The North-Carolina standard., 1847-09-29
Correspondence of the Boston Post.
CHAPEL HILL, N. c., Sept.

!
North Caroiinians-Fsrst Settlement of Rochcs
ter, ~ Y-NathanieL LRoehester-Judge Wm
B. Rochester, and the " Panama Mission -
University of North CaroLina-Di !guishcd
Graduates-Aneedotcs of President Polk
Iivo Boys from The "Hanorcr SEashes Hen
ry Clay and Judge Cameron Goo Sacoin-
odd Buneom6e e"-Fdculty of The College
Literary Societies-MaAnsrs and Deportment
Of The Students ss
AS remarked in former letter, North Caro-.
lima is rich in legendary lore. The prominent
appear TO be known beyond the boundary of their
native siate rhie State has had dislin onish.
ed sons who have acted a conspicuous par, in ma
tional affairs than any State south of Mason and
Dixon's line, with the exception of Virginia.
From the modcsty of her actors, and the scarcity
of historians and biographcrs, the merits Of the
Old North State are not known or appreciated.
One of the largest cities in New York, and
destined TO be one of the largest in the Union, was
settled by and named for a native of North Caro-
lima. Two neighbors residing at Hillsborough,
concluded to remove north. Nathaniel Rochester,
and Mr. Hart about the year 1903, went 10
Frederick, Mary land, and there opened store
under the firm of :" Hart & Rochester" They
continued in business u few years, grew tired Of
the place, and dissolved partnership. Hart moved
TO kentucky, where he settled, and Rochester mi
grated to western New York. He built tie first
sugar camp that scos ercr made on the acest bank
of tie Genesee rirer, in 1909. Three years after,
in 1912, he laid the foundation of city, at the
falls of the Genesec, and called it ROCHESTER,
after himself Just thirty years from that time, in
1872 by singular coincidence three distine euish-
cd citizens of North Carolina met at Rochester,
and found city OF thirty thousand inhabitants
They were an ex-governor, an ex,judge, and one
Of the weallhiest men in the State all prominent
characters, one Of whom was my informant
Judge William B. Rochester, son of the founder
Of the city, was one of the Congress of Amcri-
can StatcS," in the famous Panama mission"
during the administration of John Quincy Adams
He returned by land it was in the year 1928,
and on arriving at Hillsborough in this State, was
surpriscdIo learn ;hat he was candidate for gov
ernor, in opposition to De Witt Clinton. Judge
Rochester was afterwards lost in the illatcd ship
PULASKI, which was wrecked off Wilmington,
in, l think, the year 1888. -..
Allow me 10 say something of this classic re-
treat where l now write Chapel Hill has been
the seat of the University of North Carolina, since
its foundation in 1897 Many of the most promi-
uent men 10 the nation were educated here One
year ago the University" reckoned among her
graduates, the President of the United States,
James K Polk, the Secretary of the Navy, John
! Y. Mason, the Minister to France, William r.
King, the Minister TO Spain Romulus M. Saun-
ders, the Minister TO Portugal, Abram Rencher,
and the Charge TO Naples, William H. Polk.
Here also the Hon. Thomas Hart Benton studied
mathematics and the classics for two three Yeas,
| but believe did not graduate here
One of the present professors in the college was
classmate aud graduated with MIR. President
Polk 10 1918 He gave me some anecdotal re-
miniscences of their college days, that 60 to show
that as in most other cases, the foundation Of ia.
ture greatness is laid in youth. He says Mr..
| Polk was the most systematic orderly and regu.
lar and at the same time the most studious Of any
in Inc class Though there were two or three
who were thought to be his superiors in ability,
We. when he came to speak on question Of de.
bate, he almost always made the question go bic
way. AS logical and efficient debnter, and as a
constant and pcrsevering STUDENT he had few or
no equals. Those same lessons, and that practice
began in college, helped 10 make him and give
him the reputation Of being "the best sturnp'speak
er in Tennessee and paved the way 70 his being
Governor Of the State, and afterwards Speaker o
the House Of Representatives and President Of the
United States. The professor related an inciden
that occurred during their college days, that he hat