The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-01-19

was held in the Court House on Tuesday
Evening last Th. Committee appoint
cd 10 procure suitable Testimonial for pre-
scntation TO Mr.. S. S.SoLomoN's in com
memoraton Of the esteem and sre gard In
which he was held by those who had served
under him, during the term OF his oiii.e
as assistant Engineer on the Wilmington
and Manchester. road, offered 70 the meet,
ing massive silver pitcher bearing the
following inscription:
PRESENTED TO
S. S. SOLOMONS
On tho West end of the w. g. N. R. r.
BY the operatives in his employ,
Jan. 10. 1854.
Er risiOne sed memorial cara.
Mr.. L.RL. FRASER, ir., on behalf Of
the operatives made the presentation
as follows:
Mr.. SoLoMoHs: -
The object, sir, which has assembled
US together this evening is Of most
touching and interesting character. 1t
forms one Of those bright spots in our
existence which occasionally dots
memory's chcckcred page, to which in
after years the heart will turn with
mingled emotions of pride and pleas
ure.
We are not here for the purpose of
erading forth the conqueror's tri-
umphs, or to pronounce eulogistic ell
comiums upon Statesmen and Patriots
for deeds which excite our wonder and
admiration; but to witness an exhibi
tion Of those kindicr and more gener
Gus feelings of our nature which ever
nestle nearest the heart and which tits
highly honorable to cultivate and
praiscworthy TO initiate. stand be
fore you: Sir, the representative of
Il hody Of your fellow citizeus, whose
good esteem you should be proud to
have won-to perform, in their behalf,
Il most pleasing duty.
The universal family Of man, be-
ing bound together by ties of Il pccu-
liarly interesting and ondcaring ma
nra, constitute Il mass of wisdom, feel
ing and passion which it is truly
strange to contemplate. In this social
organization, certain high and respon-
sib!e duties are required at the hands
Of every man, which it is justly cs-
teemcd, highly proper to discharge, cv-:
eu with due Difference to the opinions
of others; but when their performance
clicils the admiration and esteem Of
many and secures the confidence of
all-this: is truly accomplishing one
Of the highest aud noblcst objects of
our existence.
We cannot but rccr,r on this occa-
sion to some OF those circumstances Of
doubt and difficulty which loo,ned up
before the Imagination, in the ir.cipient
stages ofone OF the greatest public en-
terprises which has ever contributed to
advance the interest and prosperity,
not only Of Sumter District, but Of
the entire State. The recollection of
those events sill lingcr in our mem
ory; but we are prohd to know, shat
whatever OF modification might have
been connected with them, is all for
gotten In the glorics of that triumph
which has sorighly crowned the wis
dom, prudence, and energy Of those
who planned and prosecuted that no
bic scheme ofpublic improv ovemcnt-l
may say, to its ultimate completion.
While we stand in the midst of
all the comforts, cnjoyments and blcs-
sings which have been showercd down
upon us in such rich profusion, by an
enterprises over which, you, sir,
for years past have exercised most
important control. We can look
back, with an air of compaccnt pride.
upon the ''Paper Projects the mag
nilcent failures" and the '.chimerical
schemes" of by.gone days.
The spirit Of the age isonward-civ-
ilizaticn is upon the marchAcvcry-
thing is urging forward 10 some glori-
Gus result, and he is indeed devoid Of
wisdom and prudence who would es-
say for single moment, either in his
individual or social cnpscity to stand
in the progress ofthe Chicf Workerin
this magni. .icent sys.em-.Steam.
Electrical influences are the light
ming Agents that convey intelligence
from one quarter of the Globe to the
other with the rapidity of thought.
They furnish abundant food for spccu-
latiYe Ingenuity and excite the most
sluggish mind to an activity ofopera.
ton towhich the world for eighteen
centuries past has furnished no species
OF . parallel; but whatever good may
result from the employment of these
agcnts--yet steam-is at last the great
stay and buiwark of human progress.
Could we but have a panoramic
view of the untold treasures of wealth,
which under it acknowledgement, are
now plouShing the bosoms of our wa
tcrs and whirling over the face of our
country towards every imaginable
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