Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-05-27
, ,,.rrR FROM LINN B. SANDERS, ESQ.

LETTER FROM LINN B SANDERS, ESQ. :
z.uo.,.s itisens Of tie County Of 'eAnston:
h.vo been anxious to address you in person
~. sncs the adjournment Of the Legislature, but
"a onnortunity having occurred, II have concludeo
to do so by letter ,h,,, that
r. thew did but little good they did but h.te naIn,
T,be elements of mischief were there, however. anu
n iealousies and conflicting interests may DC at
triSuted the small amount Of appropriations maze
"a The "extension and completion" OF that great
scheme of internal improvements 30 bitterly oppos
ed wears ago. but now SO warmly advocated oy the
marty with which have always acted-honestly ana
truy-unti the introduction of this alien doctrine
into their platform. say alien doctrine, because
when came to the State about twelve years ago,
the whole Democratic party, with but very few
exceptions, were opposed to involving the State IN
debt on any account, especially on account OF In
ternsl improvements Better for your interest, far
better for the interest Of the people at large, that
that opposition had continued than for the State to
be plunged into debt to which the party incna-
ton evidently leads and which they will create
ultimately, unless the people are aroused in time to
put bit in the mouth of this wild Pegasus so as to
curb him down.
The passage of the Central Railroad bill in 1s4S
was one STEP and the advocacy Of the Free Snhrage
question, by which the Democratic became Tue P!I
dominant party in the State, was another ""'.''
induced that party to take ground in favor OF eN,
tension and completion"-a position which has lcd
to the various projects for involving the s!a'e ''
debt which, from time to time, have been before ''e
LEGISLATURE voted for both measures. For tue
first as an alternative because without the PaSS.se
of the Central Railroad the Charlotte ana Dans:e
bill would have passed, BY which North I*ro'm '.s
would have become tributary TO virginia S% ths
Carolina. To prevent this evil, and to satS'y '"e
demands Of tie West by giving them the means OF
Getting to market in our own State, | gave II my
Cordial support, | understood it to be compro'
m;se between the East and West. and thought the
latter were and would be satisfied. Such has not
been the case, however.
voted for the Free Suffrage bill, because l saw
mn evil in it. But could it have been foreseen that
the advocacy of one or both of these measures-ac-
t;rs or partial-to suit localities would result IN the
formation of the Internal Improvement party OF the
tuo last sessions, neither of them would ever have
received nv vote Better let landhoders rule the
Senate: better save individual and State creoit,
than to be burdened with taxation never known IN
North. Carolina before; than to hawk your bonds
.hont for sale at par even, much less at rate OF
DER cent beyond your legal interest-honds that
commanded premium before the State became SO
in debt.
In conformity with these views, and in obedience
to what | believed to be your will, thought it my
duty as your Senator, to vote against every new
scheme Of Internal improvement which asked
dollar from the Treasury both in the last and in the
preceding Legislature. Not only So, but to vote
against all other measures that might, in my judg-
ment interfere with the investments which the State
has already made in public works l regret that
upon these questions had to part with very many
of nv Democratic friends. If they had been patient
and waited until the State became able to 60 further;
if they had built and paid for the Road from Char
lotte to Goldsboro, then would have been willing
he nd est
means of the State would justify, and the people
be able to bear without oppression. But no; the
work must be done now. Old Rip Van Wrinkle
must be aroused from his long sumbers AID bestir
himself In order to effect this object at the Con-
vention which first nominated Gov. Bragg, strange
plank was introduced into the platform, the SUBJ
stance of which pledged the party for the extenson
and completion of the works already begun far
the means and of the State would allow"
was opposed to it then. | am now. l saw to
what would lead, and have not been disappointed
Many old-fashioned Democrats jackson Democrats
objected to it. But as these the days of Young
America and progress, they concluded, as they did
not we'll understand it, it might all be we'll enough
and said but little about it. 1t meant but little,
it meant great deal. 1t was vague, indefinite and
uncertain. In one section it was urged that the
Eastern extension all that was contemplated.
In another that a section or two West might be
undertaken. In another that it might be carried
through the State to Paint Rock, on the Tennessee
line. In others, not only the whole Road might be
built but that numerous branches might be run off
from it. And upon these different constructions,
members were elected to the Legislature in 1854
They met in session, and after cautious skirmishng
and much astute manouvring, the successful parties
got the following appropriations through:
For the completion of the North.C Carolina
Railroad, -. 100000
For the Atlantic and North Carona Rail-
road, 100000
For the Western Extension, 100000
For other subscriptions to Rivers and
Roads, 100000
Making the round sum of $3.OOOOOO
In addition to this amount, they pledged the State
as endorser for the Wilmington and Charlotte
Road, 100000
For Cape Fear and Deep River, 100000
For the Albemarle and Currituck Canal, 100000
Aggregate amount of endorsements, 81, $50, 600
which, in my opinion, the State will have to paw
ultimately, thus increasing the debt to that amount
But this item will be left out of the calculation
which intend to make, showing the present actual
Indebtedness of the State. Much time and money
were spent in the discussion of other Internal I'm
provement projects But they were defeated towards
the last OF the session, and their friends having voted
for the appropriations and endorsements above
enumerated, with hope of return of favors-per-
maps IN some instances promise-had to go home
TO their constituents and tell them that although
tney mad voted to involve them in debt, they could
get nothing for them. They sold their birth right
for mess Of pottage
at the time these bills passed, the State
owed for public works. $2,772, 600 Add to this
the three millions appropriated, and you have debt
embracing these two items Of $5,772,OOO. Thus
increasing the interest to be paid annually by taxa
ton $4,000. More than double the whole princi-
pal then due, and $l3, $50 more than as much again
time. To meet this debt the Legislature had to
increase the revenue, and the whole State, from the
MOUNTAINS to the seashore. had to be explored in