The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-02-14
S9{3AA u q III 3WUS o
On the Snvannoh Valley Railroad, dcliv-
! ered IN Tie Senate, Dec. IA, 1855.

my honorable friend (Mr. Buchanan) has
80 well said on the question now under con-
sideration. Let us first consider the objec-
tions to the right of the people of the Ss-
rannah Valley to build railroad connecting
with the Blue Ridge Railroad at Anderson,
md terminating in connection with the
SoNth Carolina Railroad, in Augusta, Geor-
gia.
My honorable friend from st. Helena,
SMr. 'ohnson,) is opposed to the connection
with the Blue Ridge at Anderson, because
1t WILL IN great measure, tap the Blue
Ridge ka'road, and thereby carry larger
portion OF the produce of the Tennessee
valley into the State of Gcorgia-that the
State has subjected herself to heavy debt
for the purpose offorcing this IVes'crn trade
through the State to the city Of Charleston,
and the building Of the Savannah Valley
Road will turn this trade to the State Of
Georgia. In reply to my honorable friend,
l say he is no true friend of the Blue Ridge
Road if lie Objects to this connection, and
if he thinks he can force trade out of di-
rect and cheap channels of transportation
to more circnitous and expensive ones, he
has studied tie laws Of trade and of COM
mercc to little advantage. l say to him in
all soberncss, that the very motion he has
now made to cut off the connection of the
Savannah Valley Road with the Blue RiJpe
Road, will be the means Of not only erin
plug, but giving a death stab 10 Charleston
and the Blue Ridge Road. I would ask
what were the Objects i'll building the Blue
Ridge Road? 1t WAS to put our sea-port
town, Charleston, nearer to the produce of
the great valley beyond the Blue Mdee
Mountains than any city on the Atlantic.
The State of Georgia has expended her
millions in making railroad communica-
ton from Augusta to the Tennessee Valley,
and from Savannah via Macon, to the same
point She has succeeded in diycrtinp q
great deal of this rich trade from Charles
ton to Savannah but the people of the
Tennessee Valley say to the people of South
Carolina, we want 4 better market than Sa-
vannah-wc want a more direct commune
cation with Charleston, than going round
ny Augusta, where We have to reload and
re-sh'p our produce. This can he effected
by cutting railroad through the Blue
tldSe mountains in the direction of Knox
vile, Tennessee. Virginia, too, is deter
mined to penetrate this rich valley of the
West by her railroads; but when we come
TO compare the respective distance from
N or'oli' Charleston and Savannah, we find
mat Charleston is one hundred and fourteen
miles nearer than Norfolk, and ceh,v.onc
miles nearer than Savannah TO the Trn,os-
see Valley. Now, assert this proposition
that trade will seek that market which will
AFFORD the cheapest and most direct route Of
transportation, and will give the highest
price ana IN return, will sell its goods and
wares the cheapest. Charleston is this YER;
market, which the people west of the Blue
Ridge arc seeking. Well, What route is the
most direct to the Blue Ridge Road9 If
Senators will examine the printed state
ments on their tables, they will sec that
Charleston is thirty miles nearer Knoxville.
tennessee by way Of the South Carolina
TOAD and Savannah Valley Road, than by
Columbia and the GreenviIle d. CoIumbi,
Road; and if there is connection made
from Aiken to Dorn's mine on the Savan-
nah Valley Road, the distance will be al
most direct, and forty-one miles still nearer
Now, if we can shorten the distance be-
tween Knoxville and Charleston by the S.,-
vannah Valley Road some thirty miles over
any other route in the State. and some o,o
hundred miles shorter than any route
through Georgia. do We not increase the
trade and transportation on the Blue R;dyo
Road? When Charleston is the natural
market for the Tennessee Valley, and can
afford oil the facilities that the western NOR.
chants desire in the way of trade and com.
merce, and they can get there by the BIue
Ridge Road, seventy one miles nearer Nv
the Savannah Valley Road, or by the Green.
vile d. Columbia Railroad, thirty-four miles
nearer than any route through Georgia. will
not these merchants consult their best ;ntor-
est, ny going to the nearest sea-port mar
ket where they can sell their produce for
the most money, and buy the cheapest .
Undoubtedly they will.
With snch advantages in favor Of tho
Blue Ridge Road, the friends of that oreot
enterprise may well expect TO transuori tbe
greater share Of the produce of the r;cb
valleys of the West. But if we should net
Me transport, one half of the produce
raised in the Tennessee Valley on a fr,t
class road through the Blue Ridge. what
ask, will we do with it when it rcacbes A,
derson Court House? There is the rou,o
o