Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-02-14

that portion Of eastern Carolina which is devoted to
the timber and lumber business would furnish the
anpes market for the provision crop Of the State.
Sir, Senators may talk they please about the
value Of the Slate stock ] have never yet seen
an indication Of its worhessncss and let il be worth
what it nay-much iittlc--it is the peoples
property, and their representative stand here to
guard the interest OF the many against the encroac
ments u the few--ihe interest Of the whole State
rather than that Of few individuals scattered along
the line OF the proposed Danvic aud Charlotte ra,
road But, says the Senator from Rockingham, we
admit all that is said about State pride, State expert
mcnt and all that sort of thing, but we will compen-
safe the State Tor what she lures in the way OF a
drain upon her resources, by the transportation of
the article of tobacco the North Car DINA road
Let us see, sir, how that is. The Senator's notion
is that the article of tobacco seeks its consumption
in the cotton growing States of the South but sir
if that be so, why is it that the tobacco OF Rocking
ham, oil which she raises million pounds and over,
d0rs not now go South over the North Carolina
roadg The tobacco grower of Rockingham is as
convenient to that road at Greensboro, as he is to
Danville or any Virginia market. IL there is more
ready sale for that article at the South than in Nir.
gina or at the North, why is it that Greensboro has
not become tobacco depot for North Carolina, as
Lynclburg and Petersburg are for Virginia? Docs
the article have 10 be sent North to be nanuiactnr
ed? II so il mi sht return and seek its market by
means OF the Wilmington or CASTOR road; but have
now, the argument is mt, and we do not need the
Danville connection for that purpose Some statiS
tics on that subject would be exceedingly interesting
and argumentative on the present occasion. Do
Senators insist that the transportation of Virginia
tobacco over the North Carolina road is to compen
safe for the sacrifice called upon to make?
If that is the calculation, let me beg them 10 Danish
the deluson. The State Of Virginia knows too well
how to protect the interest ol her people to be gull
ty Of the folly Of subscribing money to build rail-
road for the benefit Of Notlh.Carona. II it were
probable that her produce would by means Of this
road take its fight 10 Charleston or Wilmington,
she would turn the face of her Legislature against it
as lrowninsly and ciTec,ually North. Carolina
has done.
But Senators make another proposition. THY
will compensate the st tie for her cIlice, aud tie
people Of the State for the dram upon produce,
by paying sort Of tariff duty in the way of tax
upon produce and passengers. II any argument
ha been necessary TO convince me that the friends
of this bill # the great sacrifice they are
calling upon the State to make, this amendment Of
the Senator from Jackson is quit. sufficient. IEey
understand that i, will be rohbing the State to take
the charter, and they will compensate her by levy
ing contributions upon the lahorcr and the traveller.
They frs, rob Paul, and then rob Peter TO pay him
back Senators say it is not I'm ommon for States
to require bonus from companies of this kind. 1t
strikes the, SIR, very extraordinary that the State
/ should require n bonus from company who ask
/ for nothing but naked charter and more cXtraor-
diIary s!i | that the corporation sould propose the
/ bonus the terms upon which the charter is to be
received; warrant YOU Sir that the individuals
! who are seeking this charter willing to give us
| bonus that will sound in hundreds Of thousands
ofdollars They would pay high price for the i'ri-
! viegc. But, Sir, il We were disposed, we cannot
sell to them. II we could do 81, they not will
Ing, If able, to pay US all it would cost the State. to
say nothing u the hundreds of thousands owned by
] individuals the they would
This road is sought because of the profitable invest
mcnt OF capital that it will Afford and not upon the
! score Of convenience There is no Inconvenience or
I want of accommodation, or facility for reaching a
market. 1t is the profit they look to, and the profits
| only and so intent and eager are they for them
that they have not thought proper to give the State
the privilege Of subscribing single dollar, or OF
partie ipang at all in the work. Now Sir, let them
| give something ike 9um pro quo-pay back
to the State what the COM ronisc by which this road
was butt, has cost, and re uncac her for what she
will lbse in other corporations Of the kind, and then
we might consider the proposition with some degree
Of seriousness. Mr.. Speaker. have to say further
upon this subject aid say it, Sir, in the capacity
of legislator, representing eastern constituency
pass this bill, construct this road, and it will ut once
become the necessary policy of the east to refuse,
for all future mc the Appropriation Of single dol
lar for improvements OF any kind, in that portion OF
| the State west Of the ns of this road between
! Charlotte and Dauvlc. And why, ST. should it
! not he so? The people Of the cast have long court
/ I'd communication with the mountain districts
and willing TO undertake the tunnelng of the
Blue Ridge to get connection with the Mississippi
Valley, and the great west. But once our high
hopes Of meeting and exchanging commodities with
our western brethren are destroyed and they turn
thcr backs upon Us. an! icpcl uS IRON them, rem
dering it impossible that ever be one people
in sympathy, in interest, and iraternal affection !
once they separate Il G nscvcs from US by the
e L., flpy
policy can we adopt? Sir shall not aid western
gentlemen TO erect this Chinese wall between Us.
| regard il thing TO bt deprecated and dcpl1rcd
by every patriotic sur Of North Carolina.
! There is yet another question lying back of all
Others that may he con'i Tered h re, question OF
| much importance. The Senator from Jackson has
more than minated hat the chained lion the
vh;te.basis agitation may yet BE- let loose upon the
people of the cast. Sir, il it must let it come,
! and when it comes have an il'a that the people
Of the east will meet it it ought to he met. The
Senator may endcavour to ntmidatc us with threats
of that Sort but have no idea that lie is in earnest.
have more confidence in the patriotism and intcs-
ry of the western people rh,n to suppose that any
reasonable humber of them seriously eut, tain
| the idea Of sprnging that question upon uS | re-
member very well, Sir, whcf, few years ago, this
question vas raised IN connection with the free Su
! irage measure, when n famous pronu ncamcn,o went
| ont from the Legislature; and when the agitation
OF this question hung like IN ,un ain cloud above
Us, and threatened Us aS with an eruption from the
peaks # the Blue Ridg no man OF the west stepped
forward to the breach with alacrity than the
| Senator himself. Sir we remember the bold and
| patriotic position assumed Ivy number Of inluen.
tal and popular gentlemen Of the west, yourself
among them, Sir, upon this question: We have not
forgotten it and we never shall They are entitled
t. gratitude, and they have it. That question
is now settled, all is calm and placid above our po.
li,cal horizon. But. Sir establish this railroad