The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-02-24

all the appliances in the way of agencies
public in this direction ; it resulted in a to-
| tai failure.
/ 1t is insisted that through travel, by the
construction of the Danville road, with
other connections which will necessarily
follow, of which shall speak little further
| on, can be thrown on at least "a miles of
the North Carolina road. The way travel
cannot be in any manner diminished there
by. We must consequently get on the "a
miles of this road what has never been re-
allied before, and this travel will necessari
ly be increased to such degree that it will
largely repay to the company the loss on
the remaining portion of the line. But it is
objected to on the ground that it will be an
extnguisher upon the Wilmington and
Manchester and the Wilmington and Wei
don roads. One would suppose, from this
argument, that the schoolmaster had not
been abroad in North Carolina, and that the
people were in total ignorance of the public
works of other States. But is it not fixed
fact, well known to every intelligent and
well-informed person in the country, that
there is in course of speedy construction
rival road beyond the mountains, which fix
es the destiny of our eastern roads beyond
peradventure. bring to the stand dis
interested witness-one who has no interest
to speak an untruth, and whose statements
L 4.l-o do 70 no
report of Mr. McRae, chief engineer on the
Charleston and Savannah road, which is
free to the inspection of any Senator pres
ent who desires to examine it as to the facts
set forth. Taking Washington City and
Atlanta as common points, the report shows
that the East Tennessee and Virginia road
is one hundred and nineteen miles nearer
than the Wilmington and Manchester and
the Wilmington and Weldon roads. | ask
if this report be true, and there is no reason
to doubt it, can the proposed Danville road
be held in any manner responsible for it !
I think not. 1t has been argued by the
Senator from Duplin, (Mr Houston,) that
the increase from through travel was $780,
coo, and from mail pay $50, 1000; that by the
construction of this road, this large amount
of increase would be lost to that company,
and that State policy required that this
thing she uld not be done. desire to know
if it is State policy to allow this company to
play the ''dog in the manger"-to Indirect
ly permit the citizens Of other States to re-
alize this large amount ofineome from mere
blind prejudice. In the name of God if
their citizens are compelled to surrender it
shall it not be enjoyed by the citizens of the
west? l think it should be, but we are
told that we must do nothing to destroy, or
in any manner affect the commercial ports
of our own State; that we now have the
City of Wilmington, and are now construct
ing road, at heavy cost, to Beaufort; but
does experience teach US that we are likely |
to be more fortunate in the transportation
of the products of the up-country than it is |
probable we will be in the transportation of
through travel? By reference to the pa
pers you may see that regular freight lists
are made out twice week, from the ports |
of Virginia, going to the interior of the
State, as high up as the town of Charlotte.
This must be very unpatriotic in our wes-
tern friends, especially so as to the ancient
town of Hillsboro', for 1 see they figure
largely in the shipments from the ports of
Virginia; but, sir, have no doubt that it !
actions that stimulated the old Orange plan
ter to press through bad weather and over !
impossible roads to get to the same Virginia !
markets-interest and the results of good |
market. To this do not object. 1t is right |
that they should go where they can sell high
est and buy cheapest, and the constituents |
have the honor in part to represent claim |
the same rights and privileges. Now, sir,
the very Senators that demand this propo-
sition are living, either themselves or their |
constituents, in the daily violation of these
wholesome precepts.
But, sir, to recur again N this most vex-
ed question, as to who shall enjoy the ben
efts of the through travel. If the PROPOSE
tion be true-and it cannot be successfully |
contradicted-tha the Danville road, and |
"a miles of the Norch Carolina road, would |
be 1.-the great highway" why in the name
ofjustice shall we not have it. especially as
this travel must be irretrievably lost to our
own people if we do not get the road. And
to largely contribute to the finances of the |
State, this company proposes to pay a bonus
for the liberty of constructing it out of
their own private means, of 20 cents ON the
passenger, and 90 cents on every ton of
freight. Is this no inducement to Senators
who so much deprecate the present embar-
rassed condition of the State The Sena-
tor from Davidson, {Mr j. W. Thomas,) |
has put that amount to the sum of $4,000.
I think the Senator short of the mark. 1t |
could not be less than $4,000 per aunum |
to the State-an amount almost equal to |
one third of the annual income of the State. |
Is this nothing TO be taken into the accounti |
Iak,