Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-08-19

the country would be promoted and sustained by
tho exhibition Of only small degree of public
spirit at this important juncture.
He predicted the success of the road, from many
just considerations, and among others, from the
Act, that the South Carolina Rail Road was bound,
in the end, to foster and encourage the underta-
king with might and money. As might have been
expected, Mr.. THOMSON, although deeply interested
in the Greenvile Road, and although this one in
contemplation will prove its powerful competitor,
nevertheless advocated and enforced the necessity
| of its construction, with an earnestness and ad-
dress, that selshness itself would fail to inspire
JOSEPH ABNEY, Esq, next occupied the stand; !;
gentleman, who in addition to his other claims to
be heard, was commended to the attention and the
kind consideration of his audience, by the fact,
that from the very beginning, he has been in every
way, identified with the Savannah River Valley
Road. He was present several years ago, and
spoke and presided, at the very conception Of the
project. And the cause then espoused by him, he
has continued to urge and support both in CONVEX
sation and debate ard in the parlor and the news
was so unpretending, if not inauspicious, grown
into form and consistency, and into comelness and
beauty, and receiving the warm caresses OF all
classes of the community-eliciting the sympathy
of the virtuous, the appreciation of the wise, and
revelling in tho genial smiles Of female grace
| and beauty.
Mr.. ABNEY said-he might well be excused from
attempting anything whatever, after the thorough
and most satisfactory discussion to which We had
all listened with much delight. Is that vanity
to be approved, that would "refne the gold of
my friend Dorm, or paint the lilly?" How can the
Savannah Valley Read fail, after having enlisted
such able and faithful champions and supporters
as We have heard to day2 How can cause Ian
guish, that commands such an array Of .nanls
strength and feminine lovelness2 Every thing pro-
claims that this thing is to be done; and verify,
the enterprise recommends itself in tones louder
than the trumpets note. The Rabun Gap Road, OF
which ours is To be continuation is certain to be
built, and it will not only tap the Mississippi VAL
ley itself, but it will have feeders throughout the
whole West, South and North, and the amount OF
freight and travel which it will send through the
mountains for the supply Of ours and our sister
road on tho other side of the District, will be per-
fectly incalculabe. Moreover, the location OF this
road through the best cotton and grain land, and
the richest section in all South Carolina, will Sc
cureit an ample support as long as the youngest
inhabitant here shall breathe the air of Heaven.
Then, our line terminating at Hamburg and Au-
gusta, will afford such choice Of markets, in
Hamburg, Augusta, Columbia, Charleston, Sayan-
nah, and ultimately in all the Southern cities Of
the Atlantic and Gulf to the Western venders Of
Bacon, Bread, Beef, Wheat, Rye, Horses, Hogs
Hemp, Flax, and of all the animals and products
of the most prolific region of the earth; and oul
road will also afford such highway for all the in
habitants of that richer Valley than the Nile, iI
their business and pleasure communications with
the East, that there is no Rail Road in existence
that will pay to the stockholders an equal divi
dend with it, in eight years from the day that the
whistle of the car is first heard upon its track
Setting aside these vast prospective and, to some
uncertain profits; the man who lives near the line
even if he should subscribe to it, twenty-five pei
cent of his whole estate, will realize in short pc
rod from the enhanced value of his lands, his stock
the produce of his farm, &c., and from the oppor
tunities extended to him of obtaining the highest
market price of every thing he has to sell OF bar
ter, the largest remuneration for his present haz.
ard, and temporary deprivation of few hundred
dollars 1t is often the case now with the cotton
planter, that he hears Of rise of his favorite sta
pie in England by one Steamer, and before be car
load up his old plantation wagon, and get to towr
with it, another Steamer has arrived, and on one
full load Of ten bales, he has lost the handsome
sum of one hundred dollars Such losses alone
to the planter daily occurring and in the course
of few years they amount to thousands of dol
lars, which might be entirely obviated and saved
by the means of a Rail Road and Steam Car. Fo
steam on land can compete with steam on sea, anc
when the market advances every planter on th
line can carry his produce to Charleston and dis
pose of it before there can be a possible decline
in prices
But am instructed by many stock holders, anc
prompted by my own feelings, to declare, that, i
the Road to Hamburg, which promises to be the
most remuneratve should prove abortive still viii
not abate my efforts, but raise my voice and bene
my untring energies towards tho building Of tht
road over the cheaper, and according to the tpin
ion of the engineer, the more practicable route o
Edgeield Court House and Aiken. The road mus
be accomplished, the wants of society, and the in
terests Of the community demand it. What SIMS
ire cause it, that diffuscs such lethargy over tht
minds and hearts of our peoples What evil ge
MUS possesses them2 What dire and pestilent
influence is it that has benumed their faculties and
rendered them alike blind to their best interests
and deaf to the calls Of duty and patriotism. Next
to the Printing Press, the Rail Road and Steam
Car, are the greatest civilizers and humanzers Of
mankind. Who ever knew Rail Road once in
operation to be discontinued? 1t is an obligation
VIC owe the country-owe posterity and our God, to
avail ourselves Of and to spread abroad, all the i'm
provements and inventions of the age; and if VIC
are laggards in this business, We are traitors to
ourselves, to the high trust the Almighty has repo
sed in US, and to the religion we adore. Southern
men plume themselves on the greatness of their
souls their high spirit, and their devotion to honor
to patriotism and to true glory; and they reproach
their Northern brethren with the tameness OF their
spirit, their lack of high-toued sentiment, and
their heartess Indifference to the graces the ameni-
A.. ,,J tbo cbor;tiea of life But I warn nv