Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-07-07
MIR. McRae...State Aid, &c.


Murphy, Cherokee, Saturday, July Oath.
MIR. McRae-..State Aid, &c.
twill be recollected that Mr.. McRae made his late
hound into the political arena with his Dancy letter.
in which he said:
ITO the friends of extension would say, can any
sane man suppose that another dollar will be given
BY way of State aid, to any work in progress to
be begun"
With the alacrity with which a responding parti-
zsn catches at any thing that may possibly injure
the opposing party, Mr. McRae's organ, the Raleigh
Register, seized upon this anti-appropriat;on of
"another dollar" principle, and its editor fresh from
the untaxed cline of Virginia, read US long homles
on the evils of taxes, the dangers of State debt
the beauties of begging from the federal government
the charms of the public lands, and the GROWING
excellence of their distribution a panscea for all
the ills State is heir to, and warranted to build
railroads, educate the poor and abolish taxes.
81. Throughout the East Mr. McRae cried aloud against
the appropriation of "anotheI dollar" to works of
internal improvements and his cry was echoed by
his Know Nothing organ here. But as the canvass
goes West it seems plain to US that both Mr.. McRae
and his organ are changing their positions. At OK
10rC MT. MChdc ucCdTtu 'lIulScli-We quOtc HOiu
the REGISTER of June 26tl.-"in favor of allowing
the individual subscription all along the line [of the
Western extenson,l and contracts to be let out as
fast as the individual and State subscriptions
made" EVERY where Mr.. McRae has proclaimed
his opposition to any increase Of the State debt for
works of Improvement"
Now the absurdity of making road on each side
of the mountain, according to Mr.. McRaes plan,
leaving the mountain between the two ends is so
plain that it is only necessary to call attention to it.
OF course such mode of carrying on the work
would never receive the sanction of the directors
The State is pledged for four millions of dollars
in that road. That amount, together with the two
millions to be raised by individual subscription, Mr..
McRae would expend " all along the line," and if
there were gaps left why he would sink the six
millions thus expended rather than appropriate
"another dollar" Nothing but dose of his uni
versal panacea-a share of the public lands-could
save the road and the six millions expended upon it.
But at Yanceyvie it seems Mr.. McRae agreed
with Judge Ellis taking the position that the charter
ought to be altered SO take off certain restrc.
tons therein imposed, and to allow the whole work
to be prosecuted to completion.
But let us examine this charter. 1t was granted
at the session of 1s54-b, and provided that the
road should be built by sections costing $780, 600
each the State subscribing 5000 600 when indivdu.
al subscriptions were made to the amount of $500,
OOO Each division, seriatim, was to be completed
and equipped before books could be opened for sub.
scrptions to the next section. But there was pro-
vision to the effect that if individual subscriptions
made to the amount of 800, 900 for the first
section, then the State should subscribe $780, 0O0
making 81 200 O0 for the first section The capital
stock was limited to Sc, 600 900 "a 600, 900 the
part Of the State and g. OOO 900 the part of in.
divduals
This road was but portion of the grand trunk
contemplated in Central road, and the Western
people could not why this restriction should be
placed upon them, when it had not been placed on
the North-Carolina road nor on the Atlantic and
North'Carolina road. But they determined to trust
10 future Legislatures for justice and went to wolk
with so hearty WILL that in less than two months
ney raised the $780, allowed to be raised for the
nrst section, thereby insuring State subscription
ior SsoO,oOO This is the only portion of the 81,
ooooOo for which the State is pledged, for which
sue Is as yet, actually bound and she has not ye
oeen called on for all of this amount
AT the session of 1867, Mr. Avery introduced
Oil to take off, to extent at least the restrc
lions imposed by the charter of 1854-'5. He still
retained the sectional feature of the charter, bu
provided that private subscriptions might be mad
greater amount, the State subscribing two dol
lars Tor each one subscribed by individuals thereb!
raising sum sufficient to carry the road to Morgan
'oh' as the first section instead of stopping in tn
woods at some point East of that place. And a
soon as that subscription was made, and certain
per cent. paid in books were to be opened for sub
scr'ptons to the second division, extending to tn
i0ot OF the Blue Ridge; and as soon as that sub
scrlption was made, and the State subscription Q
~o'thirds secured, then the State was to subscrib
Ior the whole of the third division ten miles, EN-
orac'ng all the tunnelling; and then, the section
west Of the mountain to 60 on as those East Of
had DONE 90
Now the Register has searched, as it informs Vi
lot the report of Mai; Gwynn, making an estmat
o. the cost of this pntain section Of ten miles,
Failing to find the report, and knowing no gmor
ABOUT than it did about the distance from States
snlss ~ Morganton, which il put down a. twsnt
miles, it assumes the cost Of tie tunnels to be e