Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-06-02
From the Raleigh Standard.
Internal improvements.


for party purposes devoves upon us the duty OF ex-
hibting the facts they really are and of showing
the high and just ground occupied the subject by
the Democrats of the State and their candidate for
Governor.
In 1886 the government of the State passed into
the hands of the Wing leaders, and they continued to
hold tiff we except the Legislature of 1842-whlch
was democratic-up to 1851. During this PERIOD
various schemes of internal improvement were
brougt forward, and some of them were established
and they were controlled by Wing policy and Wing
men, Originally the people of both parties were, as
they are now, and as every enlightened people must
be- in favor Of such prudent Legislation as would re-
suit in bringing out our resources, and IN building
up markets within our own borders and plans for
Improvement had the hearty support of leading DEM
ocrats as well as leading Wings After time how
ever it became apparent that the system of improve
ments which had been established, notwell man
aged-that abuses had crept into it-hat faycrltism
and party spirit prevailed in it's misunderstanding
Sectionalism marred it, as it has often marred
whatever Wing leaders have done or attempted TO do
in State affairs and under these circumstances dem
ocrats spoke in strong terms, not against INTERNAL I'M
pfoyements, but against those things under wing
rule to which we have ust referred. The people
became impatient of Wing blunders and abuses IN
this respect they saw party IN power not compe-
tent, it protested to be competent, TO manage by
and of Itself system of internal improvements
party which mismanaged those works which had
been committed TO ii, and feared to undertake new
lest it should incur the responsibility OF rails
ing the taxes the people In proof OF this latter
assertion, it is well known that the party, in Or
der avoid showing of the Indebtedness, they had
brought upon the State, when they had so little TO
exhibit the result of this ndebtedness-resorted
session after ssion to the School Fund for supplies
of money until fears began TO be entertained by the
friends of Common Schools that large portion of
all this fund would be ultimately absorbed by the
| State Treasury.
Matters were in this condition in 1913, when the
Central Railroad bill, the Fayetteville and Western
Plank Road bill, and the Cape Fear and Deep River
Navig aton bill were passed Parties were balanced
in that Assembl y-the decline of Wing power, as
welded by Wing leaders, followed by measures
of vast moment for good to the present age and to
posterty The eloquent voice of Dobbn was heard
in the Commons in favor of all these measures, and
was largely instrumental in their passage; while in
the Senate the Central Railroad bill was saved by
the casting vote of Democratic Speaker. This
press also was not wanting on the occasion, but
went for all these measures we'll as for
for relief 10 the Wilmington Road, with all the
estness and ability the Editor could command. Here,
then, an era of good feeling and of common
hope for the State. The active and leading men Of
both parties either for these works, acqu-
esced cheerfully in the policy which to foster
and complete them and the people required, in
every campaign for Governor from that time to the
present. that the question Of internal improvements
should be kept out OF the of party strife. This
we have ssudousy sought to do but the Wing press.
the Raleigh Register especially will, it seems, have
it otherwise.
Gov Reid was elected The various works of in
ternal improvement have gone forward rapidly
under his administration as it was possible in the
nature of things they could; and to sum up the
whole matter in few Words the Democrats have
shown themselves competent to lead in this NATTER
and under their auspices the State has done more in
four years TO develope her resources of all kinds,
than had been done during fourteen years Of Wing
rule. These are stubborn facts. Weregret to have
to bring them forward, because they Of party
andy doc nfOr
ton out of party strife; but acting in SELF
defence, and the blame, if any there be, must fall
upon the Wing press and not on us.
i The following is the Resolution of the late Demo-
cratic State Convention the subject ofinternal i'm
prOvements
RcsolUed, That it wish and desire
the resources of North Carolina agricultural mineral and
already entered system of internal improvements
that end, and made large Investments with thai view it
for the re- o me n De
further aid in the completion of the works already underta-
KEN and the extension of the same just regard
sources of the State will prudently allow"
This Resolution unanimously adopted 1t has
the cordial approval of Mr.. Bragg, the Democratic
candidate for Governor 1t embodies his views on
this subject, and his action Governor will be in
accordance with it, And is it not, under the circum-
Stances wise and just declaration of principle and
opinion Wing Editors say it is not strong enough !?
How much stronger would they have it Could they
resources of North Carolina AGRICULTURAL mineral and
commercial, fostered and developed 2? Is that weak
language? Far from it it is the ardent WISH the
sincere hope that the State may go forward in the
career of improvement and the Resolution then
points out the for attaining this desirable
suit. 1t declares that further aid should be given,
if necessary, 10 works already undertaken, and that
these works ought to be extended and the only limit
set to the amount of this aid and to appropriations
for extensions, is g ust regard for the interest OF
the people,, and prudent reference to the means
and resources of the State" Why, what do these
: Wing Editors require Would they have the Leg.
slature disregard the interests Of the people, or IN
! Uoive the State beyond her and resources p
J Would they have Mr.. Bragg take this ground, and
> so suggest and recommend to the Assembly as Gov
" ernor They must either mean this, or their OBJ
ectlons to the Resolution founded solely in party
. feeling This journal has been and will continue t.
J be the advocate of internal improvements and We
are in favor of completing the present works, and
of extending the North Carolina Railroad eastward
" to Beaufort and westward TO point on the Ten
nessee line and this Resolution embodes all we
could desire on the subject. We stand upon it and
u declare settled conviction, after careful ex
animation of the two Resolutions, that At is bette,
and a safer Resolution every wag for the Of IN
!, ter11GL Improvements than the Wing Recolution The
! Wing Resolution is as follows:
Resolved That in favor of liberal system of inter
nal Improvement the part of North Carolina especi
ally recommend the extention of the North Carolina Road
Legislature'
e Now, what does this amount to ? WHY, simply
that the Wing Convention was in favor as every on
is, of liberal system OF Internal improvements ant
5, II recommends the extension east and west to TIL
e favorable consideration of the next Legislature
If Who cannot do that? AS matter of the commones
d courtesy, any one-even one opposed TO internal i'm
J. prOvementscOuld Ommend work to the 'fayora