The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-06-02
RUFUS Nj. HERON, Publisher.
NO. 45.
From the Raleigh Standard.
EntcrnaI improvements.

| and of showing the hlgn anu luSI STOunu oCCuP'"u
on the subject by the Democrats oil the Sta'e ana
their candidate for Governor.
In 1886 the government Of the State passed
into the hands oil the Whig leaders, and they con-
tnued to hold tiff we except the Legislature ol
! 1912 " hich was Democratic-up TO 1851. Dur
| ng this period various schemes OF internal I'M
| provement were brought forward, and some OF
i them were established; and they were controlled
| by Whiy policy and Wing men. Originally, tho
| people OF both parties, they are now, and as
everv enlightened people must be, in favor OF such
| prudent legislation as would result in bringing
out our resources and in building up markets
within our own borders and plans for the I'M
provcmcnt had the hearty support OF leading De-
| mocrats as well as leading Wings. After time,
however, il bc came apparent that The system OF
improvements " lich had been established was not
well mana ged-ihat abuses had crept into l-that
lavoritism and party spirit prevailed in It's admin
isration--that sectionalism marred it, as has so
often marrcd whatever Whig leaders have done or
ATTEMPTED TO do in State affairs and under these cir
cumstances Democrats spoke out IN strong terms,
not against internal improvements. but against those
things under Wbig rule to which we have Ius refer
red The people became impatient of Whig blum.
ders and abuses in this rcspecl they saw party IN
power not competent, it pro'essed to be compc-
| tent, to manage by and Of itself system OF IN
ternal improvements party which mIsmanaged
those works which had been committed to 1t, and
feared to undertake ones lest II should incur
the responsibility of raising the taxes on the REQ
pie. In proof Of this latter assertion, 1t is well
known that the same party--in order 10 avoid a
showing OF the Indebtedness they had brought
upon the Stute. when they had so little TO EXHIBIT
as the result of this indebtedness--resortcd seS-
sion after session the School Fund for supplies
of money, until fears began 10 be entertained by
the friends Of Common Schools that large por.
ton or all Of this fund would be ultimately abb
sorbed by the State Treasury.
Matters were in this condition in 1s49, when
The Central Rail Road bill, the Fayetteville and
Western Plank RoaI bill. and the Cape Fear and
Deep River Navigation bill were passed. Parties
were balanced in that Assembl y--the decline of
Wing power, as welded by Wing leaders, was
followed by measures of vast moment for good 10
the present age and TO posteriiy. The eloquent
voice Of Dobbin heard in the Commons in
favor of all these measures, and was largely in.
srumental in their passage; while IN the Senate
the Central Railroad bill saved by the casting
vote OF a Democratic Speaker. This press also
| not wanting the occasion, but went for all
these measures, we'll us for measures for relief
TO the Wilmington Road, with all the earnesness
and ability the editor could command. Here,
then, of good feeling and Of common
| hope for the State. The active and leading men
OF both parties either for these works, or
acquiesced cheerfully in the policy which was TO
foster and complete them and the people required
in every campaign for Governor from thai time
TO the present, that the question Of internal i'm
provemenls should be kept out of The arena Of
party strife. This we have studiousIy sought 10
do, but the Whig press, the Raleigh Register
peclally, will, II seems, have it Otherwise.
Gov. Reid was elected. The various works Of
internal improvement have gone forward as rap
idly under his administration as il possible III
the nature Of things they could; and TO sum up
the whole matter in a few worjs, the Democrats
have shown themselves competent 10 lead in this
matter and under their aus plcrs the State has done
more IN four wears to develope her resources Of
all kinds than has been done during fourteen
years or Wing rule. These are stubborn
facts. We regret 10 have 10 bring them forward,
because they SAVIOR OF party, and We desire
heretofore 10 keep Ibis question out OF party
strcs; but acting III selI.deence, and the
blame if any there be, must fall upon The Whig
press and not us.
The following is the Resolution OF the late De-
mocratic Stale Convention the subject OF inter.
nal improvements
g ReS01ced That it is our earnest wish and dc.
sire to see the resources of North Carolina, agrI.
cultural, mineral and commercial, losered and
developed and The State having already entered
upon system of internal improvements 10 that
end and made large investments with that view,
it would, III The opinion Of his Convention, be
polite ard proper Tor the Legislature, from limo
10 time, 10 extend such further aid in the compile.
ton OF The works already undertaken, and the
extension Of the same, just regard for the
interest of The people may require, and the mears
aud resources Of the State will prudentIy allow"
This Resolution unanimously adopted It
has the cordial approval of Mr.. Bragg, the Dem.
ocratlc candidate Tor Governor. Il embodes his
views on this subject, and his action as Governor
will be IN accordance with ii. Aud IS II noi under
the circumstances, wise and just declaration of
principle and opinion Wing Editors say il is
not strong enough. How much stronger would
they have it Could they 90 beyond an earn
est wish and desire 10 see the resources Of North
Carolina, agricultural, mineral and commercial!
fosercd and developed"! Is that weak language?
Far from Il; il is The ardent wish the sincere
hope that The Siate may go forward in tho career
OF Improvement; and the Resolution then points
out the means for attaining ihs desirable result
1t declares that further aid should be given If nc.
cesSary, 10 works already undertaken, and that
these works ought to be cxtended aud the only
limit set 10 the amount of tlais aid and TO appro.
pratIons for extensions, just regard for tho
interest OF the people," and prudo ut references
10 The : means aud resources of The State. Why.
what do these Whig Editors rcquire9 Would
they have the Legislature disregard the interests
oi 'he people, Or Nrolre Tie SGuLe LeyOnd hcr
means 0aGL resources WoulI lbev h,va NJ