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Slave Labor And Free Labor

Slave Labor And Free Labor image
Parent Issue
Day
4
Month
August
Year
1841
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

-Wctake the following from a speech of Mr. Rhett, in Congres, last winter. How strange that men with thcir eyes open can clasp such a viper to their bosoras. It cannot last ahvays. Mr. Chairman, I heard with gratification the encomiums of the gentleman on our Northern States. Their wealth, energy, and enterprise burdening their rivers, crowning their walerfalls, and gathering into their towns and villages the hum of millions, where lately the voices of birds only were heard. But, whilst looking over these scènes of luxurianf, beautiful prosperity, and tracing it, as he had, to the Iegislation of this government, he did nol think of North Carolina, her abandoned wastes, her premature decreptitude, whilst yet in the youthof nationalcxistence? No sir. Then I envy not the feelings of the gentleman from North Carol ina . No matter what the cause, the desoiation which haunts the spot of our childhood, or which broods over our native land, will hang ever acloud over a mind of any generosiity ; and, whethergazing on kindled ruins, or the brilliant contrast which the rising and bursting prosperity of oíher States present, the heart will still turn to the land of our nativity - our home. I, too, have flown over the rivers and railroadsof our Northern States, on the fiery wings of steam, and feit my spirits rise, as looking around on the mighty lakes, I bounded over the heaving waves. I rejoiced, sir, at what 1 saw; but whilst I rejoiced, I thought, too, of the South, of Souih Carolina - and my heart sunk within me at the recollection of the contrast. The open field, clothed in broom-grass, with the peach tree blooming beside a heap of clay, when once the hearth-fires burned - the solitary chimney, with the swallow twittering from its top - the aged oaks, still casting their venerable shades in long defile, where infancy once played and manhood wooed - these teil more eloquently her complaints and desolations than the voice of wailing, or the harp taken from the willows can relate.