Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-06-03

frankly the probable cost which dey would have to
incur. He hoped our present works would, after a
| time pay something into the State Treasury: and
whatever received from this source would to that
extent diminish the taxes on the people. He charg-
ed that his opponent had sought to make party cap
tal out of this question: and he feared he was more
intent on getting votes than improving the State
In certain portions of the East, and in Montgomery
and Randolph, where it was supposed internal i'm
provemens were not popular as in other sections
his opponent had dwelt upon the large amount it
would require-had talked of taxes and of the tax
gatherer and had told the people that if they were
not aided in paying this present and prospective debt
of eight or ten millions by his plan of getting lands
or proceeds from the general government the burden
would fall with all its weight them; but where
| the system supposed to be popular he had
changed his tone, and had detained loudly as to
what he had done for the cause saying but little a.
bout the enormous amount necessary to effect these
works The object was to alarm the people in these
| localities, where improvements supposed to be
unpopular, into his support; and thus, for selfish
and party purposes, he had actually injured the
| cause of internal improvements
His opponent had acclaimed much about obtain
ing lands and proceeds for North Carolina, with
which to build Railroads and improve our Common
Schools; but had at last admitted that 1t acas inn
probable should get either lands proceeds. He
charged this upon him, and would hold him to it
and the people would now see that Gen. D. was
brought by the force of truth to the position
with himself, to wit that in making these improve
ments, we must rely upon means and
sources.
Mr.. Bragg discussed at length and with great
ability the question of distribution, showing that the
public lands were pledged by act of Congress, for
the payment of the public debt that the Wing lead
ers not sincere in this NATTER if sincere did
not show it when in power in 1871, and gave his
tory of their famous distribution BILL by which the
new States got all the benefits and the old States
none that this issue held up here for effect and
was scarcely alluded to in other States; that the
Wings of other States were for squandering these
lands and that the largest quantity granted during
any administration granted and approved by
Mr. Fillmore that, in proof of the fact that this
issue used here only for effect the Wing Ma
tonal Convention silent on the subject; and that
Gen. Dockery and the Wing party of the State had
generally supported Gen. Scott for the Presidency in
the face of his declaration in his letter of acceptance
that something more ought to be done by Congress
for actual settlers the public lands, meaning there
by, in all probability that something like the Home
stead bill ought to be passed. His opponent had
Lnat ne was IN favor OF
and proceeds provided it could be DONE for that the
State of North Carolina would in that way get her
share and now, said Mr.. Bragg, this is the very
thing propose and intend to do and We have the
pledge and the late veto of President Pierce that it
shall be done.
Mr. Bragg also referred to and established the fact
that the Wing leaders had uniformly opposed the
acquisition of territory but it brought
in han thew work to control it to divide it
out among the States, and clamored because the
Democratic people would not consent to their policy
on the subject He alluded, in this connection to
the threatening state of affairs with Spain growing
out of the outrage the Black Warrior and the
ries of outrages committed for years past by the
thorties of Cuba citizens and their property.
He said the present position of the administration
would be maintained that we must have full repair
alton for the past and assurances ofjustce and hon
orable treatment for the future; and that if Spain
should obstnatey persist in refusing this reparation
and justice, must take the island, and thus sum-
marily settle the matter for ourselves. He would
not yield an inch to the arrogance of Spain, espe-
cially at time when scheme was believed to be
in progress to emancipate the slaves of Cuba, and
thus convert the island into province of blacks to
the imminent danger of the Southern States. He
called upon Gen. Dockery to define his position on
this question, and to do it in language which no one
could misunderstood.
Mr.. Bragg then took up the question of Free Suf-
frage. He said he had always been warmly in favor
of it, and expected to the day when it would
triumph by legislative enactment, all opposition.
He showed that the Wing leaders, nearly all of
Them had opposed it from the first and had propos-
ed various schemes to defeat 1.-THE last of which
was Convention, advocated by his opponent.
He showed that these Wing leaders, though their
present candidate for Governor pretended to be for
it, and indeed claimed the authorship of it. had neU-
e1-sendorsed 1T By and in many aoords that
they defeated it in the last Assembly, inasmuch as
one vote by that party for it out of fifteen against
it. would have saved the measure. He contrasted,
in an inimitabe manner amid rcars of laughter, the
position of Gov. Manly and Gen. Dockery on the
subject I'VE shall give these points and others more
at length hereafter.l He also showed that Con-
vention of the people could not be restricted by the
Legislatures and he referred to the important fact
that there scas nothing the Constitution requiring
ConUention to submit aohGt they might do to the
people, His opponent he said, had at one time dis
puted this, but he presumed that after comforting
with friends he ready to give it up. Conven-
tion therefore, might make most unexpected and I'M
acceptable changes in the Constitution, and the peo
pie could have remedy. This was another argu-
ment in favor of the legislative mode; and he pro-
ceeded to argue in favor of this mode, quoting in