The North-Carolina standard., 1848-09-13
PETERBOROUGH CONVENTION.

.s1rra PETERBOROUGH CONVENTION. u
Pursuant to previons notice, Convention OF Del
egates from the Counties of Chatham, Moore. Cum
berland, Brunswick, and New Hanover, assembled
in Pittsboro, Friday 18th instant to consider the
subject of opening Cape Fear and Deep Rivers, from
Fayetteville to Hancock's Bridge In the County OF
Moore. -.
The Convention was temporarily organized by the
appointment of DIR. Isaac Hall as Chairman, and S.
L. Riddle as Secretary. sse-es- ...l a5.s,- ,Es--
The Counties represented in the Convention were
called, when the following persons presented their
credentials and took their seats:
New Hanover-Gen. Alexander MeRae, George
Gillespie, Dr. A. ]. DeRosset, Robert Maxwell,
Thomas Loring. N. M. Hill, b. |. Howze' and 1.
Moo1e-Dr Robert X. Smith, and DR.. c. Chal-
mers. --e4 aa0 -,E.. -. 49,"
Cumberland-Col. A. S. Mcneil. g..s a.., ..le
Brunswick-Dr. Frederick ]. Hill. -....-
Chatham-Dr S. McClenehan, Thomas Parish,
Isaac Clegg, ]. H. Haughton, NJ. Q. Waddell, w.
Stedman, ]. ]. Jackson, w. L. Horn, J. y: A.
Leach, o. A. Stedman, w. Lea, N. Clegg, John
ton, B. Harris S. L. Riddle, Dr. Isaac Hall, Thomas
Hill, John Lea, William Snipes, Henry A. London,
Hardy Lasater, and w. NJ. Burns.
Mr.. Jackson of Chatham, moved that COMMITTEE
of be appointed by the Chair to recommend Perma-
nent officers for the Convention. The motion was
adopted, and the Chair appointed DIR. s. McClene-
han, H. A. London, and w. T. Horn, Esqs., said
Committee. .... . .,- .:.s t.... ..... ..
the following officers viz
DR.. F. ]. Hill of Brunswick, President
Gen. McRae, of New Hanover,
Col. A. S. McNeill, of Cumberland, p;,e
DIR. Charles Chalmers, of Moore, I pres'ts.
Thomas Parish, Esq. of Chatham, 49,.
Isaac Clegg. Esq, OF "
Dr.. A. J. DeRossett, of New Hanover, Secretaries,
William Stedman. of Chatham,
Which report was unanimously concurred In.
The President having been conducted to the Chair,
made his Acknowledgements for the honor conferred
him, and for about three-quarters of an hour, In
lucid and masterly manner, demonstrated the great
importance of the proposed work. its perfect teasl-
bity, and the cheering prospects Of its commence
ment and completion.
The following gentlemen were then, motion,
appointed to report resolutions for the consideration
of the Convention, viz :-Thos. Loring and b.
Howe, of New Hanover; ]. H. Haughton and ]. ].
Jackson, of Chatham; and DR.. R. K. Smith, of
Moore.
During the absence of the Committee, the Conven-
ton successively addressed by Gen. Alex. Nc
Rae, of New Hanover, and DR.. S. McClenehan, of
Chatham, in speeches aboundng in striking and sta
tistcal information and practical facts.
The Committee on resolutions having returned
through j. j. Jackson Esq presented the following
report, viz:
We are warned by of every days occurrence
that the time has when more than ever the Peo-
pie of the South should avail themselves OF all the
advantages of commerce, and to call into active play
all the elements of prosperity which nature has be-
slowed them. These advantages are great, and
nowhere they superior to those of North Carolina
! Blessed by Nature with healthy climate, soil
eminently productive-with great amount of miner
al wealth, and vast amount of water power Tor man.
ufacturing purposes-N orth Carolina, with proper
spirit of enterprise the part of her people, would,
in 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 that compelled to admit
that we present another exempli6caon to the fact,
that those portions of the world upon which kind
Providence has been most lavish of his blessings,
have been most cursed by the indifference, the ne
glect, the supneness the almost criminal inactivity
of man. We rejoice in the belief, however, that her
people are beginning to wake up to proper sense
of their interest," and to the importance of developing
| her resources. '-.' .. ' ..'
In the opinion of your Committee, there is no enc
terprise which should more engage our efforts, and
in which the warmest sympathies and feelings OF our
people should be thoroughly enlisted, than that
of rendering Cape Fear River navigable, above Fay
etteville, to Haywood and Deep River, as high up
as Hancock's Mills. This work once completed,
and it's great advantages to all heineror of the State
being practically realized it requires nothing OF
the spirit of prophecy to foresee that in short time
Railroad or turnpike, or some other easy mode OF
communication, would be constructed from the head
of navigation Deep River to some point on the
Yadkin, above the Narrows, distance not exceed
ing forty miles the effect of which would be to oPer
the products of the great est an easy and cheap
means of transportation to 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 receive
, a fair reward; it would necessarily cause vast a
mount of produce to be raised, which we have never
hitherto raised, only for consumption at home, be-
cause it would not bear the cost of transportation
market in wagons and for the latter reason 1t would
greatly lower the cost to the citizens ofthe interior
of the State fvarious articles ofprime necessity Ii
f word, it would vastly augment the amount OF pro-
duce raised for markets it would greatly enhance the
price of it, and diminish the of transportation
and for that lessen the cost OF the farmer in h
interior of the State of every article purchased BY
him. .. ,-.,. .... . a. .4t l.,f5fs.o 80. . -
Il would at the same time necessarily build up
ourishing city. The advantages of this work to thu
, town of Wilmington would be incalcuable. Tht
products of the larger and most productive portions
, of the State would find market there. There ar
few towns south OF the Potomac which coEld in thi
case surpass her in commercial advantages and who's
friends could look forward with more confidence to
continued and increasing prosperity. 3g. :
1t is believed by your Committee that this work !
entirely practicable From information which can b.
relied on there can be little doubt but that lgh
steamboats, can up the river as far as Smile
Falls TWENTY-FIVE miles above Fayetteville, withoa
any improvement in the river at all From this poin
to Hancock's Mills, there only twelve or ittee
+ miles OF the river which will require Improvement
and from information which is of the highest a0tor
ty your Committee Of the opinion that the Who'll
fall in this distance cannot exceed seventy. In Dee
River. the only serious obstacles to effecng navi
pation. are two falls within less than ten miles
= HAYWOOD which can be easily overcome by fes
o locks Nothing, in word, is required but coneel
of action among the friends Of this great work to II
sure its early and successful accomplishment There
fore, -..o -
Resolved lst, That the enterprise ofopening Cap
Fear River above Fayetteville, and Deep River as ia
! 20. is