Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1858-12-29
SPEECH OF MIR. REEVES
OF SrRRY-


In the House Of Commons, to open Tadkin Ricer,
for light boats and the passage Of .fsh.
Mr. SPEAKER: The object which we hope to at
tain by the passage of this bill. is fraught with the
deepest interest to the people of that section of the
State through which the Yadkin runs /; and will not
only, if attained. contribute towards their wealth
and happiness, but will also afford to them greatly
increased facilities for travel and for traffic. Sir
the people whom l represent assume not here
the attitude of suppliants; they seek aid they
ask for no appropriation They stand here pre-
sentng and advocating claim, the justice of which
has hitherto been (at least, in a measure,) recog-
nzed by favorable legislation. Fully convinced
of the thorough feasibility of the enterprise and
deeply imbucd with the consciousness of its vital
importance to their convenience, wel-being and pros
perity, they only demand, in simple justice the ex
tension Of those rights to them which have never
been refused to others. There is a man, however,
the type of class, who, actuated alone by grasp
ing, penurious, merccnary spirit has visited Raleigh
in the capacity of lobby-member, to exert every
in his power for the purpose of defeating this
bill, because, forsooth, its passage may chance to
conflict in degree with his sordd schemes of self
aggrandsemcnt That he is immensely wealthy serves
only to render his sclfshness garng his char
acteristc lliberality the thoroughly contempt
ibe. Being the owner of mill upon the river his
dam not only obstructs the passage of its fish, but
it is aso at present insuperabe barrier to its sue
cessful navigation Scept;cal to the existence of
honesty integrity and generosity in others and firmly
believing that legislators may be bought he triumph
anty boasts that he will defeat the bill at any sacr
fee Is there a member of either branch of the
General Assembly whose vote can be influenced by
such a man. however specious his pretences or plau-
sible his statements? Or, will legislators, to rid
themselves of his relentless importunities-to free
their button-holes from his tenacious grasp-suffer
this mans selfshness to triumph, and his interests
to outweigh the convenience, welfare and prosperity
of thousands? Can representatives of the people
viewing trivial matter the improvement contem-
plated in the bil-an improvement which is of such
vital Importance to the inhabitants of large section
of the State refuse through culpable Incidence, to
investigate fully into the merits of the measure and
utterly ignore the claims of those whose is e
gion? hope not-believe not
\ word or two more, Mr.. Speaker, concerning
this ustrious member of the lobby. He was (or
professed to be,) member of the American party.
But when his friend, Hon. r. c. Puryear was a
candidate for reelection to Congress- and oppo-
sed by Mr.. A. NJ. Scales this spotless patriot-this
jealous partizan-deserted his old friend, voted
'spread himself for and thereby (unintentionally
of course injured Mr.. Scales. And why? For the
simple reason Mr.. Speaker, that his friend, Mr.
Puryear, had remarked that Col d. jack was the
reputed sire of better mue-colts than those descen-
ded from his Qobbymember's) own imported ami
maj !! Such is the man who is endeavoring to
thwart the wishes and stife the interest of thous
ands. He is as 1 have said before, the type of
class or clique who, actuated alone by merccnary
motives, have arrayed themselves against the good
of the people. This exposure, Mr.. Speaker, much
as regret it. has been forced upon me; and, will
add that rejoice to believe him to be an exaggera-
ted specimen Of the class to which he belongs. The
remarks have made concerning him were needul
in order to annul, in measure, the insidious and
ilberat efforts which he, together with others, has