Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-06-07

stated that he saw no objection to extending the
North Carolina road eastward to Beaufort and west
ward to the Tennessee line, the two-thirds the
same principle of the charter of the present Road
for he held that where the people would invest their
it would be safe for the State to do the same
These extensions appeared to be just expedent and
demanded by the voice of the people and the inter-
ests of the State. The sum required for them would
not, by any MEANS as his opponent had admitted in
Alamance, have to be raised at once; but could be
raised from time to time, as needed. The Central
Road was not yet completed, all the money call
ed for, though had been chartered some six years.
and he felt it his duty, in maintaining the position
he did in relation to improvements to tell the people
frankly the probable cost which they would have to
incur. He hoped our present works would, after
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
provements were not popular in other sections,
his opponent had dwelt upon the large amount it
would require-had talked of taxes and of the tax
sathcrer, and had told the people that if they were
not aided in paying this present and prospective debt
of eight ten millions by his plan of getting lands
or proceeds from the general government the burden
would fall with all its weight on them; but where
the system was supposed to be popular he had
changed his tone, and had declaimed loudly as to
what he had done for the cause, saying but little
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 declaimed much about obtain
which to build Railroads and improve our Common
Schools but had at last admitted that it i'm
probable should get either lands proceeds. He
charged this upon him, and would hold him to it;
and the people would now that Gen. d.
brought by the force of truth to the position
with himself to w.t. that in making these improve
mcnts, we must rely upon our own means and re-
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 Whig lead
ers not sincere in this matter 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 was held up here for effect and
was scarcely alluded to in other States; that the
Wings of other States were for squandering these
lands, aud that the largest quantity granted during
any administration was granted and approved by
kl,>k SC <ls
issue was used here only for effect, the Whig Ma
tonal Convention silent the subject and that
Gen. Dockery and the Whig 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
admitted that he in favor of retaining the lands
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 we propose and intend to do, and 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 no sooner it brought
in than they went to 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 Sc
res of ourages committed for years past by the
thorites of Cuba on our citizens and their property.
He said the present position of the administration
would be maintained that must have full repar-
alton for the past and assurances oustice and hon.
orable treatment for the future; and that if Spain
should obstinatey persist in refusing this reparaton
and justice, we must take the island, and thus
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
this question: and to do it in language which 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 see the day when it would
triumph by legislative enactment all opposition
He showed that the Wing leaders, or 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, now advocated by his opponent
He showed that these Wing leaders, though their
present candidate for Governor pretended to be fol
it, and indeed claimed the authorship of it. had er