The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1847-12-29
Q the heart and extremitieis ofsthe south.

to the heart and extremities oftthe south
west countoy. " N
& So far, then, us the State is concerned, her
interest will be greatly enhanced, instead of
diminished by this connecting, link.
But then, it has been asked, what effect
will this mushroom scheme have upon our
darling.pe the city Of Charleston! Will it
not open facilities to our people, our mer-f
chants and traders, to go with speed and eco
nomy to the North for the purchase of goods,
etc, when our grand object is to build up
city within our borders, that shall be the ter
minus of all Southern works of internal i'm
'provement, aud that shall merit appellation of
the great Southern emporium! Shall we not,
by this connexion, build up rival in the town
OF Wilmington, which will drain us all the
products of those districts through Which tie
road passes, turn them from the ports Of our
own State, and carry them to Wilmington!
And will it not have the effect Of taking ira
velers, that now pass through our city and
may occasionally stop and look around with
view OF making their purchases, here, in
stead Of going North for that purpose, far
away, and hurry them by without stopping'
In regard to the first proposition, that of
aiiording facilities for intelligence, commun-
cation and Free Trade, upon the most. liberal
construction OF that term, is what, not only
the leaders in politics, but tl,e people in mass
OF this State have been battling for, for
years; such an objection would be insulting
to the intelligence Of the State at large.
The next proposition, OF building up the
town OF Wilmington 10 rival Charleston, is
too prepostcroils to admit of comment. Can
it be possible that any one of intelligence,
who is at all acquainted with tho two ports,
can entertain such All opinion for n moment!
What! that little town OH Cape Fear river,
stuck upon sand bank thirty miles from the
ocean, with Il difficult bar and river navga-
ton ten feet dccp-whosc exports consist of
tar pitch and turpcntinc, lumber and shin
glcs-whosc citizens arc never gladdcned by
the sight OF a bale Of cotton, except when
astonishcd by All importation from Charleston
for the factories Of the ntcror-such place
rvalling Charleston, the Queen city OF the
South, situated but seven miles from the
ocean, accessible by ships from fifteen to
eighteen feet ,lraught, from every quarter of
the globc-whosc canvass whitcns every sea
whose exports of cotton and rice arc num-
bcrcd by thousands of bales and barrels!
impossible.
In regard to the last proposition, that af
carrying passengers by without ailnrdng All
opportunity OF stopping to make purchases,
cannot hold good. The laws of trade, like
water, will find their level. Supply and de-
mand will regulate that part of the BUSINESS,
and if you import the right kind of goods.
and sell them at the righ, kind of prices, no
question but you will find purchasers, prov-
dcd you do not import too largely and get in
to the difficulty of ovcr-trading, and provided
further, you will encourage worthy enter
prize. by modifying some OF your municipal
restrictions, and by inviting trade and busi-
ness, rather than simply performing what is
obstinately forcsd upon YOU This is the
way to build mp your city: by carrying out the
Free Trade principles, i'll their most generous
sense. Empty professions, without action,
are useless as they are unworthy.
But snpsose you should consider it impor-
tant that travellers, who are traders, and de-
sire to visit Charleston with 4 view of ma
king purchases: this difficulty can be easily
overcome by allowing such passengers to
come down to Charleston and return to
Branchvillc by a through ticket at the same
price as /! they were to pass Immediately on.
Tbs would be small matter, i'll comparison
10 obs,ructing a great and good enterprise,
that is calculated To improve your trade, and
greatly enhance The receipts of your present
rail roads
Now one word, i'll regard TO The practicable
ity and probable profit of the Wilmington and
Manchester rail road, and am done OF It's
practicabIlitv, general usefulness aud profit,
| think no one can doubt, who will take the
trouble TO examine the subject; and here,
beg leave 10 refer TO report made by the
surveyors of that route accompanying chart
of the same, in the hands OF some of the
friends of this enterprise, now in Columbia,
by which, and the statement made in the
commencement of this communication, it
will be seen that tho Wilmington Road un-
der the most wi.hering circumstances, has
not only sustained itself, but paid profit up
on its capital, during the past year. oI six per
cent, and is gradually improving the Road
aud paying its debts, and this with the boa,
Inc attached. What may we next expect,
,hcn, fer the Manchester Road, with the inl-
lruremcns of the age, and lights of expert
encc before us, our southern neighbors, push
ing their roads still farther south and wcs',
will ere long send such current of travel |
along this Atlantic route, as the most pas.
sionate fanatics in the cause have never vet
dreamed of. Have we no right, then, to cx-
pcct at 10 distant day, rich harvest from
this enterprise? If there is any reliance
whatever to be placed in figures, we have,
and many who are disposed to rdculc this i
idea now, (whc,her from private interest, or
honest convictions, shall not pretend to say,) |
shall be forced 10 acknowledge their error,
and wonder at .he!r former b.inlness.
X. o. s.
TRrcEs OF TIE LAWYERS con-
vivuI meeting of lawyers, the president
called on the senior solicitor to propose the
health Of the bcs, friend Of the profession.
"The rich man who makes his own wilI,'
tl,, 81, II