Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-03-09

Too numerous, no doubt, to be cataogued by us.
Their number may be million, as their look is mote
ly Legislators, road and tide walters, village little
great men, city great little men, officials all their
wives and children, and so forth. Yes, yes, these
are deadheads, sure enough. Many appear at the
very first glance they obviously capita mortua
that is, to speak in English which they understand
best, they deadbeads, or blOckheads, which is
nearly the same thing.
But are those heads dead that first suggested then
promoted the very making of the Railroad? Are
those heads dead which reused the attention of the
public to the value OF the iron horse demonstrated
the feasibility of the iron track for him travel on
and famed the feelings of backward community
into enthusasm-an enthusiasm practically tested
afterwards by solid subscriptions for the stock e
What kind of heads were those which persuaded
cautious, tlmld Legislature to grant charter, and
turn aside all assaults upon the project made by en-
smies Within and enem without the Houses Was
that pumpkin head which brought some doubters
over to IavOng the daring enterprise and others to
making donations of their lands Are those heads
| empty, think you, which have not only lent their
| powerful aid in legslatng this child of modern in
ventlon. but abored since to instruct to cherish
and defend it against its numerous assaiIants, vim
dlctve, fraudulent, Ignorant and mercenary?
| Is the Press which has done these things, and
more, dead head Toes it require nothing but a
lteless skull 10 preserve public sentiment healthy,
when railroads have been, are, and will be again
menaced, sometimes with frequent violence excited by
I'M ures supposed real, and sometimes with gen
era Remuneration for their recklessness Of life neg
lect of comfort; and grnsping cupidtty? Is the
press dead head that steps in, explains, assuages,
mediaes between the fierce, popular accuser and the
trembling, corporated victim? Who else is it, who
it be, but the press, that its salutary and de-
cisive influence to preserve the minds of men in
state of eQuipose, without which courts and uries
would fail to administer justice without bias and
would be converted by headong public prejudice
into fearful eXecuoners, instead Of equitable, pas
sionless tribunals
After all, this word Deadhead must be misnomer
for aaortua manus, or Deadhand. The law does not
favor mort>mains; and road projectors, well as
y others, nourishing antpathy to hands that
don't pay But the hand of the writer is not dead
head. 1t returns generous equivalent for all ia.
VOrs; ottener comforting reputation and benefits
deserved, than neglecting just claims. This is its
failing, There are exceptions, where malice seems
to dictate the injurious line. But to the good nature
of the press very many of it's faults to be ascrbed
Ii an account current of the press with individuals
and corporations to be stated who doubts that
large outstanding debt would be found due 10 it,
which never will be paid, or demanded? Upon in
vestlgaton, 1t will appear, that if receiving service
without compensation makes deadhead some indi-
viduals aud some wealthy corporations and not edi
TORS must be contented with the title.
But we mast rein up, especially we have argued
oursef into a doubt, whether, after all, any BODY
looks upon the press a deadhead We suspect
the whole, that does Besides, it uses very
sparingly the privilege of travelling Free whatever
name the practice may confer. Persons connected
with the fourth estate have little esure-ess indeed
than almost anybody, TO indulge in riding upon rail
roads. Gratuitous though the passage might be
they would soon fnd poor fellows that 10 them rail
roads would be the roads to ruin Editors are there
fore, not much in the cars rarely, unless neces
sity compels. Though they the appellative @
Deddhedds they confess salutatary fear that thei
brain pans might become So in consequence of SOM
accident OF other. should they rashy use these frank
too freely. In such case, they have been advise
that claim for damages by themselves or heirs mi
be legally resisted If this is the law it will be cheap
er IN the long run to purchase tickets than to traye
d for noh1ng-Ne1corkD Daily Advertassr.,
h OLD BULLION M1sREpREsENTED.-Th Washington
/ letter writers are noted the world over for puttin
!, into the mouths of men about Washington word
that were never uttered by those whom the author
ship is attributed. The following speech put in tn
b mouth OF "old Bullion is fair specimen, and We
IS entirely characteristic:
"Col Benton is in a spasm account of the al
most certain defeat of his favorte project of ralroa
er to the Pacific. On this hject he was to-day hear
to remark The Pacific Railroad sir is deunct, ror
deungo to get rid of yes sir defunc in the abstract
IS Congress has killed it, sr-killed it They are tb
re most stultted body in the world sr-yes sir (fror
IS stuttus, fool. sr) all of them, sir except myse
IN solitary and alone sir If had my way with them
e sir, would expunge their names from the rolls c
I'll the House, (rom e1pungo to blot out)-yes sir eve
Try mothers son of them, sir"