North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-02-15
REMARKS OF GEN. SAUNDERS

Delivered In the House of Commons. on tho h;u
cooperating the Raleigh and CASTOR Rail Roa ~,
Company. "oad
Mr.. Saunders said, as he copld NOT .on,u-
the COMMITTEES of conference in their recomme Vim
ton that the iHeuse should recede from its sn
ment and adopt that now proposed by the Sena,ul
ne must take the liberty OF stating the character Of
the proposition, and what, he honestly believ.G5'
would be its effect It would be Tecollected thai ~
bill, as it originally came from the Senate proposed
to create new Company, with capital of sOOOOO
dollars, for the reconstruction of the RALEIGH .S
Castor Rail Road-the States property in the Toad ~
be estimated at one half and the other half of 5000
900 to be subscribed by the old Stockholders and Oh
ligors; and should they fail thus to subscribe N.
road to be sold at not less than 100000 dollars.
and If that could not be had, then the Road was ~
be abandoned. From every information which b
could obtain, Mr. S. said he felt well satisfied netb
of these terms would succeed and the State won3
in the end sustain great loss in the sale of this vau
able property. The House would recoIlect we had
not brought about this state of things. He Mr. 8
like others in this House, neither STOCKHOLM,
ever had any thing to do with the Road. 1t had
cost the old stockholders 500 700 for which thew had
nothing show and the State had paid or was hon.
to pay 100000 dollars, and for which she had ,b
Road, worth nothing without further expediture or
400, 900 dollars AS to selling the Road for the spm
asked. he thought no Company could be found tn
give that sum and then exPend what was necessary
to put 1T in repair, which would make it cost ths
purchasers. 5000 dollars. What then was hest ~
be done? He, Mr. S. thought it best at once to mall
such proposition would most certainly succeed
and have the Road put in good ORDER; by which tbs
public would be benefited and the State have Tho,
which would afford them property which wom1I
| yield from to per cent profit. He had tbere6o
proposed his amendment That if the old StocthoIS'
ers and obgors would subscribe the 400 600 doIIar
within six months, commence the Road will;
twelve months and finish it within three naa, "''n
paying and exF ending the $500, OOO so as to mn,
Road in good and complete order with heavy Il i,on
they should have one half of the Road and be forever
discharged from their liabilities. majority of tho
House agreed this, but the Senate refused to con-
cur.
And what is it that the Senate now proposes If
the old Stockholders will subscribe the 400 Oon
they shall have half of the Road provided thew
shall pay the State the difference between 363 OO3
the which the State gave for the Road and thu
s. 100000, for which she holds their bonds with in
terest for five years, making s l7s,OOO Such, said
Mr.. S. was the Senate's proposition. He would NOT
say this was rfing with the House, but how any one
could suppose such proposal would be taken wac
more than he could imagine. Why did he say bs9
Because the last Legislature had offered to The Gd
Stockholders and obligors give them half of the
Road and general release, if they would subscribe
$500, 900, and expend the whole of that sum on the
Road. Under that law you did not get one dollar
subscribed. 1t was evident from that the obligos
did not consider the release worth 100000 and
now the Senate asks for it $4,000, besides the
100000 for half of the Road.
/ Mr.. S. said those who made this offer cannot ex
pect desire the proposition to succeed. He thouO
that he had demonstrated that it could not What
would be the result? The Road would neither be
rebuilt sold but two years hence the Legislature
would be forced to bring il into market, and it would
then be sacrificed. And, said, MIR. s., this is not The
only bad result: it will prove fatal blow 10 all fu
ture Rail Road Improvements. The opponents of The
North Carolina Rail Road-the friends of The Virui
MIA and Danville Road-are all looking to the resul,
OF this measure as deciding for the present, if not for
ever, the Rail Road system in this State. Why did
he say this A few facts would answer: The re.
turns show that of the amount subscribed to the
North Carolina Rail Road, upwards of 8 10000
were taken In Wake, franklin, and Granville and
$32O,OOO In Petersburg, upon the direct calculation
and assurance that the success Of that great work
would lead to the certain reconstruction of The CASTOR
Road. The latter being given up, these subscribers
would at once Insist on the abandonment of the North
carolina Road, and they would find others wilDr
to unite with them in surrendering the charter That
such would be the result he, Mr.. S. entertained not
a particle of doubt Cut off this connecting link
with the North, and your great Central Road if con.
structed ght be freight Road but not one of fra
vel but he had hopes of its success, should the
Senates proposition prevail. And, said Mr.. ST. your
labors Mr.. Speaker-my abors, for the last twelve
months would be at end and all our bright homes
for our native State would be blasted forever. He
did not say this to intimidate-he was incapable of
such thing. He was in no humor for such a thing
HIS heart sunk within him at the prospect ahead
his native State doomed forever to stand at the bot,
tom of the list, in the efforts now making by her SIS
ter States to lase themselves to prosperity and great
ness. History tells US, said Ms. of the Ephesian
who burnt the famous temple o Diana, on the night
In which the great Alexander was born in order to
transmit his fame to posterity and as he, Mr. S..
did not court this Ephesian fame he must protest.
most solemnly protest-against measure so mschie-
vous in its consequences-so fatal to the honor,
character and every thing dear every true lover of
the States future greatness. He hattered himself
the House would refuse to concur in the amendment
of the Senate, but that they would insist upon that
of their own.