The North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1834-1850, 1850-05-29

o1Oso
rates. reasonable deduction will be made to those who
advertise by the year.
Letters to the Editor must come free of postage.
To the People of Caswen County.
take the liberty of submitting tor your considera.
ton the views as presented in the Speech delivered
BY me at Yanceyvlle on the 7th instant, which beg
leave to dedicate to you, the people of my native
County, slight testimony of sincere respect and
deep sense of gratitude, for the many marks of kind
nesss and of favor which l have received at your
hands. X. M. SAUNDERS.
the 7th of May, Gen. Barzillia Graves being called
to the Chair, Gen. Saunders rose and spoke to the
following effect:
Mn. CHAIRMAN AND Fellow CITIZENS Having
visited other sections of the State and addressed the
people on the subject of Internal Improvement, and
Carolina Rail Road, have felt it duty, we'll as
mark of respect due to the people of this my native
County, likewise to visit and address you upon the
same important subjects. And am happy to meet 50
LARGE collection Of the people as find assembled
here to-day, and fatter myself whatever you may
think in regard to the matter, you will at least give
me credit for purity of motives, and honest con-
yicon on my part that it is measure calculated to
elevate the character and to promote the interest and
prosperity of the State.
Mr. Chairmain there are points in the past history
of our State which can refer with pride, in tes-
tmony of the character, spirit and patriotism OF our
people. We can claim the honor, which recent dis
coveres have placed beyond all question, that the
citizens of old Meckenburg were the first to proclaim
this Colony free and independent State and the
battle fields of Gulford and Kings Mountain, the
Cowpens and Eutaw Springs, attest the valor of our
forea,hers in sustaining the cause which they had
the boldness to proclaim. So we can refer to the
names of an Atkinson, McRae and other distin-
puished men, as to the manner in which our people
supported the of ls12the war of free trade and
sailors rights-and to the patriotism of our State
for the rmness ilh which she stood by our country
in the severe conflict in which it was then engaged
And at still later period, We can point with pride
to the volunteers from your own County, as well as
elsewhere, for the promptness with which they re-
paired to the bloody fields of Mexico In the cause OF
their country. Again, sir, we can claim the honor
of having had Jackson raised amongst US in early
le-of having Polk born and educated within our
State-of having had in the Senate of the United
States greater number of native born sons, at one
period, than any other State in the Union. These
things may be attering to our pride and State ieei
ing, but let me ask where are the proud monuments
of our State the public works, call
inc forth the resources of the State-to improve the
condition of our people-to advance our commerce
and agriculture, and increase our wealth and popu-
lationl am mortified to say these monuments are
no where to be found. When the federal Govern
ment first went into operation we had five members
of Congress we now have less than double that
number. whilst other States of the old thirteen have
more than doubled and trebled their numbers. Our
population under the census of 1900 was 47S,5O3,
in 1920 it was 6SS, 1929 thus gaining in 20 years
foryfve per cent. Under the last census, 1SlO our
population 5s,4l3, an increase of only 1890
in twenty years, less than ten per cent. Why this
great falling off, Want of enterprise and improve
ment at home, and emigration to other States.
What will be the state Of our population tor the
past ten years cannot say, though very much lear
shall lose more than one member in Congress,
and thus be brought back nearly to the point at which
started sixty years ago. Can we expect to main
tain due weight in the national councils under
this state of things! But sir, as notifying as may
be these results as to our population, have a still
more astounding and humiliating fact to bring to
your notice in regard to the wealth OF the State. In
1915, our lands, under the federal assessment were
valued at $50 ,5l3 under the State assessment,
in l847, they valued at only &c, ,43O,S2l, an
increase of less than thirteen millions in thirty years
whilst the real property of sister States IN which
works of Internal Improvement have been fostered,
have increased more than million year, and In
much hundred miiQng within the last
ten years. = Mr. Chairman, these things ought not'
should not, must not be. We have six large Rivers
in the Sate running from the mountains to the sea-
shore, and of these only three, and these but par
tally enjoy the advantages of steamboat navigation
We have but one Turnpike Road Of which we can
Tennessee line, through the County of Buncombe
Of Canals, with the exception of the Dismal Swamp
running into Virginia, we have none worth naming
The Roanoke Canal is indeed work of magnitude
but from particular causes it is rendered of little val
ue. We have two Rail Roads, the one l60 miles ir
LENGTH greatly embarrassed, and kept up by the en-
ergy and public spirit Of single town; the other
IS miles, and from its condition barely able to pay
the expenses of its repairs. ask, and that mos
ephatcaIly, of the people of North Carolina cart
not where you reside, whether on the banks of thu
Dan, the Chowan, the Tar or the Catawba-are 20,
contented that this state of things should continue
"Breathes there the man with soul SO dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This Is my own, my native land!
If such there be, he
Doubly dying, shall go down
10 the vile dust from whence he sprung,
UnwePt, anhonored and unsung."
But Sir, let us turn from this dark and discourag
ing picture in the past to the brighter and more fiat
tering prospects ahead. l invite you to mount wit
me this mighty engine Of FIRE and steam, and see
we too cannot travel the road which is leading ou
sister States to greatness, to wealth, and prosperity
l have shown you what as North Caroiinians W
have been in the field and Senate chamber let o
now what we are capable of doing in the field Q
labor, for the benefit of the andhoder and the farm
er The General Assembly at its last session ha
granted charter liberal in its provisions and at tn
same time sufficiently guarded in its protection Of tn
interest of the State, authorizing the construction
Il give single example, amonss. many others whie
might he rcIated-the tewn of Worcester. Massachr
setts forty miles from Boston, built up within the la
ten years BY Rail Roads and Manuesctoriea. In ls4
population 75O0-valuaaion Of property "a $50 000
ls49 population l9OOO-weath 8 10. $50 900, whel
they taxed the rate Of 675 per 81 600 wher
as we pay real estate for State purpdses6o cen
per Isl 900, aud 30 cents on the poll.