Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-01-28
The Western Extension.

The Western Extension.
On Saturday last the Senate, on motion OF Gen.
Dockery, of Richmond, re-considered the cote 6y |
uhich that body had passed the Western Eztension |
bill; and the bill was made the special order for
Monday. /
After Gen. Dockery had made his motion to re-
consider and had stated his reasons therefor, Mr.
Speaker Avery took the floor, Mr.. Hill in the chair;
and long and mos. animated debate took place, in
volvng the merits of the question, the pledges of
political parties the subject &C., &c. Mr.. Avery
spoke vehementy and eloquently in favor of the
measure as it had already passed the Senate. and
against q reconsideration. He expressed his aston
ishment that such a motion should have come from
Gen. Dockery, and reminded that gentleman of his
pledges the subject while canvassing the Western
part of the Slate for Governor. Gen. Dockery had
told the people of the mountains that he for the
read to the Tennessee lne-that he was for ascend
ing and tunneling the mountains, as to give the
people there an outlet to market, if it should
cost ten millions of dollars; and he made this pledge
generally and without limitations. Nothing was
said then about doing the work in such a way as to
exhaust the hopes and the patience of the Western
people-nothing about restrictions TO be imposed
upon this Road which had not been imposed upon
the Atlantic and the N. c. Roads. Now, however,
after the bill had passed the Senate, motion was
made to reconsider by that gentleman, which, if
successful must be fatal to the measure.
Gen. Dockery replied at some length, vindcating
his consistency on the subject lie admitted his
pledges while canvassing for Governor-said he was
still prepared to redeem them--decared, in phat-
ic terms that the Western Extension had no better
friend than he was but he desired reconsider
alton, so as to amend the bill, believing as he did
that in its present shape it went too far, and COM
mted the State to greater expenditure of means
than would be advisable or advantageous. lie was
willing extend the first section to Morganton and
to go farther preserving the section principle; but,
upon reflection, he could not approve the bill which
had Just passed the Senate.
Messrs. Wilder, Cameron, Cherry, and Eaton also
took part in the debate.
Mr. Avery, in reply to Gen. Dockery, examined
the whole question, and urged the Senate, in the
most animated terms, to adhere to the bill as it had
passed. He contended that the bill provided for
nothing more than was justly due to the West-that
it was measure in which the whole State was in.
terested, inasmuch as it proposed to open the mar
kes in the interior and on the seaboard to large
portion of the State; and that it was necessary
measure, for, without it, the work would langush,
and no one could look forward with hope to its early
completion. He did not propose to 60 beyond the
original appropriation Of four millions to which the
State already pledged. All he asked was. that
the first section should be extended to Morganton;
that as the stock subscribed for the por
ton of the route between where the section ter
inmates and Morganton, and five per cent paid in,
books may be opened Tor the next section; and that
when the stock for that is taken, and twenty ive
per cent paid in, the State will then undertake the
ten miles of mountain Road, with the right to lay
tax en- freight and passengers over the same, when
completed, to reimburse any loss incurred, &C., &C.
As the charter present Stood the first section
required to be completed, equipped and put in full
operation, before books could be opened for the
ond This, in his opinion, would SO retard the work
that the present generation would not live to it
completed to the Tennessee line. But we do not
propose to give any thing like sketch even of the
debate. Our Reporter has succeeded well in giving
the substance of it, which will be found under the
appropriate head; but it would have required an
accomplished stenographer to do justice to the
speakers the OCCASION and especially to Mr.. Avery,
whose duty it was to occupy all the time he did in
enforcing his views, explaining and replying, and
who spoke with great warmth, rapidly, and force.
II the bill should be defeated large share of the
responsibility for its defeat will rest on Gen. Dock
cry. 1t is doubtful whether any other Senator who
voted with the majority, would have moved a re-
considerations and whatever amendments may now
be suggested by that gentleman and adopted by the
Senate, the fact is apparent that the reconsdera-
ton moved by him, and carried by his influence in
the Senate, will have a tendency to impair the
strength of the measure in the Commons, if indeed
it should reach that body.
Since the above was written, the Senate has had
further action upon the subject
On Monday, at eleven o'clock, the Senate again
proceeded to consider the Western Extension bill
in committee of the whole, Mr.. Hill in the chair. A
long debate ensued, which was conducted mainly by
Mr. Speaker Avery on one side and Gen. Dockery
on the other. The following amendment offered by
Mr. Avery, was adopted in committee of the whole
BE 1t further enacted, and it is hereby expressly
declared, fundamental condition annexed to the
granting Of the foregoing amendment That the State
snail not be called upon by said Company to pay in
upon the subscription to the capital stock Of said
Company, more than five hundred thousand dollars
annually except that if the French Broad and Green
vile Railroad Company shall surrender their char.
tered RIGHTS and privileges to the Stnte as herenbe
fore provided, then the State shall paw in on her
subscription the additional sum Of one hundred
thousand dollars annually for two years.
The Senate soon after adjourned, and met again
at three o'clock and at four the Western Extension.
being the special order, was taken up. After some
debate and after one or two amendments offered by
Mr.. Myers had been rejected, Gen. Dockery moved
to strike out the material and more important por
tons of the BILL embracing nearly the whole Of it.