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


| pay ultimately, thus increasing the debt to
that amount. But this item will be left
out Of the calculation which intend tomake,
showing the present actual indebtedness OF
the State. Much time and money were spent
in the discussion OF other Internal Improve
ment projects. But they were defeated to.
wards the last of the session, and their friends
having voted the appropriations and endorse.
ments'above enumerated, with ahope olare.
turn oi iayors-perhaps in some instances a
prolnise-had to 90 home to their constituents
and tell them that although they had voted
to involve them in debt, they could get moth
ing for them. They sold their birth.rislt
for mess Of pottage.
AT the time these bills were passed, the
State owed for public works, S2.772,0oo.
Add to this the three millions appropriated,
and you have debt embracing these two
items Of s5,z72 900. Thus increasing the
interest to be paid annually by taxation
Sl80,0o0. More than double the whole
principal then due, and sl3,6sO mere than
as much again as the whole annual interest
payable mp to that time. To meet this debt
the Legislature had 10 increase the revenue,
and the whole State, from the mountains to
The seashore, had to be explored in the search
of new objects Of taxation. They passed a
tax bill. which they supposed would yield
upwards Of S400, 900, aud went home to sing
hozannas to the people, and shout victory
over every obstacle in the onward march Of
the old State to coming glory and renown.
The people listened, hung their heads and
felt their pockets.
The Convention met again in 1856; put
the same Internal lmprovementp plank in their
platform, and the campaign began in earnest.
Free Suffrage, furious rnsets at the trlghten-
ed and flying ghost Of Know Nothingism,
with the partial or active support of Internal
improvements in said sections, as in 1854,
Ito which reference has been made,) consti-
tuted the main topics Of discussion. Free
Suffrage and Internal Improvements as adyo-
Gated were victorious. Sam was routed
literally slaughtered, dead and buried, and
his epltaph written
Here lies Sam,
| Asgreata sham
| As gulled a nation
He lived and lied,
| Blasphemcd and died,
| And now his lots damnaiion."
A large majority protesting Democracy
were elected to the Legislature. They met
in the Session of 1867, and the work began.
Railroad bills, Bank bills, River bills, &c,
were introduced in unprecedented numbers,
ordered to be printed, anil then the voting
commenced. The limits Of this letter will
/ not allow me to discuss all the wild schemes
/ OF that memorable session. wish 10 speak,
however, particularly Of The bill appropriating
one million two hundred thousand dollars to
the construction Of tunnel through the
Blue Ridge. 1t proposed to expend that
amount at a point about forty miles beyond
the present terminus Of the Central Road
to begin OH one side Of the mountain, and end
on the other. with no way tu get to or from
it. The design was 10 Involve the State Il
that amount, and then furce her 10 make III,
Eastern connection at MorgantDn. and West
ern extension To paintilOek, upon the srOuni
OF self-presseryation.
This work would, in NV opinion, hay,
created an additional debt IT at least ten mil
lions Of dollars. The Engineer reports some
. thing less than six millions of dollars; bn
when you come to build lS5 miles Of Rail
. .. road through the mountains, a number o
costly bridges, and cut six tunnels, ynu vii
J Iind my calculation nearer the mark. Ihougl
do not doubt his honesty Ol purpose ant
professional skill, have no faith in hi
|, figures. How has il been with the clIcula
tiDus which were male about the cost OF all q
your public works. How about the Capitol
How about the Raleigh and Castor Road
How in the case Of the Central Road
Three millions, they said, wonld complete
it but this was expended, aud you had q
subscribe million more 81 save the State
/, investment, which was made, trusting 10 III
! calculations Of Engineers. and the road is stil
in debt. The same thing has happened il
regard 70 the Eastern Extension. The Stat
had 70 endorse Tor that Road Of see It stol
operations. What were The calculations d
to the cost Of the Cape Fear and Deep Rive
! Improvement: st first SlG0, ,uOn was enough
! afterwards s3nh,OuO more would eertain
: finish II. But now. after all this mUnry ha
been wasted, AMI the work become uuisane
!, to the people living on tic river and iuteres
ted in il, We are srayely told il viii tax
!, 81 100000 mnrc 70 make thc Improvement
: permanent one. Such has been the result Il
|, calculations made by Engineers. But sup
pDse the Western Extension could b. bun
:, Tor six millions 0f dollars, are you willing {
= incur that additional amount Of debt ID II
: present embarrassed eonditionof your State
certainly am not. anil felt deep cnneer
about tie result when tile measure was be
. fore the Senate IN any inrm. The bli! I
: which reference has been made, appropra,in
e 81 ,2OO, 900 10 thc mountain tunnel, passed I'll
senate on Friday after The tall u the dee
snow last winter. was III hunr, too uuWe
: TO venture out in the early part Of The weet
but succeeded, after murh dilliculty, in rel