North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-11-30

move g repeal the law Incorporating the North Caro-
ina Railroad.
honor. and involving the Constitution whether Nor,S
Carolina will regard her faith and honor or disregard
her engagements. The Central Railroad had Sea
the subject OF much debate during the canvass in
Warren county; his colleague voted for il, and he
was in favor of il himself II had been much dis
cussed, and he had lost some votes by his positio
IN favor oft but his opponents had never contended
that this Legislature could repeal the charter If
this question was put to the people, not one in War
rem would vote 70 repeal the charter. Ii would bs
palpable violation of the 10th section of the Con-
sttuton, relating to contracts it had been denied bv
the highest judicial authority Of the United States.
that charter Of this kind be repealedtha Sats
can repeal act of incorporation. IL the federal
Constitution was silent; if there constitu-
tonal obgtion to observe IT, he should still refuse to
violate coniract-he should still struggle to main.
tain the public engagements. There onght to be no
difference OF sentiment onsthis question.
Mr.. Person, of Moore, said ne was one of the
strongest opponents of the North Carolina Railroad
in the last Legislature; he was not an opponent of
Internal Improvements, but he thought the amount
invested by this State in the road great ALTHOUGH
this SO, he must consider il now foregone con-
clusion, and felt himself bound maintain the homo,
and faith of the State. 1t was not party oueston
and any effort to make il such would be futile Il was
not passed by party vote, and he asked how can a
party test now be made Distinguished men of all
parties had supported it. and although opposed to the
act of the last Legislature chartering this road he
should vote against the bill repeal it, because to do
so would be Unconstitutional, and breach of the
public faith. @
Mr.. Stevenson remarked, that according to the Oeo.
iieman from Wayne Internal Improvements were nm
popular in that county he would add that the cause
was very popular in Craven county, and that his COL
league who had that platform alone had beaten
him considerably. In order that the position of the
gentleman from WAYNE might be understood h. nro
posed, on the second reading of the BILL propose an
amendment to repeal the charter of the Wilmington
and Raleigh Railroad. He wanted to reduce the GEN.
tlemen from Wayne to absurd position, and see
"nelhef .ney would stand up, when their doctrine
was applied TO that road.
/ Mr.. Mizell proposed to define his position. If the
charter had been accepted, and the conditions COM
piled WITH the faith of the State is pledged; but if
any fraud Is about to be pracsed then the of
gentlemen opposed to the measure, is justified, He
reverted to the circumstances under which the hill
had been passed. The people of North Carolina
could not be taxed without the consent OF majority
of themselves, of their representatives; he thought
ms Dill was essentially a tax-bill, and doubted
whether 1t had been constitutionay passed. not hav-
ing received an absolute majority of the whole num-
Der of members of the Legislature. ..
Mr. Mclean desired that the motion of the gentle
man from Craven Mr.. Stevenson] should not be
postponed to the second reading of the bill, and
hoped that this bill would be rejected now. He
sidered 1t settled question. He should like 10
heal the remarks of the gentleman from Wayne. and
see II he would face the music this motion. If
the stockholders had not complied with the conditions
OF the Charter he should like to know it. So far
he knew, the terms of the charter passed by the
Legislature, had been complied with. He thought
this opposition to the Central Railroad with
bad grace from the representatives from Wayne--a
county that had received such immense benefits from
Internal Improvements. Wayne had improved by
railroads. more perhaps than any other county in the
State, Yet her representatives were opposed to Them
He hoped that western counties would reap large
benefits from the Central Railroad as Wayne had
already done from the Wilmington Railroad. and that
their population would be increased in like manner,
/ of holm 1v huo nd
who have gone to the south and west. 1t is the only
bill which will save the west. tez-s b
| Mr.. Winston said if he had been in. the Legisla
ture two years ago, he should have used every effort
to defeat the Central Railroad BILL and he should
now do so if it open question. He thought
il suicidal Legislation. But he maintained that this
Legislature could not go back and examine what
took place here two years ago.. The plighted faith
of the State worth more than two millions of
dollars. The faith of the State was pledged, and
the Company had three years in which to comply
with the terms of the charter. He was opposed to
railroads. bat could not vote to violate the faith of the
State. If there any way to get at the Central
Railroad charter now, he would assist in voting it
down. .4ias s
Mr.. Eaton remarked that the company had three
years in which to comply with the charter and il they
did do So the State authorities would issue the
bonds of the State; if doubts existed the subject
it would go the Supreme Court for Investigation.
Mr.. Barnes, of Northampton, said he considered
himself bound to obey the will of his constituents,
and to vote in accordance with their wishes when
constitutional question interposed but this was
constitutional question. of which he indge for
himself. He believed the bill now under considera-
ton unconstitutional, and he held that It was not
right to violate the constitution. He had taken an
oath TO support 1t, and must therefore for the
lection of this bill on its first reading. He repre-
sented constituency opposed to the Central Rail-
road. but felt bound his oath to against this BILL
Mr.. Dargan said the question Of the Railroad had
been warmly debated in ALson county, and if he
consulted the feelings of his constituents he should
vote for this bill. He was surprised, however, TO End
that repeal was the word at this late day. He
held that there power in this House to touch
roads, but was also opposed to reputation Of the
aith of the State. 1t was a contract between the
Central Railroad company side, and the State
On the other. He knew something about nuIlifca-
ion--he had lived in notification State. Most
issuredly, the citizens of Nor Carolina would leave
ler borders if she repudiates. What is there now
% recommend her but her honor! Her population
would become thinned and scattered indeed If repu-
iiaton was to be the policy OF the State. The citi-
lens of Arson opposed to the Central Railroad
put they had sent him to the Legislature to do his
iuty. If the plighted faith of the State shall be
broken. he should leave the State. He felt il his
iuty, when an attempt was made to compel North
Carolina to repudiate, to put his veto on it,
Mr.. Steele felt himself honored by having moved
he rejection of the bill before the House. This was
he first attempt to stain the character of the State,
md he wished it treated with the respect deserved
hen the State foges her honor, he should leaveit.
he had not supposed that any man would have the
ludacfy to move the repeal of that bill. 81 D a
Mr.. Mizell explained. He held If Stockholders
complied with the conditions of the charter the State
was bound but if one party failed to fulfil the reuui-
ed conditions, the other might recede. He should
tote to reject the bill before the House.