The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-12-06


as beneficial to her interest, proportlonably,
as the great western lines of road to New York
or the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad now are
to each Of those cities respectively, and com.
menced under circum stances much more Ia
vorable to its completion. 1t is more i'm
portant measure than the proposed Charleston,
Louisville and Cincinnati Railroad, because
it is shorter route, embracing all the advan.
tages Of the other, and is less liable to tho dI.
versions of trade from the valleys beyond the
Aleghanes, owing to its peculiar IocatIon.-
By an arran cement shortly to be consumma-
ted, the charters granted in Georgia, North
Carolina, and Tennessee will have all their pri
viIegcs ceded to the Blue Ridge Railroad Com
any in South Carolina, So that the latter nam.
ed corporation will exercise entire control over
the affairs OF the whole line Of road. BY this
it will be seen that all means have been adop.
ted to give security to whatever capital the
State, or the citizens within the State, may
contribute to this great work, by combining the
control of lis affairs altogether within our bor.
ders. To perpetuate this power is in the high.
est degree desirable 1t will give to the State
the indefeasble right of railroad commun-
cation fiom Knoxville, in Tennessee, to Charles
ton, and the exclusive power to control and
manage the affairs of this company; thus es-
tablishing in perpetuity highway of trade and
travel from the remote west to our own sea-
ports, the value and importance Of which can
hardly be estimated.
In addition to these results from abroad, the
effects of such highway of trade and travel
through the State will exercises great influence
upon her internal prosperity. The improve,
ment of the upper portions of the State-the
increase in the value of property-the many
increased facilities it will give for commerce-
the employment of their labor in construction
the expenditure of large sums among them
for material and mechanical skill-and the in.
creased value that will be given to stock in
railroad companies already in existence, in
which the State also is largely Interested are
considerations which must influence your calm
judgement to promote by every safe and judi
cious means the successful accomplishment of
this great work.
ny the communication which was establish.
ed by the charter between this department and
the Blue Ridge Railroad company, | have been
enabled to ascertain, that by the terms Of con-
tract between Messrs. Bangs & Co., the work
was to be commenced ON the first of this
month-and that a large portion of the surveys
are completed, and found to present fewer OBJ.
stacles than was at first supposed. location
has been made for tunnelling the Blue Ridge
and work allotted to contractors, that their
preliminary arrangements are in state of for.
wardness-that the Districts through which the
road will pass in this State will abundantly
supply all the necessary labor,-tlat the citi.
zens both in this State and beyond it have with
extraordinary unanimity ceded the right of way
without pensaton, ,-and that every cir.
cum>tancc tends favorahy to an early and
thorough completion of this enterprise, which
was projected by the President and Company
with So much patriotism and zeal, prosecuted
with such signal industry and ability.
| have thus laid before you at some length
but AS briefly as possible, all the facts in my
possession with regard to the condition of the
Blue Ridge Railroad enterprise. now re.
commend that the State subscribe to the com
pany the sum of S750,000, in order to put the
enterprise beyond the reach of ordinary rcvcr.
Ses, and in this way to secure to the citizens
stock Of the Company, in reference TO the con-
tngencies which may frequently arise, where
trade and commerce are to be controlled for
our benefit. Nor would such step be unusual
or partial, since the Legislature has not only
extended important aid to railroads construc-
ted entirely within the State, but to roads which
have been projected beyond its limits, as in
the case of the Charleston, Louisville and Gin
cinnali Railroad, and in the Wilmington and
Manchester Railroad. The endorsement of
the bonds of the Blue Ridge Railroad Compa-
ny cannot be regarded as subscription, for it
Is totally dissimiar in its character, and far less
beneficial in its operation. In the one case
the State becomes a copartner, and risks her
capital, and awaits the distant returns of divi.
dends; in the latter case she simply makes her
self liable as an endorser, and takes the first
mortgage on the property of the stockholders
TO secure herself against the possibility Of loss.
Undoubtedly the most important measure
which shall bring to your consideration is the
reformation ofthe present system Of public in
struction in the State.
If, as has been frequently stated education
is the cheap defence of nations, and the pcrma.
nence of republican institutions depends upon
the enlightenment Of their citizens, you have
but little security for the prosperity and hapri'
ness you now enjoy. Education has been pro-
vided by the Legislature but for one class of
the citizens of the State, which is the wealthy
class. For the middle and poorer classes of so.
ciety it has done nothing since no organized
system has been adopted for that purpose
You have appropriated seventy.fve thousand
dollars annually to Free Schools, but under the
present mode of applying it, that liberaity is
really the profuson of the prodigal, rather than
the judcious generosity which confers real ben
eft The few who arc educated at the public