The State guard. [volume] (Wetumpka, Ala.) 1847-18??, 1847-06-01
GoLDvlbLE, Ala, Nav letb. lsa7

may contribute 10 pom results, venture
10 request yoa will give it place in
your columns.
Ii seems TO me there is a sort Of
chance in fame as well as in fortune !.
thus while one person will be applaud>
ed far and wide for some act Of slight
and passing benefit. another who may
have contributed TO the welfare of ihous-
ands, and TO the permanent improves
ment of the country, will scarcely be
heard of hey his immediate neighbor.
hood. This thought occurred to me
frequently from what heard and saw
on my journey from Wetumpka to Gold
vile. The tract OF country through
which the road runs is, as you know,
only thinly settled BY an industrious but
poor population, and from whom there
fore, not much could be expected in the
way of improvements. Yet, aloag the
route have seen such improvements
as might well excite surpi isey Of con.
sderipg the nature OF the surrounding
tracts and the central circumstances Of
the inhabitants5 but when it is known
that those Improvements have been eff
fectcd by the una| ded industry, enter
prise, and publ; spirit Of one man, they
must excite astonishment. have seen
roads of great public convenience that
have been opened, and bridges. that have
been built from the private funds of this
individual. Nay, more, he has rs tab
lished prosperous cotton manufactures
which yield The means Of living to hum
dreds who would otherwise be destitute,
and which must eventually contribute
largely 10. the general wealth of the
State. Being a mere passing stranger,
] had to inquire who was the person that
had done all this, and was informed that
it was a MIR. Towns plain man who
had raised himself in The world, and can
now enable others TO rise, by his own
fnassisted industry and enterprise. The
envions may here perhaps remark that
Mr.. Towns has effected all this for his
own private benefit. Such is moi The
case. for he could have done Without
many of those works, so useful to the
public, or he could have reserved them
for his own use, instead of throwing
them open for the service Of all as he
has done. Besides, Nh. Towns being
already possessed Of considerable prop
eriy, might spend it in luxury and ex
travagance, if he consulted merely his
own ease and pleasure instead of ma
king it contribute to the Improvement Of
the country and the welfare Of his fel
low citizens. have heard many other
facts about Mr. Towns, which speak
loudly in favor Of his bencvolence and
goodness ST heart, and all he Goes is
done in manner so plain and kind, SO
free from boasting and ostentatIon, as
greatly 10 enhance the merit Of his ac-
tions. In short, as | take ii, he is one OF
those men who
"Do good by stealth and blush 10 find il fame
1t may be asked why | have taken
upon myself to state these facts. do
so because | consider there is great in>
justice in Withholding praise from him
who. deserves II, and great ability in
proclaming it, for the encouragement
OF others, and that next TO performing
meri.orious actions. comes the merit Of
awarding or applauding them. On my
further inquiring il Mr.. Towns flied any
public employment, or had heen sent to
the State Legislature, to my astonish-
ment was informed that neither was
the case, ard cosfess this fact gave
me an un:avorable idea OF the intelli-
gence OF those who could have sent him
there. What do the voters mean by not
choosing such man7 Do they prefer
having their ears tickIed BY bombas'ic
speeches, or their Imaginaiions warmed
by high sounding promises which can
never be fulflled--do they prefer these
to plan, practical common sense, active.
~ exelted 70, the benefit OF all7 For
ny part, ! firmly believe II there were
but few more such men as Mr.. Towns
settled throughout the State, Alabama
would not long groan under heavy
debt, but would soon become boast OF
The UaIop, uniting as she then might,
within her bounds the manufacturing en-.
terprise OF the N,rib, with rich agricul-
tural products OF the South. J. G.
aThomss there is too much hustle
here.'
"Where, Pa?"
81 mean lhereis too much noise-yon