116 



FARMS^RS' REGISTER, 



[No. 2 



ten, influerice. and acknowledged talents of those 

 who compose it; and when, above all, we remem- 

 ber that they are engaixed in a matter of deep pub- 

 lic concern, involving the welfare, prosperity, and 

 honor of these states, it can hardly be believed, 

 that their deliberate opinions and earnest recom- 

 mendations can be without effect. Our chief de- 

 pendence alter all, however, must be upon publiQ 

 opinion; but we have too much confidence in the 

 * truth and justice of our cause to entertain a doubt 

 of our success, if every member of this assembly 

 would regard it as his oion personal concern; as 

 well as a sacred duty which he owes to himselfj 

 his posterity and his country; to use his utmost ef- 

 forts to advance the great work. Judging from 

 the past, we have no cause to distrust the future. 

 Six months ago the first meeting of the conven- 

 tion took place at Augusta. It was composed of 

 80 members representing two states and one terri- 

 tory. Now we have five states and one territory 

 represented by 180 members. The proceedings of 

 the assembly have gone abroad, and wherever 

 they have been received, have produced a power- 

 ful influence on public opinion, of which we have 

 the most gratdying evidence in the legislation of 

 several states on one of their recommendations, 

 and the increased interest every where felt in the 

 subject of their deliberations. 



Thus encouraged, we should go on in that con- 

 fidence, which a good cause should never fail to 

 inspire. But to secure success, we must be pre- 

 pared to make the necessary efforts. Of one 

 thing we may be assured, that this great victory 

 cannot be easily achieved. It is the order of a 

 wise and benificent providence, that nothing truly 

 great or good, can be attained without pains and 

 labor. 



This is the price which must be paid to secure 

 success; and if we arc not prepared to make the 

 necessary exeriions, we must yield the prize. 

 Nor can our mighty work be accomplished in a 

 day. AlTessential changes in the condition of a 

 country, must be worked out by slow deirrees. 

 We may be assured, that nothing short of a high 

 resolve, which no opposition can move, a devoted 

 zeal, proof against all discouragements, and an 

 untiring perseverance, which shall rise superior to 

 all ditTiculties, can enable us to work out our " po- 

 litical salvation." Let us not deceive ourselves 

 then, with the vain belief, that our progress in this 

 work will be every where cheen^d by the approv- 

 ing smiles of our countrv, and the cordial support 

 of our lellow-citizens. Conscious that we are ac- 

 tuated by the purest motives, and that "all the 

 ends we aim at are our country's," we must 

 nevertheless be prepared lor all manner of opposi- 

 tion. The measures we propose come into con- 

 flict with too many deeply-rooted prejudices, and 

 too many adverse interests, to enable us to hope, 

 that even our motives shall esca|)e detraction, and 

 our purposes misrepresentation. We have those 

 around us, whose prospects in life, in a great mea- 

 sure, depend noon the defeat of our plans. 



A large portion of the Union, — which always 

 has exerted, and still exerts, almost a controllins: 

 influence upon public opinion, at home and abroad, 

 will be roused into action, to deprive us of public 

 confidence, and to drive us from our course. We 

 shall be ridiculed, as the supporters of wild and 

 Utopian theories; — as visionary enthusiasts, wast- 

 ing their strength in the pursuit of impracticable 



schemes. We shall be charged with ungenerous 

 prejudices, and unkind feelings towards our north- 

 ern brethren, (ftjelings which are strangers to our 

 bosoms,) and the stale, though potent slander, 

 will be revived, of hostility to the xtnion. 

 Now, if in the consciousness of rectitude, we are 

 not fully prepared to encounter all this, and 

 MORE, — if we are nor unalterably determined to 

 go on in our course, "through good report, and 

 through evil report," — if we are not firmly and 

 unchangeably resolved to trample down all oppo- 

 sition — it would be better that we should stop 

 here, and attempt to advance no farther. These 

 difficulties are thus lairly stated, not i'ov your dis- 

 couragement, but that we may be fully prepared 

 to meet them. If we are true to ourselves, we 

 shall most assuredly triumph over all obstacles. 

 The high character, intelligence, and influence, 

 which compose this Convention, properly and 

 zealously exerted, can sever be put down. 

 It is as certain as the rising of the morrow's sun, 

 that we shall achieve the emancipation of the 

 south and south-west, if we are only prepared to 

 make the efforts necessary to the accomplishment 

 of the good work. We shall live down the slan- 

 ders of our enemies, and in the rich fruits of a no- 

 ble and peaceful victory, will find our best reward. 

 The peculiar institutions of the south, will be for- 

 tified and strengthened, — the streams of a rich 

 and varied commerce will fertilize our soil, while 

 diversified pursuits will stimulate the industr}', add 

 to our wealth, enlarge the minds, and improve 

 the character of our people. Civilization and re- 

 finement, — the handmaids of virtue, — will adorn 

 our land; and the great truth will be seen, 

 and ft^lt, and acknowledged, that of all the social 

 conditions of man, the most favorable to the de- 

 velopment of the cardinal virtues ol" the heart and 

 the noblest faculties of the soul — to the promotion 

 of private happiness and public prosperity, is that of 



SLAVE-HOLDING COMMUNITIES UNDER FREE 



POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS — a truth hardly yet 

 understood among ourselves, but which the tliture 

 history of these states is, we trust, destined to il- 

 lustrate. Animated by these sentiments, and in- 

 fluenced by these views — and with a firm reliance 

 upon Divine Providence — let the members of this 

 Convention now pledge themselves to each 

 other, and to their country, to go forward — ■ 

 firmly resolved to leave nothing undone that may 

 advance our great and patriotic objects. Let us 

 be prepared to make every personal sacrifice, and 

 to use all just and honorable means for the accom- 

 plishment of our great work — unalterably deter- 

 mined to PERSEVERE UNTO THE END. 



LEAD MINE IN NORTH CAROLINA. 



It affords us much pleasure to state that a valu- 

 able lead mine has been recently discovered in 

 the lower part of Davidson county. 



The ore is the carbonate of lead which unites 

 the advantages of great yield and very easy re- 

 duction, and the vein is said to be very extensive. 

 The carbonate of lead has never been found in 

 considerable quantities in Europe, but exists in 

 abundance at the celebrated Lamotte iMine in 

 Missouri, where, owing to the ignorance of the 

 miners, it was until recently considered as worth- 

 less ; but that mine having been taken up by a 



