The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-09-10
From the Fayetteville Observer.

I
the sneering remarks Of sscoifers" and
= Writings" as they DETAINED the old North
State Tor the poverty Of soil and primevsl
style Of log cabin buildings.
Travellers formed their ropinions from what
they saw, or rather from what they did not
see, in passing over the W. & w. r.. Road.
Since that time spirit Of improvement has
been abroad. Pine barrens have become
fruitful. wild weeds have given place to ce-
real grains, escuent herbs and luscious fruits,
and the modern neatly painted mansions
have long since supplanted the "log cabins"
Of the early pioneers. Sixteen years ago /
passed over the road, and as heard the car
ping, captious remarks Of travellers from the
sunny South and frozen North, blusl,ed,
and dared not yindicate our State fame, so
great were the odds against her. Less than
sixteen days ago in passing over the same
route, my State pride was exalted in listening
to enc0miums on the style Of buildings. and
crops Of grain and fruits and grass that met
the eye, as the steam horse sped along its
iron track.
! The Depots that seem 10 be swelling into
Importance are Strickland's, Goldsbor0' and
Wilson. Godshoro' has taken the place of
the ancient town Of Waynesboro', the remains
Of which can yet be seen on the banks Of the
Neuse as the caIs speed on towards her tri-
umphant rival Godsboro', now celebrated
| for schools, churches. hotels and tasty bulls
dings. Wilson has become Country town,
and has the honor of bearing the name Of one
Of carolina's patriotic sons who died in
Mexico, uphulding and maintaining the
chiyalry Of his native State. But the Place
Of most interest to me on the line of his
route, is the ancient town Of Halifax, beau.
tifuIly embowered beneath the shadow Other
stalwart oaks. In the early history Of North
carolina. Halifax was distinguished fur her
wisdom IN counsel and vaIor on the field.
In 1870 the State Provincial Congress as
sembled in Halifax, Immediately after the
Battle OF Moore's Greek, to provide for the
defence Of the State and the imprisonment of
the Scotch Loyalists. Here Brigadier Gem
eral Mcdonald and kingsborough Nc Donald,
husband of the heroic Flora, and all the
| Highland Clans who marched from Cross
Greek, we're detained as prisosers during the
Revolutionary war. Here tho, the Rev.
Mr.. Mcleod Of Long Street. Bluff and Bar
becue Churches in Cumberland County, was
held in durance vile, because in his zeal to
preach the gospel 10 the Highland prisoners
| 10 Gallo, he entered the American lines
without passport and was detained until
the Rev. James Campbell, whose remains
now rest on the Cape Fear. opposite the Bluff
Church, travelled from Cumberland and be.
came responsible for his friendly conduct
towards the American cause. After this he
was liberated and sojOurned for a time in
Orange county. Here. too, Flora Mcdonald
i implured the government 10 let her visit her
husband, but Tor reasons of policy her prayer
was denied. Here too, il was that our glo.
rious liberty breathing Bill of Rights and the
Constitution under which we have so long
lived. were promulgated to the world-and
ii memory serves me right. they are both the
composition OF Gov. Burke, an Irishman,
whose remains are inferred in the neighbor.
hood uf llillsborougl. one of whose daugh.
iers still lives in a Southern State. Here.
too, the u. y. Declaration was first ratified
BY North Carolina and here il is still yenera.
ted as the greatest achievement Of human in
tellect, and as the best production that has
ever emanated IRON the human heart. But
the train speeds on, and Halifax is left be.
hind in the glimmering distance, not as a
thing that was, but as a town that was and
| is, and shall be while our people have hearts
that can appreciate the invaluable blessings
that have rsdiated throughout the State, from
9beneath those cool and shady groves that now
embower the town OF Halifax.
The train speeds on, and soon last year.
plague smitten cities Of Portsmouth and
Norfolk are full in view, and memory revcr.
ted to the time when Lord Dunmore, the las
Royal Governor Of Virginia, proclaimed free
dom TO the slaves aud forgiveness to all crimi
nails who would rally round the standard o
England, aud put down REVOLUTION in the
bud. In this emergency Portsmouth an,
Nurlulk called for help from the Old Nortl
. State, and her cry was answered. Nortl
Carolina troops commanded by Gent How,
of Brunswick, zane To their relief. How,
was honorcd with command, and after achiev
. ing laurels at the Great Bridge and in sever
al skirmishes. he succeeded IN driving fron
the soil Of Virginia Lord Dunmore and hi
rufian band, who bctook themselves 10 th,
ships that rode within the bay, and in re
vengc set ERE TO and laid The cities in ashes
Now tread the deck Of the Str. Louisiana
The bell has struck and now she walks th
water like thing Of life, with hundreds o
!, passengers whore in the fresh inyigoraiinI
). breeze. As usual with me in travelling,
was fortunate in forming the acquaintance 0
several of North Carolian's fair daughters
and as paced the deck with them and lis
tened TO their cheerful conversation and mer
!, ~ laugh. aud beheld the pale bright Moo
!, from Ocean rise, and gazed upon the fantas
: tic shapes which the clouds and oceans spra
, caused the Queen Of Night to assume, cou
3 not help saying
IfySu would view Chespeakc Alright.
= Behold Il in the pale moonlight
When the zephyrs whisper on the breeze,
n And the ripple murmurs DER the seas; II
when the clouds arc floating n the sky,
knd tovf,,l bcams fair Julia's eve: