Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-04-18
from the Charleston Mercuryl
NORTH.CAROLINA LITERATURE,

It is incumbent upon us to report the doings in
Literature of our sister States, and rejoice to
say that on all hands, there is very decided exhl.
bon Of DESIRE on the part of the South, to assert
''old North State" the tendency seems to be to re-
vive the ancient chronicles. to explore the province
Of local history, and to CLEAN all possible records,
from legend and tradition, which shall supply the
written chronicle when defective. II giaos US 10
know that Dr. Hawks kative OF North. Carohna
ia now engaged on regular History OF that 1tate'
which WILL no doubt render its Colonial and Revo-
lutionary annals complete. We are told that he
has made considerable progress in his work. and
that we shall be put in possession Of it. Mean
while, it is grateful to know that other minds have
been busy, also, and that there is a considerable
body of local literature which has been recently put
forth by citizens of North Carolina calculated equal
~ to enrich her resources in history and to esab-
lish her claims to the possession of writers quite
equal to the assertion of her intellect Among these
laborers we mention with pleasure the name of Rev.
DR.. Caruthers known long ago to the literary and
religious public of the South by his Memoir of the
Rev. DR.. Caldwell one of the Revolutionary fathers
of the old North State. This memoir Of DIR. Cald-
we'll is in fact, not simply narrative OF has lnd'-
vdual life, but very good account of the first be-
ginnngs of the Revolutionary conflict in the upper
part of North Carolina, extending to the earliest
demonstrations in the same direction, OF the ancient
REGULATORS" when they tried the odds with Gov.
Tryon-the "Wolf of North-Carolina," as ne was
called by the Redmen. Of the history of this border
struggle, the Memoir of DR.. Caldwell gives an ex-
ceent account and the work is one that is absolute
" essential to every student who would make HIM
self familiar with the early chronicles OF the South
DR.. Caruthers has not stopt at this labor, but,
with Iaudable industry and patriotism. has given
us two other interesting volumes of Memoirs on
the subject of the early history and biography OF
North-Carolina These are called "The Old North
Ckofo in fret md
collections from manuscript and oral sources, and
supply the local history in various precincts IN
North Carolina giving detailed accounts of various
public events, which hitherto have been dismissed
carelessy by the historian biographies of rema ka-
bic individuals and anecdotes of Others all of whom
were more or less concerned in the local struggle.
These narratives are curious lively instructive, and
greatly assist in filling up the gaps in our general
history. The compiler deserves great credit for his
painstaking, zeal and patriotism he writes in good
style; simply, without afectation Or ambition
loosely and carelessly at times but always intelli-
gibly and to the point He properly seeks to do
Justice to the Old North State whose services in the
Revolution it has pleased historians to sur over,
as is too much the with their treatment of all
our Southern history. His error is in generalzing
little too freely, and of exaggeratng the impor-
lance of certain of his topics He has, besides, been
too much disposed to take his statements upon trust
We are required, when getting oral testimony, so
animation of the testyng parties, to take assertions
cum grano, and never to forget the always snspic-
ious attitude of a witness who comes forward with
his revelations-usually in his own behalf-long
after all other witnesses dead. These witnesses
must never be allowed to disturb assail the
'written record" at such late day, which they
never ventured to attack when the writers or their
witnesses were living. We cannot give too much
heed to this rue if disregard it, it is doubtful
whether We shall be allowed to have single unmu-
tiated record, and shall be required to reverse
most of our historical judgments.
Of the same class with these writings of DR..
Caruthers, is neat volume of Lectures, entitled
Revolutionary History Of North Carolina, from
the several pens of DR.. Hawks, and the Hons. D. L.
Swain and VIM A. Graham, to which is prefixed
sketch Of the Battle of the Alamance &c, of the
Regulators with the Colonial Government
ed by VIM. D. Cooke, A. NJ, by whom this nice
little volume has been edited. This narrative, and
these lectures, are all we'll written. They deal
mostly in the generalities of the subject avoiding
details, as inconsistent with the lecture form of
composition; but they grasp the subject completely,
and without details, the reader will be able to gath
er from these lectures very succinct and mostly
correct idea of the claims of North-C Carolina during
the Revolutionary conflict. The volume is beauti-
fully printed, with fine illustrations, and is atogeth
er worthy of general perusal Like the volumes of
Caruthers it we'll deserves place in all our libra
ries. We welcome it to ours.
Quite an interesting narrative of the Life and
Character of the celebrated Flora Mcdonald, has
been given us also, in the form of Lecture BY
James Banks, Esq, of Fayetteville n. c., which we
have read with pleasure and instruction. No doubt,
with a little more research, the author would be
enabled to expand this lecture into nice little
volume.
Nor has the State Government been Indifferent.
while her sons have shown themselves so honorably
busy, in adding to the proofs of her intellectual
activity. Here is fine, we'll printed octavo-a
theological Report of the Midland Counties of
North.Carona," by Ebenezer Emmons- illustrated
with engravings, volume of large uses in the de-
velopment of the natural resources of the country.
This work will be followed by others of the same
class, carrying out the survey through all portions
of the State.
The Government Of North. Carolina has done, and
is doing more. 1t has shown Iaudable zeal in the
cause OF education; has put her public schools on
good foundation, and has created the Office of
State Superintendent of Common Schools, who is
entrusted with the whole duty of systenatizng their
acton under an uniform and general organization.
His powers extend even to the preparation of proper
school books; one of whch-"a North Carolina
Reader'-les before US nova compilation which
largely includes the writings of natives of the State
and all OF that sort of material-from it's poetry
tradition and history-which would be likely to an.
innate the young learner with the love of birth place.
Inc present Superintendent of Common Schools of
North Carolina, is the Rev. c. H. Wiley, gentle
man who has acquired a considerable reputation as
man OF letters; to whom we owe an Historical
Romance, called "Alamance," founded on the War
OF the Regulators, which forms so interesting a
chapter in the history of the old North State,
Nor has the muse of North Carolina been silent
Here, for example are two volumes, modestly CALL
ed Hood Notes." which we owe to the kindness of
an unknown friend of the Oak -Raleigh-who
Will receive our sincere thanks for his courtesy and
compliment. These consist of selections from the
S.hss 0i near nifty native poets of the old North
State-al of them exhibiting taste and cultivation.
many Of them grace and poetca sensibties of the
most promising character. The verses are all fugi-
tive as might be expected-things shed like the
aroma OF wild flowers along the highways: for we