The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-01-31
SEe,ch OF Mr.. Noble,
he Sarannah Fdiie. Rail RonL, dclirered IN
tic House Of Representatives.

Of the gentleman last on the floor, re-
collect last winter, with other gentlemen
on this floor, that | voted, much to nv
hearts content, for the Rahun Gan appr,.
pr'ation. did SO, not from any mere OK.
Pcctat'on OF profit to my own district, hut
Lecause l considered 1t to he the great con-
Meeting link het~ cen the southern seaport
and the great producing west. 1t was
giving us connection with 81 country as
fertile as the bottoms Of the Nile Il 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 C..ro;ua ought to do
something to bring a part of that com
rnercc into our own State. For this reason
voted for the appropriation. 1t was not
at all from Il sectional feeling, and in
that view, respectfully litf.r from my
frirnG from Grcenville. (Mr Pc,w.) 1t
might be Inferred from h,s remarks, that
he voted for the Rabnn Gap Railroad, he
cause it had common track, for consil-
cradle distance, with the GrccnviIIe Rail-
road. Now, sir although friend to the
Grcenvil!e road. shall not, for that rc:,son,
vote against any competing Railroad being
built in South Carolina. was always Il
friend to the Greenville road, and su!,scri-
bed towards it, but if that road opposes
any other project because she fears its COM
petition; because it may take off part Of
the produce that otherwise would run over
her track, then. sir, | shall be against this
Greenville road, as l shall he opposed,
hope, 10 all monopolics, whether in railroads
or in other things. After we have ap-
propriated two millions for the purposes of
commerce. in order to make the Sout!, a
great people; in order to make South
Carolina a great State, and Charleston a
rich emporium, ought we to object to
grant charter to company giving It's Il
more direct route for this commerce, be-
cause tho Grcenviilc road objects to comnn-
ti.ion; for fear stocks aud bonds may bear
a less value in the market. or the private
interests Of her Stockholders may not be
subscrvcd! Surely no..
am in favor of competition in railroads
rs in everything else. We are far ahead
OF the old maca,lcn,izc'l and turnpike roads,
with their gates and tolls. Railroads have
taken their place for all market purposes.
/ hope to see the day when South Carolina
will have Il railroad in every district, con-
nccting every village and section with the
markets of the Statr :,nl Of neyhborinr
States. In the western extremity of the
State, we desire this roul for agricultural
purposes. Augusta anil orr planters have
become accustomed to each other; it is the
market they have used since the frs: settle
mcnt of the country, and now to he driven
from it 10y reason of any State jealousy,
will be doing them IL great wrong. On
account OF this Old connection. and also for
the advantages Of the kabun Gap road.
Augusta has stepped forwa:.!, ::f;c: Hum
burg had failed to do her duty ty the plan
ters of I,hbevillc AMI ElgeticIl. and liier-
ally offered to the Savannah, Valley com
pany the aid of five hundred thousand dol
lars. Shall we be told it is for the interest
Of the State that We bc made to trade ut
certain favored markci, within the State,
and carry our cotton and produce over
favored roads, that otherwise might be in-
jure.l for the wan: uf our custom? ]
think the just sentiments Of our Stale are
too high for this.
In reference 10 my position, last winter,
with regard to the lsaLnn Gap appropria-
ton, can truly saw. that if had thought
the t,rodu brought to Anderson bv that
road would not he sufficient to sustain a
road from Anderson to Hamburg, or An
gasta, and also the Greenv!e road. woull
have voted for the appropriation with much
reluctance. | would have feared that two
millions WAS too great venture by the
State. for such doubtful and uncertain
benefit That | was not wrong in this
surposition, is proved by the fact, that the
Greenvc company Immediately gotta char
ter for road from Ninety-six to Aiken.
knowing her present track would not carry
When the Elgcfcld 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 Elgctiel,l com
pany to connect at Nincty-six, or New
Market, and thus, TO some extent, tap the
Rabun Gap road. repeat again, am in
favor Of the largest competition, competi-
ton in markets, and in the means Of tram
sit. BY building the Savannah Valley road,
we will add to the State the ,nlrkc,s Of
Augusta and Savannah these markets. in
addition to Charleston, Columbia and Ham
burg, cannot fail to benefit the agricultural
interests, every where in the State. If we
nrc able to sell our produce for higher
price in Augusta and Savannah, than in
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 as our rights. Since we
have been State, we have been contend
ing for the right to sell for the best price,
and bny in the cheapest markets, wherever
we could find them. Have we not been
resisting the monopoly Of the North. which
would require IT'S to trade in New York ar
Boston? And are we on the Savannal,
River to be compelled to trade with Charles
ton or Colombia? by refusing us this
charter, we are driven to continue the old
wagon trade, and the precarious state Of
the river.
My friend from GrcenviIle, (Mr. Perry,)
has introduced Columbia as one of the
parties to be injured. Suppose Columbia
ia injureI, what thcn2 Shall she sand by
r.. II. Il Al