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

Delivered in the Senate OF INp''" sr., - H.
hin nronosino TO establish new County by the
Mr. Sneaker Before the vote Is taken on Tue d.enI.
roe.e oasrsd bv the Senator from Wayne,l must ask
the indulgence of the oenais E - ouid not have he
- racessary for me TO have said anything In ine
Ivav of Speech this session-Pariicniary upon ''s
sh;ect-as had expected that this Dill woulo nave
nc; the fate that think it richly deserves In the
aser end of this Capitol. But, Sir, in this have
been mistaken :; and it now becomes my duty as inc
representative of free people, who have rghL y. 10
be heard, 10 say something upon the merits OIL the Oil
upon your table, L1. % ,,.ke a
Sneech in the common acceptatlon Of the term lot
assure you, Sir, that the art OF sPeechmaAlng IDS
never cost me a moment s thought; 10! nave e.e'
considered il of the least quallncauonS W e
cessfI pursuit of that profession which II mas oeeh
INV lot in life TO pursue. But, Sir, do expect 10
submit some plain, practical, and common-sehse oo-
servations at least =. L
have heretofore been content to listen to the argu-
ments of those who were in every way perhaps oete
qualified than mvself and have been generally satis-
fed in casting what term here, silent VoIe' Dul
Upon this occasion feel, Sir, that am lett without
excuse, when an attempt is here made 10 dismemoer
nv County and transfer portion OF us clzens WIN
out their consent To be silent would be unpardon-
able With these preliminary remarks, snail make
nlan statement Of facts. and rely upon the wisdom
and ustice Of the Senate decide the question upon
its merits only regretting, Sir, that my constituents
have not more dOl6 dQVOCdte Gudh my
About forty years ago, there was scheme LOT ne"
Comfy sprunG I'D, to be composed OF parts OF the
same Counties mentioned in the bill upon your a0ie.
They petoned once or twice to the Legislature: ou'
Sir they utterly failed to accomplish their 1o1ec!
This Sir then. now. would have relieved all tner
grievances The old plot, | have no hesitation In
Saving, is the only one the Legislature could, with
any degree of propriety, ookag to the interest OIL all
parties concerned,) grant, And undertake 10 say
that we never should have heard of this new County
again. but few yeats ago. by the influence Of stean-
Do,ver there sprang up divers villages, and amongst
them the tow of Wilson. There are several wealthy
and influential individuals residing in and about IL
son. who Understand are, and were the grand movers
in this new County project. This excitement mas
been got within the last four years. tor the purpose
of selfaggrandizement.
Mr. Speaker, there are certain class of politicians
in our County-none hope, for the honor OF the
Senate of North Carolina, in this body-who believe
that all legislation should be for the rich Yes Slr
protect the rich, that they may protect the poor.
Poor protection Sir and were they compelled to rely
upon that kind of legislation they would be, to all
intents and purposes, the hewers OF wood and oraw
ers of water for the rich / mention this as think
it is the rich man is knocking at the door
for admissions for the love of the poor dear peo-
ple as they would have you to believe but to enrich
themselves at the expense of the unsuspectng poor
have good many objections to this bill, some
of which will now proceed to mention:
LIST. contend the grievance complained OF is more
imaginary than real.
Cd. NY people do not wish 1t. And
Sd. | contend it is contrary to the wish, as ex-
pressed during the lifetime of that patriot and soldier
whose memory they would perpetuate.
This feel warranted in saying, as have heard 1t
from sources which cannot be brought in question.
But, Sir, his has had good deal to do In get
ting names this memorial. 1t has, have no doubt,
acted like charm. But Sir, to my first objection,
which was that the grievance was more imaginary
than real, which I will now attempt TO prove. My
County is oblong square-as you will perceive
and about twenty-five or three miles wide. The
Court House is situated about the centre from East
to West, and about three miles North OF the centre,
from South 10 North. An ind vdual residing in the
Southern part of the County would have TO travel. to
get Nashville about twentyfour miles. There arc
some living in the Southeast and Southwest angles
who would of course, have to travel few miles far
ther. So you see, Sir, if there is grievance in the
Southern, it exists nearly great extent In the
Northern portion of the County.
Again, Sir, contend that if you pass this bill, you
will, instead of remedying the evil, make it greater
For, Sir you multiply new Counties, in the same
proportion do You increase the chances to be drawn
as Jurors. For this, Sir. is the main grievance COM
planned of, and urged by the friends of the bill.
Jurymen in my County, are likely to be drawn about
once in egh teen months; now add another County,
and you will increase the probabilities one-th more
This, Sir, think correct position, you will then
have five Counties, where you now have four. But,
Sir, oppose this, have opposed all petitions of
this kind-uPon princiPle-as my course here will
show.
My second objection is, think, conclusive, if l
had other; which Isl that my constituents, partic-
uarly those living in the portion of my County pro-
posed TO be taken off, utterly opposed to it, and
have instructed me TO vote against it. And, MIR.
Speaker, am of those who believe in the right
OF instruction of those WHIP believe that the rep
resentatve is bound by the will of his constituents.
Knowing, therefore, the will of those who have hon
ored me with seat here am left alternative but
to vote against the passage of the bill. But, Sir
am proud to say. that upon This upon most
81 ms in which have been called upon in this
body, my notions coincide entirely with those who
have sent me here; and l now. Sir, their name,
enter my solemn protest against the passage of this
bill; and in doing so, am satisfied that l express
the wish of nnetenths of those represent upon this
floor. This then, Sir, of itself, if had no other,
would be quite sufficient reason for me. Here them
Sir, are the people themselves asking this Legsla-
ture not 10 pass this bill. Will this Senate with |
this fact before them, transfer free people from place
to place like stock in market, without their consent
trust not Sir. To pass this bill, and it becomes i
the law of the land, it would produce such spirit of
discomfort you would perhaps hear the last of
1t in this Hall. 1t would be, Sir, in my opinion,
perfect outrage upon them-a disregard, conceive
of their rights freemen. l will take another view
of it, Suppose, for the sake of argument, they were
willing think it would be infictnga serious wrong
upon the old County; tor it would throw the whole |
onrthen OF expense OF six or seven expensive bridges
across the River, upon The old County, costing from
SIX to fifteen hundred dollars each, as this counter
petition will show.
Another serious objection Sir, is the form it would
leave the County of Nash-ook at it, Sir. ANY 9TH
er form though, q suppose) would not have answer
ed their purpose; for it that it has been the
aim OF the movers in this County project to hold
Nash in reserve. If you had asked them some time
ago how much of my County they wanted, or rather
how much they intended 10 take, the answer would
have been piece as big piece Of chalk. They
could not have given you an answer more definite,
lor tney were at a loss themselves. l understand
that in running the line in some of the Counties there