Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-04-26
TEN THOUSAND
Il MINUTE,
THAT Is WHAT IT Is COmpUT-
ED TO HATE BEEN WORTH
IN ROUND DOLLARS TO
THE PEOPLE OF
NORTH CAROLINA.
Ranson's Splendid Speech in Be
half Of the IIatteras Light
House in 1878.

It has been frequently said. and
is still circulated by Senator Ran
SONS opponents, that he never
makes q speech III the Senate ex-
cept eulogies upon occasions of
Senatorial memorials.
No man in the Senate is Matt
Ransom's equal in debate. No
man has ever made speeches on
the floor OF that chamber in be-
half Of measures advocated the
equal Of his.
When the Infamous Force
Bill was pending and impending
in the last Republican Senate,
with all its portentous evils for
the South, the Democratic con-
tingent turned as one man to
Senator Ransom as their ablest
defender and centered upon him
to grapple its advocates to the
death, and when the Republican
members were apprised of the
fact they fed the field, taking
their nefarious measure with
| them.
But away back yonder in 1873,
Senator Ransom made a speech
in behalf of the light house at
Hatteras which for beauty, gran
deur and effect stands unrivaled
in congressional annals and is
said to have won for his cause
just ten thousand dollars a min
ute during it's delivery. It is our
pleasure to reproduce it here
from the file Of the old Raleigh
Daily Observer Of Saturday, Febru-
ary 9Th, 1873, and we call special
attention to his fervent tribute to
the people of Eastern North
Carolina, whose fair name, it
seems, had been assailed:
THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST.
In the Senate, on Wednesday
last, Mr.. Ransom submitted the
following resolutions
| ResolUed, That the Secretary OF
the Treasury be, and he hereby
is, directed to report as soon as
may be the present condition and
state of efficiency of the life
saving service on the coast OF
| North Carolina, and in what re-
spect the same in his Judgment
needs increase OF Improvement
in order to make the same of the
greatest benefit.
} Eeselted, That the Secretary OF
the Navy be, and he here is, di-
rected to report as soon as may
be any information relative to
the disaster OF the Huron
; that may affect the i'm
provement and security of navi-
cation on the coast of North
: Carolina. and in what respects in
his Judgment greater improve
t nent and security may be at
; tanned.
, ResolueeI That the committee
: on Commerce be, and it hereby
. is. authorized to take into con
, sideration the expectancy of sc
2 improving the inland navigation
between the waters of Norfolb
t Harbor and Currituck, Albe
: marie, and Pamlico Sounds, and
also the Cape Fear River, as to
: furnish a safer and better chan
} mel of commerce between the
5 States than those now existing
t And that said committee have
leave to report by bill or other
, wise.
t The Senate, by unanimous
F., consent, proceeded to consider
the resolutions.
l Mr. Ransom: I present to the
r Senate, Mr.. President. three
: resolutions, distinct in form, but
intended to accomplish common
object and benefit. They are
+. separated because they must be
: considered by different depart
i ments of the Government. These
t resolutions have been suggested
by the recent melancholy loss o.
: the Huron and the Metropolis or
3 the coast of North Carolina. The
end which I propose is of SC
much general Importance that
. have thought it proper. to invoke
to it's consummation all the legiti
: : mate powers Of the Government
! That end, sir, is no less than the
: conquest Of the perils that pre-
vail upon the coast of Hatteras
! n my own State. I do not un
;. derrate the magnitude of the
work which dares to confront
!, the terrors of that angry beach
= I know that these dangers are
: the combined forces of the sea
!, the wind, and the shoals in theil
: deadliest shapes. But | appre
:, ciate the power Of this govern
: ment exerted for purpose of un
mixed beneficence. | appreciate
I the unmeasured capacities O
: science and the engineers skill
l appreciate the advantages O
steam, Of the telegraph. and O
all the astonishing Improvement
in the art of navigation. | ap
, preciate what must be the resul
: of the concentrated light on thi'
e grand age fixed and steadily hels
= upon these few miles of coast
q line, and I have faith that this
o dread curse, to our ships and t.