The North-Carolina standard., 1849-01-17
REMARKS OF MR.. sHEPARD,'


REMARKS OF MR.. SHEPARD,Iosnl of
l#5esas OF PAsQBorANK,7 u % lid -
Delivered in the Senate on the Sd fnstant in favor
of the bill to incorporate the Carolina Rad
Road Company. ~ st'" tst-5s''t &
The Senate having resolve itself into committee
upon the bill to incorporate the North Carolina Rail
Road Company, Mr.. Bower of Hshe, moved to strike
out the fifth section of the bill. Mr.. W.. B. Shep-
ard rose and addressed the Senate as follows: -
Mr. Shepard said, as the organ of the committee
which reported the bill before the House, he
felt it to be his duty to say few words In explana-
ton ofzthe measure. / do not intend, MI. SChafr-
man, to deliver dissertation upon the superior adj
vantages Of Railroads over the ordinary roads of our
country as mode of transportation. l should sup
pose such an act would be at this day nearly as
perfuous consumption of time as discussion of
the merits of the Christian dispensaon over the abb
surdities of paganism. u have never In my life
risen in public body so deeply impressed with the
difficulties of the subject before me, as upon this
casion. The bill on your table is IN itself very
arge and important measure It comes before you at
this time not only loaded with Its own lmpenectons
to which all mortal workmanship is subject, but it
has likewise to carry the in6rmifies and blunders of
previous legislation. N @'' s,,
To saw that North Carolina is at present in crit
ical situation, requiring all the patriotism and energy
of her sons, would be feeble expression of our
actual condition. We have an exhausted treasury
and an impoverished people, financial difficulties be-
fore u.s. ruined Railroads around US, and Legislative
body distracted and exhausted in the barren struggle
of federal politics. From what quarter Themis-
tocles is to come, who will make great people out
of this chaos of folly and misery, know not. The
signs of the times give evidence of his approach,
and Sir, unless he comes very soon he viii only find
the dsjcctG ane'nbrG of great people, instead of
healthy living body. 80. -
1t would be frutless and unnecessary act to go
into the history of past times, and TO inquire who
was the pilot that brought tile5sp of State upon
this barren and desolate Shore Sufficient for us to
know that she is there and that her critical situation
requires the aid of all hands to launch the gallant
vessel upon the broad deep, that she may once more
spread her sails and invite the gales of fortune =
| mean, Sir, to disguise nothing. / wish to spread
the truth, the whole truth before the Senate. stand
here the advocate of sectional nteres-the apollo
gist of no and of no party and say, it is my
deliberate opinion unless this measure something
equivalent is adopted during this Legislature, the
State must incur heavy pecuniary loss. The State
is now the sole and exclusive owner of the Raleigh
and CASTOR Railroad this road has cost the State
in principal, which together with the inter-
est already paid, makes the whole amount paid by
the State 81 O7O 477, and we called upon by this
bill now to decide whether will without an effort
permit this large amount of public property to be lost
OF by venturing little in all human probabili
ty secure the larger portion of it. am stating
this subject in financial point of view point from
which it must be examined by every member of the
Senate, whether heresides In the Eastern Western
part of the State No matter, Sir, where we reside
what may be our Prejudices against this nnfortu-
nate work, it is duty-a duty from which we cam
escape, to relieve the public revenue from the
burdens thrown upon it by the present condition of
the Raleigh and CASTOR Railroad. 1t IS daily asked
what shall we do with this Roada To that question
there can be but two answeTs-either we must give
it away or finish it.. For Sir, must regard the sell
ling the Road in its present condition tantamount
giving it away. 1t would bring nothing at public
auction, OF at most small that the State
would be dishonored in its aceeptance. - -
Regarding then the sale of this Road in its present
condition as utterly impracticable upon any such
terms as the State ought accept, firmly believe
the ho
its citizens is to finish it.. This is the wisest course
it is the course pointed out both by prudence and
economy If we continue Sc the do-nothing policy
the Road will become canker- npon the Treasury,
increasing from year to year. Every year In which
delay adopting final policy on this subject, our
position becomes worse aHdithe hope of any reason
able settlement of the difficulty the more remote.
Postpone the matter years longer, grant charter
to the DanvlIe and Charlotte Company, and you
will only the State into two separate and
distinct communities, bat you entail upon the State
of North Carolina the certain and inevitable loss OF
$I,070,477. 1t is now perfectly well ascertalned,
both from the experience of Europe and this country
that the great profit of Railroads is derived from
travel. Hence it is, that the Raleigh and Castor
Road has been uHprof table. HstoPs at small town
where there is but little travel or commerce. extend
it to Charlotte where twill unite with the South
Carolina Railroad, and lit must necessarily share a
portion of the great stream of southern travel that
annually flows north to swell the profits OF the north
eTn roads. sii1 5tf 1arst ssg7n fl9F5-t - = ~"
am not now, Sir about to enter into an estimate
of the incaculable benefits this extension will pro-
duce the section of country which 1t Will trayerse
lleave that branch of the subject to those gentlemen
Immediately interested In the route than am
wish to urge upon every member Of the Sen
ate the isolated fact that the only possible chance to
relieve the State from its present burden in regard
the Raleigh and Gaston Road; and to secure the
greater part if not all of the ,O70,477 already in
vested in it. is pass the bill your table, and ex-
tend the road Charlottes Our State now Is IN the
condition of farmer who owns large tract of
heavily tmbered fertile land, who has exhausted all
his means and finds his land about half cleared, and
consequently producing him nothing. "a ask you as
Practical men, what should the farmer do in such
situationl Ought he to borrow aid from his rich
neighbour finish the clearing, and raise crop or
ought he like fooland asiuggaEd; lie down In
pair and call upon Hercules 70 help him. And Her
cules would certainly appear IN the shape Of sher
lf, and sell the labor of his life for assong sss 4
Let US do then for the State precisely. whatwe1
should do as prudent individuals. Letus regard the
State great farm, and that we are placed here
as overseers to manage 1t in the manner most to the
profit and advantage of all the parties coneerHeds
Shall we 90 home and tell constituents that uPon1
our arrival in Raleigh, found the State In Posses-
Sion of unfinished Railroad which had cost some
$l,O7O, ATT; that we had every assurance which hu-
man calculation could afford, that if this Road were
carried to Charlotte where it wouids unite with a
Road coming from the South, and which could be
done by the States investment of $500, 900 more,