Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-04-08
GEN. COOKERY PUBLIC "a NDs. (,

GEN. DOCKERY PUBLIC LANDS. a..
We learn that the federal candidate FL governor
stated in his speech in SmithHeld that the present
and prospective Indebtedness of this State on ac-
count Of Internal Inaprogemenfs might be set down
at ten millions of dollars that there were but three
ways OF discharging this debt-frst, by the profits
q the works themselves, which could not be relied
secondly, blythe Democratic policy as he term
ed it OF enormously heavy direct taxes on the peo
pie-and thirdly, by the easy Wing method, as he
declared, of the p;blic lands or their proceeds He
also dwelt with emphasis upon the grant of public
lands tothe Illinois Railroad Company, and held the
Democrats responsible for the measure though he
well knew, and deliberately omitted to state, that
Wing President, Mr.. Fillmore, signed the BILL Yes,
fellowctizens, said he in substance the President of
that Road went to England and on the credit of
these lands he borrowed money from the Lords and
the Ears, and the &c Markises" and the Road was
built by the aid of English lordlngs; while YOU in
North Carolina are denied your share in these lands
are oppressed by heavy taxes, and are hardly able
10 buy 'gscdnny" to put on your poor land By
the way, the General has very Independent way of
pronouncing the word guano. We think in his case
ABOUT the first Thursday in August, the pronuncia-
ton will be-gOne-Oh! We have no doubt, hoTev-
er, that he would like to have it-gain-oA!
But seriously, was there ever such demagogueism
before in North Carolina? Does not Gen. Dockery
remember-and remembering, why did he not hon
estiy state-that his party promised to divide the
proceeds of the lands in 1s4O and that after getting
into power they not only violated their pledges but
actually added to the burdens of the people way
of tarftaxes? And does he not know that there
is no prospect at present. of distribution of the
lands or their proceeds? And such being the case
does he not perceive, as the public must that his
defamation about the State debt and enormous tax
es IS calculated to insre the cause Of Internal In
prorements? We call upon the friends of Internal
improvements and especially the people of Western
North Carolina, to note this fact. Gen. Dockery in
order to advance party purposes and to promote his
own election, is engaged in course of public decla
nation which is calculated if not intended to check
and chill the ardOr Of the friends Of Improvements;
and that too in section of the State where this
cause, which men of all parties have so much at
heart just beginning to take deep root and of
fer promise of the best results. Will he talk thus
in Western Counties? Will he say to the patriotic
and independent men of the mountains, you can |
have improvements if you will adopt the policy at
the hazard of enormous taxes, but you can have
them for nothing if you will beg the General Govern
ment for the means? Will he? Away with such
croaking such demagogucism, such dependence up
on federal power as this
1t deserves also to be mentioned in this connec-
tion that Gen. Dockery was SILENT at Smithfeld on
the subject of extending the North Carolina Railroad
east and west