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

was held in the Court House OIL Tuesday
Evening last TIL. committee appoint
ed to procure suitable testimonial forspre
scntation to Mr.. S. s. SoLomoa's in com
mcmoration Of the esteem and regard IN
which hc was held by those who had served
under him, during the term OF his offi.e
as assistant Engineer on the Wilmington
and Manchester road, offered to the meet
ing massive silver pitcher bcarug 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 'nemoria cara.
Mr.. H. 81. FRASER, ir., on behalf of
the operatives made the presentation
as follows:
Mr.. SoLoMoNs:
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
nrc.
We are not here for the purpose of
hcra'ding forth the conqueror's tri-
umphs, or to pronounce eulogistic eli
confirms upon Statesmen and Patriots
for deeds which excite our wonder and
admiration; but to witness en- exhibi
ton Of those kindlicr and more gencr
Gus feelings Of our nature which ever
nestle nearest the heart and which It's
highly honorable to cultivate and
praiscwor,hy to initiate. | stand be
fore you. Sir, the representative Of
II hody Of your fellow citizeus, whose
good esteem you should be proud to
have won--to perform, in their behalf,
most pleasing duty.
The universal family Of man, be-
ing bound together by ties of pccu-
liarly interesting and ondearing ma
ture, constitute mass of wisdom, feel
ing and passion which it is; truly
strange to contemplate. III this social
organization, certain high and respon-
sib!e duties are required at the hands
Of every man, which it is Justly cs-
teemed, highly proper to discharge, cv-'
eu with due Difference to the opinions
of others; but when their performance
ciiciis the admiration and esteem Of
many and secures the confidence of
all-,his. is truly accomplishing one
Of the highest aud nobcst objects tf
our existence.
We cannot but recl,r on this occa-
sion to some Of those circumstances of
doubt and difficulty which looincd up
before the imagination, in the ii.cpient
stages Of one of the greatest public cn
terprises which has ever contributed to
advance the interest and prosperity,
moi only OF Sumter District, but Of
the entire State. The recollection OF
those events still linger III our mcn-
ory;, but we are prodd to know, that
whatever of modification might have
been connected with them, is all for
gotten In the glorics of that triumph
which has SO righly crowned the wis
dom, prudence, and energy Of those
who planned and prosecuted that no
bic scheme ofpublic improvement
may say, to its ultimate completion.
While we stand in the midst Of
oil the comforts, enjoyments and blcs-
sings which have been showercd down
upon us in suoir rich profusion, by an
entcrprise,' over which, you, sir,
for years past have exercised a most
important control. We can look
back, With an air of complaccnt pride,
upon the paper Projects the 'mag-
nilicent failures" and the "chimcrical
schemes" of by-gmc days.
The spirit OF the age issonward-civ-
ilizaticn is upon the march-cvery-
thing is urging forward 10 some glori.
Gus result, and he is indeed devoid Of
wisdom and prudence who would es-
say for q single moment, either in his
individual or social capacity to stand
in the progress ofthe Chicf Work'er in
this magni ;icent system-.Stean
Electrical influences arc 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-
laliye ingenuity and excite the most
sluggish mind to an activity of opera
tiOn To which tho wnrlJ E,r o;oht,on
centuries past has furnished no species
of Q parallel; but whatever good may
result from the employment Of these
agcnts--yct Steam-is at last the great
stay and bulwark of human progress.
Could we but have q panoramic
view. of the untold treasures of wealth,
which under it acknowledgement, are
now pioughing the bosotns of our wa
tcrs and whirIing over the face Of our
country towards every imaginable
point of the compass-we would
cfnpI lpsf in ,rnp1n,