The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-03

labor a large portion of the fertile lands OF
the Southwest would have been still nn-i
reclaimed-lands, the cultivation of which
has added so much to the commerce and
mower of all the States. and which are con-
stantly pouring their floods of wealth into
New York. and other nom slayeholding
ports. And we may also assert, that in a
pecun;ary point of view, the institatiGR has
been of more benefit 30 the free States than
il has been to u.s. The financial policy of
the federal government has always favored
the Northern people. Three-fourths or
the revenues of the government are col
Iected and disbursed north of the State of
Virginia. The policy of the planting States
has always been, for obvious reasons, that
of Free Trade-of comparatively unre-
stricted commerce. The South is now sub
hitting. without murmer, to a tariff aver
aging thirty per cent. ad valorem, and that
with but slight compensating results to
herself. for the benefit OF the industrial
operations and interests of the North. Yet,
with all these disadvantages-with North
ern vessels monopolizing her carrying trade,
| and with a system of revenue and finance
constantly operating against her, the South
not only contributes largely to support the
North with her breadstuffs, her rice, and
her sugar; but she supplies the world with
tobacco, and the looms of New England, OF
all old England. and of France and Ger
many with her cotton"
This popularity of our authors style;
the happy faculty of grouping together in
one view, ideas which less practised wri-
ter would scatter at random; the art in fine.
which in painting, gives to the pictures of
the old masters their surprising granduer
and tone. is finely displayed in the follow
ing passage. Heis addressing the audience
as North Carolinians. He appeals to them
to sustain the principles which upon their
own soil were first assayed:
LOOK abroad this day upon this large
expanse of seashore, and plains, and hills,
and mountains; upon the cattle, the mea
dows, the rivers, and sounds, and bays;
| upon the ships and steam cars; upon the
churches, sending their spires up into the
pure air above towns and cities, or nesting
amid thousands of groves, still fragrant
with the lingering breath of Spring; upon
the ripe sheaves, cleaning upon countless
acres, and the tall corn waving over innu-
merable burrows, giving promise of full
harvest and abundant cheer: upon nine
hundred thousand people, embracing differ
ent and most opposite races, dwelling to-
gcther in peace. unsmitten by pestilence or
plague-with no regular military organiza-
ton, and none daring TO modest them-with
schools open to all, without money and
without price''-with the Bible-with the
right of free speech, of habeaS corpus, and
trial by jury-with free press, and an
able and upright judiciary-wi all liber-
ties and every blessing which rational beings
could desire: look upon all this, and then
say if our lots have not been cast in good
time in the worlds history, and in pleasant
places; and if we have not State worthy
of all our devotion and affection-richly
entitled to our best efforts to improve her
in peace, and to our blood and our treasure,
if required, in the day of danger?'
1t gratifes the friends of Mr. Holden to
see in these extracts the proof of capac-
ty and taste, which wonderfully cultiva-
ted and refined amidst the absorbing labors
of his editorial occupation, make US regret
that he does not find leisure ofteper to dis
| play them in these rccreations.
We look anxiously for a time and an
occasion when this genuine North Carolina
spirit, relieved from the daily toll insepara-
bic from the conduct of the leading organ
of a party, will devote its large powers and
lofty capacity to some literary work equal
to its exalted sphere and certain destiny.
G..