The North-Carolina standard., 1849-02-14
q, For the North Carolina Standard.
FACTS FOR TIE PEOPLE.

MR.. HoLDEN:- AS your cotHHnHS are open 10 ANS
cusson of the alarming acts of the General Assem-
bly,, just adjourned, propose to spread some facts
before the people of this State for their Considerations
1t s well known that the most Interesting question OF
State policy discussed last snHfner was the Indeb-
edness incurred for the Raleigh and CASTOR Rail Road
Company. The State had become the proprietor of
the Road. and was compelled to make provision to
pay the debt which imprndent Legislature had as
sumed The great question was, how can the State
relieve herself from this embarrassment with the least
Inconvenience TO the people Did any candidate pro-
pose that this relief could be most prudenty obtained
by involving the State in debt fve times as large?
Such proposition would have been received with
derision Yet such is the " entertainment to which
invited " by this sapient Legislature. pru-
dent by misfortune or otherwise becomes en-
barrassed, and he can relieve himself only by selling
portion of his property. Woald any sane man ad-
wise him to increase his liabilities fogrfod as the
best means of improving his situation It is true
that men of honor and integrity will frequently as
directors of corporation sanction and advise what
they would blush to do private citizens In dealing
with their fellow men,. So it seems Legislators
act in their representative character by different
rule than the governing prudent men In their prl
vate affairs. Deliver from any such code OF mo
rails or politics Let the people then know that TINS
Legislature elected to relieve the State from debt,
have authorized new debt, ostensibly of at least
taco and half millions of dollars, but which think
will not be less than fire aiLios. And how, it will
be asked, has this been accomplished? Let the truth
be told-by corrupt system of l0g-rOLItng, and by
undue influences brought to bear upon the vanity
ambition of some of the peoples representatives. af-
ter their arrival at the seat of government! Repre-
sentatves unbiushingly avowed in debate that they
were elected in opposition to Rail RoadS-that their
success was attributable to denunciation of that
impTdent Legislation which had involved the State
in debt They however assumed the responsibility to
change their position and misrepresent their constituents
And these avowals were received with applause!
The circumstances attending the passage of the
Central Rail Road bill, particularly in the Senate,
ought to be known by voter In North Carolina
1t was passed through the House in such hot haste
that important blanks were left untitled. State
debt of two millions of dollars authorized with
out providing any means to pay one cent of the in
terest even-and the bonds OF the State might be
sold under par, if par value could not be obtained
The friends of the bill in the Senate urged that ac-
ton should be had on it as as possible. 1t was
taken up it's second readng (the time thatusualy
test vote is had.) The Senator from Wilkes (Mr.
Patterson,) stated that he had some amendments to
offer, but he would decline Offering them until the
third reading, as it was understood the vote now to
be taken was not to be considered test vote. The
Senator from Wake, (Mr. Thompson,) hoped the bill
would be permitted to pass this reading without be.
ing considered test vote. The Senator from john
ston, Mr. Watson, in voting In the affirmative, sta
ted that he had done without intending to commit
himself to vote for the bill. The Senator from Stokes
MIR. Rech.) said he voted in the affirmative now,
but that he had amendment to offer upon the third
reading, and if that not adopted he should vote
against the bill 1t thus passed its second reading,
% to I9-some of the Senators opposed to the bill
then declining to vote. Upon the third reading of
the bili the Senator from Stokes Mr.. Reich, did
not offer his amendment but left the Senate Cham
Der, accompanied by the Senator from Craven, (Mr.
Washington) and the Senator from Davidson, (Mr
Thomas). They returned-he did not. 1t was OBJ
vious he had left to avoid voting the bill. Amend
ments were offered by Mr.. Patterson and adopted
providing that the bonds should not be sold un-
der par. The Senator from Edgecombe, (Mr. Moye,)
offered amendment to impose a tax 10 meet one
half of the accrung interest. This was opposed and
voted down. The Senators from Tyrrell, Chatham,
and Bertie, (Messrs. Halsey, Albright, and Thomp-
son,) were absent-the two former were confined by
Sickness the latter had left for home. The Senator
from Orange, Mr.. Berry) declined to vote in con-
sequence of his delicate stuaton-he contested elec-
ton from Orange then pending and to be decided
the next day.. 1t was we'll understood that Halsey,
Albright, Thompson, and Berry would have voted
against the bill, and that Reich would have done the
same, IF he could haze been found. The voting was
had: the Senate was equally divided-22 to %.
The lobbies and galleries Were crowded. Upon the
Speaker, Mr.. GraVes,) devolved the responsibility
of deciding. Democrats, who had stood shoulder to
shoulder with him, in resisting that needless eglsa-
ton which had greatly embarrassed the State, felt
great complementary supposed he was equal to the
crisis but, to their deep modification and disappont
ment, instead of that firm, consistent nay, Demo
cratic Speaker, eapng from one position to the 9TH
er with wonderful aacrity, is heard to pass the obi
measure, against the wishes of decided maJorl-
ty of the Senate, if it had been ful-against the
votes of large majority of that party to which he
proleSSeu 10 DelOISs anu "Holly lHCouSlStehI "tu
his former and opinions this deeply interest
ing question of policy. A tremendous shout from
the galleries and lobbies is heard. dsintereSted
spectator would have said, "here is popular appro
baton of one who has had the firmness to withstand
all the seductive influences of which the capitol is
prolific, and maintain consistent and prudent poll-
cy.' How moftifying to know that it is the rejoic-
ing Of an interested crowd that one more Democrat
has iapastutizedl But the sequel caps the climax:
By rule of the Senate it is in order to move
consideration of any vote the next day at any time
before l2 o'clock. The Senator from Richmond,
MIR. Rowland,) it was understood had been induced
to vote for the bill upon the that appro-
priation of 1000 or $25, 900 should be made for
Lumber River, and, if that failed, he would move
reconsideration. That appropriation did fail on Fri
day morning. Upon the meeting of the Senate, at
three O'Clock, he made motion to reconsider.
message from the Commons was announced by the
Speaker, that the amendments proposed to the bill
by the Senate concurred in, and the bill ordered
to be enrolled His motion to reconsider therefore
was ot't gf order. He stated that he was young
member and he had been told by older members that
the motion would be in order any time during the
day; and he appealed from the decision of the Chair.
The Senator from Craven, (Mr. Washington,1 and
the Senator from Guilford, (Mr. Gilmer,) admitted
that they had thus advised the Senator from Rich
mond-they regretted that the Senator had been mis-
led, but the rule plain, and they sustain the
decision OF the Chair The appeal was withdrawn.
. A motion made to send to the Commons after
the bill. That was laid upon the table. And thus
this important bill was indecently hurried through
the forms of legislation, against the known wishes
and opinions of the Senate. Can the people tolerate
such conduct These facts the people ought to
know and deeply regret that they cannot be more
generally distributed through the newspaper press
At the risk of being considered censorious have
determined to say thus much for the information of
some of the people of North Carolina, who have