Weekly North Carolina standard., 1858-07-14
FOR GOVERNOR:
HON. JOHN w. ELLIS,
Messrs. Ellis and McRae in Ashe.


Messrs. Ellis and McRae in Ashe.
We give below brief sketch of the discussion in
Jefferson Ashe, between Messrs. Ellis and McRae.
We learn that Judge Ellis made an excellent i'm
presson in Ashe and that he will poll full vote in
that part of the State.
Our Jefferson correspondent confirms the state
ment heretofore made and maintained. that Mr.. Nc
Rae has changed his ground on the Western Exten-
son He says, Mr.. McRae now advocates COM
petion of the Road by State aid-thnks the charter
should be freed from the section feature, and the
whole Road placed under contract at the same time"
Now Mr.. McRae has right to change position on
public questions as often as he pleases; but in
sst that he owes it to himself and to the people
when he does change. to admit the fact. He declar
ed, for instance, in his Dancy letter, that
man would think OF voting another dollar to the
Western Extension and in his speech in Clinton
he said " for himself he would not recommend the
increase of the State debt the extent of dollar
for any work of internal improvement now in pro-
gress in North Carolina" Every where in the East
he left the impression by his speeches that he was
opposed to further State aid to any public work.
Is not that so? We appeal to those who heard him
in the East-to his own friends, to say if it is not
So If not So why his talk about the "gap" " in the
mountains, which Judge Ellis proposed in certain
contingency to fill up, making the pockets of the
people "gape wide open?' If not so, wherefore
his arguments to prove that the Western Extension
would cost ten millions If not so, wherefore his
declaration that the taxes already imposed on the
people were "intolerable," and his arguments to
show that the State was declining and would decline,
if further taxes should be levied? Then he was
against another dollar for any public work noao he
is for appropriatng $685. 90 per annum to the Fay
ettevile Coal6elds Road and he is aso by newt
able inference, say the least in favor Of addition
al State aid to the Western Extension Then he
ridcued the idea of filling up the gap of max
ing the Swananoa tunnel; noo he is for the gap
nou he would make the tunnel, or aid in making it,
for it would be absurd to think of going to work
along the whole line of the Road, he proposes to
do, without working on the tunnel; and we all know
that private subscriptions cannot be obtained 10 DO
that work.
And now what will the people think of such a
candidate? Do they not see that he has one tone
for the East and another for the West ?-that he
draws the purse strings in one section, and oosens
them in anthor?-that he is what he considers a
good Eastern man in the East, and good Western
man in the West? Elect him Governor, and what
section of the State could depend upon him? But
we are OBTAINING readers from the sketch of our
Jefferson correspondent, which is as follows:
JEFFERSON, N c., July 5, 1858.
MEssRs HOLDEN & WILSON: Messrs. McRae and
Ellis addressed the people Of Ashe to-day.
Mr.. McRae opened the discussion with his usua
ability, and entertained the audience with rare
specimen Of eloquence and ingenuity. We were
sorry his fine talents misapplied to the advo
cacy of cause hopeless, and so full of .error
While he still processes to be Democrat, all mus
see, and nue more clearly than himself that his
connexion with the party is severed; and he now
stands hopelesaly identified with the opposition
The same topics heretofore debated by the candi
dates formed the subject of his speech.
Judge Ellis followed Mr.. McRae in q calm, dignl
fed and able exposition of his views, and won upor
the understandings and hearts of the large audience
He proved, by high authority, that distribution was
"impolitic and unlawful" That it stained the es
cutcheons of its former advocates, and was used b!
them only as "bid for popularity" His speech
was highly creditable, and more than met the ex
pectatons of his friends.
Their respective positions on the subject of inter
nal improvements formed material portion OF tn
discussion. Judge Ellis makes two points upon hi
competitor, which it would impossible for hin
to get out of: both of which involve change Q
oieus the part of Mr. McRae since the opening Q
the canvass
In announcing himself candidate, and in tn
DISCUSSIONS at Charlotte and Otner places, MT. NJ
Rae avowed himself opposed to farther appropris
tons for works of internal improvements. Th
newspapers in his support urged his election upo
that ground, and charged Judge Ellis with favorin
| an increase of the State debt Our present roads
they argued, were to be completed, and new one
built if at all, by distribution Of the public land
not by legislative aid.
Now, Mr. McRae favors transfer of the stock
the Raleigh and Castor Road to aid the building
Road to the Coafelds, which Judge Ellis shows is
direct annual appropriation from the sinking fund
>. This is one of the points the Judge makes upe
his competitor: the other is in regard to the Yves
ern Extension Instead of maintaining his form
position as declared by himself and his supporte
upon that subject, Mr.. McRae advocates a cor
pIetion of the road by State aid; thinks the cha
Ter should be freed from the section feature, and Il
whole road placed under contract at the same tim
II Is due to Mr.. McRae to state, that he insists
mas been guilty of no departure upon these que
uons, and that he occupies now, identicaly, t
same nn ground as when he opened the canvass.
Inc discussion passed off pleasantly, and pleasa
relations seem to prevail with the candidates
PHOENIX.
N c. STATE SrocKs--At opening of bids
the Treasurer's Office few days since, 900