Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-03-10

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become connected with the great commercial toun-
tain of the Mississippi valley and its commerce be-
gins to descend the Atlantic slope, North Carolina
will not only find for the North carolina roao
but other roads will become equally necessary, as
we'll as the improvement of her rivers leading to ev
ery inlet on her eastern seacoast. Has she not the
MEANS therefore, to accomplish this object?
She certainly, at present at least, has open pass
to the Mississippi valley, through the valley VI ts
French Broad and that Of the Tennessee. And
South Carolina has outlet to the latter, through
the Rabun Gap, in Georgia. which is to be the great
north and south road. Midway between the cas-
tern Atlantic and the Mississippi river, connect'ns
Lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie with the cities OF
Charleston and Savannah on the Atlantic, and the
cities on the Gulph of Mexico And being north
and south line extending across 10 degrees OF lati
tude differing in climate, soil, and producuons eA
tending from perpetual ice and snow to perpetual
green leaves flowers, and ripe fruits, with branch
extending from the Tennessee valley to Caro- ana
another west to Memphis. Can any doubts be en-
tertaned to the quantity OF freight tnat VIII con
ccntrate on the Tennessee river And II connected
with the North Carolina road being an east ana
west, and the other north and south line, would
prove equally beneficial to both. The former would
contribute freight and travel gong SOUTH Wnhe the
latter would contribute freight and travel going
east.
Ought not this important outlet to satisfy Charles
ton and the State of South Carolina? Georgia in
granting that outlet through the Rabun gap still had
SIS to the valley of the Mississippi at Chattanooga
reserved for her people, and already connected
by railway with her commercial cities with through
freight in their favor and transmpment against
Charleston. Not so with North Carolina; when shc
oiyes I'D her pass through the French Broad valley
in the direction of Chattanooga, she deprives her
own cities of the commerce that would center IN
that valley, which if not furnished with an outlet
through that valley would naturally descend to
Fayetteville and the ports east OF it.
And why should the opponents Of extension de-
sire to defeat it by granting the French Broad char
ter why not at least permit the extension first to be
secured? Will not the capital OF the French Broad
valley be absorbed in the stock of the road to be
built up under the charter, and then even if
the bill for the extension pass who will be found to
take stock in it beyond Morganton? You had as
we'll fix that as the point as French Broad because
it cannot obtain individual subscriptions to extend
beyond that point so that the great western extern
sion would dwindle down to the extension of about
half the distance to French Broad, and to a point
favorable to a connection with the East Tennessee
and Virginia road by the Atlantic Tennessee and
Ohio charter, which of course would follow granting
the French Broad charter. The people of the French
Broad valley, instead of having the expenditures of
large sums of money in tunnelling through the Blue
Ridge and extending to the French Broad river with
a certainty that the road would reach that point in
a few years, will find themselves holding on to
cross charter with chances in favor of the route
through the Catawba valley being adopted, and her
route superseded in forming connection with Ten
nessee and Kentucky by line reaching to the
mouth of Sandy at the mouth of the Ohio. And
this would be far less injurious to North Carolina
and far more beneficial to South Carolina than the
route through the French Broad valley.
While the latter would have extend large
portion of the distance through broken country
with no navigable streams to connect with, the for
mer would form another great North and South
line connecting Charleston with the great bend of
Ohio opposite the center of the Ohio State, at dis
lance of not exceeding $50 miles, which would en-
able her to obtain continuous guage Of five feet to
avoid transhipments between these points, and in
stead of being disconnected with the east Tennessee
and Virginia road which is also five foot guage,
would be permitted to connect tracts with that road
The pass the Mississippi valley would still be
kept open, and all the portions of the State west of
Morganton would be united in favor Of extension at
no distant day. But if the road were built through
the French Broad, a prospect of its being built
there, it is quite probable that the western extension
could only be accomplished by commencing under a
separate charter Duck Town, and coming
the French Broad, and the State constructing the
mountain division of the Blue Ridge, so as 10 com
pete the connection. and like Virginia, levy duty
upon tonnage and trade sufficient pay for the
penditure and protection which she gives.
But, it is argued by some that the latter is
Just mode of taxation, but attempt is made de-
nonstate its injustice. If unjust, then the policy of
The General Government in levying duties foreign
imports is equally unjust. II requires foreign
nerce TO be brought through particular ports where
custom houses have been established, and the pay
nent of duties ranging from 20 so per cent. be
made before the commerce is sold in the United
States. And thus the United States, well all
other nations, tax commerce for the protection 1t
ceives the high seas, and Indirectly ii susains the
principal governments of The civilized world. The
States under the federal compact surrendered the
power of levying duties upon the ocean.
but reserved the power control commerce within
The limits of the States. And North Carolina has
much right to control the commerce within her lin
its, by virtue of her sovereignty the national gov
eminent has on the ocean, and for the reasons
and for the objects. And she has much right
10 tax the citizens and commerce of other States and
other nations, the citiZeLs and commerce of
The people of N orth Carolina. Both should be
I'd for the protection received.
tax Of 40 cents per ton and so cents upon trav-
81 on great branch road, which would connect the
Atlantic with the valley of the Mississippi, wonld
produce to the State than is raised
from direct taxes on land and poll. And would not
The people of orth Carolina find much easier under
The former ystem than the latter TO tor constructing
her improvements and supporting the State govern
ment! 1t is by the exercise of this power that
Of the Atlantic States have extended railroads the
valley, and expended the large amount
which it cost to construct them. The immense
ports and imports of the Mississippi valley is suf
cient to accomplish these results. And North Caro-
lima, by the exercise instead of surrender of this
portion of her sovereignty relieve her citizens
from direct taxation always less odious, by
the adoption of the indirect mode which makes the
civilized world contribute aid TO these objects, in
stead of taxing her citizens alone for the bene-
fit of the civilized world.
And by pursuing this policy North Carolina will
increase in population. wealth and power. and her
and manufacturing towns, by having dis
ordinations in their favor, will be built up-the
same has taken place in other Atlantic States SINH
policy, and making discrimination in the creation of