Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-05-29
Tho Denoesasie Piatfsrns /

Aprit IA, 1853 J. g S..
WHEREAS. Pursuant to the usage Of the Demo.
cratic party. Convention of Delegates representing
the Democratic voters of the different counties the
State, has assembled in the town Of Charlotte, it is
deemed proper occasion to express its opinion up
on the different questions before the people Of
the State and Of the country at large, be it there
fore, ''-sssez.ss1R, =
ResoIred 1st, That we cordially approve Of the
administration of James Buchanan believing it to be
marked by ability, impar:iaty and devotion to the
Constitutional rights Of all sections of the country
and more especially do we endorse his position in
favor OF the immediate admission of Kansas with
the Lecompton Constitution, and regard that meas.
ure as essential to the quiet of the country, and
act OF simple justice; the rejection Of which only
States in the Union
Rssotced I'd, That Thos. Bragg, by the manner in
which he has discharged the duties Of his Office
Chief Magistrate of this State, has established a
character for high executive talents and secured the
confidence and respect of all good citizens of the
State. and we hereby tender him in behalf of our
constituents the expression of their high admiration
and best wishes for his happiness and success
through life.
Resolued Sd. That We are anxious to see the re.
sources Of the different sections of the State fostered
and developed and to that end believe that such aid
should be given t'wards the forwarding to compile
ton Of the works of internal improvement already
begun. and the construction of such others as may
be deemed expedent, the credit of the State and
the means of her citizens may permit, without in.
jnriously affecting the one or imposing too onerous
burdens on the other.
Resolred 4th, That we regard the distribution of
the public lands or their proceeds unconsttution-
al anti-democratic and impoltic and its agitation
the present time as eminently unpatrotic, because
being wholly impracticable, the sole tendency of
such agitation must be to divide and distract the
only party upon which the South can rely for the
defence of her rights and interests in the Union.
This is the platform which JOHN W. ELLIS
plain. direct, unequivocal; and we believe it embod-
les the sentiments Of large majority Of the people
of the State.
But it is said Judge Ellis and the Democrats of
the State are in favor of high taxes and extrava-
CANT system of internal improvements. This is not
true They are not in favor of any system of i'm.
provements which would impose onerous burdens"
on the people. The pubic debt must be PAID, and
the credit of the State preserved whether the taxes
remain as they or have to be raised. We are all
agreed as to that. So far as internal Improvements
concerned, Judge Ellis stands on the third re.
solution in the platform referred to. That resolu-
ton contains his views and these views are the same
in all portions of the State But what after ALL has
the Governor of the State to do with these things?
His duty consists not in passing laws, but in exc
cutting them. He can only recommend to the Leg
islature-he neither make nor veto an appro-
priation. A Democrat for example, in one section,
be in favor of certain scheme of improvement,
and Democrat in another section may oppose it,
and both may be good Democrats; for the plain
that the question is at last referred to the
Legislature, whose duty it is to adopt the scheme or
reject it. just as it may choose We can all stand
together the resolution in the platform on inter-
nal improvements, with Judge Ellis, our candidate
for governor yet it is not to be expected that in
ranging the details of the system all agree. 1t
would be. therefore, unwise to fall out by the way
Let the people, who disire certain laws passed, or
certain propositions defeated see to it that their
members of the Legislature reflect their views; let
them hold their legislators and the expounders or
executors of the laws responsible for Objectionable
measures.
But says Mr. McRae, North Carolina is in "a
chronic Decline" And the gentleman labors to
show that the State is langushing in all her great
interests and growing poorer every day. The very
reverse is the fact. Worth Carolina acos nerer so
popmlous and so prosperous as she is now. Her az
ricuture was never cared for, has it ever
paid SO we'll; the mechanic arts receiving more
encouragement than heretofore; her lands are in.
creasing in value; her system of Common Schools is
superior to that of any other Southern State; her
works Of internal improvement are progressing, and
il all of them not paying such dividends as were
expected, they are nevertheless developing re-
sources promoting trade and intercourse and pre-
pairing the way for great future for the State; and
Al h., IL
the evidences of a " chronic decline?" From 1880
to 1910, the increase of our population was only
abont two per cent from 1910 to 1850 the increase
was fifteen per cent. And we have no hesitation in
expressing the opinion that the census of 1860 will
show that the increase from 1850 to 1860 has been
at least tnenty fire per- cent. "cironic decline
indeed? Is that the best argument which Mr.. Nc
Rae could select to induce the the people of North
Carolina to beg the black Republicans for few
land warrantsP A" chronic decline r'-the desease
is ncurable, says Mr.. McRae, except by the appl-
cation of land warrantsand plasters to the patient
Look at the facts, which state as follows, from
an official document: In ls47 the lands of the
State town property included, were assessed and
valued at SOS, 672 Ga; in 1866, the last assess
ment at $99, 1897. 0s3 25, showing an increase in
eight years of thirty.one lions three hundred and
sirty seren thousand three hundred and sirty DOL
lars and ninety cents. Is that one of the evil
dences, Mr.. McRae, of this chronic decline?"-
The greater portion of this increase, be it remem-
bered has taken place along the lines of our public
works. 30 if we have paid taxes for internal i'm
provements, we have done SO by hundreds of thous-
ands, while we have realized millions in the increas-
ed value Of our property.
JOHN w. ELLIS, the Democratic candidate for
Governor, is native of the County of Davidson in
this State. He is now in the vigor Of manhood,
h. ha Of in