Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-05-24

circumstances wise and just declaration of princi
pie and opinion? Wing Editors say lis not strong
enough How much stronger would they have it
Could they go beyond an g earnest wish and desire
to see the resources of North Carolina, agricultural
mineral and commercial, fostered and developed y?
Is that weak language? Far from it; it is the
dent wish, the sincere hope that the State may go
forward in the career of Improvement; and the Rcso
luton then points out the means for attaining this
desirable result 1t declares that further aid should
be given, if necessary, to works all eady undertaken
and that these works ought to be extended and the
only limit set to the amount of this aid and to ap-
preparations for extensions, is just 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 Legislature disregard the interests of the
people, inrolre the .Stute beyond her and
resources? Would they have Mr.. Bragg take this
ground, and so suggest and recommend to the AS
sembly Governor? They must either mean this
their objections to the Resolution are founded
solely in party feeling. This journal has been and
will continue to be the advocate of internal inn
provcmcnts and we in favor of completing the
present works, and of extending the North Carolina
Railroad eastward to Beaufort and westward to some
point the Tennessee line; and this Resolution
embodies all We could desire on the subject. We
stand upon it; and declare settled conviction
after careful examination of the two Resolutions,
that 1T as better and safer Resolution erery aeay
for the Of internal improvements than the
Whig Resolution The Wing Resolution is as fol-
laws:
" Resozred, That we in favor of liberal sys-
tenn of internal improvement on the part of North
Carolina, and especially recommend the extension of
the North Car Dina Road, and west to the ia
yOraDle consideration of the
Now, what docs this amount to? Why, simply
that the Wing Convention was in favor, as every
is, of liberal system of internal improve
mcns; and it recommends " the extension east and
west to the " favorable consideration of the next
Legislature" Who cannot do that? AS matter
ofthe commonest courtesy, any one-cven one oppos-
ed to internal improvements recommend
work to the /" favorable consideration =" of the As
sembly There be harm and no risk, prob
ably in considering. Now mark the difference: The
Democrats boldly take the ground that it would be
polite and proper for the Legislature to complete
the works now in progress and to extend the same,
which extension of course refers to and includes the
lines to Beaufort cast and Tennessee west Whereas
the Wing Resolution merely recommends" these
extensions to the favorable consideration of the
Legislature" The former is direct, positive, une
quivoca; the latter is reserved eyasve and equivo
cal. Is it not so? And yet with such Reso-
luton, and with Mr. Bragg standing it, Wing
presses have the assurance to charge the Demo
Gratis and to charge him with being opposed to in
terral improvements Mr.. Bragg is in favor of
these works, but he is not prepared to lose sight
of the means and the ability Of the people to
construct and pay for them. He would prefer no
doubt to see the present works finished, and new
ones begun and carried on, in the same spirit of
economy and prudence which would characterize an
enlightened farmer in having work done on his own
plantation and the fact that he looks carefully to
the of the State and to her means for pre-
serving her credit unmpaired while engaged in max
ing these improvements and afterwards affords the
strongest proof that he is in earnest in his advocacy
of them We're he to talk and act othcrwise-were
he to speak lightly of expanding millions thou
sands, and at the same time rely for these millions
upon the bounty of the federal government, he
might we'll be suspected either wanting that sound
common sense and sagacty so essential in states
man, disposed to deceive the people by making
promises not likely to be performed But Thomas
Bragg is no such man. What he says he will stand
to- He feels that these works ought to be DONE but
he knows they will cost large amount of money,
and that this money must be raised by taxes on the
people of the State hence heis in favor of prudence
and economy in every step which may be taken in
this matter. Who will condemn him for this Does
he not, on the corr rary, deserve credit for it?
1t is also charged by these Wing presses, on the
authority of statement of Gen. Dockery that Mr..
Bragg said at Edcnton he opposed to borrowing
money for purposes of internal improvements. Such
a statement is so absurd to carry its refutation
with it, and surprised than any man of sense
should listen to it for a moment Mr.. Bragg never
said, never thought of saying any such thing. He
knows, all know, that the State, if she prose-
cutes the system, must borrow money, for she is
borrowing now for that purpose, and the annual
taxes will not more than support the government
and pay the interest on her debt.
North Carolina Whiggery must indeed be in de-
plorable condition when of its main issues is an
attempt to make capital out of internal improve
ments, subject equally important to all, and in
the of which men of all parties so deep
ly interested.
Let it be borne in mind that the State has pros
pered beyond example under the Democratic admin
istration of David S. Reid and that Thomas Bragg
if elected, will tread in his footsteps With such
at the helm of State all interests will not only
be safe but the of people will be onward
and upward in the path of Improvement The east
and the west will be linked together with bars of
iron-the mountains will speak to the sea, and the