Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-09-01
From the communicated
PITTSBORO' CONVENTION.

SDOhO YIN lO1N.
Pursuant to previous notice, Convention
of Delegates from the Counties of Chatham,
Moore, Cumberland, Brunswick, and New
Hanover, assembled in Pittsboro', on Friday,
18th instant, to consider the subje OF open
ing Cape Fear and Deep Rivers, from tayette-
vile to Hancock's Bridge, in the County OF
Moore
The Convention was temporarily organized
by the aypointment of DR.. Isaac Hall as Chair
man, and S. L. Riddle as Secretary.
The Counties represented in the Convention
were called, when the following persons pre-
scented Their credentials and took their seats:
New HanoUer-Gen'l Alexander McRae,
George Gillespie, Dr. A. J. DeRosset, Robert
Maxwell, Thomas Loring, N. NJ. Hill, B. |.
Howe, and T. NJ Gardner.
Moore-Dr Robert K Smith, and DR.. c.
Chalmers.
Cunberland-Col. A. S. Mcneil.
Brunswick-Dr. Frederick j. Hill
Chatham-Dr. S. McClenehaD, Thomas
Parish. Isaac Clegg, ]. H. Haughton, M. @.
Waddell, w. Stedman, J. J, Jackson, w. L.
Horne, J. @. A. Leach, 0. A. Stedman, w.
Lea, N. Clegg, John Seymore, J. Haughton,
Peter G. Evans, L. j. Haughton, B. Harris, S.
L. Riddle, DR.. Isaac Hall, Thomas Hill, John
Lea, William Snipes. Henry A. London, Har
dy Lasater, ard W. NJ. Burns.
Mr. Jackson, of Chatham, moved that a
Committee of be appointed by the Chair to
recommend permanent officers for the Conven-
lion. The motion was adopted, and the Chair
appointed DR.. S. McClenehan, H. A. London,
and W. T. Horne, Esqs, said committee.
The Committee retired, and shortly after re-
ported the following officers, viz:
Dr. F. J. Hill, of Brunswick, President.
Genl McRae, of New Hanover,
Col. A. S. McNeill of Cumberland, n;,o
DR.. Charles Chalmers, of Moore, p,.so.t,
Thomas Parish, Esq of Chatham, L % TO-
Isaac CIegg, Esq, Of &c
DR.. A J. DeRosset, OF New Hanover, Secre-
| William Stedman, Of Chatham, taries.
| Which report was unanimously concurred
| in.
The President having been conducted to the
Chair, made his Acknowledgements for the no.
nor conferred on him, and for about three
quarters of an hour, in a lucid and mastery
manner, demonstrated the great importance of
the proposed work, its perfect feasibility, and
the cheering prospects OF ats commencement
and completion.
The following gentlemen were then, on mo-
ton, appointed to report resolutions for the
consideration of the Convention, viz :-Thos
Loring and B. |. Howe, of New Hanover; J.
H. Haughton and J. J. Jackson, of Chatham
and DIR. R. K. Smith, of Moore.
During the absence of the Committee, the
Convention was successfully addressed by
Gen'I Alex'r McRae, of New Hanover, and
DR.. S. McClenehan, of Chatham, in speeches
Astounding in striking statistical information
and practical facts.
The Committee on resolutions having re-
turned, through J. j. Jackson, Esq, presented
the following report, viz:
REPORT.
We are warned by events of every days occur
renee, that the time has come when more than
ever the people of the South should avail them
selves of all the advantages of commerce, and call
into active play all the elements of prosperity
which nature has bestowed on them. These adj
vantages are great, and nowhere they superior
to those of North Carolina. Blessed by Nature
with healthy climate, soil eminentIy produc-
| tive-with great amount Of mineral wealth, and
a vast amount of wafer power for manufacturing
purposes-North Carolina, with proper spirit of
enterprise on the part of her people, would, in a
short time, be surpassed by none of her sister
States in her progress to greatness and power
But unfortunately, this spirit has been hitherto
wanting, and it is with shame are compelled
of the fact that those portions of the world upon
which a kir i Providence has been most lavish OF
his blessings, have been most cursed by the indif-
ference, the neglect, the supneness, and the al
most criminal inactivity of man. We rejoice in
the belief, however, that her people are beginning
to wake up to proper sense Of their interest," aud
to the importance of developing her resources.
10 the opinion of your Committee there is nc
enterprise which should more engage our efforts
and in which the warmest sympathies and feelings
of our people should be more thOrouphy enlisted
than that of rendering Cape Fear River naviga'
HE, above Fayetteville, to Haywood and Deep
| River, as high up as Hancock's Mills This work
once completed and its great advantages to all the
interior OF the State being once practically reai
zed, it requires nothing of the spirit of prophecy
to foresee that in short time a Railroad or turn.
pike. or some other easy mode of communication
would be constructed from the head of navigation
on Deep River TO some point on the Yadkin, above
the Narrows distance not exceeding forty miles
the effect of which would be to open TO the pro-
ducts OF the great West an easy and cheap means
of transportation to a market on our own coast
This would at once develope the resources of the
most productive part of North Carolina. 1t would
give new impetus to Industry labor would re-
celve fair reward it would necessarily cause
vast amount of produce to be raised, which we
have never hitherto raised, only for consumption
at home, because it would not bear the cost oil
transportation to market iB wagons, and for the
latter would greatly lower the cost to the
citizens of the interior of the State of various ar.
tlcles Of prime necessity. In a word. it would
vastly augment the amount of produce raised for
market; it would greatly enhance the price of it
and diminish the cost of transportation, and for
that reason lessen the cost of the farmer in the in
terror of the State of every article purchased by
him.
1t would at the same time necessarily build up
a dourishing city. The advantages of this work
to the town of Wilmington would he ;ncaculable
The products of the larger and most productive
portions of the State would find market there
There are few towns south of the Potomac which
could In this case surpass her in commercial ad-
vantages, and whose friends could look forward
with more confidence to a continued and increas-
| ing prosperity.
1t is believed by your Committee that this work
is entirely practicable. From information which
be relied on there can be little doubt but that
| light steamboats, can run up the river as far as
SMILES Falls, twenty-five miles above Fayette-
vile, without any improvement in the river at all.
From this point 10 Hancocks Mills, there are on
iy twelve or fifteen miles of the river which will
.eqolre Improvement, and from information which
Is Vi me highest authority. your Committee are of
opinion mat the whole fall in this distance cannot
exceed seventy feet. In Deep River. the only Sc
rlous oDstacies TO effecting navigation, are two
tails within less than ten miles of HAYWOOD which
can be easily overcome by few locks Notbing
IN word, is required but concert of action aroono
the friends of this great work to insure its earl
and successful accomplishment. Therefore.