Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-05-13

prove that lie WaSln favor OF that anend-
ment. He thought the Generals course in that Com
vention did not prove him to be in favor of Free
Suffrage. He Gen. d. voted against the amendment
to require members of the Gen. Assembly to vote
UirG to enable their constituents to hold them
accountable for their conduct in the Legislature.
The only evidence he remembered that the Journal
furnished of the Generals Free Suffrage leaning in
the Convention vote to allow free negroes
with certain qualifications to exercise the right of
suffrage! Mr.. Bragg said the leaders of the Wing
party protested to have great respect for the decs
ion of the people. Yet majority of the people of
the State had repeatedly decided in favor of Free
Suffrage ard the Legislative mode, and the leaders
of the Wing party still found arrayed against
that decision Mr.. Bragg said the Legislative mode
of amending the Constitution was the safe way. If
Convention should be called, that Convention may
amend the Constitution to make it odious and
refuse to submit it to the people for ratification but
under the Legislative mode we had the guaranty
that the amendments were obliged to be submitted
to the people at the polls for ratification.
Mr.. Bragg said he was in favor of liberal system
of Common Schools, to afford to every child in the
State the opportunity of procuring an education.
His competitor had claimed the credit of our Com
mon Schools for the Wing party. He had never I'M
derstood this to be party question, and had regar-
Schools. If however, CONF carlson were to be drawn
between the two parties this subject, he did not
believe it would prove unfavorabe to tie Democrats
He then alluded to- the fact that the first act PASSED
to provide literary fund in North Carolina
drawn by Mr.. Yancey, distinguished Democrat,
and passed by Democratic Assembly, ana that the
act of 1886, which so largely increased the fund,
also drawn by another distinguished Democrat,
and passed ty Democratic Assembly. But he
peated that he did not regard this as party ques-
ton.
He then alluded to the subject of Internal I'm
provements-stated that he tie friend of inn
provement, and the Resolution passed at the late
democratic Convention met his cordial approval. He
would here remark that the report of General Dock
erys speech in Newborn copied into the Raleigh Reg
lister in large CAPITALS from NewLcrn paper well
the report of his speech at Wilmington, it appear
ed in the papers, did him CIr b. great injustice
His competitor either wilfully misrepresented him.
greatly misunderstood him at Edenton. He hoped
the latter the fact; at any rate, injustice had
been done him on the subject of Internal Improve
mens and hc intended to set the matter right before
TIE cople. General Dockery declared in his speech
at Edenton that the extension of tie improvements
Of the State would create the necessity of State
debt of ten millions of dollars that there too
ways of paying this debt, one by taxing the people
and the other by distributing the public lands that
the Democrats were in favor of paying it by taxing
the people, while he Gen. d. and the Wings were
for paying it with the proceeds of the public lands.
That Le (Mr. b. was combating this position assun,-
ed by his competitor and showing that if the lands
divided of which there seemed little probabili
ty they would be insufficient even to meet the inter-
est Of the debt contemplated by his competitor.
Taking average of the Sales North Carolina would
get about sixty thousand dollars per year, while the
interest ten millions of dollars would amount to
six hundred thousand dollars per year! So that Gen.
rockery was deceiving the people as to the way the
debt to be paid Mr.. Bragg said Gen. Dockery
asked him if lie in favor of borrowing money to
extend the North Carolina Railroad East and West?
To which lie (Mr Bragg replied flat lie had right
to interrogate Gen. Dockery, he being candidate
before the people for the Office of Governor but that
he had no right to interrcgate him (dr. b. as he
was not candidate before the people for any thing
CThis was before Mr.. Brags's Nomination. Mr.
Bragg said at this pot in the discussion that the
Wings commenced aLllauding, Lut he asked them
not to be i'll hurry, for notwithstanding he did not
recognize Gen. Dockery' right to demand answer
to his question, yet matter of fairness he in
tended to do Mr.. Bragg said he then stated that
he for the extension of the North Carolina Rail-
ROAD East and w est and that In carrying works
of Internal Improvement he would lie governed to
a great extent by the principle that would in
auence prudent man in the management of his !
private affairs. He opposed to ruinous taxation
and he was opposed to the creation of a debt that |
would lead to reputation He thought a prudent |
individual or prudent State ought to keep within
their means and resources and should never con-
tract debt so large that they could not have the
prospect of means sufficient to pay at least the in
terest He was i'll favor of going to the extent of
the means and resources of the State. This was his
position. He told Gen. Dockery that he was in favor
Of the extension of the Road and he never entertain
ed an idea that the extension could be made without
borrowing the money to do it. Tie thing was too
oreposterous to need correction with those who
knew him. Gen. Dockery appeared to be DESTROYS
IF placing him (Mr. b. in his (Mr. DIS own posi-
ion for he declares that he and the Wing rarity
ire not tor borrowing taxing but for paying in
way he well knows it cannot be done. Mr. Bragg
aid he did not avoid this any other question he
would not do so to his election. He did not
iodge-he did not come from lodging stock Mr.
Bragg said that State had built Railroad of any
extent without borrowing money to ena-
lie her to complete it. and North Carolina like other
States would have to borrow till the profits of the
Road would enable her to pay.
lie then alluded to the subject of the Publc lands