The North-Carolina standard., 1847-08-11
g'gs 4 fioa.. ,SssssI Lincoln cS,uu.rfi. c,u.f .r
To the Hon, RoBEaT 3. s.GIEL1AM,s Speaker
= - nc th.a la,. n a.....-h - - -

TO do so with a spirit of candour and decencY
That the prescription by your party in your body
of such men as Judge Strange, Col. Whitaker
and Others was most tyrannical and oppressive,
none deny That the gerrymandering of the
Congressional districts, TO place in Congress a
lew hvorites, was subversive of all good order.
and unprecedentedsn the history of our State, all
admit and that the conduct of your Governor
and party in relation to the present war with Mexi-
be. and in offering the regiment raised by the
State, was not only unpatriotic but Outrageous, is
the universal sentiment Of the West ss'4 e
But as odious as the conduct of your party was
in relation to these matters, the utter disregard that
the last Legislature paid to the finances of the
State, proves how much more absurd they were in
providing Offices for the few, than ia the general
welfare of the many. or the real interests Of the
State. r. .5 10 'aes +, ..-:...-.. --.--
= The expenses and revenues of State should
be, and properly are, always subject Of deep in
erest to the community at large. The deplorable
financial condition of our State is sufficient to
rouse the attention of every real friend to her hon
or and happiness; she is laboring under heavy
load Of debt, thai is daily increasing, without any
adequate means being provided 10 pay off its liza
biity. .-l. .5.-E s..o l. .t r--.,s ...s
These were properly subjects, Sir, for the calm
deliberation and earnest solicude of the last Legs
laure, and had your party devoted one half the
time to these considerations that you did to con-
trive schemes to prolong your power in the State,
to reward your partizans and punish your oppo-
nets you would have been entitled to the thanks
of a liberal community, instead Of receiving their
united cxecrations - .-..H@' ...'a.|'- . 70
The fact is notorious shat The last Governor of
the Republican party, Richard Dob6s Spalght.
The last of the NohiGans," left the chair Of Stale
with a government free from debt, prosperous and
happy. Under such auspices, silently but surely,
funds for education of our children, and the inter-
IS ,ho h.d ham Iv 10.
vested and accumuating. This was the pure age
Of the Republic. :.
| Other counsels prevailed and the Legislation of
1888 and $40 Ia year so notorious Tor whiggery)
established by shape Of pledges Of the faith and
credit of the State to the Raleigh and Castor Rail
Road, debt TO nearly million OF dollars, (prnci-
pal and interest) .... ..r..-...-..... .. .s .-
Who passed these acts so fraught with danger,
distress and desolalion TO the people of the State
You know, Sir, that the faithful Journals of that
period will answer that your party did. You
were in both Legislatures 10 '3S and '40 and you
| know that as q party yoW are responsible. But
that was not the question before the last Legisa-
ture The State was in debt, and all should have
united in the common and patriotic object OF ex-
tricatng her from all difficulty The Rail Road
had been sold at public sale, and the Governor
had in the exercise Of his own peculiar notions
of finance, become The purchaser for the State.
His message and the Report of the Public Urea
surer stated to the Legislature that the State would
be compelled soon to pay in addition TO her llablll-
ty about 81 80 900 more in shape of principal and
interest on accouut of this very Rail Road Here
was the truth, the whole truth and unwelcome
as il was you ought to have examined it and met
the case fairly and fearlessly. es- -E ..........
Let me here remind the people of Western
Carolina, Of a circumstance that occurred last
summer. When Governor Graham canvassed
the State, we all recoIect ia what glowing colors
he painted the advantages and benefits of this Rail
Road; how faithful and sagacious an agent he
had been for the State in the purchase Of this cGt~
able Road and its important advantages To aid
his cause he had receipt dated in July, Gust be-
fore his electionl that this same Road had paid
into the Treasury some seven thousand two hun
drod dollars; thus he gulled his audience by pre-
senling state Of things which have never been
realized Has this Rail Road paid one cent into
the Treasury since that famous payment just be-
fere Gov Grahams election2 The Reports of
the Comptroller and Treasurer prove that it has
not. Then this receipt only used as the wings
allege Santa Anna used the kindness of the Pres
dent, 10 enable him TO pass the enemys lines into
position, place. and power. - -
But TO the acts of your iiustrions body. The
Governor in his message informs you that the
State is in debt your Treasurer tells you that
the States liabilities are more than your re-
sources, and that in addition to your usual expen-
ses for the Legislature, officers OF State (Execrtive
and Judicia) you must raise before the next Leeis-
lature can meet on account OF this very Rail Road
debt the round sum of l43,64 dollars (See re- !
port of the Treasurer in acts of last Legislature
Well what do you do in this slate of matters ?
Did YOU like prudent man when cncnmbered |
with a useless and wasting piece of property, or
der it to be sold for what it will bring2 Oh no.
That would reflect on the Governors financial
ability, and deprive some friends of nice little ap
pointments now held under the present system.
Did you then order some other property Of the
State to be sold, such as Bank Stock, &c Oh
ary fund, and if you touch the school money, a
hurt US at the next election. Did you create: a
sinking fund BY which the debt might be quietly
absorbed or did you meet the question like it
must be met at some day, create fund by fares
10 pay the debt2 Oh no-neher Of these; for if
we raise taxes on you western people to pay for a
Rail Road debt about Raleigh, will lose the
Western Reserve and Francis to boot next year.
Then wha, did you do 2 A simple resolution of
about ten lines found on the cash page of the
of lS46I47.. Resolved, that the Public Trea
surer be-, and he is hereby authorized to 6orroto,
Sc, such sum as may be- necessary to meet the
charges dgaiEst the State until the meeting of the
next General Assembly" &c. Truly "a most
inpotent conc clusion" 20. '''+--
When Oxcnstierl,, chancellor to the great Gus
tavls, told his son 4" to travel and see with how
little wisdom the world was governed, !" he must
have thought of so sagacious and enlightened an
assembly as the one of which we now speak.
Does borrowing money. paying interest, and com
pounding debts release one from liability Is it
o,,I,, nviI dav and