FARMERS' REGISTER— GYPSEOUS EARTH. 



207 



eventually of the west and south west ; and, thus 

 Avith Baltimore and Philadelphia, ofTering some 

 counterpoise to the '^empire state."* 



But is there no cause for this extraordinary feel- 

 ing on the part of North Carolina toward Virgi- 

 nia.'' There is much; and it is to be found in the 

 injudicious conduct of Virginia, her citizens and 

 her institutions. Much of it is to be traced to the 

 dead set made by her banks, against the banks, and 

 consequently the trade, of North Carolina. This 

 sort of conduct, however it may have been autho- 

 rised by the foolish and forcing system, once 

 adopted by the bank of North Carolina, is now no 

 longer to be justified. The interest of both states 

 would be improved if the Banks of Virginia 

 were to receive North Carolina paper at par. If 

 they ask where they areto obtain the discount, or 

 difference in value, it may be replied that the mere 

 declaration at Richmond, &c. to such an effect, 

 would go far to remove tlie evil — perhaps the half 

 of it, and possibly the whole; and further, that if 

 only one half the evil was removed, the othei> half 

 of the charge might be counteracted in the pur- 

 chase and sale of the commodities passing between 

 the contracting parties. 



Nor is it too bold to aver that such a measure 

 would result in an immense benefit to Virginia — 

 in a benefit proportionably as great as that which 

 would result to her bank paper in New York or 

 Philadelphia, if the bank of the United States and 

 the other banks v/ere to declare that all the notes 

 of Virginia should be received on the same terms. 



In fine, a tie would thus be formed that would 

 render the union between North Carolina and Vir- 

 ginia as indissoluble as the advantage to their agri- 

 culture and their commerce would be infinite. 



The policy of such a measure is especially urg- 

 ed at this moment when New York is making- 

 such an effort to secure the trade of North Caro- 

 lina v/a Charleston. On this subject, a unity of 

 feeling and coincidence of idea should prevail not 

 only among the states of Virginia and North Ca- 

 rolina, but, as to Norfolk, generally among the old 

 southern states. Rapidly are the western states 

 melting into a mass, and as rapidly are the means 

 forming of making them morally and commercially 

 dependent on the middle and eastern states. These 

 means are the canals and rail roads from the Missis- 

 sippi and the lakes in a north and north east direction. 

 Of the Rideau and Welland canals nothing is said, 

 however great a subject they might be of specula- 

 lion. But it is impossible to avoid urging the 

 necessity of a combination among the southern 

 states to counteract these measures, and to lead 

 the products of the Mississippi, its dependencies, 

 and those of the Carolinas, to the shores of the 

 James, and the harbors of the Chesapeake, whence 

 it would find its way to a European market at 

 perhaps a cost little less than 15 per cent, under its 

 actual charge. 



The influence of the south and the lower west 

 would then be united in one body — their external 



*After this had been coiTecied in order to be trans.iiit- 

 ted to the Register, the following expressions from a 

 ■western paper struck the writer's eye. " The uncer- 

 tainty attending the Jfeio Orleans marlctt, the risk of life 

 and property arising from an unfavorable climate, as loell 

 as the difficulty ami cost of reaching it from the intiriorof 

 Indiana {and the neighboring countries,) lias doubtless liad 

 an influence in bringing about the comme7icement of this ca- 

 nal" — the Wabash and Erie. 



commerce would be concentrated at Norfolk— 

 and the creation of Beaufort, S. C— of Beaufort, 

 so long sacrificed by demagogues, brawlers and 

 factionists, converted into a respectable military 

 and naval depot, would give a strength and power 

 to these states that would really make them a fbr- 

 midalde member of the confederacy — a member 

 of which, in truth, it might be said 



" Their swords are a thousand, their bosoms are one." 



SMEATOIV. 



P. S. To show the progress of New York and 

 the supineness of Philadelphia, the following ex- 

 tract from the National Gazette of the 23d July, 

 1833, is made. " To the Philadelphians we would 

 " say, that, if a communication, by a canal or rail 

 ■' rojd, is not shortly formed from Pittsburg to the 

 " Ohio canal, they might as well at once execute 

 " to the New Yorkers a release of all claim to 

 " the trade of that immense country which lies 

 " north of a line to be drawn from Bolivar, on the 

 " Ohio canal, through Indianapolis to St. Louis, 

 '' and to a considerable portion (of country) even 

 " south of that line. 



" As matters now stand, New York has in- 

 " disputable and exclusive possession of the trade 

 " along the south side of Lake Erie, of the north- 

 " ern ends of Indiana, Illinois, of Michigan, and 

 " of the country westward and northward of Lake 

 " Michigan. Every improvement made unto ei- 

 " therLake Erie or Michigan — every increase of 

 " the population along or near to these lakes, gives 

 " New York an increased business, simply be- 

 " cause she has a direct and easy communication 

 "with Lake Erie at Buffaloe." 



Of course this commerce is divided with Canada. 



However, let us finish the extract, originally 

 from the Pittsburg Gazette. " Complete the im- 

 " provements now making over the Alleghany 

 " mountain, and make a rail road from the mouth 

 "of Big Beaver to Akron on the Ohio Canal, and 

 " then we believe that New York will at once be 

 " deprived of the trade of this great country." 



Statement of American and Foreign tonnage en- 

 tered into and departed from the Districts of 

 North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Geor- 

 gia, &c. &c. 



For the Farmers' Register. 

 THE GYPSEOUS EARTH OF JAMES RIVER. 



As far back as I can remember, crystals were 

 sometimes found on the river shore at Evergreen, 

 (two miles below City Point,) which attracted no 

 farther notice than being admired for their perfect 

 transparency. At that time it is probable that no 

 one in the county had ever noticed crystalized 

 gypsum, or even the lump gypsum of commerce, 

 and no one had given the s.ightest attention to mi- 

 neralogy. It is therefore not strange that the na- 



