Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-01-27
SPEECH OF HON. ASA BIGGs,
OF MARTIN.

S'''S''
improvements
Mr.. SPEAKER: A few days ago was very uhex-
hectcdly called ub in debate upon the Western
Railroad bilk WIS emSSrrassed; Is aVo"ed, by
the circumstances then surrounding me. thought
saw disposition mauis. to produce collision,
If not unpleasant feeling between me and some OF
my Democratic friends, with view of relieving
others from responsibility, which they desired TO
avoid. then avow III determination not to vote Tor
the bill it then presented to me, and sought
not to have tho appearance of favoring measure
to be called liberal with secret purpose OF destroy
ing that measure upon its final reading heretofore
then was member of the Legislature, inc test
vote was generally had upon the second reading OF
BILL but at this Assembly it seems the practice Is
to assist each other pass bills through the second
reading with understanding that thereby you
are not committed to vote for their final passage
do not admire this kind of legislation, and there
fore prefer pursue what consider the frank and
candid course--ifI cannot approve, to dIsapprove.
sensbly feel the responsibility of my position;
By the kind Partially Of my Democratic friends
have been elevated to of the highest positions in
this country, and should do great injustice to my
feelings were to suffer an appropriate occasion TO
pass and not express my profound gratitude ana
thanks for the high confidence repoSed in me. There
is every generous consideration therefore, that ought
to influence the action of grateful heart to induce
me to avoid even a conflict OF Judgment with those
who have done me much high honor 1t would tncre,
fore have been very desirable to me- to have retired
from the responsibilities of my present position
] had however accepted commission to revise
the Statutes The work of the commission was to
pass through this General Assembly. 1t was work
requiring close application and accuracy The pro-
fsssona reputation of my colleague and myself ana
more than all the best interests of the State were in
voved to secure if possible improved revisal OF
our statute law and the duty therefore to remain
in the General Assembly was imperative. l foresaw,
and have not been disappointed in my expectations,
that it might suit the fancy of some, to endeaVor
upon State policy to array democrat against deni-
ocrat, and particularly if could be weakened IL the
or
friends my influence would be partially destroyed
and to that extent the Democratic party weakened
knew, all know, that there was Il difference OF
opinion among Democrats upon questions oil state
policy particularly in regard Internas Improve
ments, not much noe as to their proprlety, as
there was concerning the extent to which 1t was
prudent to go, and as to the different PROPOSE
tionS of improvement that were to be discussed
had consequently anticipated that might with pro-
prety refrain from any discussion those subjects,
and under the responsibility and duty owed my
constituents, give IA silent vote according to their
wishes and best inl erCsts But was not permitted
to adopt that course and lest what said the other
day may be misunderstood, and to avoid all misrrp-
resentation, l beg the indulgence of the Senate to
state the general conclusions to which have arrived
the subject although it may not be strictly i'll or
der in the debate upon this particular bill Ny re-
marks shall be brief practicable, and vii! not,
/ trust be considered an argument. They viii par
take too much of personal character, admit, but
hope may be excused. from the nature OF the
My position the subject Of internal improve
mcnts, know, with some is greatly misunderstood.
Ny opposition to certain schemes, which | could
name and particularly to some that have proved i'll
furious to the State has identified in the minds
of some with these who oppose all internal improve
ments. There never Was greater mistake 1t VIII |
not be denied by the most enthusiastic friend OF i'll
ternal improvements that we have been very unfOr
tunate in North Carolina in projecting and perfect
ing system best adapted to our condition. AS far
back 1910, when l first entered the Legislative
halls, then expressed the opinion that the State
ought not originally to have been Interested in any
Railroad improvement but one commencing at Beau |
fort and running through the centre of the State
the mountains and that might have been tapped by
individual enterprise This would have been truly !
a North Carolina work; but different System OBJ ,
tanned, and it is the part of duty to conform
selves to circumstances which cannot control. /
Drains out of the State, north and south, com
pleted and perhaps from the geographical position !
of our State, natural and proper. l did not, !
however, consider it prudent, while to have |
rival competing lines TO Raleigh, i'll building the road
to the west, that we should incur a large debt to ,
continue that completion through the !Stnte 1t is /
well known, therefore, that | opposed TO the |
North Carolina Road it was projected, and !
thought it particularly Objectionable in it's location
of the western terminus. But here is another in
stance where called to conform ourselves to
as prudence may dictate. We have
invested two millions of dollars in this enterprise
1t needs at least one million more, which the State
must furnish the work is comparatively vaucIcsS.
ginal location, or its management, | have avowed,
and now avow myself ready to vote one million
or, million and half if necessary to put that
Road in successful operation with the best matcr-
ais and in the most complete order; that the COM
pany may not be embarrassed with debt, and may
have fair trial of its capacity for developing our
and benciittng the State Crooked as it is
It passes through growing enterprSing and intel
lgcnt portion of the State. This is certainly one
million more than was expected when the road was
projected but it is useless to discuss nOac the rea-
sons for this deficit and who is responsible for it.
nor will insist upon my opinion 20 the best course
to adopt in voting this additional appropriation.
This deter nlination Of mine well known to nv
constituents. | went farther, or | now go further
in expressing my wish and desire that the North
Carolina Road should be extended East and West.
Before my constituents expressed the opinion that
the eastern extension should first be made by
which We should have an outlet at Beaufort if we
wished to lay the foundation of great commercial
town in North Carolina at point where we had
the best harbor and best water; and then we could
extend west confess that since l reached this
place, and have seen the recent reports which show
depth of water at Beaufort from to 24 feet less
than 1 supposed, my opinion to the best course
low to be adopted has undergone some modifica-
ion. We have now, outlets to the North Carroll
IA Road, the enterprising town of Wilmington and
We have the Virginia markets, ola the Raleigh and
CASTOR Railroad. The depth of water at Whining
ION I am informed is increasing, and if am not in
great error, upon comparison of the reports of
engineers the depth of water at Beaufort is dimin-
shing. Then what does prudence dictate?
The subject of State improvements, finance and
State policy generally, does not necessarily enter
the party politics of the country 1t is idle TO