Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-07-17


which had then became no more inter
ested in their safety than any other Of
the United States. The sovereignty re-
tanned being precarious and nominal,
as 1t depended on the acceptance of the
cession by Congress, so it was antici
pated would be the concern of North
Carolina for the ceded territory. With
these considerations full in view, what
were the people Of the ceded territory
to do, to avoid the blow of the uplfted
tomahawk? How were the women and
children to be rescued from the i'm
pending destructionp Would Congress
come to their aid? Alas! Congress had
not yet accepted of them and possibly
never would. And if accepted, Con-
gress was to deliberate on the quantum
of defence which might be afforded
them, The distant States would wish
to know what profits they could re.
spectively draw from the ceded coun.
try, and how much land would remain,
after satisfying the claims upon it. The
contributions from the several States
were 10 be spontaneous. They might
be too limited to do any good, too tar
dy for practical purposes. They might
be unwilling to burthen themselves for
the salvation of a people not connected
with them by any endearing ties. The
powers of Congress were too feeble to
enforce contributions. Whatever aids
should be resolved on might not reach
the objects of their bounty, till all was
lost. Would common prudence justify
reliance upon such prospects? Could
the lives of themselves and their fami.
lies be staked upon them? Immediate
and pressing necessity called for the
power to concentrate the scanty means
they possessed of saving themselves
from destruction. A cruel insidious
foe was at their doors. Delay was but
another name for death. They might
supinely wait for events, but the first
OF them would be the yell of the savage
through all their settlements. 1t was
the we'll known disposition of the
savages to take every advantage of an
unpreparedness to receive them, and of
a sudden to raise the shrieking cry of
exultation over the fallen inhabitants.
The hearts of the people of North Caro-
lima should not be hardened against
their brethren, who have stood by their
sides in perilous times, and never
heard their cry of distress when they
did not instantly rise and march to
their aid. Those brethren have bled
in profusion to save you from bondage
and from the sanguinary hands of a
relentless enemy, whose mildest laws
for the punishment of rebellion, is be.
heading and quartering. When driven
in the late war, by the presence of that
enemy from your homes, we gave to
many of you sanctified asylum in the
bosom of our country, and gladly per-
formed the rites of hospitality to
people we loved SO dearly. Every
hand was ready to be raised for the
least unhallowed violation of the sane
tuary in which they reposed.
The act for our dismissal was indeed
recalled in the winter of 1884; what
then was our condition? More penni-
less, defenceless and unprepared if
possible, than before, and under the
same necessity as ever, 10 meet and
consult together for our common
safety. The resources of the country
all locked up, where is the record that
shows any money or supplies sent to
us; single soldier ordered to be sta
toned on the frontiers, or any plan
formed for mitigating the horrors of
our exposed situation? On the con-
trary, the savages are irritated by the
stoppage of those goods on their pas
sage, which were promised as a COM
pensation for the lands which had been
taken from them. If North Carolina
must yet hold us in subsection, it
should at least be understood to what
state of distraction, suffering and
poverty, her varying conduct has re-
duced us, and the liberal hand of gen.
erosity should be widely opened for re-
lief, from the pressure of their present
circumstances; all animosity should
be laid aside and buried in deep OBJ
livion, and our errors committed by
yourselves. 1t belongs to magnani-
nous people to weep over the failing
of their unfortunate children, especi.
ally, if prompted by the inconsiderate
behavior of the parent. Far should
it be from their hearts to harbor the
unnatural purpoae of adding still
more aff1iction to those who have suf.
fered but too much already. 1t be-
longs to magnanimous people to
give an industrious attention to cir.
cumstances, in order to form Just
Judgment upon subject 80 much de.
serving of their serious meditation, and
when once carefully formed, TO en-
ploy with sedulous anxiety, the best
efforts of their purest wisdom, in
choosing course to pursue suitable to
the dignity of their own character,
consistent with their own honor, and