The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-05-18
THE DISCUSSION.


On Monday afternoon the 10th inst Judge Ellis the
a.mocratc and Mr. McRae the distribution candidate
for Governor opened the campaign by discussion in
the Court House in Charlotte. The speaking COM
znenced at 2 o'clock and continued till p.
Mr. McRAE opened the debate by saying thar after
arriving in Charlotte ne had proposed Judge Ellis to
avail themselves of this opportunity TO open the cam
,avp. He remarked that he announced himself a
d;do,a with extreme dfiience. No man, high low
;b or Door entertained stronger attachment for
North Carolina than he did-he should devote much
70 the discussion of national politics. for he thought
State afnirs ought to be examined and discussed He
was willing to any interrOgatory, and hoped the
Judpe would do the same. lie believed that the
paica would be conducted with good feeting both
sides rs there cause to expect otherwise.
One Of the great of State is population
how is North Carolina in this respect--how are her
stocks and how stands her aggregate wealth Have
they increased in value-are we keeping pace with
other States ?-if not there be for it,
From 1880 1910. population had increased but
uer ccnt-from 1910 to 1885, he made the increase
uer cent, others made it IA. Why is it that the in
crease has been slow? we must be laborng under
burden We have not advanced in proportion to
ton-after having tax after tax heaped upon
no better of. He ready to propose a remedy, and
he did not want their votes-he intended to use no
tact but desired reach their In 1885, North
Carolina received 81 437 739 her share of dstrbu-
tion and had it been for that should now have
no schools.
He said there town in the State advancing
in prosperity-not factory but what going down
people have failed in business and nearly everything
was depreciatng The for all this heavy
State debt. People will be alarmed to how
ton has increased. In 1916, S85 45o sufficient
but now years since, 1924 will be necessary an
increase of 500 per cent After complying with the
agreement entered into with the VIII, Char. i Ruther-
ford Railroad, the State debt will be 50 900 600. In
1852 raise $500 900 to liqudate debts that
will fall due He called upon the citizens of Meek
enburg to look the increase in their county taxes
Sl2, 600 more than in 1916. All this money had been
devoted to internal improvements without returning
anv substantial benefits. There Railroad stock
in the State that would command part had never
been higher than $50 while OF it could be bought
for S25 $40. Even the vii and Weldon Road had been
have borrow money in Europe it's liabilities
He claimed be internal Improvement man. but
opposed to appropriatng another dollar from the
State Treasury for such works this time-he thought
the present condition of affairs forbid farther aid and
would, if elected Governor, recommend further aPpro
prigrons. There hope for the West get fur
Their help. for the East would allow -there would
be three democrats in the Legislature who
would vote for it. He wanted to know what Judge
Ellis position that subject The Judge said
he would answer explicitly in his reply- He knew that
the Judge would claim to be the candidate Of /. Con-
vention He contended that that Convention had pur
pOseiy constructed platform that could be construed
in different ways to suit the East and the West. The
whole affair was a mere blank declaration In the
his remarks about the convention he alluded
the Hon. John Kerr and said that hereafter he would
pay his respects particularly to that gentleman.
But he was in favor of completing internal i'm
PrOyemens with the public landslide people have only
70 stretch forth their hands and be enriched. The
United States owned 1000, 600, 900 acres-this
common property and it ought to be enjoyed by all
alike. But such is not the case-Congress has been
giving away to the new Staes-30 0OO, 900 had
been given to build railroads.&c. was opposed to this
we'll as TO the Homestead bill before Congress
proposing to give leo acres actual settlers. The
democratic party had declared that it unconstu-
ona to distribute the lands but he contended that it
was constitutional Distribution would not increase
The tarif-such had not been the effect heretofore,
when, in 1893, the surplus distributed and
afterwards repeated The land fund never did lower
he tariff Distribution will do North Carolina good
and will not make her dependent Illinois had received
100000 acres with which she built railroad 700
miles long at S4O,O per mile. Ohio cited as hay
ing been made prosperous by receiving land, and was
now the third State in the Union Other States were
named as having been benefited in this way Distribu
lion could be secured if the North Carolina members of
congress would do their duty the State They voted
lot the Kansas bill which allowed land Ia bill that he
would have voted against in its original shape if he
mad been in Congres and they ought so for share
70 North Carolina
Notwithstanding his present position, he claimed to
De democrat-hc had taken the stand he ocoaped
alter mature elaboration, and would stick to it. He
spoke one hour and three-quarters, repeating mostly,
us speech delivered here three months ago,
WIN this exception that he did not eulogse Stephen A
douglas nor berate the democratic press.
JUDGE ELLIS replied. He stated that he appeared
Oelore the people somewhat Unexpectedly. He had
0' made appointment for this place, but happening
ere on his way Union, and learning that Mr. McRae
eslred to speak, he determined meet him. 1t afford
q him great pleasure his friends of Mecken-
uUfg-here he had made his maiden speech. and al
osh Is years had elapsed since that time, he still
a on to the old democratic banner and was here to-
| Tor the purpose of defending the principles OF the
party He had just resigned honorable and reSPon-
oe positiOn-whe in the discharge of duties apper-
ning to that position he may have made enemies, but
&c was not conscious of having done man injustice
mad tried do his duty the State and to ms od