The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-02-07
Speech of MIR. Noble.
%" Ne Sasamnah Yale. Rail Road delivered IN

w tHe gentleman iiSt on the floor. | re-
collect last winter, with other gentlemen
OIL this floor, that l voted, much to my
hearts content, for the Rabun Gap appro-
priation. did SD, not from any mere ex-
pectation OF profit to my own district, but
because considered it to he the great con-
Meeting link between our southern seaport
and the great producing west. 1t was
giving us II connection with n country as
fertile as the bottoms Of the Nile; n coun
try that yields to our commerce its most
valuable commodities; that gives to our
great Atlantic cities all OF their wealth. |
thought We in South Carolina ought to lo
something to bring part of that com,
mercc into our own State. For this reason
voted for the appropriation. 1t was no:
at all from sectional feeling, and in
that view, | respectfully differ from my
fricnG from Grccnvillc. (Mr. Pcrry.) 1t
might be inferred from his remarks, that
he voted for the Rabmn Gap Railroad, be-
cause it had Il common track, for II cnns,l-
cradle distance, with the Grcenvillc Rail
road. Now, sir, although friend to the
Grccnvil'c road, shall not. for that reason,
vot. against any competing Railroad being
built in South Carolina. | WAS always Il
friend to the Grccnvile road, and sn!,Scr-
bed towards it, but if that road opposes
any other prnj jcrt because she fears its COM
petition; because it may take oft part of
the produce that otherwise would run over
her track, then. sir, shall lie against this
GreenviIc road, as | shall be opposed,
hope, to NIL monopolics, whether in railroads
or i'll other Things. After VIC have APP
proprialed two millions for the purposes of
commerce. in order to make the South Il
great people; in order to make South
Carolina II great State, and Charleston IL
r:cli emporium, ought we to Object to
grant charter to Il company giving us
more direct route for this commerce, be-
cause The Grecnvile road Objects to compe-
ti'ion; for fear her stocks and bonds may bear
= less value i'll the market, or the private
interests Of her stockholders may not Lc
subserved! Surely not.
am in favor of competition in railroads
As in everything else. We are far ahead
Of the old nacatcmizrl and turnpike roads,
with their gates and tolls. Railroads have
taken their place for all market purposes.
l hope to see the day when South Carolina
will have Il railroad in every district, con-
nccting every village and section with the
States. In the western extremity OF the
State, we desire this roal for agricultural
purposes. Augusta and our planters have
become accustomed to each other; it is the
market they have used since the frs. srtllc-
ment of the country, and now to he driven
from it 10y re:.Son of amy Stat, Jealousy,
will he doing them %rca: wrong. On
account Of this old conmcctinm, and also for
the advantages of the Rahun Gap road.
Augusta has stepped forward, after Hun.
burg had failed to do her duty hy the plan.
ters Of AhhevilIe and f. lgcf-l. an! liher-
ally offered to the Savannah Valley com
pany the aiI Of live hundred thousand dol
lars. Shall we be told it is for the interest
Of the State that we he made to trade at
certain favored markets within the State,
and garry our cotton AMI produce over
!avnre.t rOt'I>, t''.. .-'..3,
jured for the wan: uf our custom |
think the Just sentiments Of our State arc
too high for this.
III reference to my position, last winter,
with regard to the lsabun Gap appropria,
ton, can truly say, that if had thought
the produ C brought to Anderson by thai
road would not hc sufficient to sustain a
roa'l from Anderson to Hamburg, or Au.
glsta, and also the Grccnvic road, would
have voted for the appropriation with much
reluctance. | would have feared that two
State. for such doubtful aml uncertain
benefit. That l was not wrong in this
supposi:ion, is proved 10y the fact, that the
Greenvile company Immediately got II char
ter for n road from Nincly-six 10 Aiken,
knowing her present track would not carry
sll the freight to come over the mountains
When the Elgefield charter WAS up, | WAS
in favor Of giving to this company this con
nection with Aiken, provided they saved
their charter in the time limited. After
that, was willing for the E'Igefield com
pany to connect at Ninc,y-six, or New
Market, aud thus, TO some extent, tap the
Rabun Gap road. repeat again, am in
favor of the largest competition, compcli-
ton in markets, and III the means Of tram
sit. BY building the Savannah Valley road
We will add to the State the markets of
Augusta and Savannah these markets, in
addition to Charleston. Columbia and liam
burg, cannot fail to benefit the agricultural
interests, every where in the State. If we
are able to sell our produce for IL higher
P'SC ]" anu savannah, lbilH ln
Charleston or Columbia. shall we not he
allowed the opportunity 1t is the doc
trine OF free trade, and as free trade men,
We demand it rs our right. Since we
have been a State, we have icen contend
ing for the right to sell for the best price,
and buy in the cheapest markets, wherever
We could find them. Have we not been
resisting the monopoly Of the North. which
would require us TO trade in New York or
Boston7 Aud are we Oh the Savannah
River to be compelled to trade with Charles.
ton or Columbia? BY refusing us this
charter, We arc driven TO continue the old
wagon trade, and the precarious state of
the river.
My friend from Greenville, (Mr. Perry,)
has introduced Columbia as one of The
parties to be injured. Suppose Columbia
is injured, what tl,en9 Shall she sand by
H.