The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1854-06-07

no, had. and may not have. an opportunity Of
hearing The candidates Cor Governor present their
views upon the important subjects which occupy
their attention. We propose TO write eoi. a. well
ss we can. . sketch Of the discussion at Gnhsm.
all of which We heard, with the sr9piion Of
Few remarks Of Ne. Bragg At the beginning.
Mr.. BnAso opened the debate. and spoke ono
hour and half The subjects he discussed wen;
Internal Improvements. and particularly the ez-
tension Of the Central Railroad EAST and wesi |;
,hc Public l.ands; aud Free Suiisge. IN con-
reciion with the two modes Of amending the con-
s,iiuiion.
On Internal Improvements, he planted himself
upon The resolution Of the Democratic consen-
lion. He said be was in favor af developing the
agricultural and mineral resources Of the Stale
Is Ear a. II could he done without too much en-
hanassmeni to the people in The way Of taxes !;
that he was for aiding the works now in pro-
gross, and for extending the Central Railroad
east to Beaufort and west ID the mountains. If
the means and resources Of the Stale viii admit
Of il. but IL the extension would involve The
State TO the amount of ten millions Of dollars.
Gen. Dockery had estimated. he believed the in
ierest Of This sum, six hundred thousand dollars.
was ioo large . sum TO undertake to raise al pre-
sent by taxation. Here Mr. Bragg read from
paper furnished by Mr.. Treasurer Courts ri his
request, making s,stemeni Of the States in
jeh,ejness. aud the times At which the several
payments are to be made. The principal of this
debt. he said. would have TO be provided for. and
we should not 20 beyond our ability to pay. But
he was for the States prudenily engaging in the
york Of extending the Road, and giving such aid.
from Time 10 lime. as the Interests Of the people
demanded, and The mfans aud resources Al COM
msnd Mould sllow-and hy means and resour-
ccs," he said, Of course he did not mean simply
the money in the treasury. but also taxes. &c.
He conirasiej the resolution Of the two convcn-
lions on the subject Of Internal improvements,
and contended that the Democratic resolution
was much more explici,, and more favorable TO
the object than that of the whig.. He charged
Ten. ID. with having done irjnp 10 thr caure ID
interval improvements, by referring in his ad-
dresses 10 taxation rs the mean. 81 carrying them
on. He, (Gcn. d. as Gorernor. could 40 no.
thing 10 aid these works except 70 sccc;;ssssend
them TO the Legislature; hui the effect Of his
speeches might be TO induce the people 10 send
10 the Legislature members who would oppose
them.
| In regard TO the Public Lands, his position
was that they should not he distributed; aud tina,
ihe proceeds Of their sales should 90 into the
national treasury TO assist in driraying ,he cx.
penses Of government, and thereby remove the
Necessity for high tariff He conlendrd that i,
would be wrong 10 distribute the Lands for two
reasons: lst. They were pledged to the pay
ment Of the national dels. 3D. We mas I've in
volved in the European war, or in awar with
J, Spain on account of the Black Warrior difficult
ty. aud prudence dictated ,ha, he Public Lands
should be kept TO dcfray the expenses. This sui /.
jcct he regarded as an electionecring hobby, got
up in North Carolina to Gerry the election. Il
was not y national question at all. He added,
moreover. that the President would veto dis,ii-
buii'n bill il il should pass Congress; and Gen.
d. himself had admitted that il was " improba.
bic" that we should get distribution.
The Free Suffrage question was but slightly
treated. The Wing party, be said. never had
declared in favor Of il go nomine.' He had al.
WAYS lrcn in favor Of t--felt the injustice OF the
present provision ia the constitution when he
was young nan, by having hecn deprived of a
vote for Senator, though he owned a house and
10, valued al s3,000. lie was in favor OF get.
ting it by Legislative enactment. as the wi.esi
aud cheapest mode. lie opposed Convention,
and did not believe that one could lie called as j,
would be almost impossible To get two.thirds Of
the Legislature to favorit.
Mr.. Bragg charged Gen. Dockc,y with having
voted in the Convention against the clause in
our constitution requiring that, in elections by
the Legislature. the members should vote uira
roce; and also with voting again. the provision
abroga'ing the righ, Of free negroes to vote.
Gen. DocRKnS also occupied an hour and
half in reply 10 Mr.. Bragg. Without consum-
ing any time IN preliminary remarks. he briefly
enumerated the topics discussed by Mr.. Bragg.
and said be would notice them al, bu, would
not take them up IN the order in which they had
been presented.
IN regard to the charge tina. he hid voted in
Convention against the clause OF the constitution
shrogating the right Of free negroes 10 vote. he
said that, if there were any members Of that con-
vrlltion rho were not, as a general principle, in
favor Of abrogaling The right. he had ye, to find
il out. He himself leIt home fully determined 10
vote kr abrosaling il. But when the subject
came ,cfore The convention. il WAS argued ty,
such men az Judges .Gi-i.i a,ul. i.,o.sr, Cover
nors Morehea,l and Branch, Solicitor Troy. snI