The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-03-09
The Florida Central Railroad


We recently had an opportunity of con-
versing with gentlemen interested in the
construction Of the Florida Central Railroad.
to run from Jacksonville, wcstwardly'
through the State, to the Gulf ports of Mid
die and West Florida. From statistics and
information thus acquired, We are disposed
to consider this work one not only much
needed by the people of Florida, to afford
them desirable Atlantic outlet, and as
means Of accelcrating the growth of their
young State, but, with n terminus upon the
st. Johns river, work in which we have
n direct interest. It's construction will also
be productive of considerable advantage TO
Charleston, from the increase of trade
brought forward from the West and made
accessible to lis OIL the St. Johns. It is in
tact' an enterprise which appeals strongly to
charleston sympathy and support.
And it is hardly to he presumed that the
citizens OF Florida, along its line, are able,
unasslsteti, to carry to completion so extern
slve and important an enterprise, but tl,ey
have manifested laudable determination
10 make commencement and push forward
the construction, with a despatch commen-
suratc to their means. The expense of gra-
ding must be met from private sources. and
II Is proposed to devote the labor of the
country along the route to this purpose, as
far as it can be spared from other pursuits.
Alter the road has been graded in sections
OF ten or twenty miles, State aid is furnished
towards iron and equipments for the road.
whiv!, places ii in condition to maintain
itself. There is also, large donation of
lands along the route, applicable to the uses
OF the company, and which must have a
considerable value after the road has been
constructed; and, from prudential motives,
these lands are reserved from sale until the
road has impaired a value to them, but will
then become the property Of the Company
we wish the effort made by the friends of
the enterprise, entire success; which if car
rlcd out, must have general as we'll as a
local Importance, constituting, us it must, a
link in the great chain of sca-coast roads
from the extreme North to the extreme
Southwest, over which must pass the great
commercial mail, gathering up, in its tran
sit, matter from every important seaport and
commercial town upon our Atlantic border,
from Maine to Florida, and transmitting to
its destination, with despatch which can
not bc exceeded by any other route, because
none can be more direct, and finnish the
same amount of accommodation to the nub-
lie. And along the sa,no route, also, must
go that busy tErong whom business or
pleasure keep ever Oh the move from one
extreme of the country to the other, wherov.
er the facilities of expeditions travelling are
atfordcd.-Chas. Mercury.
--
AN IMPORTANT C..sE.-We understand
that his honor Judge Munroc, at the instance
OF the Hon. IL. B. Rhctt, on behalf of Ger
tam MERCHANTS, has granted rule against
the. Tax Collector of St. Phillips and ST.
Micheals, to show cause, on Tuesday next,
why prohibition should not issue against
him, restraining him from collecting a GER
tain tax, laid by this State on the manufac-
turcd productions of other States. The tax
OF the State not only discriminates between
the manufactured and unmanufacturcd pro-
duets of other States, but also in favor of
similar manufactured products Of this State,
which 1t exempts from taxation. The pro-
ducers of flour from the State of Georgia,
who make Charleston their markets, arc es-
Pcclally dissatisfied with this tax; and the
case is made, not only to silence the com
plants, but to test definitely the rights of the
State in taxation.
In the late secession controversy large
portion Of the Southern statesmen insisted
upon the policy Of laying discriminating
duties on tho manufactured productions Of
the North, as an efficient remedy against
their aggressions. This case, we hope, will
test the right. Let it be decided either way
the South will be a gamer.
If State has the right of laying such
duties she has an important weapon of re-
taliation. If she has it not, false refuge
is detected and put away from the counsels
of the Standardization Mercury.