The North-Carolina standard., 1850-06-12
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For the North Carolina Standard.


For the North Caroline STANDARD. s[
r. To James d. Shepard, Esq.
Sra address this letter 70 you, not as an indivd
la but as public man and through yoa % the peo-
have noticed in the last Standard the proceedings
# the Democratic Convention in Wake County, on
he Goth OF May last-a memorable day for North
Caroinaand the part that you took in that Conven-
hon. have also read in the same paper the letter OF
Dr.. Heartseld, and the comments Of the Editor upon
The same.
1t is not to be disguised that the proceedings of 80
body, assembled at the Capital, sending
forth such Resolutions of vital importance, and nom-
mating such names for members Of the Legislature,
are matters OF deep moment to our country, and we'll
deserve the serious attention of every citizen of the
State. The success of Democratic principles in such
hands is not to be doubted.
But for fear the rejection of your Resolution as
to the appropriation of money from the public trea-
ment, enlarge the subscription in the States be-,
half to the Central Road, " might seem to sanction
the policy of different course and 10 prove that the
tendency of the Resolution was just and correct is
the object of this letter.
trail Rail Road-your uniform and decided opposition,
surely, in all good faith and spirit of amty, the Re-
solution offered by you and adopted by the Meeting
was sufficient. In this. the olive branch was offered
regarding the Central Rail Road as I" settled ques-
ton, and matter about which the Democrats ought
not to dispute or dividc.''
Your subsequent nomination of Gen. Saunders.
the Ajax of the scheme proved your sincerity. But
be assured in your efforts, that matter what In
Auences overshadowed your rejected Resolution, the
great body Of the people of North Carolina, from
Currituck to Cherokee. are with you.
1t is not purpose to discuss the act creating the
North Carolina Rail Road chartered the 25th Janu-
ary. ls49, extending from Godsborough to Charlotte
veal or woe the act has been passed, and 1t is
| IS settl. question.
shall not here examine the details of that act,
will question the policy of creating large debt
to State already embarrassed. Nor will l examine
the policy Of the subscription of the State,
nor detail the facts connected with the history of the
passage of this act. However, it may not be impro-
proper to refresh memories aud the minds of the
people at the hot haste'' with which the bill was
pushed through the House of Commons; SO hasty,
that important blanks were left untitled; that, in
the Senate it passed, not in full Senate, but with
Reich of Stokes, Halsey Of Tyrel, Albright of Chat
ham, and Thompson of BERTHE absent, and then only
the casting vote of the Speaker, Mr.. Graves, of
Caswell.
| No matter what may be the advantages of this
work; no matter how specious and ingenious the ar
guments of its friends; no matter how untiring and
constant their exertons, it wants that essential of all
public enterprises, the sanction of popular sentiment.
These facts matters of history. Connected.
also, is the fact that Mr. Rowland of Richmond, who
voted for it in the Senate, under the promise Of get
ting appropriation for Lumber River, and being
disappointed to the extent of his wishes, moved
the next day a reconsideration, which was by the
Speaker ruled out Of order.
1t is " more in sorrow than in anger that this by
gone history is recited but it occurred, and the jour
nails of the Legislature, and the proceedings,
corded in the papers, (see Standard l949, No. 743-
744,) all prove the facts to the world.
am agreed with you, after all this. to regard this
"as settled question: but cannot but " re-
member that such things were;" and We leave the
friends Of this work to cheer themselves with the
history of the question and birth of their favorte off
spring, and allow them all the credit to sustain it in
a doubtful and precarious existence.
In all human probability this Road will be COM
menced-at least the State and the people Of it will
be saddled with the debt.
But the great principle contained in your rejected
Resolution is vital to the future sUeyare @ tie State
| 1t might be we'll asked, when thinking of the ex-
perence of our State in Rail Roads, " are of the
number of those who having eyes see not and hav.
ing ears hear not. the things that pertain to ou'
bili,y of the State is for the Wilmington Rail Road
or the Raleigh and Castor Rail Road! Is there any
document issuing from the Governor or Treasurer
that shows the facts!
| 1t was left for the financial genius of Gov. More
head to discover that wonderful process by which the
State Literary fund is largely invested in the bonds o
the Raleigh and CASTOR Road endorsed by the State,
which are now paid or being paid by the State, and
which constitutes chief item of the revenue of tina,
fund thus creating fictitious state of prosperity,
like the English miser ELVES, who enriched one Of
his pockets by Withdrawing the funds from the other
1t is high time for the people Of North Carolina to
look to their interests and to their future happiness.
These debts made and must be paid The proper
ty Of every in the State is bound for all time,
to pay them. This is the only fund we can rely on.
We cannot hope, under the Gahphinic course Of the
General Government to have another slice of the
plus revenue.
The happiness and prosperity of the people, the fu-
welfare Of those who to after W, demands
for this question deep and serious investigation.
| Learned writers on Constitutional law have, in
Pennsylvania, and elsewhere, laid down the doctrine
that no State Legislature elected for the purpose Of
making laws create debt pledging the faith Of
the State and binding the property of posterty for all
time to come.
The Constitution of Wisconsin, Art. XII, Sec. 3,
declares, that the credit Of the State shall be
given bound to any individual association cor
poration."
The wild and extfavagant course of the friends Of
Internal Improvement procured a remodeling Of the
Constitution of New York in 1916, which adopt
ed by an overwhelming majority Of the people, and
is now in force, ruling the happiness Of 900 Of
free people. That declares,
LIST. That the credit of the State is not be CIV
en- or loaned in any manner to any individual,
citation or corporation
| 2d. " All laws appropriating money for improve
ments shall only be in force two years that when a
debt is thus created it shall require of three
ffths of the members. The same law must create
fund to pay the annual interest as it falls due, and