The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-02-14

" ColumbIa t;ilrOad, that l would be the
last man who would raise his voice in favor
OF any project that would injure that road
l have been and am still warm friend OF
that road, and on every occasion, on this
floor and elsewhere, have been its warm
advocate; for honestly believe that it has
done more good for the agricultural inter
ests of this State, than any other road. I
say, then, that this idea of the building the
Savannah Valley Road being an injury to
the Grcenville e. Columbia Railroad, is a
mere creature of the imagination, produced
by fear and jealousy. There is no need of
either to exist, for if we will take the facts
as they arc now presented to every person
who lives on or near the Grccnvillc e. Co
lumbia Road, they will and must admit the
contrary to be true. Let us see some of
these facts. There are eight months in the
year, from October to June, that this road
has as much rs it can do to get off the pro
ducc along the line of the road. Some
times cotton has to lay by in the way sta
tions from two weeks to a month before it
can be shipped. What, ask, would the
road do with the produce of the Tennessee
Valley that will come by the Blue Ridge
Road? Our busy season is the busy season
OF the West; their produce would have
precedence over all the produce along the
line of the road. Instead Of the cotton w.
ing from two to four weeks for want of
transportation, it would lay from two to
four months. l care not how much YOU
increase the means of TRANSPORTATION, the
peoplc along the line of the road, for whose
benefit the road was built, would either
have to suffer, or the people west of the
Blue Ridge. but the managers of the road
would have too much good sense to lose
tic trade Of the West. They know that
we along the road cannot help ourselves.
and therefore our produce would be carried
when there was nothing from the West.
| maintain therefore that the building of
the Savannah Valley Road, will he the
means of comforting an indirect benefit
upon the people all along the line of the
Grccnville Il Columbia Road in dividing
The transportation Of the immense amount
(" produce that will ccmc from the West,
and allowing the Grcenvile Road to attend
TO the wants Of its old patrons and friends.
i'csAes through freight, it will receive an
im'ntnsc amount Of this Western produce
Tor distribution At Columbia for all sections
OF the State. The produce that will 60
down the Savannal, Valley Road will 90
directly for Hamburg or Augusta, or to
Charleston.
liut, Mr. President, I maintain that the
people on the Savannah Valley have a Just
ana equitable right to demand an amended
charter for the building of this road for al
gument sake. Admitting all the objections
to DC true, which think have shown to
be without foundation. Let Senators look
at the following facts as they stare them in
the face. The Legislature have, with a
great spirit of Iiberality, encouraged the
people of the various sections of the State
to 9.t build railroads, not by giving them lib
eral charters, but by subscribing onc-third
OF the amount of the estimated cost of the
road. The people along the line of the
Greenvlle & Columbia Road felt the neces
sity of railroad communication with Charles
ton. The people along the Charlotte and
South Carolina Railroad felt the same ne
cessity. The people along the line of the
Spartanburg and Union Railroad felt the
same necessity-the people along the line
Of the Wilmington and Manchester Rail-
road wanted quick transportation to the
same market. The people along the line of
the Kings Mountain, Camden, Darlington,
and Cheraw Railroad felt the same neces.
sity. They all applied to the Legislature
for charters, and amended charters; and
not only this, but they demanded aid from
the State to help them to build their road.
No objection was raised to these demands.
And why? Because they demanded as citi-
zens of this State, as tax payers, as persons
who are entitled to equal benefits of this
government, to the right to carry their pro-
duce to the market where they can sell for
the highest price, and buy the cheapest.
And not only this, they want to have a
choice Of markets. If the nearest market
will not pay them fair price, they claim
the privilege Of going to the next. The
State not only granted the privilege, but
said we will help you to build your railroad
Then in the name Of those people I repre-.
sent on the Savannah Valley, and in the
name Of all the valley above Bull Sluice, I
say are we not entitled to the samo privile-
ges and benefits that you extend to the peo-
pie Of other sections of the State Are
we not taxpayers, and citizens of the
Statea Have we ever refused to contribute
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