The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-01-25
Remarks $of Messrs. Thomson aud Noble
on the Savannah Valley Railroad.


), Oh the Savannah Valley Railroad.
WE are indebted 70 a friend for copies of
the Times containing report o. the debate
on the question of amending tue charter of
the Savannah Valley Railroad Company.
The whole debate wouhl doubtless prove of
much interest 10 those who have not seen it,
but wfscan fiId room only for The follow
Ing extracts. 90, .,,1f.
Ataae stage Of the debate, air. TuoM-
soN said: ,,,.szEE :; "a. ...l II
This is another question in regard TO
railroads that tliis. House seems to be divi.
ded upon. l am sorry that feel con-
strained to say to the House the few words
| desire to say upon tlis.1nattcr, for 7
would, at al times, rather be silent Than
speak. But / am compelled to do 50, at
this time, because tlieiq question before It's is
one that affects the interests Of q large
number Of whom represent.
And permit me here to say, in the out
set, that the opinions Of gentlemen here
seem TO differ very much according TO the
circumstances; SO mucl, so. that l am fol,i=
bly, reminded by the members from Edge
field of an old fable told by 1Isop, ,of5the
farmer and lawyer, about lllt. bull and the
OK. Just as long as the Edgefield bill was
before the House, the gentlemen said let US
60 over to Augusta without restriction; bur
when we ask the same tlline, their views are
sulde"ly changed, aud we have a soun;l
upon another KEY.
W ia IL
that Hamburg is Ia be affected hv this rail
road. Now, want members to bear in
mind, that the argument is not that the in
Ptercsts of the State will he iniuriouSly affrc
|'tcd, but that Hamburg will be affected.
Suppose we accept the proposition Of the
gentleman from Hamburg, (Mr. Landrum.)
and [ ask YOU if the Interests of Il large
portion Of the State, lying upon the Swan
nah river, would not he sacrilirei to tie i'll
tercsts Of Hanlurgs That is the plain
proposition. Taking 1t for granted that the
gentleman is right, rs regards thcseffec,s Of
this road upon Hamburg, the question j..
s':atl :flasgt portion Of the State. up;n the
SavafS3ah river, I've sacrificed to Hamburg {?
Now, 1 think that. upon the proposition we
have Advocated here, that free trade is riel,;
and the tariff is wrong, this Legislature
ought to let lis go where We please. with our
produce, and not compel us. 10 60 70 liam
burg and sell it there 80 t,,~i'...,
Now. how is it with regard to Anderson
Abhcyilc and Edgeficld Districts9 Tia,
portion of those Districts lying upon the
Salu.a river. is accommodated by ihe Green
Vile and Columbia Railroad, But that por-
ton lying upon The Savannah river has no
railrond. And how n,:.ny bales of cotton
do they send to market every y4ar2 Isup-
pose thev send over one hundred thousand
bales, and their only mode Of transportation
is down the Savannah river. unless they
haul II across the country to the Grpenvile
and Columbia Railroad. Now what do
they askof you Permission 10 build this
road ut their own, expense and with the
means they can obtain. And What is the
argument, with which this request is met
here? Why, we must go to Hamburg. or
that t"wnwil beinjured. What will Ham
burg do for the road Why sir, she is
unable to raise subscriptions now, and the
road will be lost unless this amendment
passes. Its said, the. road is to Be, secured:
atihe expensesof Hamburg, and by nil from.
Augusta. 4, Suppose that is the .c;,se, and:
thai Augusta is willing to furnish $500, 900
fol. tho construction Of this road when tile
charter is granted; the trade must go 10
Obarlestons I venture the assertion, that ont:
of.one hundred and fifty thousand bales Of
cotton that GO to the city Of. Augusta oner
h1ndred and twenty thousand bales gd TO
the city of Charleston: And whyf $l5e..