Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-06-21
GEN. DoeKERy At THE HANGINGl

WecoPSayom the last halifax Republican the
foc~ing fotice of the Federal Consolidate at Halifax
About the Srd inst. placards, in largo letters,
made Their appearance calling on our citizens to at
tend and hear The Id Richmond Farmer in Hal
lax on the 5th We had been informed, that the
General had made appointment for Roxboro' on
that day, and had Published the same in the Green's
boro Patriot and that Mr. Bragg had advised his
friends that he would be there also. II seems how
ever, that the General deemed discretion the better
part of valor and took the " buck track down here
| to Halifax Alas for the days of chivary when the
| sold Richmond Farmer" shows the "whte fca-
| ther ]"
1t was well known that Sylvester Maybe, free
| negro, would be executed here on the 9th for the
murder of Roberts; now while we deprecate the
| taste which collects q crowd on such an occas-
ion, anxious that the matter should pass off
with becoming soemnty, and have salutary effect
on all who should witness it. Not so with the Cen
eral-he, not content with deserving his appoint
ments, must take advantage of the awful spectacle
asst exhibit himself and divide, with the wretched
criminal the attention of the crowd. 1t is the first
instance of the kind of which have ever heard in
North Carolina; and We trust, for the honor of the
Ssate, that shall again have candidate for
Governor, So lost to all sense of fiety and pub
lie dccency as to turn, attempt to tufn the public
execution of wretched felon to the advantage of
| his own electioneering purposes
| But, true to his instincts, the General made his
| appearance. The usual custom is, we believe, to
| begin with the tragedy and follow with the farce
But this order reversed and the General i'm the
character of "The Old Richmond Farmer" " led Off
with his part of the performance. He spoke for a.
bout two hours but, we free to confess, he had
not as fair chance as, suppose, he had antici-
pated. Public curiosity seemed to be divided be-
tween the Court House and the gallows, and conse-
quentiy there was continual arrival and drpar
ture during the whole speech. When, at last the
solemn toing of the bell announced that fellow
being was about to pay the penalty of his crime,
and to be launched into eternity, the General
left with some half dozen adhcrcnts and concluded
his speech
Although we took full notes we will not attempt
an analysis of the Generals mighty effort; We're
to do so we would but treat readers to dish of
stereotyped slang. Free Suffrage Internal Improve
mentS, Distribution, and his own personal history,
formed the staple of his oratory. When the Gen
eral proclaimed himself the champion of free suffrage
we thought we could see our Whig friends hang
their heads in shame. They recollected the
two years ago, when their venerable and truly able
leader, Col. Joyner, denounced it on the stump
he afterwards denounced it in the Senatc-they
collected too the of their able and worthy
representative, Rchd II. Smith, the stump and
i'll the Comlnons-they recollected also how bitter
y they had denounced our excellent Governor as
demagoguc who making of it, they said, as
mere hobby on which to ride into office. and yet
mere was man of great strength of intellect"
Genera" an old Richmond Farmer" and their
own candidate for Governor proclaimng himself the
great, original full tcdged and simon pure champion
OF Free Suffrage !!
As we say above, the General spoke at length on
his own personal history. He did not, it is true, tell
us the day and the hour that he ushered into
this breathing world whether any great commo-
tion of nature Immediately preceded or followed the
event-whether he was boIn " with teeth =" or at
what age he first stood erect" We trust that,
hereafter lie will cnlig,tcu the public on these points,
and give his history from the days when he enjoyed
the glorious prvilegecf basking il his shirt tail, in
the Sum- up to the hour when he made the important
discovery, that he was man Of great strength Of
intellect and tir;nness of purpose"
The General stated he had been snccred at for his
| want of education, &C. Now it is crime to be
uneducated, but when man presents himself to the
people of North Carolina a candidate for the high
est Office in their gift, he must expect to have his
qualifications canvassed, and, while honorable
tion will be made Of his poverty, should he be poor
his wealth and position ought not to be permitted to
save his ignorance exposure. We have heard of
men who studied Mathematics after ory-ve, and of
| others who mastered difficult sciences who were
compelled to labor daily for support; the General
has been some time in public life long time veal
thy, and has had, for many years, ample means and
opportunities of improving his mind certainly, under
such circumstances, he cannot expect to receive
sympathy because he is ignorant and arc at loss to
know what estimate he puts on the intelligence Of
the people when he urges it as ground OF public
support. The Democratic papers of the State have
done nothing more than it their duty to do
they have inquired into the Generals qualifications,
and they have urged his limited mental requirements
uniting him for the high office of Governor of
the State-the public parade which the General
makes of his ignorance but endorses their arguments
and proves from his lips, that he is unfit for the
office to which he aspires.
| When we saw the placards before referred to, We
were prepared for all the demagogism of the Gener-
ais speech But Halifax County is not the best place
in the world for exhibitions of the sort. The farm
ers of this County are, will venture to say, taken
collectively, well educated any body of men in
the State and, when they cast their votes, they do
not inquire whether the man for whom they vote is
a farmer, a lawyer, doctor-but they ask us
he capable-will his election promote the interests
of the State?" They know therefore how to treat
General DockSrys lacrymose history of his origin,
&C., and all such shallow and wretched devices as
".Atend one and all and hear the old Richmond Far
mer :" with the contempt they deserve"
| CATAwBA COLLEGE. We are indebted to friend
for the annual Catalogue of the Trustees, officers
and studcrts of Catawba College, Newton, N. c."
| The total number of students is hundred and
nineteen-6 Sophomores IL Freshmen, 5S in the
preparatory department, and Al in the Normal and
business department. The Trustees John F.
Hoke, Jacob Ramsour, Jr., j. A. Renhardt, G. p.
Shuford F. ID. Reinhardt, Geo. Setter, Jr., Danl.