The North-Carolina standard., 1849-01-24
REMARKS OF MR.. WILLIAMSON,

REMARKS OF Mr.. WILLIAMSON,
-,-saaaoFs coLUlaBus, 5asa
Delivered in the House of Commons, December 29th
1s4s, the bill proposing an appropriation OF
81 500 out of the Public Treasury for the purpose
of clearing out the White Marsh, Seven Creeks
Porter Swamp, and GaPway Swamp, in the Coun-
ty of Columbus g. -sts
Mr.. SPEAKER: I regret that the gentleman from
Hertford, (Mr. Rayner) who is the Chairman of the
committee on Internal Improvement in this House,
has only reported against the passage of the bill
making an appropriation of fifteen hundred dollars
for improving certain streams in the County of Co
lumbus but has thought proper to move for the in
definite postponement of the bill. hope the motion
of the gentleman from Hertford, for the indefinite
postponement of the bill now before the House, viii
not prevail. And before the vote is taken on this
bill, wish to say few words In its defence. AS
an not accustomed to public speaking, it is with
some little embarrassment that rise to attempt
to saw any thing on this question. deem it an act
of Justice myself, this occasion, to state that in
Offering the bill under consideration, was ac-
tuated by of duty to the people of Columbus.
In nv representative capacity, it is my sole purpose
to faithfully represent their interests and their wishes
always endeaVor to prove my faith by my works,
and hope that am not one of that number who
"keeP the promise to the ear, and break 1t to the
hope" r -.. -.-...
The bill proposes to appropriate the sum of 81, 500
from the Public Treasury, to be applied in clearing
out and opening White Marsh, Seven Creeks, Porter
Swamp, and Gapway Swamp, in Columbus. The
money proposed by the bill would be expended under
the direction and supervision of the Commissioners
appointed for the purpose of experimenting the clear
Ing out and opening the streams l have mentioned.
The White Marsh and Seven Creeks run out of
Columbus, and empty into the Waccannaw river, the
dividing line between the counties of Columbus and
Brunswick, on the southwest side of Columbus.
There is also Porter Swamp, and Gdpway Swamp,
that out of Columbus, and empty into Lumber riv
er, on the northwest side of Columbus 1t is thought
that these four water-courses with but small outlay
Of public money with the amount expended by the
citizens of the County, may be made nayigable and
lumber turpenne, and the produce of the farmers,
may then be easily transported to market, least
during portion of each year.
If these streams were sufficiently opened, they
would furnish the people of Columbus with easy,
cheap, and expeditions mode of conveying their var
Gus articles of trade market. And nothing is
calculated to arouse the energies of the people, and
to Simulate the iaborng and productive classes In
every employment, than secure them convenient
means of conveying their commodities to the best
markets in the country. - '-' --
If the Legislature would permit the pittance asked
for in this bill. to be expended in improving the
streams which have mentioned, the people of Co
lumbus would then be furnished with the means of
conveying their products, on the Waccamaw river,
the southwestern, or the Lumber river, on the
northwestern portion of the County. This would
have some tendency to Stimulate the people in that
portion of the State, in the of Improvement,
and it would inspire them with renewed zeal in the
of bettering their local situation. entertain
the opinion, that the of money proposed to be
judciously expended in opening and clearing out the
streams which have mentioned, and it will operate
as stimulus to our people, and inspire them with
fresh confidence toPress forward for the Improvement
of their condition. =.
1t is desirable to the people, in that portion of the
State, to have their water-courses opened, to
enjoy the privilege of transporting their various arti-
cles of trade to market, either on the Waccamaw
river or ON the Lumber river; by which Bucksvile,
other markets. in South Carolina, may be reached.
There is another important consideration in favor of
improving these streams There are hundreds OF
of vacant land lying IN the County of Columbus,
that are we'll timbered. If these streams sufh
cienty improved, these vacant lands would doubtless
be enered and the State would thereby receive con-
siderable revenue. t-5Es
This land would be of value, on account of the
timber growing upon it, if the water courses were
sufficient to convey the timber and other articles to
market IbeIieve it to be the interest Of the State
to dispose of her vacant lands, as speedily as poss
BILE. The price of entry IS esta6 ished by law, and
is probable that it will ever be Increased In
North Carolina. 29 80 =, = = -. -. - - |
Mr.. Speaker, the gentleman from HEREFORD, (Nfr. |
RaYner) said that he was opposed to making an aP-
preparation Of 81 500 from the Public Treasury, be-
there is no money in the Treasury. But it
pears that he is in favor of the most extravagant
schemes Of Internal Improvement IN other portions of
the State. In opposing heleast expenditure OF pub
lie money In one part OF the State WhIIe ne advo-
Gates the most extravagant measures of Internal I'm
proYement in other portions of the State, he furnish
forcible illustration of &c saving at the spfe,
and wasting at the bung-hole: The gentleman from
Hertford is willing to to appropriate hundreds
of thousands of dollars other sections of the State
for all kinds of Internal Improvement, but will not
vote one dollar from the Treasury, to be expended
in my portion of the State. is such conducfas this
to be considered generous and disinterested Is
this using all portions of the State alike ls this
manifestation of the justice of his course it's,
he exhibits the judgement of the Z penny and
pound-foolsh.'' s.E 4s,, .ssas.I ! s.Y'
am unable to discern why such prejudice should
exist in the minds of some members, against that I
portion of the State, where the money proposed to
be appropriated by the bill that introduced. was
to be expended. That portion of the State has not
received any money from the Public Treasury, to
expended on:schemes of Internal Improvement And /
while large appropriations are madesto be expended
In other quarters of the State on works of improve
ment deem it tbutTeasonable to ask that the sum of
l,5O0 should be appropriated, in my section of
the State. am aware that whenever any committee
In this House reports against the passage of any bill
that has been referred the it does not generally
receive much favor in the House, as when the !
Committee recommends its passage. .elnIconclnsion,
VIII remark. thai haye eqdeavored to discharge
what consider to be my duty to my constituents.
always gives me pleasure 10 represent as far is
am able, the wishes and the interests Of the peoPeof
my County. thought Tiny duty to say something
IN faVor of the passaOe of the BILL -5it3 = mn