The North-Carolina standard., 1849-08-22

true that matter of mere local interest the Plank
Road concerns us but very little. But as tax pay
ers we arenevertheless, somewhat interested in the
fact that $4,000 of the States money appropriate
ed to object, is about to be diverted therefrom
and applied to another and totally different object!
The meeting referred to passed resolution in fa-
vor of locating the Road from Fayetteville by way
of Murchison's Factory, Carthage, Ashborough and
Jacksonville to Fair Grove, Understood to be UPON
the northern borders of Randolph County,) thence
by way of Lexington to Salisbury In favor of this
proposition the Governor, representing the States
interest in the work gave 500 votes-a considerable
majority of the individual stockholders voting against
the location! 's''' . @' s',s3t's'17 80 S
Now, to any person having the slightest acquain-
ance with the geography of the State, the idea that
in constructing the Road upon the location specified,
any thing like bona fde compliance with the requ
sitions of the Act of Assembly, could be intended,
would be simply ridiculous. The Act specifies a
Road from Fayetteville to Salisbury by the most
practicable route. So far the natural features of
the country concerned there is nothing to render
in1practicab route diverging the distance of less
than three miles from direct line. The route in
question first seeks another interior town-Lexington
equally distant from Fayetteville and seventeen
miles from Salisbury, and then effects cross com
muncation with Salisbury by means of branch road
That by this last device mere colorado compile
with the statute is cunningly attempted, must
be fully obvious the road thus having, substantially,
its western terminus in Randolph or Davidson and
at fact not even west of the Yadkn.
The motive the part of the Fayetteville men
ostensible responsibility of the thing been adro
ly saddled-it is not hard to guess. The Cape Fear
and Deep River improvement will give Fayetteville
the 20. by, seeking Wilmington as Depot-hence
the Plank Road must be pushed into rivalry with ii
by "tappings Deep River! This is the main inter-
This tits which ooses the plank road among the
PERCEPTIONS hills of Randolph, leaving according
the resolutions of the first meeting to find its way out,
westwardly and towards the adkin, it best might,
but afterwards, yielding to the gentle pursuasions of
the Davidson men consenting that it may visit en-
route, Fair Grove and Lexington, with the mental re-
servaton meanwhile that all this last is be subject
to the contingency of the moneys holding out!
The second interest," although originating as before
in Fayetteville, has reference the western end of
the road, but thiss llubibus, in the magi+
nation of the Davidson and Randolph folks of whom
subscriptions solicited, 1t has not upon the
whole so promi position the one before men,
toned 1t is this-to prevent any portion of the road
from being used for the transportation OF products
westwardly and thus to make all its advantages
come to Fayetteville, as before. The connection Of
Salisbury with Charlotte and so with Columbia and
Charleston is regarded thing certain to be accom-
pshed at an early day. The plank road 1t built to
Salisbury, might afford to thosen the vicinity of it,
to considerable distance below Salisbury an outlet
and market in that directions the road would thus be
used it is true the State would get its revenues the
people would be accommodated, but Fayetteville
would lose its trade. Hence the plank road must
strike the central rail road higher up, in Davidson or
Randolph and thence for the balance of the way may
be built along side of the rail road there to rot
ed, and this for purpose merely colorabe-and with
the States funds!
We had intended in conclusion to say word or
two in regard to the peculiar position of Governor
Manly in this matter. But upon the whole we for
bear. To US his conduct is beyond all explanation.
The very profuse and continued hospitalies of the
shrewd burghers to their gratfed guest may have
some bearing in the solution of the difficulty we have
certainly heard intimated. But offer no opinion,
and we close with the simple remark that the former
political supporters of Gov. Manly in this region,
wash their hands of all responsibility in this matter
for the du,ies in the blunderng discharge of which
he is now engaged, were imposed upon him subse-
quently his electionhis nomination to the Office
of Governor, having never been suggested by any
supposed fitness for the discharge of trusts of this
ma gnitude and importance. - .1ADKlN.
Hornest's Nest.