Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-12-11


express trains, would make total sof S22IOO0 per
annum from these three items aloue-a sum equal |
to two-thirds of the present income of the North
Carolina road He alluded to the increase in the
transportation Of cotton, now going to South Carroll
ma of the travel which would be brought from the
country west of Morganton to the N. c. road which
would otherwise 60 by the East Tennessee road
The distance from Atlanta to Richmond was &c
miles in favor of the Milton route, and 1874 miles as
compared with the Wilmington route.
The question then was, said Mr.. B., shall North
Carolina refuse to pluck the golden fruit offered to
her acceptance? He believed that unless there
should be revolution and change in the policy
we seemed to pursue, the tree would become barren
and bear no fruit What were the facts in regard to
the policy of the State? She had invested three
millions of dollars in the North-C Carolina railroad
Where had it gone? He would not say it had not
been well spent and judiciously managed But with
all that money-with all the efforts OF the State and
individuals-the road stood almost barren and un-
Produtye The next question was, what shall
North Carolina do to give vigor and energy and
productiveness to that great State work? His, Mr..
BIS opinion was, that the plan proposed IN the bill
now before the Senate was the only one to save it.
If the road received only the aid based upon The cal
culation he had submitted, it would be saved. But,
as he before observed, there were other of
revenue. The greater portion of the cotton now
sent through South arolna would from our south
western counties probably be sent over great por-
ton of this road Increasing production would be
stimulated in the western part of the State and he
had good reason to believe that the increased reve-
nue. to the road would cause sum of $3.50, 900 to
S4OO, 900 over that now produced. The proceeds of
this North Carolina road pledged to the sink
ing-fund- had gone there yet; but open this
route said Mr.. B., and in two three years $780,
600 per annum would flow from that source to re-
lieve the people in part from taxation and aid Ia
paying the public debt and to increase the value of
the State stock in that road now valueless The eff
feet would be to increase directly the value of the
stock, which was now worth nothing, to 80 or 40
per cent. This, independent of the profits, would
add nearly million of dollars to the funds Of the
State which in financial point of view was of no
small importance. Shall this North Carolina road
remain for all time profitless he asked, or become
profitable North Carolina institution and public
work?
Mr.. Brown again remarked upon the general ex-
pansion of trade the increased productions of tobae
CO and wheat and touched with vivid light upon
the picture which fertile western and southwes
tern counties would present with this great aid IN
stimulating their agricultural capabilities He then
addressed himself to the alleged destructive tenden-
cies of the proposed railroad connexion- He main
tanned that passengers would not be drawn to much
extent from the Wilmington route but from that of
East Tennessee And appealing again to the Senate
on behalf Of the charter he said that to deny the
right asked was to come in conflict with the highest
and noblest principles of right and the principles
in the Declaration of Rights in State constitu
ton. AU citizens, in regard to this privilege were
entitled to equal rights The twenty third section
of the Declaration of Rights was relied or as de-
clarng against mOnopoles contrary to the spirit
and principles of free government. 70 deny this
privilege, contrary to the rights of free States
and ought not to be allowed. Certain companies
were incorporated in North Carolina, and was the
same right to be forbidden to others in perpetuity?
What was this but monopoly in its most odious and
detestable form-to strike down the rights of 2OO-
600 freeme in North Carolina Call you this
republican form of government dispensing rights
and equal justice to your fellow-m man. asked Mr..
B. The prophetic eye of earliest and most
mOnopoes and exclusive privileges. They saw this
system of things would tend to government of
corporations, not government of the people
This government said Mr.. B. was created for the
people, not for corporations. 1t seemed however it
now to be reversed and that the people are for
the benefit of corporations. In the language of a
great British poet, Man built cities, but God made
| the country" And Mr. B. touched upon the effects
of Capitalization destructive of individual rights;
and he denounced the principle which would make
the great of the people "hewers of wood and
drawers of water" to privileged few.
But said Mr.. Brown, we are told this is Virginia
and South Carolina project. In meeting this oh
lection he intended no reflection in any quarter
The doctrine upon which this objection was based
was drawn from high tariff and protective policy.
He denied it to be North Carolina doctrine 1t
was one, if he might venture to locate it. appropr
ate to other climates-tO the ATTITUDES of New Eng
land. We take the ground of equal rights-the
true North Carolina ground; they the opposite. If
this State is to have a Gordon drawn around her
commerce, said Mr.. B., you will see this spirit of
monopoly depriving labor of its Just rewards driv-
ing from the State great proportion of our enter
prising population. 1t will seek quarter where
its energies shall be untrammeed where its efforts
shall not be thwarted and where it shall find access
to the markets of the world. Mr.. b. here dwelt
upon the effects of the tariff monopoly of 1928
coupled with a vicious currency upon the country
in depreciating labor and prosperity, and driving
from the old Atlantic States their wealth and popu-
| lation. He believed the effects he had deduced
would find their counterpart in the present SYSTEM
if persevered in He foresaw this, if our citizens
were to be hedged in, denied the right of seeking
the markets of the word-it would be equivalent to
an act of expulsion of our people from their homes
Instead of an injury to Wilmington, he believed
this work would benefit her; for it was principle
| of political economy that what benefits section
will vivify the Others
| Returning to the taunt that the portion of the
State which he in part represented was identified
with Virginia and Virginia interests he would say
in reply that he had already shown that they stood
the old North Carolina ground by the principles
| advanced by them, while their opponents occupied
that of New England by seeking to fetter and res
| strict commercial freedom. Mr.. B. then adverted
to the system of policy which had been pursued by
| the representatives from the county Of Caswell,
from the early dawn of internal improvements in
| N. Carolina When the distinguished Mr.. Yancey
had so ably occupied the seat, which, said Mr.. B.,
addressing himself to the Speaker,) is hon.
orably and acceptably filled by the gentleman who
presides its deliberations, it had been his for
tune for a time to have been member Junior
| member of the other house. He well remembered
the liberal policy which Mr.. Yancey had advocated
then in respect to general system of internal i'm
provements in the State policy in which he him
self had united a policy which comprehended the
leading interests of the State from the Cape Fear to
the Roanoke. The railroad whose extension was
now asked was indebted for its construction to the
VOTE in this body of distinguished citizen of the