Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-02-09
REMARKS OF Mr.. WILLIAMS, OF
NEW HANOVER,

" -fAs
er from herJord. on the subject Of
making a transfer ofpart cfthe Stock
owned By the State. IN the Wilmington
g. Raleigh Rail Road, to the Filming.
ton and Manchester Road.
Mr.. WILLIAMS said: That Ire had not
intended to say any thing upon the Bill for
the relief Of the Wilmington and Raleigh
Rail Road Company, except in an explain
aiory manner: but, inasmuch as the gem
teman from HEREFORD (Mr. Rayner) had
referred to him as an advocate offte hea-
sure. he deemed his imperative duty TO
make brief reply. The gentleman from
HEREFORD proposes TO amend the Bill by
striking ont that clause which allows the
company TO mortgage the road and its APP
purtenances to the amount of $50 thousand
dollars. by inserting $3.50, 900. and then TO
compel the company TO expend this amount
in repairing the road between Wilmington
and the Neuse River. lie proposes in the
second place. TO strike out that portion of
the Bill which gives the priority TO this
mortgage, and wishes the State to hold on
as first mortgage. And he proposes
thirdly, to amend by preventing the three
hundred thousand being transferred from
the Wilmington and Raleigh Rail Road
Company to the Wilmington and Man
chester Co. Sir, what do these amend
ments amount to! 1t must be apparent to
every one, that if carried, they will virtual
Iy defeat the whole object and purpose
of the Bill. Now Mr.. Speaker, why this
effort to break doyn our Road north of the
Neuse River! Certainly good reason d.
reefs us to an inference. 1t will be recol-
Iected that the Wilmington Road was char
tered to come TO this place, and notwith-
standing the industry and enterprise of our
citizens proposed to bring it here, they
were met in very unwelcome spirit
Did the citizens of this place and the adj
joining districts take stock in this Road
No sir they not only refused to encour-
age US by engaging in the enterprise, but
actually resorted to means to thwart our
purpose of constructing the work. What
course did high public spirit dictate TO
us under these circumstances! Certainly
not to thrustrou works of improvement
Upon those who were using their greatest
efforts to defeat them. We sought ano-
Their direction we found these kindred
spirits !; those who appreciated our move
ments, and were willing to hazard their
means in the enterprise. The result is
that our Road now reaches to Weldon.
What other means were resorted to in
order to break down our Road? Why
sir, from selfish feeling, known only to
have actuated them. they succeeded in
constructing q road from this place to Gas
ton; known as the Raleigh and CASTOR
Rail Road, as rival to ours. They have
been defeated in their expectations, and
ruined by their own game, and are using
these efforts TO compel us to relinquish a
portion of our Road and oblige US to bring
it 10 this place, TO enhance the value Of
their Road. Is this fair and just; would
this be acting in good faith towards the
stockholders in the northern part of our
Road. Now sir, the gentleman from
HEREFORD disclaims any thing like person.
al interest in the matter, and denies that
he is opposing the interest of Wilmington.
The gentleman says that he has been de-
nounced as belonging TO the central clique;
central junto. and as opposed to the inter-
est of Wilmington. (Here Mr.. Rayner
denied saying that he had been denounced,
but said that he expected to have to meet
the charge.) Well sir. stand corrected
as to misunderstanding on my part, but
sir, the Scripture tells Us IS that the wick
ed flee when no one P"rsueth." The
gentleman is therefore conscious of giving
just grounds of complaint. He certainly
admits that he is obnoxious to the charge.
But the gentleman probably refers to diff.
fculty of his with a citizen of our town,
and must say to him, that that controver-
sy was unfortunately provoked by him.
self.
appeal to every one who read that
controversy if one word was said calcula.
ted to influence any sectional prejudices,
but was purely of personal character !;
originating and existing for some time pre-
ceding the occurrence alluded to.
The gentleman objects to the transfer Of
the 100000, in the Manchester Road
Why this objection! Will it incur any
increased liability on the part of the State!
No Sir, not one cent. The State owns
six hundred thousand Dollars in the Will.
mington and Raleigh Rail Road, which is
worth now but very little, and we merely
wish to transfer one half of this stock to
the Manchester Road, in order to enable
US to continue the route. If we succeed
in making this connexion, with Manches'
ter, the stock invested in both Roads will
certainly be greatly enhanced in value
and the state will come in as Shareholder
in the proceeds; so as an act Of economy
on the part of the State, she would ac
wisely, in making the investment.
But the gentleman objects because thi:
will be in part South Carolina Road; ex
horts US as the Guardians of the Whining
ton interest to give up an enterprise tina
will draw our produce into the markets Of
another State. But the gentleman tells vi