The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-06-10
LETTER FROM LINN D. SANDERS, ESQ.

/ FeH0lo-cttlzens of me t0unfy o. J0hnSton
have been anxious to address you IN per-
son ever since the adjournment Of the Legls.
lature. but no opportunity having occurred,
| have concluded to do 50 by letter.
i II may be said of the General Assembly.
that If they did but little good they did but
little harm. The elements of mischief were
there, however, and to jealouses and conflict,
ing interests may be attributed the small a.
mount Of appropriations made to the Hexten-
sion and completion" Of that great scheme Of
internal improvements so bitterly opposed
years ago, but now so warmly advocated by the
party with which have always acted--hon-
estly and truy---until the Introduction Of this
alien doctrine into their platform. ! say
alien doctrine, because when | came to the
State about twelve years ago. the whole De-
mocratic party, with but very few exceptions,
were opposed to involving the State in debt
on any account, especially on account Of In
ternal improvements. Better for your in
terest, far better for the interest Of the peo-
Pile at large. that that opposition had contin-
ued. than for the State to be plunged into a
debt, to which the party inclination evident
ly leads. and which they will create ultimate.
lly, unless the people are aroused in time
to put bit in the mouth ofths wild Pegasus
so as to curb him down.
4 The passage of the Central Railroad bill
in l848 was one step, and the advocacy of the
Free Suffrage question, by which the Demo-
cratic became the predominant party in the
State, was another which induced that party
to take ground in favor Of "extension and
completion"-a position which has led to
nf fafa
debt, which, from time to time, have been
before the Legislature. voted for both
measures. For the first as an alternative,
because without the passage Of the Central
Railroad the Charlotte and Danyilebll would
have passed. by which North Carolina would
have become tributary to Virginia and South
Carolina. To prevent this evil, and to salts
fy the demands Of the West by giving them
the means of getting to market in our own
State. gave Tiny cordial support. | un-
derstood it to be compromise between the
East and West, and thought the latter were
aud would be satisfied. Such has not been
the case, however.
4 Iyoted for the Free Suffrage bill, because
saw no evil in it. But could il have been
foreseen that the advocacy Of one or both Of
localities, would result in the iOrmat ton Of
the Internal Improvement party of the two
last sessions, neither Of them would ever have
received my vote. Better let landholders
rule the Senate; better save individual and
State credit, than TO be burdened with tax
atiun never known in North Carolina before
than TO hawk your bonds about for sale al
par even. much less alta rate Of per cent. be.
, y0nd your legal interest-bonds that COM
mandeJ premium before the State beca me
So in debt.
In conformity with these views, and il
obedience TO what believed to be your will
., thought il my duty, as your Senator, to vote
against every new scheme Of Internal I'm
proyement which asked dollar from the Trea
: sury buth in the last and IN tile precedin!
, Legislature. Not only SO, but TO yu.e agalns
all other measures that might, in my judg
ment, interfere with the Investment Whicl
E the State has already made in public works
: | regret that upon these questions | had 4
part with very many u my Democrat,
] friends. IL they had been patient and waite
9 until the State became able TO 20 further
4 il they had built and paid for lhe Road iron
i Charlotte 10 Goldsborough, then would hay
been willing 10 see the Road progress Eas
S and West as the means Of the State Muul
. justify, and the people be able 10 bear with
: out oppression. But no; The work must b
o done now. Old Rip Van Winkle must
d aroused from his long siumbers and bcsti
/, himself. In order TO effect this object, At III
d Convention which first nominated GOyernu
!, Bragg, strange plank was introduced int
! the platform, the substance of which pledge
{ the party for extension and completion q
!, the works already begun as Ear a. the mean
y and re sources Of the State would allow" wa
c opposed to il then. am now. saw /
o what il would lead, and have not been dsap
pointed. Many old.lashoned Democrats
Jackson Democrats, objected TO il. But a
i these are the days Of Young America an
progress, they concluded, a. they did nu
4 understand il, il might all be well cnuugl
4 and said but little about il. II meant bu
i little, orit meant great deal. twas iagu,
n indefinite and uncertain. In one section
a was urged that the Eastern extcnsiu
il was all that was contemplated. In an0thr
that a section or two West might be under
!. taken. In another that il might be carrie
n through the State TO PANT Rock, on the Ten
10 nessee line. In others, MT only the whol
: Road might be built, but that nanerou
a branches might be run nff frnm il. And ur
y on these different constructions. membrI
Il we're elected 10 the Legislature IN ls5-
is They met in session, and after cautious ski
II mishing and much astutc manuusering. II
a successful parties got the following appr'
y priations through:
For The completion of the North Carolina
Railroad, Sl,n0out
!. Fur shc Atlantic and North Carolina Rail-
' road. I.Ooo1l
For the Western Extension, 5000,
., For other subscriptions 10 Rivers and Roads, 2pUe.
nd Making The round sum of S5,uOOOt
ID In addition 10 this amount, they pledged
the Sinfc a. cnlatsct lot Tic Whining.