est, is to sell and pay out of your difficul
ties. A resort to the Usurer is, in nine ca
ses out of ten, attended with deplorable re
sults. From him you may not expect mer
cy. lie has taken upon himself to prac
tice a most odious profession, not for the
purpose of dealing liberally with his friends,
or to oblige those who call upon him in an
hour of need, but to make money. That is
his avowed object. ‘And the more you lose
by dealing with him, the more does he gain.
Charity, with the Usurer, in his monied op
erations, is exercised but to a very limited
extent. It is about as scarce a commodity,
as is blood extracted from a stone. No man
need expect to see it exercised ; none need
look for it. Whatever may be his charac
ter otherwise, in the exercise of his profes
sion, he is a mere cent per cent man, and
knows and feels for no man. True there
may be exceptions, but they are like angels
visits, “ few and far between.” We hope
our readers will keep clear of the whole
tribe ; and we also hope, nay, we are con
fident, that after the next session ofthe Le
gislature, laws will be enacted of such a
character, as to put a stop forever to usuri
ous practices in our State. When this is
properly and permanently effected, one
great move towards restoring to Georgia,
her former prosperity, will have been made.
Indian Anecdote. —John Sequeasquash,
an Indian of the remains ofa tribe in Con
necticut, was some years since brought be
fore a justice of the peace on some charge
or other, which Ido not now recollect.—
John happened to be drunk at the time, and
instead of answering directly to the ques
tions put by the justice, merely muttered—
“ Your honor is very wise; very wise; very
wise;—y-y-yourhonor is very wise, I say.”
Being unable to get any other answer
from him, the justice ordered him to be
locked up till the next day ; when John was
brought before him perfectly sober.
“Why John,” said the justice, “you were
as drunk as a beast last night.”
“Drunk!” ejaculated the Indian.
“Yes, drunk as a beast. When I asked
you any question, the only answer you
made was—-‘Your Honor’s very wise—
very wise!’
“Did I call your honor wise ?” said the
Indian, with a look of incredulity.
“Yes,” answered the magistrate.
“Then,” replied John, “J must have been
drunk, sure enough !
Indolence is a stream which flows slowly
on, but yet undermines the foundation of
every virtue.
; When is a hen likely to hatch ? When
she is in earnest, ( her nest.)
MR. CLAY’S LETTER.
We publish below tho reply of Mr. Clay
to an invitation given him by the Whigs of
Wake county, N. C., to attend the conven
tion which assembled at Raleigh on the
4th inst.:
Washington, 21st March, 1842.
Gentlemen: —l have tho honor to ac
knowledge the receipt of your obliging let
ter, transmitting a Resolution adopted by
the Whigs of Wake county, in conformity
to which you have invited me to attend tho
Convention of the Whigs, which is to be
held on the 4th of April, at Raleigh.
Having ! tig entertained un anxious de
sire to visit North Ci.'olina, 1 have delayed
answerin'’ vour letter, under tho hope that
1 should n■” 1 : .circmnslances of conside
iT i) . q • in joying the gratifiea
ir.n ,t, :-t this time, would
alibi : —•’ n: 1 , to be compelled to
say ‘ : . < the: ‘ asons, that
tho pi> c ;.t to the
filial ir : to; . . t\- Sen
ate of ti > . : ‘ - -f the
satisfaction f ac< ing , t on,
and obliges me to postpone a visit which I
hope God will spat - u.- I ■ . in : i; ‘
1 rejoice to hear ofthe fine spirit .
prevails in North Carolina, and that •’
great Whig party of that State ;.u t
assemble in Convention, for the-put] —■ •.!’
deliberating on the present Hi til ■ ::: ..ed m l
icate position of public Affairs Our court
try brought to the verge of ruin, by a long
mal administration ofits General Govern,
ment, the s'; 1 effects of which pel vad. very
section of the Union, and arc plainly visi
ble in every leading interest, 1 had reason
to hope, after the glorious issue of the ever
memorable struggle of 1640, that misrule
would cease, and measures, founded in wis
dom and experience, would be adopted, to
restore the prosperity of the Nation. I
need not sav how cruelly, in some impor
tant respects, all have been disappointed.—
Our actual condition may be described in
a few words. Instead of mutual confidence
between the acting President and Congress,
there is mutually distrust. Instead of his
throwing himselfupon the principles and
the party that elevated him, he makes war
upon both. Instead of harmony and co-op
eration, there is discord and opposition.—
A President without a party, and parties
without a President, a President, denoun
cing his friends, and courting his political
opponents, who, in their turn, without en
tertaining for him the least respect or confi
dence, give him flattery and praise enough
just to deceive and delude him. A Presi
dent, who, affecting to soar in an atmos
phere above that of all parties, and to place
himselfupon tho broad.and patriotic foun
dation of the whole Ration. is vainly seek
ing, by a culpable administration of tiie pai
ronage ofthe Government, to create a third
pa rty 1
This gentlemen, is a faithful picture of
the present posture of our National Coun
cils. There may be those who will think
that it would be most prudent not to exhibit
it to the gaze of the world. But I believe
that public virtue, and the public interests,
are always bettor subserved by promulging
rather than concealing the truth. And,
accustomed as I have been to this language
throughout my whole life, I trust that the
precious privilege, of fearlessly uttering it,
will abide with me, during the short rem
nant of my days.
‘l'lie existing state of tilings is anomalous
and embarrassing. But genuine patriot
ism takes counsel only from its duty and
its devotion. Unappalled by difficulties,
whatever may be their magnitude, it re
doubles its resolution and its courage, as
they increase and multiply, and finally
triumphs over all obstacles which lie in the
way of the honor, the prosperity, or the
happiness of the country.
The Whig party, by a faithful adherence
to its principles, at the hazard of being pro
scribed by those whom it advanced to high
power ; and the members of the late Cabi
net, by a voluntary surrender of exalted
stations, which they believed they could no
longer hold without dishonor and disgrace
have demonstrated to the whole world that
with them the love of country is paramount
to the love of office. lam sure that, in the
good old North State, in which the first
Declaration of American Independence
was made, there will be a cordial response
to this sentiment.
Gentlemen, let us persevere in this up
right course. Igo into retirement, but I
shall not be there an idle or indifferentspee
tator, without sympathy, or interest in the
welfare of the Union. I only pass from one
sphere of action, where it is doubtful wheth
er in the actual condition of the public
councils, I could render any public service
proportionate to the private sacrifices I
should certainly make, to another, although
more circumscribed sphere, in which I
shall still find duties to perform towards our
common country.
I request you, gentlemen, and the Whigs
of Wake County, to accept my profound
and grateful acknowledgements for the hon
or done me, by the invitation to attend your
Convention, and by the friendly sentiments
with which its transmission was accompa
nied.
I am, with great respect,
Your friend and obedient servant.
H. CLAY.
To Messrs. Richard Hines, &c.
Singular Incident.—A Locomotive Arres
ted by Worms. —On the completion, a few,
days since, of the rail way, on the Tressel
and Bridge over the Congaree Swamp, and
river, a general vnigration of the Catterpil
lars of Richland, took place towards the St.
Mathews shore. An army of worms, occu
pying, in solid column, the iron rail for up
wards of one mile, presented, as was sup
posed, but a feeble barrier to the power of
steam. A locomotive, with a full train of
cars loaded with iron,and moving at a speed
of from ten to twelve miles an hour, was
arrested, notwithstanding, at midway in the
swamp, by these insects, and through the a
gencyofsand alone, freely distributed on
the drawing wheel, was it able to overcome
