The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-09
ROME OLD NEwsrApERs.

The Advertiser has received from friend in kandolph County two worn and time-stained copies of The Southern Mercury" published in Wedo- wee. one dated April 6. 1859, and the other June 20. 1860. These papers are less than half century old but to the writer they bring back memories of men and events forgotten in the stirring times that have occurred since they were printed
 In the first-pamed copy there is an Interesting account of a railroad meet- ing held at opelika few days pre- viously to discuss the project of build ing a road from that point Westward and Northward. Messrs. McCraw and Slaughter. of Tallapoosa, advocated tho route from opelika via Dadeville to Talladega, or some other point on the Selma. Rome and Dalton Rail- road, which is practically the present route of the Central of Georgia. But Messrs. Carlisle and stone, of Lafayette and William H. Smith of Randolph, ad- vocated a line by way of Lafayette, Milltown and Louina to Oxford. It is interesting to note that this route was finally adopted and surveys made on some of the proposed route, but the times were not propitious and nothing resulted from 1t. It is hardly neces- sary to ssy thatfTh Mercury warmly advocated this project and gave req sons for it which apply with equal Av w.rarttna1lu the same route. It would open up a splendid country much of which Is now. as then. badly in need of rail- road facilities.
 In the issue of June 20, 1860 can be seen the shadow of what fell less than nine months thereafter. The wal clouds were already rising above the hcrizon and wise statesmen could eoresee the result of the strained re- lations between North and South. Much space is given to the Charleston | Convention, the status Of the Alabama Democracy and to the attitude of the great William L. Yancey on the issues then pending. Reference is made to the nomination of Lincoln and the I issues represented by him and his sup porters. The Mercury was d great ad- nirer of YancW, and strong advo- cate of Breckinridge and Lane. but 1t was not in favor of secession or dis union except as last resort, as this extract from an editorial in that issue shows: We hold that the Union is rot worth preserving any longer than it gives equal justice to the North and South. Our party has for It's principal aim the protection of the South in the Union. We want to preserve the Un- ion by giving justice to all sections We are working for that end. Instead of wishing to dissolve the Union We wish to preserve it. and in order to dc this we want the South to unite in defence of her rights for we believe that this is the only plan to perpetuate the Union." That was sound Demo cratic doctrine.
 We fold up the faded sheet. copying one extract to show the editors style
 We have received a scurrilous anC
 G1mmgnieatior from b,
 from Marion, Ala, in regard to wha we said week or two since aoou drunken printers. We do not usually gay any attention to anonymous com hmun!cationsv. because a man who is to' cowarcily to sign his name to ar
 abusive article, is generally unfit to b'
 noticed by white, folks. From thi,
 the subject: and from the style of hi!
 remarks, we infer that he Is accustom
 ed to be kicked out of the society O