The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, June 07, 1848, Image 1
THE CAMDEN JOURNAL.
VOLUME 9 CAMDEN. SOUTH CAROLINA, JUNE 7, 1648. NUMBER 23.
J*UaU3trK? RVBKY \VBJ?M:S|)AV MOKMNt?
BV T II O M A S w. l> E G U K B.
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01^ .MISCELLANEOUS.
LIEUT. J. WILLIS CANTEY.
The following is the 11th number of the
seiies of' Iletnini.sccnces of the Palmetto Regiment,"
in the course of publication in the
K Igffield Advertiser :
Lieutenant Willis Cantey, 2d Lieut., Company
C., K?frsbn\v District, was the son of
tin; present Adjutant General of the Stateit
nob'c son of a worthy sire. Of all that
ran rentier character estimable and lovely,
he was the happy possessor. Gentle, modest,
unpretending, yet brave, gcne.ro: s and
high-minded, lie inspired all around him with
feelings of the warmest friendship and admi
rnliob'. lie was a fine specimen of the Carolina
Gentleman, and a true representative
of lite rX ailed character of his ehi\a!rio fattiilv.
Delicate in his feelings, and nice in
his sense of honor, ho bad always a peculiar
regttrd for the sensitive feelings of others.
awl carefully avoided giving offence to any.
Hut though slow in off nding, he was among
ihe first to show resentment when an insult
or indignity was wantonly offered him. By
his example, he always iuchiealcd a high
and gentlemanly bearing, lie could not
brook low and unseemly conduct?strictly
honorable himself, and exalted in his so:.11ments,
he was quick in condemning what to
bis nice sense o! honor, seemed unbecoming
or offensive; and if any thing strikingly unjust
or degrading came within his View, he
met it with a sharp rebuke, which gamed ;
not a little force by a peculiar twirl of the
' lip* ho always gave when highly displeased
or dissatisfied.
In Ins genetai intercourse with others, lit.
Ca itcy was retiring, and inclined to tncilur- j
nitv; but it: the circle of his immediate and
chosen friends, he was cheerful, communicative
and jovial. In his alliances off; iendship,
he was candid, sincere and constant.
Little hasty i?t limning these ties, he wasj
equally backward in dissolving them when;
once contiacted. When broken, tb? fault
seldom lav on his side, lie may be said to
Imvfe been charach ristitra !y benevolent?j
Jle sought perpetually to do good. Ho was
always ready to bestow acts of kindness, and
could tile mcti in.der Ins command sbeak '
from the dead, they would have much to re-}
late of his heartfelt sympathy and his libera! i
generosity.
"lie hat! a tefir for piiyj or?.l a hand
Open as the (lay, for inciting eh irity."
If we view the character of Lieut. Cantey >
in a strictly military point of view, we Wiil;
not find less to admire. Though third in '
command in his company, he was, from pc- j
culiar circumstances, often placed first, and .
lie proved himself as capable of filling this!
as lie was of filling his own immediate post. >
lie was fully competent to command and to j
lead his company under, all circumstances.
lie made, it is tiue, little show of hi<,
military knowledge, but be always proved
himself equal to the pciformanccs of any
task that might he assigned him. lie was
nuiift and mild in his instructions to his com-1
pany; but he instructed well, and his influence
was strongly fell. As a disciplinarian.'
In: might appear somewhat rigid in c rnpar I
ison with oilier officers of Ins company.? '
JI is discipline, however, was only the suggestion
i fa resolute mind, impelled by high
notions of excellence and prompted by a
strong desire to excel. I'ut if leaning on
the side of rigor (which we think was not
the fact.) his discipline was stripped of every
semblance of severity by the bland and
conciliatory spirit with which it was administered.
If il incited to duty, it certainly
gave no just cause of offence: it was tun-;
pared with so much kindness and good nature..
It had likewise, another peculiarity.
It wirked easily and quietly?it created no
disturbance?it worked no ill-will?it put a
check, it is true, upon the strong-willed and
the wrong-headed; but the restraint was always
enforced by mild, yet firm and manly
entreaty. This wa- first exhausted and force
was applied to only wi.en nothing short of
force would answer the purpose. The force
of the law was always the dernier reso't.
In the spirit with which he bore the long
sickness that afflicted him, and his gallantry
on the field of battle, Lieut. Cantey gave
evidences of fortitude and bravery, which
deserve to place him high in the affections of
his countrymen. For months he was pros^.r,
o hr.<l ?,f uifL-npcc nftlirted Willi the
i i vii u uvu " ^vikifvw.'*
disease of the climate. Under their blighting
influence, ho grew pale, feeble and emaciated;
but the spirit within wrought
with manly fortitude, and showed clearly the
staminee of which lie was made. 1'rovidencc
smiled upon his spirited virtues, and
once more the flush of health began to
glow in his cheeks. When the regiment
left Puebla for the city of Mexico, he girdad
on his sword again, and though much expo
sed and threatened with a return of his (lis
ease, he nobly persisted in what he conside
; red (lie discharge ?f I'is duly, and never faltered
for a moment on anv occasion when
j the hour of danger approached. lie too!>
e an active part in all the fierce conflicts
around tlie city of Mexico. On the terrible
.; day at Churubusco, he stood with manful
J, hearing the fur.otis assaults of the enemy,
and by his valor, achieved a name highly
j to himself, and every way worthy of his na.
live Slate. In this engagement his Captain
was wounded, and the command of his coini
pany devolved now exclusively on himself.
The important duties now resling on him,
ami the try inn emergencies in which lie was
placed, called forth a!i the energies of his
! nature, and exhibited him in a new )i<iht,
and under new developemcms of character.
He came up manfully to the high dei
mauds ol his new post, and displayed a dc
| gice ol rcsolut.oii and promptitude rare in
! one so young anil inexperienced. While
leading his men fearlessly on in the paths
! of danger and (list i net ion before the heights
j of C'hapultepcc, he lei' by the enemy's lire,
j covering himself with honor and glory.
1 lie survived his "'-'ji'iiL\wirr*r'rtrtMfi
length expired in a village near the city ol
j Mexico, (Tacubnya) to which lie had been
I removed. His death was deeply felt by
! Irs command, and much lamented by the
; whole regiment: l??r he was much heloved
i and esteemed, lie deserves a conspicuous
j rank among the young warriors, who died
j fighting for their c-untiy and State. South
j Carolina, knowing his character, would take
! pride in doing honor to his meniorv.
MAR130R0UGII.
From the Temperance Advocate.
Mount A karat, May 13, IS IS.
Mr. Bowman,
D( or Sir:?In the absence of our worthy
Secretary D. Hugh Montgomery. tlie
pleasant task of trans rilling to you lbr publication
some of the prominent features of
; our transactions in the Sandy Run and
i Smyrna Temperance Society on to-day, has
devolved on tne. which I hriellv submit.
Tin: Society wis called lo crdcr by (he
President, .Mr. James Richburgh, W. JJ.
Wat kins acting as Secretary. An itnpros'
give prayer was made by I lie Rev. .Mr. Carlisle.
alter which, through solicitation the
i Rev. Mr. Carlisle entertained the audience
I lot a length of lime, with one of his most
happy and convincing strains, for which he
: is so celebrated.?Alter which the pledge
was circulated?all present being members,
save three, and as a matter of course, they
were not the least backward after such an
appeal, in enlisting under our bnllautly promising
banner, to do good battle in die cause
of humanity, against the monster of human
woes.
The Society next proceed-.d to elect Delegates
to the Convention, in June, at Cam- !
den. which refilled in the election oi Dr. ;
William Ceriis'e, and \V. t . Wutkius l>q.
'I he Society next proceeded to elect an
Anniversary Orator, which resulted in the
choice of Mr. V\ illiam Carlisle, Jr., an 1 Mr.
James Carlisle, Ins alternate. The .Messrs.
Carlisle will pleasu observe this as a siitlj
esent notice.
i lie Society next proceeded to organise a !
regular Temperance choir, to be termed the '
Sandy Run an 1 Smyrna Temperance Choir,
winch succeeded so lar as t> appoint me
Itii Saturday .11 litis 111 nth at i) o'clock A.
.M.. for the purp is't of practicing.
i lie Society next sang a 1 ode, after
which,??a motion, adj luniuil to tlie 4ili Julv,
11 o'clock, A. M.
Tlt</young, we stand just fifty-nine.
Vet hundred."! more we'll have in time.
\VM. B. W ATKINS, See'y. Pro lcm.
EXPLOSION
0:i Tuesday llic 23:cJ, a terrific: explosion
occurred al tlie steam mill of Messrs. Oka11
\m <Sc Ligon, situated about a mile and a
b i : from tiiis village, and generally kno wn
:ts i!n? Siiuttervillo sleani Saw Mill, it <>c
curred ub iu 1 eleven o'clock in tiio morning.
Fortunately no one was seiiously injured.
The iniii coutained three boilers, winch
t I - . It... I l.i,
s! j| iiiu y 14 ' i HIC4chinery.
Tltcy lay side l> / side; and the middle
one was [) itched on the lower side about
si? feet from the mouth of the furnace.?
Tiie supporting areli near the nioutli was
somewhat cracked, but believed to be sufficiently
s Mind, strong and safe for use. A
few moments before tiio explosi ?n, the engineer
bad left the boilers prell v full, and had
gone to another part of the mill, yet in s:glit
ot them. During his absence, it is believed
that the arch broke, letting fall boiler the
centre with sufficient force to rupture it at
the patch and throwing tiie water forward
in tiie heated boiler, thereby causing a space
and lightness at the further end, while the
hither end, heated, was completely fi 1 ;d with
water producing a sudden generation ul
steam. At this moment the boiler burst Willi
;t terrific explosion, winch was heard at the
distance of several miles. So great was its,
force, that the larger p airon. from the patch
to i lie further end, about lilteen le? t in length,
was carried to the distance of seventy yards,
i!iimii"li iIk: undergrowth, sidinleriim a stout
lightwood stump, and making lis way
through a post oftho mill a lout in diumt:tar
ami a pile of bricks, rubbish, old iron and
saw dnsi about eight loot thick. The other
part of the boiler, about six feet long, was
i carried in an opposite direction about one
hundred yaids. That portion, forming a
| plate, from wlrch tlie steam conducting
pipes passed out. was blo.vu up to the root
' and lodged among the rafters.
The hrieks of the .'uniace, tlie supporting
I iron arches, and the dirt, ashes, wood near
J the b ?i ers, were showered around. A
child, playing near the boilers, was covered
with a plaster of mud and a>lies. A brick
! struck him on the arm and bruised it; his
j hat was found under one of the boilers which
was blown round and transverse to its [ revious
position, so that the wonder is how he
escaped. It is believed ho was in a hole besides
high ash pile, in which he usually
played. A young man, near the boilers at
the time of the explosion, hearing a strqngo
j hiss from thein, bcjran lo run, but had gone
i ! a few steps before lie was struck down by a
; shower of bricks and tnud, with only mo:
inentarv injury. These were the only injuries
to individuals.
I The boilers to the right and left of that ex,
plod- d were blown from their positions, the
left transversely round, the right s'ightly out
of its line of position. The ground around
was much torn up. We are inclined to believe
the boiler fir.it broke at the patch from
the fall, as a deep hole was found alter the
explosion, direct Iv under the spot where the
... .... I --I-, i... ..........?i
fin*.ii ar?, i; > ivi".:ii n y iiiumv l? > \>au:i auu
sicam.
A few moments before the accident, several
persons were around the boilers, who
; had fortunately removed when it occurred.
Boilers frequently explode from a sudden
displacement of the, water, causing it to fall
a?ainst the healed surface and an instantaous
generation and accumulation of steam,
more than the boiler can heir.
The boilers and machinery of this mil! j
i second purchase; and the I
"|TTs?Tr7T!cp^lsi lit proprietors is heavy, and
I productive of considerable inconvenience to
j them, and the public, as the demand lor lumj
bcr about this village is constant and the ar|
tide always bears a good price. It is understood
that the proprietors will make the
necessary repairs and resume operations as
soon as circumstances will possibly allow 1
j them.?Sw/tf.cr Bcnrc*'.
l'ri'Ki il:t:l?eui of tin- Prairie.
GAFFISR MATIIEW TO DAME ISABELLA.
BV "BliSEUlCT." '
I'm sitting l?y thy siiic, Belle,
Within the old arm chair,
The cushion's soft am! wide Belle,
The hack is high and square:
"Pis like an old Ficncii chaise, ikllo,
\> ill) room ior oniy two,?
A lliin^ of other d ivs, Bello,
When rocking cliuiis were few.
? i
Tin; paint is foiling fast, Belle, t
The urins ire smooth as horn, i
Tilt' cushion, at hist, Belle, I
Is sadly soiled and worn; :
J is limbs arc lulling, too, Delhi, (
ll totters now and then, >
Alack! arm chairs,'tis liu>*. Belle, t
Decline is '.veil as men. i
When first thou wcitmy biido Belle,
Near ioity yosrs ago,
Wo sat tbus side by side, Bulie,
Just as to night w o do;
And tltou wcit young ami fair, Belle,
Thy brow was white as snow,? i
And lo?k at my gray hair, Bello,
'Twas blacker, tlam \ou know.
(
Tliou'slbeen a noble wife Belle, s
llas't done t!iy duty well, i
And b iili have pa-sed through life Belle,
Iii peace no words can tell; ji
And no.v wt're growing old, Belle, t
Approaching I' st the grave,? J
II.it rfot-s thy love grow cold, Btile, J]
Or widen like a wave? ?i
I rc:.d it in thine (yes. IJjilc,
I lli'l it :n tliy hand 1
iij;:r it in thy sdjjhs. li.-Hc, ''
Tiiy lovo with lime will Ma:iJ,
W e'll soon (I- p irt Iroin e iilli Delia,
1'i.r m.tn>ioiis in Die skies,
| And tlicic they'll know thy worth, Dellc,
l or a. jjuU all are wise,
J A IIdvyy Di.ow.?A Pennsylvania Co- j1
I lonel, a very particular friend of ours, is 11
| very fond of telling stories, of whieli he is j
! invariably the hero. 'I ho only fault about i,
some oi' them is that they are liigliiy color- 11
e.l. In short, he always 'draws ye long ;,
howe.' i
'] was once in llarrisburg,' says llic Col- !
onel, 'o:i official business. During niv stay i
a hoi'a; race eanie oil near the capital, and <
I as 1 am rather partial to horse racing I went :
to see it. Just as tie horses were about
j starling some fellow insulted me by jostling 1
I me rather roughly. Now, you know J don't 1
often light, but when I strike, why then 1 do
| strike, that's all?so I tip list and hit him a 1
! blow that sent him against the fence, into
t the field, carrying with htm nine po.-ts and |
rails. The fellow la d a short tune, then
raismg himself into a sitting posture, he loo- i.
ked wildly around him and said: 'Gentle- | .
nun, has the storm done much damage? j,
l)i I the liirhtnimr .sinhe am/ body butmc!
? i!
Clmisv.?As the procession was pacing i
d iwn Hroadwny, yesterday afternoon, wo i
stepped uj) >m a sloop to avoid the press of t
a struggling eager cmwd, who wore ellmw- i
m?r ilioir wav to the Iroiit ran!;, in the desire '
to see the principal feature in the pageant 1
of the day. J)ninis were heating, and col- 1
ors Hying, and horses prancing. M n wore I
shouting, and lair ladies waving handkoi- '
chiefs and scarfs from balconies and window
frames, and the. gallant hero ol Vera Cruz, '
howed and smiled, and seemed gratified by
the marks of consideration and respect he
was receiving at all hands, ,
At the same moment when the glilteiing ,
escort was cantering gaily through the ear- t
riagc way on horse hack, amid the cheers i
of an applauding multitude, a poor remnant !
of a man was painfully picking his wav over i
> II -'-?I-.' I
the pavements on criumes. msnuiu iinn ?
was in a sling. and one empty lejr of his f an- '
talonns was neatly pinned over the illicit, '
while his hauuaid face and whole appear- !
ance betokened sickness and Ion; suffering. :
The gray uadressed jacket, with military 1
j buttons, bespoke the soldier, and the infer
imee was at once suggested that he had per- i
haps been an humble sharer with the hero
of the day in the glory of the well fought ,
fields ol Mexico. JJut how different the results
to each! One returns to receive thanks
and applause, and enjoy all the sweets
which p ipularity can hestmv. The other
to drag out a miserable existence in poverty
' u . t i .... r
ana nogiCd. rvini is j?iorv in i?u ui us
[.'liases.?Acw i orh Commercial.
How to Know a Wifk's Ubautv. ? When
Milton was blind ho married a shrew. The
Duke of Hiir:kin"hnni railed her a rose. I am
no judge of colors, rr|>!ied .Milton, and it may
I be so, f.#r I M the fh.;rns d li'y.
AGRICULTURAL.
ADDRESS
DcJiec-e a before the IVtihrcc Agricultural S
. cu'ty at their last annicf.rsary,
BY I)II. EDWARD y\. BOYKIN.
[Published at the request of the Society.]
Without (Joiilit, it appears strange and out
place, that so very a tyro as the one who no
addresses you, should lake the professor's clia
to enlighten the dark corners of that cour
which the most of you have travelled for so lot
a time. As a general rule it is true, and nee
not tie! skill of the logician to prove i', that t
man should attempt the elucidation of any sit
ject of which he tiiu.it he practically ignorai
aini above all others, that of agriculture,
which absolute theory, (theory untested I
practice) avails so little. Hut a few rnrdfr
explanation ofthe apparent parado\ cfmylto:
lion.
Mankiiirl arc divided into two great classc
the few, w home? peri'"ice, a just appreciation
(>f i.-a* iiave lived so long in, Ini
given the'power of indicating the course to I
followed in the various pursuits of life?and
supporting t'.ml directing, the stumbling begi
tier on ait titilri>*d road, The other, and by I
the g.-eater portion are the seekers, not ll
givers ofligbr, who, having no experience, the
minds having established no precedents of a
lion, would fain know which way to turn,
what manner most legitimately to expend t!
sleeping force they feel themselves so lull of.
This in the class I represent, whose cause
now (dead to you, distinctly understanding, lit
our motto is "wanted to know." He it your du
then, most sapient fathers in agriculture, to ai
trs niir r.i II
Every man's experience in planting, \vi
readily shoiv hi in, that simple as it may appea
both to give. and to receive information, in lli
floor oi'iiis need, he tiuds it not; lie may ca
spirits from the vasty deep, hut will they ai
iwer him? He goes to one in whom lie In
inhounded confidence, and asks a rule of a
ion. by which to govern liiinseif, lie gets i
neeting another, who fills as high a place i
ii< estimation, he propounds his doctrine to liiii
md is told at once,, that ruin will he the rosu
jf such treatment; when Doctors difler, wl:
hall dare decide?" In despairing hesitation, In
ween his first love and his last, lie prohabl
itlopls a trimming course, a little from cacl
uxl upon the principle that a had plan is he
er than no plan at all; failure is the cunsi
111*1100.
Such being the case, and the experience i
ill, will I think, prove it, is it not imperial
hat there should be some lixed standard, soni
dgli book of reference, into which all facts tin
'ail be arrived at, should be collected, and h
Iowii after being throughly tested, by be in
aihmitvd to the severest ordeal that judgi
neiit and experience may suggest?
Every pursuit in which man has been ei
jagfd. is marked at its very outset (wiili tli
.vceptiun of agriculture,) by a coalition of tl
tarlies mutnally interested, for the purpose i
'.lining, hy a combined action, the tidies! p!a
if tlieir utmost power, and what lias been the r<
nil when this has been the case? unvarying
linmphant success. When Europe, during th
uiddle age<. was one wide battle field, the guil
iroib 'ibond of 1'landers, of Lombard}' and Eh
ence, drove the slii'.ltle and plied the varion
neivautiif and mechanic aits, each alter i
iwii kind, holding themselves by the streng:
>t ;t mighty Continuation, atiove. nnc iieyoiiu u;
nan of the r>\Vord, who thundered not at llici
rates, !>iit wlid sought in gentle accents;
heir hands, a portion of the produce ofth:
alior, without wiiieli their own great game i
var, c ml J n >1 he pl iy.nl. Singly, as iuJivid
lals, they would have b-en swept before til
orient; as hut another peasant trampled In
lea'.li the iron loot o| the soldier; but as a br?
tier of his craft, osie if an order great in mm
iers, a.. 1 mighty in mechanic >!:iiI, the simp
tiilic, became a guardian spit it of bis age;
ini-ervator of I lie milder genii uf peace, whet
til else was war and desolation.
A gi ieiilture, since man was first condetnno
o win his bread thereby, lias, until late year
mdergnne but little eliunge, and the only a
.ignabli cause has bei n the ho t. that when a
llier piirsuils were fostered, and protected I
i humid! sliciigth, it ha* Ihmmi left to its o\\
iiiai()<*(! progress. As though tliu seed had
)" planted, and straight the earth would vie
ts increase; litit (Jocks and thistles grew as we
tud it was soot: felt that liiiln's iutei fc rem
.vas neees-arv, and in accordance with
iccessity. Ik* lias interfered with varied su
ess, and in varied sort, to increase the frui
Illness of the common mother, From tl
rough stick, with which Moheinined Pasha
fellah, scrapes through his cotton licjj, am
lie mud ofilie Nile, the same instrument iim
11 the same land, as far as history treads in
he dim vista* of long ago, hack to that anriei
i:ii** "when Pan to Moses lent hi t Pagan horn
to the various .scientific and mechanical in
jirovements of Fn rope and our own country
ater days <t spirit lias arisen, ot itupiiry ai
esearch among those interested in agricullu
iro;iii?iii;r to produce the. Iianpiot results. 'J'i
rue constituents of thai earth, from whose h
;o;n all tilings are fed, is beginning to 1
loiiglit lor, and understood, seeking to lear
vlieo an excess is to he subdued or a dcticie:
:y tliere. Through the length and breadth i
lie land, li ive sprung op societies lor (he pn
n??! ill collecting and dilludng agiicultor
cnowh-dge; in England, ami the fitriiiiiijj di
rids of tins Northern Stales, their success h
icen great, their condition flourishing. And ;
i conling Mit to such societies, and as a eons
pienee ol lhem, agricultural works, periodica
tnd treatises containing information that con
never have heen gotten at, were it not lor t!
he coticentrative action of such snci-tie
One <il the Iii*st works upon scientific ngrict
nr.*, "Johnson's Agricultural ('Iseinittry ' i*
erics ol lectures addressed to a elub til prnel
al farmers in Dnrhain, England; their colli*
ling together, and . compating notes euahli
them to diseovcr what tiiey did not know, at
this knowledge onee attained, the exact exte
oflheir own iguoranee, it was an easy tiling
.1 i.. in,i I
III'" Mil nil- (IIIM'KIK. v.
applied until the pujson was known. The I
suit was lli?*so lectures; answers wliieh a |?ilri>
scion'ifii: man, was able to give In queslin
propounded liy practical and experienced lii
iners; they ivi 11 ?j him as the result of tin
coinhined experience, ellee.t, 1*1(1111 which he
the. aid <>l science, sought liirand obtained cai
es enabling them tn arrange an J iiluJi'V en
itli the other at pleasure.
But through tlic southern or pl'antation Slates
our own country, the result lias been tar tlifTerenl;
althonph set afoot they have, without exeep.
tioii from the great state ngieultoral, In our Wa'o
torec society, been progressing most languidly,
' moving like a sick man in his sleep." Is it lhat
the subject has been used up, and however much
wo may wish to know ihi'n': is nothing left, to
learn in connection with the especial branches
of agriculture pursued by us? or do not the same
" general rules so confessedly applicable, to proisv
gress ami success in other affairs, 1ml 1 pood in
Ir' this? Unquestionably they i.o?And cotton, the
M' main staple produced, basso largo an interest at
stake, and is completely subject, to the same
3 influences, wherever it is raised, as an object,
that a coiictMilralive action of a most tlioroupii
kind could be brought to bear upon it. I irnag.
. ' ineif every man directly interested in cohort plan
ting, arid following it as the sole business of his
rtile were to lend liis aid iu every wav in which
ot l . ... ..... . J
. 1 :: coma on npp'ied, wnai an immense muss oi
facts could be accumulated, an:l facts arc things
most needed, and absolutely requited, to bo"s'
oil) wiili; not a single instance hero and there,
' or even tin; experience of one man's life;
I 1 tliese are but momentary fl islies, that leave
you in the darkness of a deeper gloom than
" that ym: were in before?but enough of tlient
!'* to establish principles, which are sure and
,ir unerring?One remit, or a half dozen of tlient,
'L will lead a man into the wildest error, and but
'r establish him firmly, upon a hobby from which
c'' the experience of a life time will not dislodge
111 him. and he*may perchance die and and leave
10 it as a precious legitcy to his children, who will
gravely mount into the selfsame saddle, sanctified
by recollections oftlie past; and spur away,
II until themselves and it are broken down, while
'J the world rides on and over them. But facts
11' corning from a thousand sources correct themselves;
the same thing under every imaginable
contingency, will give an applicable result, as
sure as a mathematical demonstration. And,
indeed, those aitliirs that seem essentially uncertain
and would appear to defy anything but
1 the spirit of prophecy itself, are yet reducible
18 to the certainty of banking operations. All
''' insurance companies, go upon this principle, but
!' it is most striking in the life insurance associa"
lions. The life of man is the essential type of
till that is vague and uncertain, yet the breath
1 of his nostrils has been measured with a sure.
nes< that gives a good return upon capita! in
vested.
'By taking into the calculation every thing boa''
ring upon the life, habits and circumstances of
l* the individual, it is marvellous how nearly identiL"
cal the aggregate calculation will be. Tbeexceptions
are mere fractions, and not deemed woru'
thy of the slightest consideration-their per cen
11 turn is modified by all these considerations a
lR fixed rule, or partial knowledge of the subject,
at would hut rain them: they do not say so much
. . .... , ' . * - . . .
: to injure the lit is of any man irrespectively. imi
? class them either as their external relations, or
internal combustibility would warrant, fronfthe
limply safe, to the doubly dangerous.
The vicissitudes of the seasons, are surely be10
yond the control ofmatt, yet nre the spirits of
'**. the sunshine and the storm; of the gentle wind,
I that fans and freshens the fare of nature, to the
l-^ ! desolating blast, that prostrates all before it, of
thi! summer rain, coming with "silver feet,' to
'* the terrible strides, of a wide spread and desolj
la'ing flood?are they more uncertain than tiip
' close embrace of death itself? Not so.?Though
'* nature probably cannot be turned aside in her
l-> course, nnd seed time and harvest will ever be
8 j her own especial offspring; yet may she not be
'' . provided against? her effects closely studied,
and learn, as their is reason fix- all things, even
lr her w ildest convulsions, to modify her injuries
11 when they cannot be turned in it ben.-fits?
(j- The festering pool from whose slimy surI
face emanates disease and dea h. yet bears within
its bosom, sleeping like a good angel, in the
embrace, of some foul fiend, the genus of fruitfulness
and health, disenchanted, by the. magic
). * .....
touch of the husbandman, it flows a lile-givmg
., stream through that land, before but blighted
by its presence.
'I'lio tliiiiir riiiixl iii'edci] ihen. is but to CaiTV
out, in ll:i! with which they have been
J commenced, t!? * associations already formed?
Sj tln-v contain within themselves tin' most fTis.
eitMit means by which man can enlighten him
|| self; as light and heat is got by friction, the at,y
tritioii ofhrain against brain, is tin* onlv sure
ii method Itv which h?: can know lie is practically
lo light. Though small may lie tins amount of
JJ | information, or experience brought individual||t
i ly into such a coalition, yet, all collected to
;e : geiher, will prove as a mighty river into one
;ll , man's existence, the experience of a thousand
! !i; I*y which lie can benefit as litliy rs though
l. he had lived them over his own person. How
,e else can yon, than by such comparing arrive
at a certain and fixed result? No one man's
i,| ife is long enough to try one thousandth part
;(| of the powers of nature, nor is he, though
l0 | he did live to the age of the oldest man we read
ni ; of, able, unassisted, orra'her unchecked by the
y? ! experience of others, to come at a just or prac>
, lira! conclusion on all subjects,
of There seems to he a universal temlency in
id i lie lininan mind, to become cnatnonrcd of a
re particular way of viewing all subject*, a eerie
j lain phantom, which they hug mo?t closely to
0. j their Iiomiiiis, by which they dress all tilings that
?e conn* within their range of thought and action;
n, stretching them out, when too short lor llii1.
self exalted standard and cutting them down,
id when loo long: all things mu*t fit their measure;
r? the mind nccustomed to look in only upon its
al sell never hearing a warnning voice from withs.
out, however powerful at the outset, is unfitted
as to give its own experience, not having received
as any properly so called, or appreciate that of
e- others; men of the xvoill, who, are praeiie.-illy
!s aeipiainlej with the very day workings of lile.
Id are fully aware of, nnd guard again*! this lean
ie ing of the mind, and would always prefer, hejhre
s. pulling their theory in pr:te:iec to hear its
il iiug? against some other man's i\\;ieiieu? e,
a though in point of education, and ability fir !> Ii
low him; reserving to hinM'il'ofcr.uue, the
c- right of ultimate action or modification. Thus
i*d a planter nrght have his views and intentions
i;| mi I ienly and completely changed after 'ong
ut : thought and study, by a sing'e expression of one
iii i.l' liis negroes whoso opinion.?l?is loelino mijjltf
In* m iU?? liini ctiriotn In hear,
o. There i> much to bo arrived al by lb'' consortlv
in? "f ini'li of M'U'lir pursuit* io??i!i.?r ilia?
us won!d In: impossible otherwise; n man \v|io may
ir- liavo been riding hi* lioliliy fin1 years, with the
ir mo*l delicious satisfaction, will sometimes lie
by induced to dismount iustantcr, upon seeing the
is. figure ti neighbour mav cut, upon the same sori
ch ofaoimal,:ie|<nowledging his mistake with reaiJi
I ncss, vIumi 1)2 sees it displayed in the pmm c.
1 another, that what he took tor a war horse, was
I only a donkey.
j The proudest boast of the man of the world
' is, that he has out lived his prejudices: knowing
that the greatest stumbling block to hi* progress
onward, has been removed, for he, from whose
eyes the scales of prejudice have fallen; ha>
gotten a power of vision possessed by few; for
however much we may long for such a state of
things, and know it to be the only position front
which the cbh and flow of circumstances caii
be rightly estimated and taken advantage of, yet,
from so many sources do our prejudices come
that the taint will rise, and impercptibiy spread;
j "despite the most that wc can do aside its weight
1 to throw,"
These associations of mind with mind are
i calculated more than any thing we know 16
' unset the dicta ofthese fhUo nrrnhi?!? of our ntvn
creation, though of long standing, and of deep
; root; such is certainly the result of mingling i
men one with another in all other affairs of life,
j and I suppose holds good in this. How much
i benefit then, must be conferred upon mind*
i brought up under such influences; who have net
j had their own way long enough to set up a molU
[ en image of any discription, to bow down bei
fore and worship. They will benefit the oil!
' ami most hardened in the error of their own
' way?; as water weareth away the rock *
* * * * oJ10t by the blow that breaketh, but
by much d:i.iping that weareth away." Bui
; the young mind they must build up. the raw ma^
i terial ennbe fashioned forth, cut and hewn into
! exact and proper proportions: with such shining
lights as we can collect about us, there
will lie no cause for stumbling; let teem but
i come forward and expound the deep nnu varied
mysteries of their past experience, unto ill men
who do, or would kill grass; and let all those
who fain would leap, but that they fear to fall)
take advantage thereby; and with ears erect,
' and lengthened?lard their lean brains, from
the fatness thereof.
Leaving the special details of planting id
1 those who are able logive instruction upon them
as well as willing to do so, the principle of quad*
ti'y versus quality in all plantation operations)
may well be brought in question, from the quantity
of cotton raised to the extent of land put
under cultivation to produce it. As regards the
quantity of cotton made, some curious calcula^
i tiuns, have brought to light facts worthy of deep
! consideration; they are no doubt familiar to you
| all, but on an occasion like this, may well be
| repeated. They are that the crop of 1844
| was *2,400,000. hales and sold for 51 millions
! of Dollars. That of '45, 2,100,000 yielding
HI millions. That of '4G, 1,700,000 paying
72 millions: a difference of 20 millions in favor
of I lie smaller crop. That policy which jead^
the Dutch, when masters of ail the spire islands, '
10 burn beyond a given quantity, however
great the amount might be, is here fully shown*
By so doing, they kept the whole world open
to themselves as a market; set speculation at
defiance; never allowing large quantities of
i their staple, to collect in foreign poits, to ipiing
| with paralysing influence, against the regular
j course of'.rarie; speculation muat ever injure the
! regular and legitimate dealers in any article,
the produces and consumers. The evil effect
of this has been fully shown in the history of
the cotton trade: when from large crops, and
consequent low prices; an immense surplus waa
j collated in all the cotton buying ports of Europe
! nnd lay like a dead weight on the market, kept
bnck by capitalists, to make a profit on by resale
when advance might take place; whereas,
if it had been sold off to consumers, at the then
market price, it would, in all probability, bavo
j been worked up and the incoming crop relieved
of this illegitimate pre-sure; the stock lying in
the hands of speculators, three thousand miles
from the point of production having more inAlienee
upon the market, than the cotton field
of the planter itself,
j One disastrous crop year disastrous, as would
i appear, to the cotton plant, n>>t to the planter,
! h is removed the incubus of surplus. This old
. man of the mountain, that has had his legs entwined
around the planter's neck for so long a
, time. Why should there be surplus cotton,
I ;iiid surplus coMon only? We seldom bear of
: surplus corn, ofsurplus Bacon never, or surplus
i ol any of those plantation nt-ecessaries, which
, have in fact to be. bought from the proceeds of
that cotton, which has become a surplus in the
! markets of the world. This policy has proved
a two edged sword. If the proposition was
gravely stiiltid to .1 planter, and shown to him
' clearly, that by making an hundred lutles with it
. certain amount of labour, he would put nmru
money in his pocket, than if lie made an hun.
dred and fifty bales with 50 per cent more labour,
would ho hesitate a moment, in pursuing
| that course which would result in the most
profit and least work? Or if he did, Would any
one hesitate in calling him by his proper name?
i Yet this is the true state ol the case; is even it
, more; for not only is the absolute amount of
; income greater, with a positive decrease of la.
; hour, b it large sums are paid to create the over]
plus, fir, of course, every dollar that is spoilt
j from the proceeds of cotton, f>r the purpose
..r i ...... ,u..t ?i.~ i
i 111 iiuj III^ uiij v IIKU IIIU im/r- ui;<i
labour of the planter ran accomplish, is but
a premium paid to bind hiin the helpless subject
of the cotton buyer and speculator, independent
of tlio positive gain in making these things
within himself.
Hut no one thinks that cotton will ever be
' treated as the Dutch did their spices, nor would
it indeed he well, tor under the pressure of
! low prices it has been working out a destiny;
1 it has traveled the world all over; forcing itself
I into the camel's hair shawl of the Arab; and
1 under the sheep skin jacket of the Russian pert!
sunt; iho blight patterns of Lowell and of
"j Manchester, glisten in every land, from Guinea
I and ihe Gold coast, to the far otf Islands of OcCaniea.
Though cotton is not a thing to lie burnt,
it is scarcely the business of the planter to
make it, tmina sense of duty?he has no espt}.
j cial [inissmn to impoverish his lands, his nc1
gr.ies, and thereby himself that Arab, or Rus.
sian, llie dusky sons of (J- ngo, or the languish*
| ing fair one of Otaheite, should get their cotton
| handkerchiefs, one hour the sooner, or one cent
; tlio cheaper?itnd when the result is so plain,
1 does it not whisper the still small voice of each
' man's better judgment, the course to be pursu*
. .,,1 >
It may !>e said in applying the principle (if
i small crops and laige prices, that it will ho dif!
lic.ult to strike the exact point, between demand
j and supply to produce ill" largest return?but
>. this question need never en'er into the cilcula>
! lion. There will ever he, a margin wide
> ! enough to admit of the pi oiling knife's being np.
i plied much more freely than will ever happen;
lint as to individual action, each within himself
I having ail eye solely to his own intorCdU (tlio