Tarboro' press. [volume], December 07, 1850, Image 2

About Tarboro' press. [volume] (Tarborough, (Edgecombe Co., N.C.)) 1835-1851

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tarboisougu :
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1650.
7c Governor's Message.
We have given an abstract of this doc
ument on our first page. To discover from
the Message the true sentiments of Gov.
Manly on most -of the questions which
lie has discussed, requires an abler ex
pounder than ourselves. From the dou
ble faced, electioneering spirit which per
vades it, we should judge it was intended
more to recommend Charles Manly for an
other Gubernatorial term, than to recom
mend measures to the Legislature.
In the first place, we are unable to de
cide from his language, what position he
occupies -with regard to the slavery ques
lion; whether he is tor secession it tne
adjustment should be violated, or not.
lie wishes No. Carolina in such a case "to
summon (other States) to the rescue" and
yet "ethe last to leave the Union." In
truth, this part of the message we look up-
Col Wilson to relievo iho neopleof lhe carelessly or from 's'warit; of cletrn
Si " a ny P-ePtioyn. I deny that I maintained thM
extent from the burden of supporting inc. me -wording oi me wi, uuiun. u.y
noor- nml thit he assigned as a reason for, construction" on the contrary I assert
l: th nnnosite construction: ed that it did not oppose it the distinc-
would make the bequest a donation to the; tion is too obvious to require illustration.
rich and not to the indigent. I cannot
now lay my hands on the paper contain
ing the article to which I replied, and I
am therefore unable to quote his words,
but I leave it to the reader to decide,
whether the interpret ition I "gave then
was not the only one they would bear;
if he meant one thing and said another, it
was his fault not mine. He admits, if I
understand him, that Col Wilson may not
have contemplated an increase of expen
diture for the support of the Poor but in
sists, that they were primarily the object
of his bounty, and the tax-payers seconda
rily or incidentally only. Be it so, for aj
matters now stand I do not see any differ
ence between us: Practically the resuli
is the same, whether the one or the other
theory prevails, and if his view of the sub
jeet suits his humor more than mine, it
were sheer wantonness in me to assail it
Having despatched Prompter," it be
comes necessary for me to turn my atten
tion to "B." Before doing so, however,
I hope the reader will indu'ge me in an e
pisode, for the purpose of impressing on
him the importance of the subject in con
troversy and excusing myself for the in
terest I feel in it Without stopping to
I insist that I planted myself on Col. Wil
son's private sentiments his opinions as
a citizen as well as his conduct as a legis
lator. The sefF-evjde'nt diversity which
he draws between the motives which gov
ern a man in the transaction of the busi
ness of others or the public, and his own
is therefore wholly irrelevant, since I ar
gued from the conduct and sentiments o
Col. Wilson in both relations, and "B"
has evidently mistaken a windmill for i
giant. As there is nothing to debate a
this stage of affairs, I shall pass to the next
point with the single other remark, that the
days of chivalry have long ago been num
bered "with the things that were," & tha
Don Quixotte and Rozinante his steed are
now remembered only to be laughed at.
Secondly of the matter tor reply. I
have denied that I have argued either af
firmativcly or negatively from the will i t-
elf, in support of my proposition. . But
is "B" has thought proper to throw down
ihe gauntlet, I gladly accept his challenge
and pledge myself to prove that my con
struction of the will is not only not oppo
sed, but "is fully sanctioned by the word
ing of the will," nay confirmed by it.
Before entering upon the argument. I
desire to clear away the prejudices which
enauire into the motives which prompted
on as being nothing more than a set of I the b CqUCst jt js a fixed fact" that under! for obvious reasons, stand in my path
make-capital ideas expressed in very air.-J the will of Col. Wilson, a considerable All are aware how difficult it is to get rid
fund has come to the hands of the 'hair- of the influence of first impressions, how-
biguous terms.
The next, as to the Amendments of the!
man of our bounty Court, to be dispensed
Constitution is even more doubtful than: . ......
; it you please "the use 4 mi Dentin "oi the
ever erroneous, and it will be remember
ed that upon the first promulgation of
Col. Wilson's will, the bequest was char-1
the first, there being only one point onj ( of Eccomhe The pc- MieriM.1 in the newpaper. and in con
which he is "open and avowed" "the al
tcring the time prescribed by law for the
riod is close at hand when it must be op
plied and in its appropriation, regard
meeting of the General Assembly". The should be had solely to the intention of
other proposed amendments he neither ap
proves nor disapproves
versalion as a donation to the Poor. Be
sides, it is so unusual, for a testator to be
Mow a legacy, without distinction, on so
large a community of persons, the very,
novelty of the thing begets doubt:
Whereas, when it is rightly considered
oftbe
pprentices
all those in whose behalf application shall
be made to the Wardens for relief. (Uev.
Stat. Chapter 5th, Section 1st.)
Keeping in view who are the poor in
the settled meaning of the testator, let US
e
now enquire, how or in what form the be
quest can be "appropriated" for their "use
and benefit?" ' I can conceive of but two;
modes one is 10 distribute the whole
fund per capita or equally among those
who happened to answer the description
bfnauners. at the time of Col. Wilson's
i
death. Such a disposition of .the legacy
I apprehend, would meet with univer
sal condemnation, as grossly violative o
fcoth the intention and words of the tcs
tator. The other and the only oilier
mode, is to expend it in behalf of the pres
ent and future Poor in such manner as to
enable them to derive the greatest possible
ratlvantage from it, taking into considera
tion their general condition and circum
stances and having a due regard to econo
my it is entirely immaterial, to the point
in controversy, whether the interest only
is annually consumed, or whether a por
tion of the. pi incipal is also paid out, but I
may be allowed to digress from the line
of my argument so far as to express the
hopei that in no event will the original
sum be diminished. 1 have said that there
is no other mode of administering the
legacy than the one last suggested I re
peat the remark and I ask the reader here
to pause and reflect, and after doing so to
answer me the question, whether if ihe
donation be thus applied, the trust declared
by the testator, "for the use and benefit of
the Poor" will not be in all respects, in
it's spirit and in it's letter, fully observed
and performedwith the confidence of
Job when he said "I know mv Redeemer
livcth," I may venture to declare that I
shall receive an affirmative response. But
how shall the legacy "be so administered
as to enable the Poor to derive the great
risv
n bestowing .
was undeserved and hP ' XvH:
horn of tho rfiu Ui0
horn oi tho dilemma ;J
'As'Brutusl' n i k i ,
uwuu.-u.ui.iau, 1 W nni il l ,33"
justice to insinuate even, that I i;
sincerein tne encomium he has
Edgecombe and that it did not5
from the honest conviction ofj
but I would respectful lv act, . 18 S
has heretofore acted up to her
her whole du
he addressed to her
her whole dutv in . li
j lupnct
i. i i i . 1
dm
i.. i
peal: "But let her power-h0der
take from her imnotent n. fS e?i
- -uur n . 1
tion, theirs by express grant and7
chare.es will be stamnpH
ter in such indelible phsramL. .
can never be erased." From tlet
of my heart, I sympathize with V11
cilude for the preservation 0f n K
name and fame of old Edgrcon,
common mother; but does it tJ' !8r,
him that while he would eh., v
J -.w-.w. y,j jr ,
.'hilr bf tvntihl Vtnrtlnoln. I ' h
' ' in r against i v
v,...&vji aoiHoiiucsauuu pen U II OUSi-
iic vuum nine wun untilial Jlan(i ;
w,u i ww,, in u.ajng capitals, Q
tlIKTIr If cKn lino ! il. ' I
..w. ohm uuo, in me past, ain I
r.w,.v. ,u, v,, puuij uu,u it not be
height of folly and extravagance to Sl
llPP nvnomlidinno in (lint. L r ...
.w. kA.iiuiiuii:i III Midi VHIIQll m iL !
turc? I yield to none in loveand cfm'
tion to my native couuty, and x
that she has sons more able to counsels
sen c her than myself; but I
I warn her that there are Phast
warn
ent possible advantage from it, taking into
there is displayed a capaciousness of soul, consideration &c. &c." "Ave, there's
an enlarged philanthropy, and an absence tlie J'" Will any one say, why. build
of malice and hatred 'owards individuals! fine mansions and supply them with eost-
i - - - ..... ... . .. '
as beautiful and striking in morals, as their i '.V tunntuie? I answ er no, and I shall not Pori oi my proposition, to give a (life;
trouble myself to assign the reason. Will response Irom the one made to "bY'ioft
another say, establish a school? I answer I question above propounded, to wit: Ho
no whj ? Children do not constitute a
pa t of the Poor, because the law requires
the donor, if he had an intention and that
he did have one, all will agree What
Lhat intention was. is n siihirrt nhmit
The message then proceeds to set forth wich a (lffcrencc of opinion exists: Ii
our financial condition, and to this part ; 3 indispensable therefore that the point
we would particularly refer our readers;1 should be settled and hence arises the zeal
noi lor tne purpose o' creating cnssaiis uy am uiuutiitcij unn i hum j m
faction. for it is now too lite to remedy not deceive myself in believing that -the
.i.... . r . r truth, the whole truth anl nothing but the
this, hut as a warning in future. For how , ,, . . . , ,
' truth," is my only aim, and that I am
different is the spectacle of the Old North not at au biassed by a foolish pride of opin-
gtate now, perfectly infatuated with her j ;0n or any other personal weakness.
mad schemes of "improvement", & when In my former article, the conclusion to
she kept the "even tenor" of the slow which my reflections on the subject had
aud steady way which invariably produces brouftht was expressed in the follow-;
A . . . ing proposition, which 1 again state at;
prcseni conienimeni anu icaas 10 tortune , ; .. , , ,. . r . ..
length (with the addition of the word in
.m tu .iu.iu. ia prouu may r.uge- brackets in order that it may not be lost!
combe feel, hei heart and head have al- sieht of. to wit: "that it was the Inri- object of the deepest commiseration and price." -It follows as the night the day
J F - - k. V
ways opposed stich visi viary projects. mctry design of Col. Wilson to relieve sympathy, is not one of charity substan- that the hue answer is embraced in five
the people of this county from the burden l,al ai,: extended to him, in contcmpla-, worus, tooti, doming, sneiter, nursing and
medical aid--whether rum should form a
her children, and to be cautious
tvbose hands she commits the reins ofu
destiny.
But perhaps "Prompter" and olfcenj"
not concur with "B," and are of the o
ion that Edgecombe is not exempt k
the charge of fcpcnuriousness and selfe
ness" -in other words, that there j.
blot on her escutcheon arising from
I fact t ha she has neglected her poor-jr
if so, since Col. Wilson may also k
differed from "B" and therefore intends
to supply those wants Which had not fa
inci. ii nuw uecuiuua . iiecp-ssary, inset
exhih4ion is rare.
And dg.'.in, as the use of the fund is
limited to the support of the Poor, it is
natural for persons who are not accustom
ed to nice discrimination, to conclude as that they shall be bound .out, and even
-B" has done, that the testator designed ("'Prompter" himself would not approve
his bequest to operate as a charity; wheieas
the. endowment of a seminary for the in-
npon examination, it will be found as 1-struction ot idiots and hoary headed and
shall hereafter demonstrate, that the no- crippled adults of either sex Are spint-
do you prove affirmatively from t he Woni
of the will, that the primary object of tb
testator was the relief of the people froa:
taxation? Have a little patience, and yet
shall learn in brief, the process of ju
re asoning
The Wardens and the County
tion is utterly inconsistent with common ual teachings necessary Divines aie to are entrusted with the adminislraibaaf
sense. A pauper as such, while he is an lo be had without money and without
General I.se7nhh ; of supporting it's poor, bv lessening the llon ol ni9 remaining in the same state or
The two Houses re preparing a fare !axns ,evied r that purpose or dispensing condition, defeats itself, the effect being; portion of the first, I cheerfully submit to
quantity of business "'Hie principal clerks w,lh them altogether, if the fund should at once to change his position. As a fath-1 the decision of the "Sons." Are these
have elected Wm H. Joyner of Franklin prcve sufficient." er gives his child, as an uncle gives his things taken separately or collectively
- I T . . Y 1 if a ' 1 ' nniilinm n M i Au ! 1.1....! ! ' nt t nop tm nr a At lacs Minn n ni ntrtwi J ilnnl..
and Thomas H. Holmes of Sampson coun- support i reasoneu auirmaiiveiy ui as a suaugur m uiuuu gives : muivwiw mauuouijpni 17
ty, assistant engrosing (-lerks.
from matters extrinsic of the will and !nis friend, who is already possessed of 1 not, indeed there is noway consistent
.? 1 C . . f. ll If t ill
On the 26th ult. the Hon. Robert negauvciy irom me win usen, or 1 snouici
Strange was elected Solictor for the Fifth r ,lher 1 contended myself with the
Judicial Circuit; Cad. Jones, ,fr. Esq. of bare sertion that nothing was to be
Orange, Solicitor for the 4th Circuit; and found in ,hjt inrument which militated
George S.. Stevenson, Esq. of Craven, for agaiflst.it--.,hose matlers wcre in briel"
the 2nd Circuit the legislative career and private life of
On the 29th, Mr. Rayner from the' Co1' 'vVilson- The former was invoked
Committee on Internal Improvements re- t0 show lhal U,e regulations prescribed
ported a bill, incorporationg the Raleigh Iaw lor "-e inienance mc roor:
and Greenville Plank Road Comnnnv. m olher words the 8y,cm vvhich had ()een
- - - f. -j
Amendments to the bill limit the divi-
estahlished and had existed . for three-
dents to be declared to 25 ner cent . and fourlh9 of a cent"ry, was not disapproved
the duration of the charter to 25 instead b him and I appealed to the latter to
of 99 years agreed to.) The Bill was thus1 l)rove that he never even whisPerf, nay
put upon its second reading and passed. ! breathed dissatisfaction with the adminis-
tranun oi mai system, as 11 nau Deen car-
Congrcss.
This body convened in Washington Ci-
ried out in this county.
I am not sure that 1'have been able to
extract the sense of the desultory and
ty on Monday last. On the same day the; somewhat slip-shod production of -B,"
President's Message was delivered, a co-ibut if I do not mistake the tenor ofhisar
py of which we have received, and willjgument (if argument it can be called) it is
give some extracts from it in our next. ProPerly divisible into two heads: TJic
one caning tor a rejoinder, the other tor a
reply from me under the former is to be
classed his assertion that I had taken only
two positions in support of my proposi
lion and the statement of them as made
by him, viz: "First (t quote his own
words) Col. Wilson approvedof the 'Poor
house system and secondly, that his con
struction is fully sanctioned by the word
ing of the will" and to the latter belongs
his reasoning based on the words of the
will.
I shall now proceed to the discussion
of these heads or divisions in the order in
which they have been stated And first,
of the matter for rejoinder. If the reader
will take the trouble to turn back a few
Ism s, he will at once discover that I have
.een grossly if not entirely misrepresent-
d; not wilfully, I would fain believe, but
FOR THE TARBORO PRESS.
December the 3rd, 150.
Mr. Editor: Two against one is rath
or (earful odds, hut it my opponents have
not in reserve a stronger array of argument
than they have as yet displayed, I feel no
concern as to the result of the contest.
Victory will assuredly perch on my ban
narincleed, "Prompter" has already vir
tually surrendered and the easy task of
remains to be per
formed. The former makes an ungraceful (un
graceful because of the temper he exhib
its) and lame attempt to cover his retreat
from a position he finds himself unable to
defend, by denying that he. took th.
ground, that it was not the intention
ample means so Col Wilson gave to the j with the law which is. founded on good
whole -people of Edgecombe, because of , policy whereby a pauper as such, can ob
his respect and love for them. i tain the"uscand benefit" of a fund wheth-
What are the words of the will? "I'er levied by taxation or contributed bv
give to the Chairman of the County Court individuals, beyond what is necessary for
of Edgecombeand his successors in office, his comfortable subsistence: for the mo
tile icsiduc of my estate both real and ment he becomes the recipient of a bounty
personal, for the use and benefit of the which goes beyond that point, ex necessi-
noor fm!lriPl) ntnid nnnnlo. 1r Vn nrnr ' tatfi. h.O is t rn nsf irmPil I ntn n nv nitron ok i u-lintlioi. r. i 1 TmnfltCjH
priated and managed under the superin-! rich man as "Prompter" and "B" would on to show,) was satisfied with the aJ-
the system established by law
maintenance of t he Poor it is the duty
of the former to learn their wants and c:
the latter to furnish the means of supply
ing them. If Co!. W.Lon l (d beeoff
all dissatisfied with the manner in nliiA
they had performed the trust devolved oa
them, if he had supposed that they had
been niggardly and that the comfort anJ
happiness of the Poor had not been du'
cared for, would he have used these
terms, the import of which is plain, "1
be appropriated and managed under the
superintendence of the Justices ol sulj
bounty?" Surely not, for to confide to j
matter to the Count v Court, would Dew
j . - '
entrust the Iamb to the tender mercies
of,
the wolf. It follows that Col. Witoo.
tendance of the Justices of said county." I call him, in their new vocabulary. .But I
Now let us see what is "B's" position, am asked, although it be true that a pauper
I quote his words "the reasoning (mean-! can receive but a support and therefore it
ing mv reasoning) might have been plaus-1 is manifest that Col. Wilson did intend to
ible had the word "benefit" not have relieve the people of the county from tax
been inserted hut that too clearly shows , ation to a greater or less extent, how do
for whom he intended the donation to ad-i3Tou prove affirmatively from the words
mit of a reasonable doubt." of the will, that such a result was primari
I take issue with' B " as to the import ly designed? May it not be that he was
or meaning of the terms "use and benefit," j aware, notwithstanding it was the duty, of
taken separately or collectively in the con-j the Wardens and the County Court to
nectiqn'in which they are here employed, make ample provision for the comfortable
. I. A
ministration of the Poor-system as
been carried out in this county, n(JtllJ'
he ptimurily designed to relieved
people from taxation. I make my
VERITY
t
and I maintain that they do not and caii-
not be made to bear any other significa
tion than that of support; and if the latter
word had been used, I suppose the paper
battle now being fought would not have
occurred. But to the argument.
It is conceded on all hands that the
persons designated in the bequest as those
for whose "use and benefit" it is made,
are that portion of the poor only who are
maintained or supported by the public,
without any equivalent real or supposed,
commonly called paupers. Who are they?
Only such as are without any substance
and in the opinion of the Wardens, unable
to earn a living, by reason of physical or
mental incapacity to labor: And as it is
a fact for which I shall have occasion
hereafter, I beg it to be borne in mind,
that children for obvious reasons are not
permitted to become paupers, the law bav-
sustenance of the Poor, that they were re
creant to the trust confided to them?
The question should be answered dif
ferently according to the person from
whom it comes. "B" is estopped from
requiring me to argue this point from ihe
language of the bequest, and ought to be
satisfied if nothing can be found therein
which stands in opposition to his own o
pinion on the subject. Hear him, "Edge
combe certainly has the reputation abroad
of being both selfish and penurious, this
slander, she has hitherto in the pride of
conscious innocence laughed to scorn."
Since it is one of the first and highest du
ties of a Christian community to take care
of it's poor, especially one blessed with
the ample means of Edgecombe, (may
Heaven continue them,) "B7 must be
lieve that she has fully provided for. hers
else he has been guilty of the grossest
Washington market, D- '
- Bacon, 7 to 9 cts; Lard, 8 t0 C
Corn, $3 25 to $3 50; Turpentine-, "
dip, $2 00 to $2 10; old, $1 90 to &v
scrape gl"l5 to $1 20, Tar, 51
$1 10.
, - -- '
MARRIED. Re,.
In this place, on TuesJay last, bj ...
j vursuire, nev. urn n
mington, to Mrs. Caroline
dAc
daughter of Theo Parker, dec'
tender our thanks to the happy vuvr jrj
the observance of a time-honore
nrnlsnmnKlk.. n w-i ... l-i I O Vl in t h C
of late seems to be regarded rather
obsolete idea, that of sending to tnjji
ter a bountiful supply of weddmg
in mis county, on veuucc-
last, Mr. Joseph Barnes of Nash co
to Miss Elizabeth Exvm, da08
John Exum, dca'd.