Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-02-25
Gkt Stan0ar6*
RALEIGH. sATURDAY.FEB. 21. 1857.

RALEIGH. sATURDAY.FEB. 21. 1857.
Internal Improvements-.-Western Extension.
Both the Asheville News and Asheville Spectator
very Justly hold Gen. Dockery responsible for the
defeat of Mr. Avery's bill, providing for an extern
sion of the Western North Carolina Railroad to the
Tennessee line Gen. Dockery, it is well known in
his canvass for Governor assured the people OF the
trans.montane Counties that he was Tor the extern
sion hen,--that he wanted to see the Blue Ridge
bored through, and that he would recommend an
appropriation of ten millions of dollars, II necessa'
ry, to effect the object. So far from approving any
thing like Limitation by sections on the work. ne
was understood distinctly to repudiate 1t; and one
of the figures of speech which he used, illustrates
this most strikingly He asked the people II any
Of them would construct mill, and then cut race
to it by sections? Answering for them and Tor
himself, he said, /" no, gentemen-you would build
your mill and then cut your race to supply 1t with
wafer at once" What could be more pointed or
clearer than that? V1t
Every intelligent person, whe~%ill examine then
matter will at once perceive the impracticability of
forming either an out-and-out internal Improvement
party. or an out-and-out anti internal Improvement
party No such thing could be done, nor if it could
Gratis who are for internal improvements by the State
and Democrats opposed to improvements by the State
and the Wings and Americans" are divided in the
same way; and the same is true as to the question
of further appropriations by the last Legislature
Many gentlemen of both parties, ardent friends OF
internal improvements were opposed to further ap'
preparations at this me in view OF the large amount'
of the public debt; while other gentlemen, of both
parties, were willing and even anxious to add to the
debt in order to advance cherished, and, we may
add meritorious schemes. The Legislature is pre-
sumed to reflect the will of the people of the whole
State and, according to this, whatever IS done or
omitted, is done or omitted by the people them.
selves. From the tribunal of the people there can
be no appeal If they do wrong. g.to-day, from mis-
understanding or msapprehension of the facts they
will do right tomorrow and their intentions are al
# ways Just and patriotic. Members of the Legisla-
ture are responsible first to their immediate constit-
uents and then to the people at large; and those
members therefore, without respect to party, who
voted under direct implied instructions, or under
pledges previously made. against all schemes OF inn
provement, against certain schemes, are no more
Ill to be censured than the people themselves
~ and who, we ask, will undertake to censure the
u people?
tits apparent from these facts and considerations,
III that no party be justly held responsible ~
IA party for the failure the success of particular
"a schemes. Members of Assembly do not legislate
nor are they be expected to legslate on domestic
affairs as Democrats Americans" They are
entrusted by the people with State affairs in which
all are alike Interested; and the party which hap
pens to be in power, instead of having to encounter
the taunts and the criticisms of the opposition for
alleged mistakes for extravaganza for short com.
81 ngs of any kind, and instead Of having to pass
bill to pay the existing debt almost entirely
% 6y its cote should rather receive the aid and
M operation of that opposition, in its honest and
est endeavors to develop the and exalt the
"a <character of the common mother of us oll
"a But there aoas in the late Legislature, small
jority in favor of Mr.. Avery's bill providing for th
Western Extension The bill passed the Senate, OF
Saturday, Gen. Dockery voting for it; and on Mon
day, Gen. D. moved to reconsider. What new
light he received on the subject between its passag
and his motion to reconsider. we know not. 1t i
understood that he labored, both out of and in tn
Senate, to effect reconsideration; and he succeed
# ed The measure had just enough strength in tn
X Senate including it's friends of both parties, to en-
81 sure its passage aoith his aid and influence; bu
fatal to it. 1t is not true, as assumed by the oppo
son presses, that zoe have ever asserted that Gen
Dockery welded Democratic Senate at will; bu
the facts are as we have stated them. Member
who, up to the time this motion was made BY Gen
d. had voted against the BILL could not be expected
to change position and support it. for the plain rea
son that they had deliberately made up their mind
on the subject, and were acting in accordance eihe
with their express pledges to the people, or in obedi
ence to what they knew felt to be the wishes Q
their constituents. But Gen. Dockery had giren n
such pledges to his constituents, and he had cote
for and dided IN passing the bill He was abso
lutely untrammelled on the subject, and could do q
he pleased He chose to move to re consider an,
to defeat the bill. Every who was present, an,
who was acquainted with the facts, must have seel
and felt that he was responsible for it's defeat LIE
US hear no more, therefore, of the stale and unfoun
ded charge that Democratic Legislature refused t