Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-05-05


Ncnt AZ their power Under the inllueneeY
9Sh policy p{lig Of Apeatif den gogue
Ism, our people ak indiders
ence the accounts OF the 4hat
the world The genius 81 Fulton and those who had
extended the usefulness and expanded the power Of
his memorable discovery, were regarded by many as
enemies rather than benefactors Of the human race
-as Juggling theorists. giving conntenance and
vitality to visionary schemes fraught with extrava
gance destined to end in the destruction Of all the
republican plainness that characterized orefath
ers and lead ultimately to national bankruptcy and
ruin Nothing was capable of producing good-no-
thing savored of wisdom or sagacity in legislation
that required even the smallest increase of the pnb
lie taxes the least expenditure of the public money.
Under that policy the whole energies of the State
were fettered. Her resources were paralysed.-her
nexhaustibe mineral wealth lay buried in the earth.
her agriculture was drooping,-no activity or en-.
terprize marked her villages or walked forth with
joyous step, to cheer the Responding spirits Of her
hushandmen. Thousands of her hardy population,
the very sinew Of her power, the right of her
strength annually abandoning the graves
of their fathers and the homes of their childhood, in
search Of better prospects and rer rewards for their
industry in distant lands. No one, said he in whose
bosom throhbed single emotion Of State pride, could
have contemplated such scene-could have realized
that condition of thlngs-without regret and mort
fcatinn
But. Mr. NJ continued, thanks to that selfreliant
and vital principal Of our nature which, sooner or
later will rise up under the heaviest reverses to as.
ser the dying fact, that there is divinity
that stirs within u.s." there gazing that pic
lure of the gloomy condition Of our people. men
those hearts we're too stout to sink under the bur-
then that oppressed, or be appalled, by the prospect
that surrounded them Their souls were fully equal
10 the occasion, and every factious outcry of the
monsing deInagogne-every premonitory symptom
of depression or despair-every sefabasing murmur
of the laggard-every whisper of alarm that fell
from the lips Of the timid the craven-was
answered by bold, direct, invncible determination
to arouse our people to sense Of the melancholy
destiny that threatened them! Those men could not
shut their seal their convinctions to the
gress that other States were makng-their rapid in
crease in population-ther fields teeming with the
richest cnlture-their villages growing into towns
their towns expanding into ctes-ther cities rivang
the great commercial emporinms of the old world.
7 shall never to recur said Mr.. Mler-no true
North Carolnan ever cease to recur,- with graf
itude and pride to the exertions Of those patriotic
men-headed. led on. animated by that great and
good man William Gaston-clarum ct venerable
nomen Whose wisdom and eloquence were ever
enlisted in the of his native State and whose
noble soul never experienced throb that was not
in unison with the honor, the prosperity and glory
Of his country G.ond cheers) Like the great
Talbot he possessed the spirit Of a Roman senator
the elegance of Atticus, the integrity of Cato
and
His virtues all. collected. sought the good
Of human kind !"
CONTINUED cheering)
After that great struggle Of patriotism against sell
fishness and demagogueism, Mr.. NJ. continued, q
brighter day broke upon the hopes and prospects of
our people-more liberal counsels gained the ascen-
dency-new energies were infused into the minds of
their leg;sators-ndusry looked forward with great
confidence to a reward for its abor-a future full
Of hope and encouragement spread out before men
of every vocation,-and this occasion-the scenes
that are passing around US this day-the motives,
the objects. the feelings that brought this assem-
blage tOgether-the soul stirring elOquence with
which it has Just been charmed and electriied-the
gallant display of citizen soldery-the Joy that
bsatb~ h"n every communicating elast'c step OF
proving smiles of the fair, God bless them !-(tre-
mendous cheerng) the cordial interchanges of friend
ly congratulatiOns-the outpouring Of liberal hos
pitality (rcnewed cheering)-the ardent pledges of
good feeling between those who heretofore far apart
and strangers to each other, have at last by the
power Of steam, been made neighbors and friends
(Cheers)-this all this, attests that the winter of
our gloom and dependency has passed away, and
that the bright morning Of glorious spring is burst
ing upon the prospects of good old State! Loud
and continued cheerng)
And, added Mr.. Miller, let not pause here, my
countrymen. Our duty is not yet fulfilled The
great work is not yet completed. Our Western
brethren have claim that neither justice, graf
itude nor policy can resist. (Cheers) They have
been just and liberal to us in times past; it be-
hooves to he at least just to them in the future
(I1ear, hear) Let contribute to unlock the doors
to the riches that lie hidden in their mountain fast
nesses. Let aid in cutting through the barriers
that shut them in from the markets of the world
Let us assist to remove those impedments that now
separate us, and make them friends, neghbors
countrymen, indeed Let US invite them from their
mountain heights, where they have gazed so long
the beauties and grandeur of nature, to view her in
another garb equally subme-where they may see
the adventurous of the ocean, with stout hearts
and stalwart arms, encounter his peris and "play
familiar with his hoary locks" (Chcers) Give
them an opportunity of witnessing your majestic
argosies freighted with products from their own
homes and returning from distant lands with the
rich rewards of their own industry. Aye, let them
view the element which has called forth and tested
so much of the ingenuity, the Skill the power the
courage the fortt ude of man--the element on which
Drake and Nelson, Lawrence and Decatur-those
Bayards of the ocean-and own Blakely-won
their undying fame. Loud cheers)
And, he continued, how dare selfshncss and Sec
tonalsm-,hose marplots to national prosperity
step in, with brazen front, and forbid the bans be-
tween those whom policy, kindred feeling, nature
and natures God proclaim should be united p
(Cheers) Consum,nate that union, said he,-carry
into the heart Of their rich and beautiful country
that iron highway; and then, in time to come when
perils encompass us, when dangers approach, when
foreign invasion IS threatened the hardy sons OF the
mountains with lightning speed, will come BY thous-
sands bringing strong arms and brave hearts to the
defence of our homes. loud cheers)
Mr.. Miller next took glance at the material pro.
gress Of the age. Astonishing, indeed, were the i'm
provemen,s made during the last twenty years, un.
der the discoveries of SCIENCE and great the revol
tons that had been effected by the application of
steam and electricity, far transcendng, he sad the
expectations of the most visionary enthusiasts. By
the former, the old and the new worlds, separated
three thousand miles, had been made next door
neighbors in their intercourse and commerce; by