The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-01-06
From the Raleigh Standard.
DANvnLE CONNECTION.
SENATE CHAMBER, .
Raleigh, December 18th. 1856. {

TO have the ear-mafkS OF UUnOFIty- eiIldH1lL-
ing, doubtless, from some one of that num-
erous class that may be seen lowering, like
yultures, around the outskirts of the two
Houses. and are generally known as dolby
members
My first impression, from its heading.
was that it was special message from
his Excelleney the Governor of the State.
In this, it seems, was mistaken. 1t. how
ever. possesses in an eminent degree, the
characteristics, by way of suggestions and
! recommendations, of document that smack
ed of power and place; and the thanks. of
at least portion of the General Assembly
| of the State of North Carolina are due, and
the same are hereby rendered, for such
| tender and distinguished consideration, so
generously bestowed on such unworthy re-
| Enthusiastically SO, as it addresses it
self to the General Assembly of the State of
| North Carolina, and concludes with, Il have
| the honor to be, your most ob't sv't.'
| document commencing SO we'll and ending
81 handsomely, ought, of right, to make its
mark, and sink deep into the minds of those
whom it is intended to instruct and enlight-
| en-.
| 1t is admitted, in the first place. "that the
| State has no right to refuse, under ordinary
circumstances. corporate powers to carry
on any lawful cccupation;" but that the
| bill to charter the Danvile Railroad does
not come within the rule: 1T being the ex-
ception to the rule 1t being contrary to the
policy of the State. Let us look at it. and
see whether it is the policy of the State to
do a wrong to any portion of her citizens or
the citizens of the whole world, who may
change to come this way. What is the
proposition gravely made to the Legislature
in this communication 1t is simply a de-
NAL of naked right to a certain portion OF
the citizens of the State.-no small portion
no insignificant portion of people; but
people representing, in population and
wealth, at least one-third of the whole State.
Truths are stubborn things. And now
to the record up to within q very recent
date. There was no road within the State
of North Carolina accessible to the people
of the west nearer than the city of Raleigh
nearly 500 miles from portion of the west;
and too distant from every portion to be en-
loved bv them This, however, did not ex-
empt the west from contribution in the way
of taxes; which was, we believe, submitted
TO without opposition. The time and ex-
pense of getting from and to that portion
of the State impelled the citizens of the west
to propose q connection to the nearest and
only road within their reach. That move
was cordially met by our enterprising sister
State of South Carolina. The original pro-
position being to. connect Charlotte with
Camden. S. c. / am grieved to think that
it is possible that there can be any one so
lost to Justice, to equity, and fair dealing as
to indicate the Legislation granting that
charter as fatal blindness" / ask, had it
not been for the fatal blindness of which
he speaks, would there now be any North
: Carolina road! Would there now be any
Danville connection proposed. which the
gentleman so much deprecates! No-no
one foot of 1t. One thing would have at
least been accomplished instead of debt
of SIC, 1000, 000-we would have been out OF
debt and out of roads.
; Did the Charlotte road receive any as.
!. si<tance from the State! Not one dime
What was next proposed by these ives
i tern people? To build the n. c. road =
) The thought never entered their heads
Il What was done. you ask? And how wa
d the thing brought about! Why, simply
thus: they introduced one of those spe
cious, plausible and modest characters
o known as naked charters-to Danville--th'
y very thing now proposed. The Charlotte
: and Danville bill was introduced, read ant
: referred to the committee on internal i'm
:. proycments. When it came out of thei
,, hands it was nos the Danvile charter, bu
the n. G.. Railroad charter substituted there
p for, to the tune of $2,OUO,0U0. This wa
;. considered at that time all act of arbitrar
= power, and great wrong to that portion @
q the State, the substance of which was tn
= denial of the simple right to improve thei
4 internal condition; and at the same tim
exacting from them the means to perpe
y trate, and eventually to Perpetadte, tha
n wrong. This state of things those peopl
= are not responsible for
IL Had they not proposed another and
lie very different scheme, then there might b
t. some plausbility in the argument. Wi
,r you return to them the amount of take
is contributed for their salt destruction
- guess not. O, they are nothing but sma
Mt remnant of crcation,-''a few citizens
IN one or two counties, though they did pr
+ ject the Danville Road, which was smother
re ed before it was allowed to see the light
w day; and in its stead, and upon its ruins.
IN serpent-like monster arises, which take
within its fold and swallows up all else b
r sides. Are the people of the entire we
Mt expected to submit to the tribute that
de proposed to be exacted by this policy!-
es Are they expected to pay, for all time
r come, bonus to travel out of their wa