The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-27

I'VE, the undersigned, processing our
allegiahoe to the King, and acknowl-
edginE the constitutional executive power
of the government, do solemnly profess
and declare that we do absolutely believe
that neither the Parliament OF Great
Britain, nor any member, or any con-
stituent branch thereof, have right to
impose taxes upon these colonies to
regulate the internal policy thereof; and
that all attempts, by fraud or force, TO
establish and exercise such claims ana
powers are violations of the peace anu
security OF the people of this Province
and singly and collectively, they are
bound by the acts and resolutions of the
Continental and Provincial Congress. be-
cause in both they are fully represented
by persons chosen by themselves. And
we do solemnly and sincerely promise
and engage, under the sanctions or VIZ
tue, honor. and the sacred love of liberty
and our country, to maintain and sup
port all the acts and resolutions OF the
said Continental and Provincial Con-
gress to the utmost of our power and
ability"
Where can you find Drawer words
couched in more virile English? 1t was
to pen the great Declaration of 1nde-
pendence, which was to be the eulmina-
ton of the work of these provincial
heroes.
Betsy Dowdys ride on Black Bess from
the banks opposite Knots Island to
General Skinner, of Perquimans, saved
the day at Great Bridge and drove the
British towards Norfolk, which led to
1ot pfn he
simple act of heroism upon the part of
one of our women should be immortal
lied in song and story and told to our
children along with the stories of other
heroines of the Revolution. The action
of the gentle women of Edenton at their
famous tea party at which they resolved
to abstain from their favorite beverage
so long as it was tainted with the odious
stamp tax was heralded throughout all
the province and stirred the hearts and
nerved the hands Of the brave men who
were to give up their lives in defense OF
liberty.
AS the first Christian sacrament was
celebrated on Roanoke Island, so was the
first church in North Carolina built IN
Chowan county in 1701. While these
people loved liberty, they were also oe-
yout and pious men and women and they
built their affairs wherever they reared
their homes in the wilderness. l chal-
lenge you to find more devout ana
God fearing people, who stand by the
religion of the fathers, than you VIII
find along these banks within nearing
of the roar of the mighty ocean, or IN
those counties adjacent to these beauti-
full sounds and lovely streams in the
sound counties.
You will permit me, l hope, to leave
this interesting story of the past and
invite your attention for few moments
to the living present. No visitor to TINS
section can fail to be impressed with the
opulence with which nature has supplied
our wants. The impression made upon
the colonists which Sir Walter Raleigh
sent out, has been substantially main
tanned to the present. 1t has been said
| to be a paradise for the poor and Inn
provdent man. Then what an inviting
| field 1t must be for the thrifty and
provident Food and wealth are teeming
| in these waters. Our forests, in spite
of ruthless destruction, are still i'm
mense and capable of reproduction. Our
| soil only requires the hand OF Skill and
| industry to produce earlier and better
crops than other sections. Our climate
| is salubrious and has outgrown the an
cient superstition that the east is UNI
| healthful.
The problem of transportation which
confronts every commercial people Is
solved by the presence of these broad
sounds and of the numerous rivers and
| tributaries which extend westwardly
| through all these counties. But there is
| one difficulty. We are comparatively
| land locked. Since the time when the
ships with John Whites colony came
near being wrecked at that dangerous
point which they named Cape Fear, since
| Ralph Lane had some men on the look
out for ships from England, which
| originated the name of Cape Lookout,
| since Sir Francis Drake lost one OF his
ships in one of the dangerous storms on
| our coast, these sea girt shores have
! been the terror of the mariner the world
| over and the vortex of its waves have
sung the only requiem for the thousands
Of haDless souls who have succumbed
| to it's cruel power.
| North of the inlet at the mouth of the
| Cape Fear river there is not today an
outlet to the ocean which affords more
| than eight feet of water or which can
| accommodate with safety the commerce
| of our people. Our only outlet to the
north is through two canals, constructed
by private capital, and necessarily levy
| ing tribute upon our shipping which
ought to be free. Thus is this produc-
| tive section pent up and it's commerce
curtailed as effectually as was the cul-
prit upon the procrustean bed
4
| The cheapest transportation is water
| borne and modern progress has shown
/ that the very cheapest transportation
| by water, with which no rival can COM
| pete in the movement of bulky products,
| is by the deep draft barge towed by
| powerful tugs. Barge transportation is
| actually prohibited on our coast and the
| dangers to shipping of ordinary tonnage
are so great and Diamond Shoal is SO
insatiate in it's greed that all forms OF
| coastwise transportation are very great
| ly affected
The very recital of conditions suggests
the remedy.I 1t is free inland water
way extending from Elizabeth river al
Norfolk connecting with our sounds
through a canal owned and maintained
u. Il