The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-08-25

we consider this the only chance she will
ever have to get road Which is most
surely tho case unless the contemplated
road from Columbia 10 Greenville should
fail If the friends of that enterprise should
be disappointed in their undertaking, then
a road will certainly be built from Ham,
burg or Aiken which must pass through
Abbeville, and for that reason, if no other,
Is preferable to her citizens. But should
we lie idle hoping only for that contingency,
under the existing probabilities Of the COM
pletion of the former route?
With the facts before us that they already
have seven hundred thousand dollars sub
scribed that Columbia, Newberry, Edge
field, Laurens and GreenviIlc would pull
against the Aiken route; and only Able
vile and Pendleton, probably Charleston,
for it, the chances preponderate strongly in
favor of the Columbia road. 1t has been
urged that if we would hold of, the project
must fail. If the road cannot be built
without the aid Of Abbevlle, it certainly
proves that she will hold the balance power
; and can locate the route where she pleases.
Then we had better take our stand on safe
ground, since getting the road is the para
mount object, whether from Aiken, Ham.
burg or Columbia. Let US organize our
forces, know our strength, and tell 10 tho
world what we can and will do in this
matter. Then should things take direc-
ton in favor of Aiken, as is urged by a wri-
ter of the Momnto5ncer, we are willing, and
can soon direct our energies to that point.
Though we do not concede TO that writer
that such would be more pro6tab BILE route,
or that it would pass through more fertile
! and populous section Of the country.
May we not expect something from our
friends of the Savannah regiment, IN a mat
ter OF such general interest? Surely, if
they arc not interested in the general good
Of the district, they will bestir themselves to
! advance their own pecuniaIy interest,"
| For we contend that every individual on
that side whose plantation will be in twen-
| ty five miles Of said road, will have Deep
er PERSONAL interest in il, than he now has
IN the boating convcniences Of Savannah
river.
We have heard much said of late, about
the Intelligence ofAbbeville District. That
her citizens are comparatively an enlight-
encd people, cannot be denied. We know
that to her, the world is indebted for some of
the greatest statesmen Of the age. That TO-
her this nation owes the discovery of that
balance wheel to. the general Governments
State Rights: That to the ntomitablc zeal
and resistless.reason Of her sons must be
acknowledged the extension Of fire. tad.,
which is fast becoming the established doc
trine of the world. But that she is not hurt
with an over stock cfcnlight n.ncnt, the fol
! lowing facts will evidence. by the census
of l940 there are l38S0frec white persons
In the District Out of that number, there,
are 60Ol who are over the age of 20 years;
and out of that number Of COOL, there are
1879 who can neither read or wrie.-
Thus making the startling proportion of all
most one fourth of the grown persons of this
highly refined and enlightcd District, who
are debarred the privileges of common
Grammar school. Now is it not incum-
bent upon Abbeville, to exert her every
ability to still further enlighten her citizcnsl
10 extend to the poor man as we'll as the
rich, by giving market at his door, tho
means not only to support himself, by the
sweat of his brow, but to devote at least
pittancc to the education of his children.
Where are there greater means of civiliza-
ton and enlightenment, than in commercial
and travelling facilities? Already the
Northeast presents one chechered map Of
rail road intersection: And we think we
fore-see the day not far distant, when by
the wonder working agency of steam and
the frery wires Of electricity, the whole
world will throw around her the garb of
civilization and enlightenment When
the country of the green mountains and the
lone star, shall! shake hands: When the At.
lantic and the Pacific shall embrace. When
the ran heal and bloody bo,us fslavery in the
South, shall be made familiar to the soft
hearted abolitionist of the North; when
these United States shall be bound together
by inseperable bars of iron: Then shall
the perpetuity Of our institutions be fixed;
the palladium of our liberties laid, and it's
foundation will be rock. SALuDA.