The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-06-10


peafed surprised at such an application from
/ me, and asked why | did not get some Of my
/ Democratic friends to do it. My reply
was /" have tried them and they all refuse"
that If he would make the motion, as others
besides myself, who were opposed to the bill,
had returned to the Senate. we could kill il.
He made no further reply, and waited in
great suspense, rs the hour for the reconsid-
Grafton had nearly expired. He arose in
time. however, and did make the motion,
which resulted in the defeat Of the bill, and
IN the salvation Of the State at present; for
se can preserve our credit, such as it is now,
and pay the debt incurred by high taxes for
a few years, provided We are involved no
! further.
Much as was opposed to Gen. Dockery
when he was a candidate for Governor
much as object to some of his political
opinions and associations now, take this
occasion to say publicly, that in this matter
he was, in my opinion, actuated by the
purest and most patriotic motives, and
regretted the attacks made upon him in the
Senate, and have regretted the assaults upon
him by certain Democratic papers since the
Legislature adjourned. He has my gratitude,
and deserves, and no doubt will receive,
yours, as soon as his conduct is understood,
for you are as ready to do him justice as
myself, no matter how assailed by certain
railroad influences. The defeat OF this
bill, with one or two others, caused
general breaking up Of the railroad forces,
and, fortunately for the State, resulted
in the death of every measure Of the kind
which asked an appropriation Of money
from the Treasury. So that, though more
money was expended in printing and dis
customs than was necessary, yet no great
deal of harm, as | have already stated, was
done at that session. The mischief was
done before. Look at the following state
ment: In lS41 the whole amount Of public
taxes was $4,000 Gin round numbers.) In
1919, they were sl4l 900. In 1855, s279,
600; and in 1856, S34l 900. Why this
rapid increase: The solution is found in
the progress which has sprung from the
/" extension and completion" doctrine. The
Governor, in his last message, sets down
the present debt at over five millions Of
dollars, to which is to be added the bonds
yet to be sold, the sum due the Literary
Fund, $500, COO, for which the State is liable
as endorser, together with some small items,
which added makes the exact sum Of 7,2l5,
All rs, which the State owes, and upon
nearly all Of which you have to pay the IN
terest now, and to provide for the payment
of the principal rs it falls due. Ii was as
certained that the revenue was not sufficient
to meet the accruing interest, and in obe-
J dience to the Governors recommendation,
the Committee Of Finance introduced and
the Legislature passed bill TO increase
taxation about 100000, by which il was
! believed near a half million would be raised
annually for the next two years, a sum
deemed sufficient to meet all the demands
, on the Treasury for that period. The or
. dinary annual expenses Of the State govern
ment are about S5 900. What becomes Of
the balance Of the half million: Ii nearly
all goes to pay the interest on the State
: debt, most Of il on account Of internal i'm
: prOycments, to which you are, and always
have been, opposed. This is not all-the
I endorsements which the State has under
taken to make have not all been made. You
7 may also have to pay them,-take the works
concerned, and expend millions more on
their completion, upon the popular doctrine
! of sel(-preservation.
5 Thus, fell0w-citizens, have made plain
!. statement of facts. IhaTe shown the amount
1 of your present liabilities aud taxation /; and
+! how they have been 50 greatly increased
: since 1917. have anticipated the result
) Of Democratic procliyities, il persisted in.
E | now warn yun against the encouragement
. Of any further actual or prospective indebt-
5 cdnCss until YOUR State has paid up. de-
e sire to see that extension and completion"
! plank stricken from the platform, for if
n carried out it will involve YOU in debt 0f
c at least twenty millions Of dollars before
..4,gt II - ne frnf ant nf
5 debt before We 20 any farther. Ii the West
r desire 10 come tu tile Central Road, give
i, them charters Tor turnpikcs and plank-roads,
y or even railroads, when they do not conflict
) with yonr interest in the works for which
c you are bound and have to pay. A halt
]. million Of dollars Is no inconsdcrable sum
e to be paid annually By State Of as limited
4 resources as Ours-mOst Ut 1t out OF the
{ pockets of the people, diFectly-your in
). yestments yielding but little is yet. You,
il the people feel il, and many Of you com.
. plain heavily.
. An important inquiry suggests itself here +:
+: l. there no remedy: Il there no way by
n which ynu can hc partially, i not entirely
:. relieved: | think there Is. II Is BY 4 dis.
h trjba,iun of the proceeds Of the public
i hands. to be applied ia part 70 the payment
ie nl portion of YUar annual interest, 50 as
p To reduce y0ar take. TO that amount-iu
i part to thc sinking taad ii arder to pay, OF
/, aid in paving of the State bonds a they tall
t due. add the balance, il any, To The school
r Fanl. Nav. let no one say. that have
Ie changed my opinion on ibis subject. II is
r. not -. Ihaye opposed disttbution because
II the government was ia debt, aud wished
il ihis fund kept TO pay these debts. ioa hayc
e heard me declare repeatedly on the stump,
It that as soOn ~ the public debt was ligui1lted
J. Cor one, would claim prDpor,ioaate share
J. of the surplus Tor North Carolina. Thai