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

Gap Rail Road.
| am sure that the remarks of the Banner
relative to myself, were conceived in good
spirit, and were uttered only through misappre.
hcnsion, as they were temperately and tastefu'y
spoken, and as the very best, almost confidential
relations existed between me and its unfortu.
nate departed Editor and Proprietor: and, there.
fore, am the more anxious that shall be pro-
pcry understood in this explanation, and thai
even MY views, unimportant as they may be
shall not again be misquoed and misinterpretcd
in the same friendly quarter, in which first saw
the commentary referred to.
shall be better understood, probably, by CIV
ing short history of the scheme OF the oaVan'
nan River Rail Road, its inception, lis progress
and lis present hopes.
1t 50 happened, that in latter part of the yeal
1851. or in the first part Of the year 1902, II
rccolect Alright, | was engaged in professional
business, or in defending negro man who was
tried for his life, near Dornes gold mine. Al
the conclusion of the trial. the subject of build.
ing Rail Road in that vicinity was introduced
by some sanrune and enterprising young men.
After short conversation of a few minutes, II
was proposed, bv myself, believe, or by Mr.
ATTlCUs Tucker now no more, that The compa-
ny assembled should organize themselves into q
meeting to consider the praclcablllty OF building
Rail Road on the Savannah side OF Ab0eVllle
andEdgcfed and to take the initiative in enllslng
the community in its support. was accordingly
called TO the Chair, (being thus made The chair
man of the first grand council, presume, ever
held in regard to the Savannah River Road, J
explained the object of our meeting in as peril
neut Speech as my poor ability and the occasion
would admit of, and at the conclusion OF our de-
2liberaiions, drew up, in connection win Dr'
J. Fl. JENNINGS, their results and forwarded thcnl
to the Edgefcd Advertiser. for publication. II
was resolved amsng other things that Delegates,
who were duly appointed and qualified to acc on
our behalf, should be sent 10 the Rall Road
Convention then soon to assemble at Anderson,
and that under the direction of our Committee OF
Correspondence, which was also tnrmally raised
and invested with proper functions, various
other mec,ings of like character should be
held in Abbevle and Edgcfed. at'times and
places specified. OF all these proceedings the
public was duly notified, and my friend the Edi-
Tor 81 the Edgefeld AdveEiser, made his accus-
toned untavorabIe comments thereon, because
the project did not exactly suit his eye, and the
rou did not lie through the central portion OF the
District. | rrcollect, that it WAS seriously con-
sidered whether or not, | should be called upon
to address the public at the first Barbecue to be
given and as | was ikclyto be 4 candidate for
reelection to the Legislature, and as there might
be conflict of opinion among the voters OF my
District as to the general fitness, propriety and
practicahilirv of our Road, it was determined, IN
all kindness to ine and without any agency OF
my tsss, stot,al not ttfen,rnmit inyset
upon sui bicct of so much interest, especially as
lived at Edgrfcld Court House, and might be
suspected of being aciuated by improper and sell
fish motives or the lust of popularity.
:. Here The matter rested until the first large
Barbecue ut Dornc's in the Spring or Summer,
of 1853, at which was invited to attend and ad-
dress the people, and though failed to be pres
ent myself. there were some very able and cliec-
tive speeches delivered on the occasion by Capt.
ANDREW J. HAMMOND. Capt. WILEY HARRISON,
WILLIAM c. MoRAGSE ESQ, and Mr.. IoYD OF
of New York. AT the succeeding meetings,
however, at the Rocky Ponds, and at DoESEs S
which assembled 10 take stock, upon the earnest
solicitation of the people, | availed myself OF
those opportunities to speak, and to explain my
views at some length Knowing my sentiments,
as he did to be favorable to his darling enter,
prise, Mr. DoIN was 50 resolved that should
speak on it, ut his second meeting, and supposlng
that might not well sustain, or might not like
to sustain the loss in business, of being absent
from nv office for Two or three days, with that
libcrlliy which so distinguishes him, ne offered
to pay me, for my services, very handsome and
indeed any tre l would name, which of course,
refused to accept, as considered my effort to be
an Offering TO the public good
! have been tn particular, in order to explain
most satisfactorily, my whole connection with
tho Savannah River Valley Rail Road, and to
show, that it was not formed from mere whl'n
or from the desire of notoriety.
Nothing could have exceeded the midness
and good temper of my discourse on the occa
sions referred TO, or my desire to avoid and ab
stain from every topic, that might arouse Inc
passions of those who differed with me, or be-
ret angry controversy. first endeavored tc
prove the public benefits resulting from good
roads and Rail Roads generally, which con
vcniences we clearly have not, but very mucf
need. and the absolute necessity OF forthwith
building up and establishing them throughout
the whole State: and then attempted to sho"
the particular advantages, which would innre te
the people of the Savannah River from the grea
project then in question; and am sure, only
alluded incidentally TO the Greenville and Co
lumbil Rail Road, while discussing the proba
biIity of our Roads being able 10 sustain itself
and 10 rcmuncratc its Stockholders for the cast
they might advance towards its completion.
will attempt briefly and faithfully to sketcl
my argument.
The system Of Roads in South Carolina, ant
the mode of working and repairing them, is 81
very defective, that it is utterly vain for Us L
expect a common public highway of this Stat
to be convenient or comfortable, or, at times
even passiblr. We have the worst public Road
in the world, and they positively reflect dis
grace upon our Commonwealth: 1t is TO th
roads and highways that the traveller frs
looks, for an indication Of the hospitality an;
refinement of nation, and South Carolina
Judged by such criterion, would in truth, ram
| little above the Creeks and Chocktaws, ant
Paunecs. And what is worse, and renders ih
rotten system mare odious and intolerable TO al
sensible men, is the reflection, that there are n
means of remedying it. The obnoxious mem
Der has an incurablc defect-an immedicabl
rulnus. It must be ampuiated, and its plac
must be supplied by another But the msfol
tune of it, is, that modification and death ma
ensue upon the administration of the scalpe
and the treatment may destroy the patient, a
is often the case with our valiant heroes OF tn
Medicine bags and Surgeons knife. From tn
indisposilion Of our people to pay the legItlmat
expenses Of their Government, and the burden
incident to the enjoyment Of their liberty /
money, and from the slavish fear of their popt
larhy, which possesses our Legislature, and put
spell upon their Acts, they decreed long ag
that each male citizen of The age, of sixtee
years should be liable to work OIL the roa'
twelve days in each year, instead of paying
tax of four or five dollars to hire public hand
who might be kept constantly employed on tn
roads, with competent Superinendants; an