Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-28
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

whom has been referred the several bills respective
" reported in their ORDER having had under careful
consideration the embraced in these various
propositons in respect the same, and their action
thereon taken, as whole, ask leave to report
That regarding the inland improvement OF North
Carolina to be q quest ion of most vital Importance
to the welfare of the State they have endeavored to
give to that deliberate investigation required by
its notwithstanding under conviction that the
age, with its events and its necessities, demanded
an earnest consideration to determine rhGt Is
proper course of action. Your committee have felt
that not alone for day is this matter of deep
though in far this generation
only is concerned, its Importance can hardly be ex-
aggerated; but that beyond this, it concerns the
great future, for which, parent fO child the to-
tiav must provide with wisdom and forethought.
The committee called upon in the discharge of
the responsible duties assigned them to decide what
policy it right to recommend for the adoption Of
the Senate. How then was it proper to approach
such an inquiry? With the aprrehen:ive hes tation
induced by local objections? with the prcudices
engendered by age of inaction? Or was it proper
to look at our general condition, both actual and
comparative to where and how stand, as
State and people, to ascertain what has been done,
aud from this to learn what remains to be done?
1t is known that there those who believe that
any departure from the policy Of inaction, which
ruled in time past was both unwise and nexPe-
dent, and who favor return to that policy; who
have condemned and opposed our present progress
in its inception, and now disapprove as unsafe any
course that will lead to its extension. There are
others VINO consider LnaL the Gay FnCn
ed new era in history people, in the be-
ginning of system, was one bright in the auspici-
Gus omen of great future-fortunate in the happy
promise of age of prosperity, of advancement,
and of honor, such as State has not known.
Which of these two adverse opinions is capable OF
being sustained as the wsest, the most expedient,
the most udicious? Ifit is possible to apply facts
to determine this, our inquiry Is solved. Let us
then without reference for the present to any exist
ing improvements, look the State it stands,
see what its capabilities and resources, and what
is its condition.
Your committee assume that it will not be doubt
ed here, however it may be questioned elsewhere,
by those to whom North Carolina is Ian unknown
land" that we have a State second to no other one
in the conederacy in all the essential clements which
go make power and greatness; with n climate
most happily tempered by latitude between the
extremes of northern rgor and southern encrvation
atfording by the provident arrangement Of nature
in difference of elevation, all the advantages OF north
ard south with soil equal in fertility, and in ca
pability of production to that OF any region how
ever favored; with hidden wealth of buried trca-
sure in mineral riches such as has made McXi oand
Peru famed for silver California and Australia Tor
gold, England powerful on land and sea through
her mines OF coal and copper and iron; with noun
tains unsurpassed for capabiiity Of producing wool,
that great staple of wealth any land; with I'M
limited water power and abundant material for man
ufactures of every kind; with millions OF acres t.
yield abundantly any region, every pr0duc-
ton of North and South-cotton, tobacco rice and
all the cereals; with unestimatcd wealth OF naval
stores in immense unopened forests thus, mighty
in all resources of power-amOst helpless in their
command.
Such is State-who doubts it, who will
consider the picture overdrawn? Abroad the
statement might we'll be doubted, for its credit
would bring upon US only greater reproach; but,
of this Assembly, coming up here from every sec
ton of the State, all know that it is simple uncX
aggcrated truth-and, aohere do stand 1t
would be sufficient answer to call upon every
Of North Carolina who has gone 20 foreign
md has IN
the bitter modification, the inevitable humiiilton
he has suffered, at the mention of his Statea that
which for revolutionary fame, ought to be proud
q boast as the Roman Citizen of DID, but for the
degeneracy of latter days Who DOES not know that
our name has been made by word for soothing and
sneers-a reproach for sleepy inacton and 10y the
men of North Carolina abroad, what could be said?
That our State was the barren territory of sand
Mill and swamp, set forth in biographies inme-
mortal, with only the staples of tar, pitch, and
turpentne but region of fair plains and fertile
Valleys of abunda MT various productions, and rich
treasures? This would have been incredible, that
land favored by the gift of beneicencc should
be peopled.
Here them is the conclusion which it is not pos
sible to gainsay-that with territory Astounding in
of weath-possessng every essential to
make people great, prosperous, and honOred, we
rank in the list of States to the very lowest
Before our present age of progress commenced We
found at home neither prosperity content, but
the streams of life, arteral blood of enterprise
anGs leaving the State if hopeless and deserted
ike " q garden that is dry Instead of increasing
population and Astounding wealth, there was the
rush of emigration, and the etflux of money and
property thousands the States best riches, her
men and her women, forced to seek other regions,
where there blight Of hopeless inacton,
carrying out their millions of estate home.
This condition up to the period of the
passage Of the North Carolina Railroad charter
Since that time the reaction has commenced-and
Why? not because this single road could work a
universal prosperity such has been its marked eff
ect directly. everywhere within the range OF its in
1uence, but because the of this measure
vas the sign of age-waS the token of peo- !
yress about to commentaries the beg inning Of /
J great system SO understoOd-So approved.
Heretofore, in all Investigations referring to
policy of improvements it naS been Concession, /
accustomed to be made, that North Carolina is so !
situated by nature that she cannot look for the same
and must not expect to derive the same |
profit, from system of improvements, which have !
% happily crowned these enterprises elsewhere. |
Ter form of territory and location the Atlantic
eaboard being regarded as highly unfavorable
points in her case Your Committee of opinion t
hat the exact of these habitual admissions
S capable of being demonstrated to be the truth, !
md prepared to maintain, that no other State
N the Southern Atlantic seaboard possesses supe-
ior, if there is any one having equal advantages.
since in other State is there the capablity
If various productons-in no other State are there
ands near the sea of greater extent for fertility or
orests more valuable-in other State are there
'etter seaports-is there piedmont region of moro
old value-in no other State is there a greater va
iety or abundance of mineral wealth-of precious
metals, of iron and coal. But, we told there
re no seaport Cities and to build these REQUIRES