Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-05-02

S - q s ~ 4 So
not to give it place in this communicated; ] al
lude to what here called the scorpion spider which
has its weapon in its tail, and upon the slightest
touch is ready to use it.
Twill here call your attention to Capt Sthsburys
Report wherein he speaks of the villages d prairie
dogs as seen on his route to the Salt Like, and
wherein he mentions that seemingly unnatural fam
ily the dog, rattlesnake and the owl inhabthg the
same hole, Although he became perfectly satisfied
OF the existence of the former two that Of the Third
he derived from the evidence of others. statement
like that at variance with the general sentiment OF
mankind IN relation to the distribution of-animais
presenting an apparent reversal of instinct BY which
they could harmonic together under one social COM
pact and in one common habitation, required some
moral courage to announce it, and cannot at any
time be too strongly fortified by evidence. Belief
is more or less educational, and observation has
proven that evidence IS weakened by distance. For
that amount of evidence which is abundanty sufll-
Gent for the establishment of fact at home becomes
wholly inadequate when taken from abroad But
such is the character of the human mind, and it is
now too late ever to be changed | must here again
refer to another letter of Bishop Pierce, written to
the editor of the Texas Christian Adr0cGte, wherein
he states that he present when one OF those holes
was dug out, and the snake, the dog and the owl
were ali there. l regret that have not the letter
at my command that might quote the precise Ian.
g,lage The entire letter is full of interest, and
withal the Bishop is one of the most accomplished
writers of the day. find this subject also spoken
of in Parey's Kaleidoscope matter of curiosity.
None of the writers have named have ventured to
assign any cause for this singular association The
idea that the snake feeds upon the young OF either
of the others cannot be reasonably entertained No
statement has ever denied the fact that any but three
occupy the same habaton. But even suppose for
a moment that the snake does subsist upon the
Young of the Others it is very evident that no great
length of time would be required to accomplish the
extinction of the dog and the owl, for they would
necessarily die of old age yet they appear to oe as
numerous as when first discovered And when It'll
remembered that both these animals are quite as
small as others upon which that reptile has been
known to feed the supposition above becomes still
more unreasonable. But again: if it be admitted
that the offspring of either is used for the subsistence
of the snake, thereby Tearing ike original occupants
untouched it will be at once that this very &C:
passes the limits of instinct and becomes the exercise
Of high rational power which hitherto has been con-
sidered to reside in alone. The exercise of that
power has been absolutely denied to those classes
of animals bearing the greatest resemblance to the
human species; and hazard but little in saying an
economy equal to that does not exist in some OF the
African tribes nor in some few Indian tribes upon
cur own continent. This question, therefore, more
of curiosity than WORTH must remain unexplained
until further developments shall have been made.
regret that it was not in my power to be present
at the Agricultural Fair in Cumberland. l was
gratifiel, however, to see that your Address upon
that met the full and just expectations Of
your friends and the audience. have read it in
the O6scrrer and have no hesitation in saying your
topics were judcially selected. well arranged and
ably discussed. Although may here transcend the
legitimate scope Of this communication, / will say
that your remarks upon the great value of our
swamp lands and the importance of reclining the
same deserve the especial notice of our people, and
cannot at any time be two strongly pressed upon
their attention. For whilst an aluSion to those
lands has generally been regarded applicable al
most alone to the extreme eastern section OF our
State it is worthy of remark, that all the counties
upon the Cape Fear are abundantly supplied with
swamps, presenting in depth and appearance OF soil
and growth upon the same the highest evidences Of
fertility. Nor have these usual badges at any time
proved deceptive These lands have been tested in
several counties and their production would compare
favorably with that of any lands in the State
would here do injustice to my own feelings were
to fail in concurrence with the views You have ex
pressed in relation to the future prosperity of Fay
etteville and the adjacent country founded upon the
completion of our Railroad to the coalfelds. am
sure you were gratified to witness the energy with
which tat work had been carried on, for you were
its friend from the beginning to the end and no one
is more sensible OF tnat tnan mySelt. lnere were
Others too, in your city and various other localities
in the State who were the strong advocates of the
passage of the bill upon which depended the speedy
and successful termination of the work. I would bt
unjust 10 myself we're not here to record my crate
ful acknowledgment of the generous feeling of the
Senate upon that OCCASION whether prompted by thu
great merit of the work itself by the past services
of former members from my section, mingled as
trust it was in either event. by friendly considera
ton for those had the honor to represent Mo-
has any measure at any time during the passed leg
islation of that body been sustained rejecting
higher compliment upon the constituency Of an,
section or demanding deeper gratitude. Nor viii
fail here in like manner to express my grateful re
membrance Of the generous feeling of the Commons
by which that measure was likewise passed, beinl
the only appropriation which was made for work
of internal improvements during the past session o
the legislature. And here again must be permit
ted to say in reference to all that full and just ap
probation is felt by myself and trust and beiev
by those had upon that occasion the honor to rep
resent.
-.-. JOHN T. GILMORE.