The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-03-16
NATIONAL BOUNDARY.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN A. GILMER,

SPEECH OF HON. JOHN A. GILMER,
OF NORTH CAROLINA,
IN he House Of Representatives., February 81, 1853
The House being in the COMMITTEES Of the Whole on
the state Of the Union
Mr.. GILMER said
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: In offering any views in
support Of the claims Of any native State,
North Carolina, to share Of the public pat
ronage and disbursements in the establish.
ment Of national works, am at once struck
with two important reflections. First, that,
OF the.many millions invested in munificent
Government structures, distributing so much
capital among the people where they are
erected, and at the same time, strengthening
the hand of commerce aud enterprise in their
respective localities, and from which all OF
the sea-board States have derived more or
less advantage, the old North State, though
one Of the most faithful Of the thirteen sisters
who pledged theirjewels, treasure, and honor
upon the altar Of liberty, and never broke
the vow, has yet to be rewarded with the
hrst particle Of Government patronage to
any respectable degree and second, and
perhaps more astonishing, that mineral
wealth of such almost boundless extent, as is
proven to exist there, should not long ere
this have been called into active use by well
directed individual enterprise. Here are
two manifest derelictions Of duty Of some
sort. and should claim the immediate atten.
tion Of every true son of North Carolina.
The first neglect, fear, has resulted from
the want OF proper attention, and vigilance
on The part Of her Representatives on this
iloor, who have spent too much Of their time
upon abstract propositions, in fostering the
mere political issues Of the day which, when
advancement or tenure Of place is to be the
result, are never wanting for ardent, il not
furious advocates, while the real interests Of
the constituency, and the State they repre-.
sent. have been too much neglected. DAYS,
weeks, months, and years. have been wasted
or labored away, urging in the political forum
matters wholly abstract, and often incapable
Of even practical test and in which fact
consists, in many instances, the major part
Of the apparent dignity and effect uf such
issues, while real, practical, useful questions,
Of the development and improvement Of the
material resources, agricultural, commercial,
and mineral, Of their State. have been com,
pietely overlooked. Now, do not propose
10 arraign any gentleman for a failure in
duty, who has heretofore, or now represents
my State, for their reasons for their preyi-
Gus course Of legislative action have doubt
less been to them satisfactory and sufficient.
But do propose TO ask them, and all others.
TO unite with me in giving some attention to
the real material interests Of North Carolina.
In TACT. might extend my remarks beyond
nv purpose, and cause them to apply to
many Of the other southern States; but, in
doing so, | would not only assume the duties
Of others more competent to do so, but would,
al the same time, transcend the courtesy ex-
tended to me by the House on this occasion.
Nor can now do full justice to my State
on this important matter, both for the want
Of time and all the information could wish,
even were not limited BY this particular SUBJ
iect Of the establishment Of national foun-
derry, TO which | shall advert directly. So
and almost boundless, are the min
cral and manufacturing resources Of North
Carolina, that volume may be filled with
their variety, quality, and utility. | speak
not now Of the gold and silver, existing in
such large quantities. aud which are so much
more actively sought, but | mean to allude
more particularly TO the more solid, album
dant, and, will add, more valuable deposits
oi coal and iron. These are the articles of
use, which everybody pays tribute
70 in some shape, and ever must, so long as
and agriculture, and their natural
manufactures, are the leading OBJ.
ects of mans attention. | care not who
holds the purse, while hold the articles Of
use, such as coal and iron. The
Iormer will loosen its strings and flow to the
after, as naturally as the magnet is attracted
by the poles. Every man, who inhabits
house nr shelters under root, uses, either
directly or indirectly, the fabrics or products
,f coal and iron, and pays for them, in some
'hape therefore, every man is contributor
o the use Of these great staple minerals.
While Spain and other European Powers held
md absorbed, as il were, the so.called pre-.
.ious metals. then known both TO the Old and
he New World, England being possessed Of
he solid coal and iron, The real precious met /
rs, has drawn the gold and silver Of Spain
ind other countries into her national Golfers,
where they are yet safely locked up, and are
ikely 10 be, while English domestic and
policy is observed, and until
'ther nations, equally blessed with like ma.
erial. shall adopt the same prcccpt and er
Implc, of using their btsf resources, their
odd wealth. their coal and iron.
North Carolina is bountiiully blessed By /
'rosidence with these solid staple minerals
i coal aud iron, aud equally blessed with
satcr power and other natural elements for
'ringing them into use, and which must come
MO use. in spite Of present or hitherto neg.
ect. Her water.power, can almost say. Is
he best in the universe. Her Yadkin, Ara.
At. Miehcll's. Fishery, Dan, Smith, North /
nd South Tow, Concy, Ivy, Swnanoa,
french Board. Pigeon, Taekaseega. Tcnnes.
ee. Natihala, Valley, Hiwassee, watauga,
New, Catawba. uwharie. Haw, and Deep
iyers, furnish streams for manufacturing
purposes, which will last inexhaustible, be. +
'ond the power Of man to consume, 50 long
: The mountains from which these streams /
low, shall stand 60 attest the work aud glory
III he0a6Tant lteaalor Io ker EreUrh 4