Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-01-29
Fer the Journal.
THE CRISIS.

my felloW-clnZenS, still, at a moment like the |
present, cannot forbear addressing the peo-
pie of Wilmington few remarks, upon a sub |
ject which, as view it, is of the most vital !
importance to each and every one. I allude |
to the Rail Road South. | conscentiously |
and from my heart believe, that whether or
not the Connecting Link is built, and conse-
quently whether or not the Wilmington and
Raleigh Rail Road shall continue to erist at
all, depends upon the manner in which the |
citizens OF Wilmington may demean them
selves in the present crisis. And put it to
every man in the town, l care not whether he
is the owner of property in said town OF not,
if the failure of the project, and the consequent
going down of the present Road, would not
be a calamity which, in its direful consequent
ces, would materially injure nine -tenths of the
whole community. Suppose we now fail, do
you not think and believe, citizens of Whining
ton, that thefriends of the Metropolitan route,
as well in as out of the State, will take heart
and make desperate effort to construct the
upper route Certainly, you cannot shut your
eyes 10 this result. And have you reflected
for moment on what the position of our glo-
rious town would be in such an event? Why,
as matter of course, our present Road must 20
down, without any hope of redemption. And
who is there, let me ask you, that is not will
ling to strain point to avert such catastro-
phe No one in Wilmington, trust But
there has been bad state of feeling brought
about in the community by the agitation Of a
certain question? l am aware of it, ana no
one regrets the fact more than the writer But
in the name of God let this ill-feeling be laid
aside. One side of that question has triumph
ed, and surely the people who have been vic
torious can afford to be generous, and to for
give and forget. The other side will be worse
than fools if they ever mention the matter a.
gain, so as to irritate or create bad feeling
Those opposed to the late measure are just as
deeply interested in the prosperity OF the town
as any other class of our citizens. Why
should they not They have every thing at
stake as we'll as others, and although | do not
speak by the book, yet will venture to pre-
dict that, so far as their means will permit
them, they will do as much for the success of
the Road as those on the other side OF the
house
Well, on Monday next, l learn that, accord
ing to the provisions OF the charter, the sub
scription books are to be opened, and mos:
solemnly and religously believe that the sue
cess of the Road will absolutely depend upon
the manner in which our own citizens come
up to the work on that day. Why do say
this Simply because, in the first place. the
people of Wilmington are more deeply inter-
ested in the success OF the project than any
body else, and every eye will be upon them
to ascertain how much they will subscribe
and secondly, because others, out of the town
of Wilmington, will be in great measure in
iuenced in their subscriptions by the manner
in which we behave ourselves. The result of
opening the books at this point will first be
made known to the world, and it is matter
of vital importance that we should make a
good sho,c Every body knows that the first
fair lick in fight is worth half a dozen at
, any subsequent period, and so it will be in
this Rail Road fight. If we can demonstrate
to the world, by the spirited manner in which
we subscribe here, that we are really in ear
nest the effect will be magcal-but if we
make false step now, we are gone, and gone
forever. Just reflect upon this, people OF
Wilmington. Particularly you who are the
owners of property in the town. Remember
that upon the building of the Road depends
entirely whether or not that property will
; continue to be valuable to you. For surely
you all have sense enough to know that ii
you fail to do your duty, the project must fail
and if the project fails the old Road must go
down, and if the old Road goes down that
| your property must, as an inevitable corse.
quence, go down with it. Does any zaan
doubt this would beg you then, by every
> thing you hold dear. to put your shoulders tc
the wheel no,C. Everything depends upon
your action. Wilmington ought to raise
5000, 700, and she can do it, if the proper spirit
will only animate her citizens She certainly
Is DIS dDlc 10 no SO now DIS she was some wears
ago. And let me ask you, my fellow-citizens
if it be not more important that she should dc
{ so no,r than it was then. Surely any refec
{ ting man must see and feel that it is. | cal
upon You, then, to strike whilst the iron il
" hot. Let every man, on Monday next, steI
up to the work with the full belief that tn,
success. or the failure of the whole scheme de
ponds upon the amount subscribed on tina
day. Let every man who intends to subscribe
at all do it on that day. Let every man, VIII,
is able, subscribe something, if it be only t
= the amount of one share In word, let eve
q ry man reflect that success or a total failur
Il depends upon the doings of that day
A CALM OBSERVER.
vi For the Journal
h FIELD OFFICERS.