Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-01-22
SPEECH OF ]. A. GILMER,

nothing more unpleasant than to address an I'M
patient audience; yet such is the magnitude OF the
subject and so important will be the result or our
present deliberations, that feel bound to denver
my views and opinions. In my judgment, SIT, there
has been no question before the Senate OF more
importance; nor do I believe there can be ques-
ton presented in which the true inter SITS OF Nortn
Carolina more deeply involved, imam Ill INC o'
now before us. :,
7 am. sir. in favor of extending the Central rail-
road to the harbor of Beaufort and am for v"t-
ING sufficient aid i'll the shape Of the circuit OF the
State to enable enterprising individuals to accom-
plsh this work, whatever be the amount requireu'
am still more heartily in favor of extending 't''S
great Central road to the Tennessee line, 50 as {"
effect steam communication between the ctl"cio"S
and commodious seaport on our Atlantic coisC' ANU
which has been so we'll described, and the teeminS
valley of the Mississippi. am also for completing
a work that is already commenced to VIII, the I'M
provement of the nav CATION OF the Cape rear nv
or. q work whose completion will assist IN the de-
veionment of the inexhaustible coal fields which
border upon 1t.
am likewise sir, in favor of improving the
Yadkin and Catawba rivers and | am honestly OF
the opinion that these various works added, as Is
proposed, to those completed andln progress, Wheh
they are all accomplished, will contribute to the
prosperity of the State amount compared with
winch pTOpOSeu wan
absolute insignifcance.
This is the opinion with which l set out; will
any one dare to dispute the general proposition
And if the proposition is not denied, what excuse
can be urged for not shoudering the responsibility
of the necessary appropriations
But sir, if no one will deny the general propose
tou in words it is too often discredited in the &C
ton of our public men.
We have crawled along with our improvements
aye, sir, crawed along without daring to make
an effort to stand or to walk.
And sir, when with fear and trembling we have
raised ourselves up for moment, from our creep
inc posture, we would not trust our strength; we
would seize hold of adventurous aid, and stagger
hurriedly from pillar to post.
Now contend that we can stand alone-that
we can stand sir and walk, and run too if need be,
as fast as our neighbors in the race of improve
ments My attachment to my home, and my State
pride forbid me to think otherwise and sir, the
most careful consideration which can give to the
subject drives my Judgment to the conclusions so
congenial to my feelings and to all the instincts OF
my heart. Yes, sir, North Carolina can stand
alone and sir, if could but infuse my own spirit
into this assembly she should stand and walk, and
trample beneath her feet the SCOTS of all her SLAM
derers.
But as to the question, the great question Of our
ability to stand alone:
That Beaufort harbor is the best on the Southern
Atlantic and one of the best in the world, all adj
init all admit its great superiority to the ports of
New Orleans and Charleston, and even Norfolk,
in many respects; and al admit also the absolute
necessity for great Southern seaport city. The
prosperity, the independence the dearest interests
of the South demand this; and none will deny
that the produce of the Mississippi valley, if ship
ped at any one point, would, if the port permitted,
build up the largest commerce in the world.
Well, sir, we then have these conclusions admit
ted, to wit: the capacity and advantages of Beau
fort harbor, and the amount of produce in the
West if centered there, to build up immense
city. The connecting link is wanting ;and nature,
80 kind to us in many respects has not herself
made this connecting link.
A navigable river flowing from the Blue Ridge
to Beaufort all agree, would bring to it the com
merce of Virginia, South Carolina, and of much
of the Mississippi valley: towards this river all the
improvements of the neighboring States would fin
ally converge.
Now, sir the single question to be solved is, will
a railroad answer the place of a river!
do not contend, Mr.. Speaker, that for CONNER
cial purposes, a railroad is equal to river; it is
not so cheap means of getting to market, and for
very heavy freight it has its drawback
On the other side the railroad is the most expe-
ditious mode; and in this age of telegraphs and of
speed is often more important than cheapness
But as far as much of the country is concerned
which it is proposed to make tributary to Will
mington and to Beaufort and Newberne, it can
have no outlet to market except by railroad and
Sir, it IS an extensive, III, and promising coun-
try.
in this condition is western Virginia, western
North Carolina, western South Carolina and Geor-
gia, and much of cas- tern Tennessee and of this
region contend that the part embraced in our
own border will amply sustain railroad will build
up our seaports into large cities, and is of sufficient
Importance to demand an outlet to market
Now, sir, let us calculate for a moment
Let 1T be borne in mind that in the first place
the land in middle and western North Carolina is
universally good.
There is'no such rank and exuberant soil as is
found IN the eastern counties where lie the best
corn lands IN the world nor are the cotton and
tobacco lands equal to the tobacco lands on the
Roanoke or the cotton lands on the Mississippi or
Red river. But on the other hand there are no
barren wastes-no deserts and not even anv I'M
productive plantations. The soil is naturally good
everywhere-the climate is suited to the growth
OF all the Productions of the temperate zones. and
every acre of land is susceptible of the very high
est state OF improvement. And all this, sir, is an
aao'tion to the water power the cheapest and most
abundant IN the world in addition to the gold, the
lead' copper and iron with which all our hills are
enrlched-n addition to the inexhaustible stores of
TIMBER, and the many natural vegetable produc-
uons' important Tor medical and household purpo-
ses, with which the country abounds.
In the second place, this fine country is settled
INV ,,l1sz