The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-07-14
WEDNESDAY,, 9Th July.

u. II.
OF the COMMITTEE appointed yesterday 10 prepare
business for the action of the Convention, made
their report. Before Introducing the report, Mr..
Holmes entertained the Convention, Tor hour.
or more. with an able address, much diversified
with historical learning and statistical Information
on the subject of roads in general and OF rail roads
| in particular.
The report having been drawn up by Mr.. sOs-
borne, he was requested by Mr.. Holmes, 10 read
it. He did So fret having illustrated the whole
subject by an able and lengthy address. in which
he unanswrrably asserted all lis, claims, and con.
clusiveIy dispeIled all its objections. He fol-
lowed by Mr. J. G.. Blue. of Richmond. Joshua G.
Virgin, end Talcot Burr, Esqrs. os Wilmington,
in appropriate speeches, maniieshng much inter-
es. in the success of the enterprise. -y
A, this stage of the proceedings, the Rev Cy-
rus Johnston. after few preliminary remarks,
moved that the Convention strike out from the vo.
cabuIary of s thoughts, the word cannot, MS a
term not TO be understood enter tainod FOR mo-
ment in the execution Of this great work. His
motion was nrred by accamation. Whereupon
the report and resolutions Of the COMMITTEE. being
submitted to the Convention, were adopted nnani
mously. They are as follows:
REPORT, &c.
| The Committee to whom has been referred the
| general subject of preparing business " for the
| Convention, in The absence OF particular PROPOSE
TONS referred TO by order of the Convention
have felt it be their duty to direct, their auen-
ton solely the great object for which the Conven
Iionwas assembled. THIS object as defiud in the re-
solutions under which The Convention was called
at meeting of,he citizens Of MeckIenburg County
was the construction of Rail Road from the city
of Wilmington 10 the Tennessee border in the d.
rectlon of Jonpsboro. Your committee believe that
this great enterprise will subserge the interests of
large population Of North Carolina which here.
toiore have been denied the advantages of Rail
| Roads-ihat it will by the most direct line Of com.
munIcatnn connect the interior and western re-
| gIon of NorIh Carolina with the sea aboard, and
! that il promises ultimate connections with the
Mississippi and The Ohio, which in the estimate Of
its advantages, give to it a national characier-
This enterprise, hcwcver, commends itself to our
| special favor that il is emineniiy, and exclusively
| 4 North Carolina work. 1t proposes its com.
encrm ent at our most f1ourishing commercial sea.
port and its bisec,s the pine forests Of
Columbus, Baden and Robeson-,he cotton fields
oil Richmond, AnsoD and INTERCHANGEABLE wheat
and corn lands IN the counties OF the Catawba and
the Iadkin, and the rich pastures of Ashe, Wa
tauga. and Yancey, embracing in its course, three
hundred and fifty miles of territory, Of great
| variety of soil and climale and production and
| accommodating four hundred thousand of our citi.
zens. II binds together sections OF our State which
! have heretofore been divided by the interest OF
trade and the necessities Of their geographical pc.
sitiun The combination OF these sections by the
| hands OF COMMON brotherhood of interest and
| affection, i'll achieve for the State an increased
energy in her public character and unity in her
councils the moral effect of which is incacuIabe,
whe the combination Of these various productions
and the great resources, agricultural mechanical
and mineral, which The road itself will develope,
Of our own commercial towns, will give to
it prosperity and importance OF the highes, value
| 10 the State. The proposed enterprise commepds
itself TO favor, in that does not interfere with
works OF improvement already constructed and
in which the State has involved her means, as no
section Of the State on The line of the Road can
| be accommodated by the great Railroad which in.
dividual enterprise and public Iberality has con.
strucied from Charlotte to Goldsboro. Four. fifths
OF the territory over which it will pass, has ever
found its most convenient markets in the State of
South Carolina and will continue, in Inc opinion
OF your committee, 10 do so, unless this Railroad
| shall be effected.
Regarded therefore, in all its aspects, the great
enterprise which we have been called TO consider
is OF ncalculabe value to the people Of the State,
while vast regions beyond our limits hail its ap.
preaching completion with JOY and propose to
unite their commercial destiny with ours.
Your Committee believe tha, This great work is
entirely practicable and alta cost greatly below the
expenditure usually incurred for works of equal
magnitude. lis whole length in North Carolina
will probably be three hundred miles. Of this ex.
tent two hundred miles will afford facilities Of con.
s,rnction, from the character of It's suriace-from
the abundance and cheapness of its tImber-whch
will reduce its cost greatly below the average of
| Rail Roads. AS TO The olher portion your com.
mtee are Informed that il affords the easiest &C.
cess to our mountains and the best pass through
them, which are to be found In our State. 1t is
not TO be denied, however, that work of this ex.
tent will involve large expenditure Of money.
and while The prize is Of inestimable value, our
contributions and pxertions must bear to it cor.
responding proportion. Your committee rejoice
to see in cherished State awakened spirit
on the great subject of Internal improvement, and
| from the east and the west-from the mountains
to the ocean throughout all horders-the
utterance OF public sentiment are loud and unani.
NOUS in favor of such public works, the Interests
of trade aud The development Of her resources, de.
mand. people long in apathy as TO their social
condition awakening with renewed energy and
bounding into life. 1t is the harbinger OF a
new era to our beloved Sta;e-the rising beam of
splendid and unsurpassed prosperity. Your COM.
mitiee feel therefore, that the friends oil this great
North Carolina work-Norh Carolina in its
length and it's brradrh in it's beginning at the sea
10 its terminus in the SUBMITS of her own noun.
tains-cannot bot be iavorably heard in its appeal
Tor public aid. while they feel assured from The
enthusiastic demonstrations Of this convention o: