Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-02-04

Lecture of Hon. Wm a. Graham, on the British In
vasion of NORTH Carolina, before the NeU York Has
toricaI Society.
We find in the New York Herald of the 21st ult.,
a very long and elaborate report of the very long
and elaborate Lecture delivered in that city on the
goth ult, before the Historical Society," by Ex-GoV-
ernor Graham of this State. 1t occupies nearly sew
en- columns of the Herald very closely printed and
in very small type, and takes a range which might
be supposed sufficient to include all the promi
events of the revolutionary history of the State
and certainly to leave excuse for paIpable oms-
sions, founded upon restricted space.
Such omissions have been made, however, and
their occurr nee strikes the more forcby, in the
case of Mr. Graham, who, at the outset claims to be
- native here and to the manner BORN" since it
would be difficult to attribute them to ignorance
inadvcrtence on the part of a gentleman who has
occupied many prominent positions in the State,
and possessed many facilities for acquiring nfor
nation 1t may have been merely through accident,
that many ofthe most prominent revolutionary names
and incidents of the Cape Fear section, totally
forgotten or passed over; and that, from the COM
mencement of the Lecture to its close, the names Of
such men as Cornelius Harnett, or Gen. John Ashe.
find not even the most casual mention while many
transactions equalled in interest or Importance by
few in the States history by none in the
patriotism and devotion exhibited by the actors in
them-are passed over with cold allusion, or to-
tai neglect
Why this is the case, we do not pretend to say
1t is true that Mr.. Graham belongs to another Sec
ton but that should have been forgotten before
New York audience, and for once, at least, the
whole State. and not its mere sectional divisions,
have been remembered 1t is true also, that the de-
scendants of many of the Cape Fear worthless occu-
by prominent political positions adverse to Mr.
Graham but surely-surely that could not have an
influence in determining his course!
With all his faults of style and composition, Col.
Wheeler is, at least, industrious and unsectonal !;
and, from the materials which he has gathered TO-
gether, good history might be, and may yet be
written. The character of Mr.. Graham's mind,
however. as developed in his lecture must always
preclude him from that task 1t may have a GER
tain acueness and be correct far as 1t goes,
but it wants that breadth and expansion necessary
to enter into the spirit of great work, or to treat
with candor and fairness the history and the men OF
great State unbiased by those narrow prejudces
which appear be closely interviewer with its tex
ture to form an integral part OF its composition
The COnnec! lion with the Mines via Fayetteville.
! We are pleased to notice that the recommended
tions of MIR. FLEMING, in favor of a Railroad COM
munication between this place and the coal mines
in Chatham county through Fayetteville, and by
means of connection between branch of the
Manchester Railroad and the proposed Road from
Fayetteville to the mines, meets with the decided
appreciation of the Fayetteville press, and we be-
lieve, of the Fayetteville people. The Carolinian
CT
dation; and the Observer of the 1st after copying
the concluding paragraph of MIR. FLEM1NG's report,
appends the following:
Ii is certainly source Of great qualification 10 find
that Wilmington is at last alive to It's own interest
for we presume that these demonstrations are not
made without the concurrence OF the influential cItI-
zens of that but probably at their instance y
1t is malfesy the interest Of Wilmington 10 unite
with US in the effort TO reach the Coal Fields that we
have been astonIshed at the indifference and hos
tiIity manifested first We trust that that is all
past, and that Wilmington is willing to reach the
coal fields through Fayetteville, now that her own
Engineer shows that il is the shortest and best route
with 80 miles of the rail road already built, (and only
90 more 10 be huiIt;) that it will not damage the River
improvement; that it will make her existing rail road
more profitable; and finally will bind Wilmington
and Fayetteville together "by the ndissoluble Tie OF
mutual interest,"
We present these extracts 10 our townsmen and all
interested in the projected rail road from this place to
the mines. with much pleasure, asking their earnest
consideration of the great results which will follow
! connection with Wilmington, with the coal region
and thence with Greensbosough and the Central Raj
Road. And It will be a reproach TO the State if the
whole West be not speedily brought within The range
of those works. by road from Salisbury to the Ten
nessee line, penetrating the great Mississippi Valley
The effect of any one of these rail roads upon the
prosperity of Fayetteville would, We have doubt
or all experience proves it) be to double the trade
and the value of property here. But we will not pre-
tend to estimate The Importance of all OF these com
bined. All we will say Isl that if Fayetteville fails
to do her duty in view of such results she will de
serve to be obera1ed from the map.
from Europe.
The Steamer Africa arrived at New York on Sun
day last, with Liverpool dates to the 10th instant
Cotton had advanced I'd. or cent per ID.
E. Wetherman, of Amsterdam, failed for ESQ, 00t
e in consequence of Prizes forgeries.
e ENGLAND.-The Daily News announces that Kos
suth will shortly visit America.
Mr. Ingersoll had been invited to dine at Birmng
ham.
t The ship Provincialist, from Philadelphia to Lv
n erpool had been lost at sea- The crew were saved
A large foreign fleet windbound in the Mer
sey
l. The Liverpool and Philadelphia Steamship Com
5, pany had contracted for new screw steamer {
If 1900 tons
e The new Portuguese tariff was unfavorable
a English interests.
: The London ma ners severely criticise Tnoersoll