Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-06-28
THBsxsATEST FAILURE.

sion that ne was opposed to the States borrowing
money for internal improvements We quote this
certificate in full with the exception of the names,
to show that the certfers have either fatally contra
dicted themselves, admitted the very fact they
were attempting to disprove! Here it is:
"The undersigned, citizens of the County of Chow
an, N. c. were at the discussion which took place at
the Court House, in Edenton, between Gen. A. Doc
kerry and Thomas Bragg, Esq, on the 10th of April
last, and distinctly recoect that Gen. Dockery ask
ed MIR. Bragg the following questions:
" Are you in favor of the extension of the North
Carolina Railroad East to Beaufort and West to the
Tennessee line ?"
10 which MIR. Bragg answered: IL am not to be
catechised; you have no right to question me-. "
The General remarked: {" you disposed
to dodge the question.
To which Mr.. Bragg replied: :" I am not, sir. ="
Gen. Dockery then asked the question Are you
in favor Of the State boz rowing money to build that
Road?"
10 which Mr. Bragg answered clearly and emphat-
icaly, "No," sir; but am willing to extend the
Road so far the and resources of the State
will justify.
The substance of the above is, that Mr.. Bragg was
not open to questions Gen. Dockery was, because
he not then candidate that he was neverthe-
less not disposed to evade the question: for he en-
phatically says so; that he replied "No, Sir; but
am willing to extend the Road so far as the means
and resources of the State will jutify Leaving
of view the probability that Gen. Dockery still
charging on Mr.. Bragg disposition to dodge and
that Mr. Bragg replied, "No, " and then added the
remainder above quoted, call attention to the
fact that no would say he opposed to bor-
rowing money for the purpose indicated, and then
added in the next breath, "but am willing to ex-
tend the road as far the andresources of the
State will iuStify Tho
and Mr.. Bragg is not the to do that, either in
the same sentence at all. He knew, as every one
knows that money must be borrowed to make these
extensions; and being "willing, as these gentle
men admit he said he was, to 60 as far /" as the
means and resources of the State will justify" it
follows inevitably that he could not have said " no'
in this connexion The certfers must have confu-
sed the matter in their own minds they must have
misunderstood him. The truth is, his declaration
that he would go to the extent of the "means and
of the State is all that the most decided
improvement man could desire; for the means and
Of the State include, of course, all the pro-
perty, real and personal, within our borders. If
there is no money in the Treasury with which to
execute these works, matter Of course it must
be borrowed and the basis of the loan would be the
means and resources of the State"
Again: These eertifiers and General Dockery, it
seems disagree. They say that Mr.. Bragg said "no,"
and then they add "but" &C., above given
whereas Col. Person says in his letter to Mr.. Bragg
of date May 1s, that Gen. Dockery declared in Will
mington that he had asked Mr.. Bragg if he was in
favor of borrowing money for the purpose referred
to- and that he answered he "acas not" How is this
to be reconciled"
I'LL lo1o,
Bragg's reply on this subject to Col. Person:
81 assure you, sir that have been most grossly
misrepresented as to what was said by me upon the
subject of Internal improvements, in the discussion
at Edenton.
In the first place, never refused to answer Gen.
Dockerys questions, has been stated. 1t is true
that stated that was not candidate, and that he
had no right to chatechse me; but that | would
nevertheless answer, and did answer.
What that answer in substance was, will be seen
from the statement herewith sent, of highly respec
table and intelligent gentlemen residing in the town
of Edenton, who heard the discussion. 1t was very
opportuney received the evening before your let
ter was handed to me- will only remark, that
that among the signers several prominent Wings,
who, as high-mnded, honorable men, know how to
do justice to political adversary.
am very sure that did not say that L was op-
posed to the States borrowing money to extend the
Central Road. knew very well that was the only
practicable way to carry works of the kind. The
dispute was, how large debt it would be necessary
and expedient to contract and then how the interest
of the same to be pad-he insisting that it was
to be done out of the proceeds of the sales of the
public lands and that the State would have to rely
upon her own means and resources. IfI expressed.
myself against borrowing money, what did | mean
(see statement of Messrs Badham and others0 by
saying that [ willing to 60 far as the means
and resources of the State would admit not to
incur debt beyond the ability of the State to pay,
&C., &c.
l thought Gen. Dockery's course in the East was
rather calculated to inure than to benefit the cause
of Internal Improvement which he processes to have
so much at heart. The magnitude of the debt which
he said would be incurred by the extension OF the
Central Road and then the threat, however untrue,
that the Democratic party intended to tax the peo
pie to pay it, might well alarm the people of both
parties on that subject and though he might sue
ceed in thus getting for himself must be at
the expense of the Interal Improvement cause in
the State.
/ beg the people of the East to remember that
Gen. Dockery told them that with the proceeds of
the public lands, the wings would save them from
taxation account of the extension of the Central
Road and also greatly extend the advantages of the
common schools. Yet in the county of Moore, where
we spoke few days since, he admitted that it is
improbable shall get the proceeds of the sales of
| the public lands. !"
MIR. Bragg has occupied but one position on this
subject and that is to be found in the Resolution of
| the Democratic Convention which nominated him
and that Resolution he himself insists before the peo-
pie, is fuller and explictt the subject of in
ternal improvements than the Whig Resolution.
q This effort the part of the Federalists may be
dovvn tho;r latoof sf most