Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-01-25
EDGEFIELD, S. c., JAM

I Oyerseers, some of them utterly irresponsible
and regardless of their duties should be ap
pointed to execute this contcmptible plan. with
out any view whatever to their qualifications
character or skill The Consequences, that on
roads are never in good condition, there is M
actual responsibility of the Overseers, and TIT
system has been so long in its feeble and per
nicious operation, that it cannot be changed fo
a wiser and better and no man has the 'hardi
hood or courage to propose such thing
Hence the absolute necessity for Rail Road
and Plank Roads and hence, the encourage
ment, that the State has Of late extended, of ne
cessity, to such enterprises as the one that nov
engages our attention.
The absolute need. therefore for 4 change il
our system of public Roads is clear to the mean
est comprehension. and the only question thu
can arise is, What system should be subsi
tuted for the one We now have IN use
imagine, that after so long and so successful
trial Of Rail Roads, no one will contend io
any o.hcr kind, orcoud be contented with u les
expeditions mode of travel than that. afforded ny
the Steam-Car, which surpasscs all the invrn
tons Of man on the snbicct Of lnc"m"tion
The very fact, that Rail Roads exist in some
quarters renders 1t essential that they sllnnlt
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to preserve the necessary equilibrium in trade
otherwise, those sections that enjoy these faci
ties would monopoze all the trade and all tn
traffic of the country. But their owa inirnsi,
merits are sufficient TO recommend them. They
in truth, annihilate space, and they gain IN Time
more than the farmer or fradesman loSeS II
money Formerly it took the merchant, mlnu
facturcr or agriculturisL not less than week Il
! travel forward and back to Il market not situated
more than an hundred miles from his door; row
he can accomplish that whole journey in a day
thus saving six ont of the seven days; which
estimating his time at one dollar per day, wou't
Weld him the clear profit Of six dollars on cacl
| Journey to market Extend this principal Of cal
rulation throughout the whole m"d"s oPcrand
of travelling-to man, beast and wagon ant
YOU will be enabled only TO ftGm slight con
ceplon of The vast benefits of Rail Roads 10 ;
country.
1t is well known that nothing so humanIzc:
mankind. and so promotes his civilization, en-
Iirhtenment and religion as well rs his wealth
and lberatv, as travel and commerce, and as
bringing the people of various sections States
Countries, Kingdoms and tongues into one So
ciety. and into communion with one another. II
is thought by Philosophers and Historians, that
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most emplicd of men and treasure. the farrSt
portions of Europe and Asia, and though they
caused blood 10 flow more freely than all the
other wars of mankind, and exhibited human fe'
roci,y. in forms more hideous than had ever br.
fore been Witnessed on earth, were still most
beneficial to the race of man. in causing them Ia
know each Other in spreading the learning and
arts of one country among The inhabitants oi
| i t,a
of either region to see and acknowledge, that
were Ai,L ersta
I bounty and grace, and of those Distinguished
farors of Providence, which mark one people
as eycclling in manners, Government and Laws
and in the more exalted virtues that adorn and
dignity the human kind, aud point them out as
the chosen and well accepted people for the
bcncfactions of Heaven.
II is needless for us now 10 argue that Turn
Pike Roads and Plank Roads are not more suit
ed to the farmer than those OF more eSprdI-
tious and extensive kind. 1t is true, that they
answer well the only purpose for which they can
be built to advanlage-to inersect the RaI
Roads at short distances, and perhaps to traTcrsc
single County or District. Their mode OF
travel cannot compete, in long distances. VIII
the Rail Road, though am glad to acEnnW
edge, that they are very essential 10 he rstab'
lished by, and in, and through single Dist'lcis.
have sometimes persuaded myself, that kai
Roads were invented especially for the GOOD
and the glory of this country; and 1t were
at all superslilous or creduous; l.would main
tain, that their inventor WIS inspired OF Heaven
tha: the American people mig ght the more spccd'
ly accomplish their manifest destiny, OF reyon
tiunizing the governments and laws Of all The
nations of the Earth.
Our country is so vast in its cXtent-has sucI
diversified interests, so great Il variety nt cll
mate and productions, and so many distinct ra
ces of men scattered tIinly over almost halt ;
Continent, and all acknowledging ono and tn,
same Government and Federal Constitution
that it really appears to me, as if nothing coule
so tend to promote their harmony, their union
their strength, their wealth, their science, anc
their continued freedom, rs Steam Power, Elcc
tricily, the Telegraph and the Steam Car.
A people obcying the same laws, and look
ing to the same fountain Of government for pro
teciion, must know one another well, must dea
with one another, must commune with -ont
another and love and conlide in one another
Else angry contentious and collisions will taxi
place, and the links and cords of Government
will be dissolved, like threads of WAX bctnr
the flame. A Republic particularly, where Ih
tendency is 20 extreme democracy, and conse
ouently to anarchy. where the whole bent ~ ttl
! human mind is to an excessive or lawlessindepen
dencc,and where the centrifugal force that direct
the sphere must, from the nature of things. b
greater than the controlling or centIip.t Il power
some influence is indispensable, that shall bru
the people close together make them speak th
same language, hear and read the same laws oh
serve the same customs, and worship ut llie sam
shrine of religion and freedom. What tends T.
accomplish this great end, like the Telegraph
Wires and the Rail Road Cars! The Tele
Uraph announces to-day Il wOndrnns lnvri
Iion in the City of New York, and on TO moi
row, we behold the very impcrSonatlon OF Il
, enterprising, ingenious and thrifty Yankee, i
our ycrv midst, not only solving the mystery
which but yesterday was first promugcd to tn
world, and but the day before, was hidden ro'
; the view of man, but actually converting it t
the practical uses and advantage of his countr!
, men. Today noble machine or engine is at
nouuced to have been examined ut Washlngt"
, CITY, and to have received the sanction OF tn
Patent Office authorities, and on the next day
C the Cars bring to our very doors not only III
books giving us the theory, hut the machr
: itself, ready manufactured and prepared for Sc
v vice. In short, our Electricity, our TELEGRAPH
our Rail Roads and Steam Boats, are narrowin
5 our dominions, are rendering US acompact an
Z closely neghboring nation, not practically;
q geographically, greater in extent, than the IL
e publics of Greece and Rome were, whilst the
s attracted the eyes of all nations, and not on
n monopoizcd the glory. but the wisdom, pow'
: and freedom of the whole world. hese in
$ provements, which indeed simpIetons and d
o lards may snecr at, are the illustrious meal
n which are to 0byinte the difficulties and imped