The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-08

which custom aud interest have
drawn them. and to avert Their
EYES and withdraw their AIMS from
any central point or common object
within the state: Il recourse WhlCh
patriotism might suggest. and to
which necessity must compel al
last for the very lmpossIbll.ty o
bursting the bonds which hold the
sections together. must eventually.
for the economical conduct Of the
commonwealth. draw AL diverse m
~tercSts To Il common focus.
1t is remarkable, yet 1t Is true,
that North Carolina is more divided
in it Internal interests, Q zeal
u in its legislative measures, Q
hostile IN its social relations, that
it was a hundred years ago. 1t was
less difficult to bring the movers Of
the Mccklcnburg Resolves, and the
members of the Cumberland asso-
citation to act az citizens of n COM
monwealth than it would be now to
procure concert of action III COM
munitics as distant !; less difficult to
| establish a brotherhood between
John Ashe and John Sewer than to
find unseltish accord between two
distant gentlemen of the same rank
among our modern leaders.
The reason is not so difficult to
find, 0 are the causes for this
alienation SO unnatural as might be
assumed. Because North Carolina
was set apart from her sisters by fix
ed metes and bounds, it does not fol-
low that those metes and bounds
were the most natural or the most
conclusive to development. And
because population, had planted it
self throughout most of her terri
tory, it does not follow that popu-
lation was either homogeneous in
its origin, or that it was placed in
that happy contiguity by which
prejudices or dashing interests
might be allayed or %reconciled.
AS to the first as to territorial
limits. They seemed magnificent
enough for the muniticent liberall-
~ Of Charles Ii extended them
from the Atlantic to the Pacific ];
but the lateral limitation to the
country between the 3lst and Both,
parallels of North latitude was a
snare and a delusion /; because GER
tain marked and controlling topo-
graphical features were at right
angles with those parallels, and give
inevitable direction to the move
merits of trade which was drawn to
adjacent states. Rivers and valleys
the natural lines of travel and
commerce, did for Virginia and
South Carolina what could never
be counteracted except by conflicts
with nature, and with artificial APP
planes which an early stage Of So
ciety cannot supply ; and before the
period when the stupendous agen.
cics Of modern times came into
play, customs had grown into the
habits which are now the stubborn
obstacles which challenge the ca
j.. pacities Of the statesman.
And in regard to population i
! came IN from so many diverse re
gionS, fixed itself at such remot,
distances, brought with it such op
pcsite purposes, hat each colon
grew up a distant and Independent
community, almost ignorant Of til
existence Of another, and onl,
brought to that knowledge as tn
growth or prosperity of eacl
4 caused an overflow of its bounda
ries, and brought them in contac
S as friends or enemies aS the cas-
h might be. The area OF the Stat
was gradually filled with people
It but a people grown up with inter
d ests isolated, and purposes divers
J and seeking external intercours
n with the people and the market
,e Of other or adjacent States, rattle