Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-06-25
The Canvass.-The Western N. C. Road.--The Dam
Vile Connection.


County on the 10TH We are happy to learn that the
discussions progress quietly and with nothing disturb
past friendship or renew recent excitements.
We think it not worth while to go the old grounds
of controversy between the candidates Their positions
upon public measures are the real things, and we
note new feature in Mr.. McRae's platform, devel-
oped last week at Roxboro and Oxford A friend
sending us an account of the discussions at those places
says Mr. McRae came out very decidedly and distinct
y at Oxford and Roxboro for letting out to contract
the whole of the Western Extension at one time to the
Tennessee ne and spending the four millions appro-
priated at once along the whole line tunnel and all.
He would favor an amendment of the charter to allow
of this" Thus he would go for precipitatng at once
upon the people large additional debt, which, in the
natural of events, under the existing charter
could not be incurred for years. AS the charter
stands the road is to be built in sections thus finishing
up it goes and calling for the aid of the State only
just fast private parties make up their third and
fulfil the other prescribed conditions which could not be
done for years. But Mr. McRae, who enveighed so
bitterly against taxes here in the East is willing to
tcpate expenditure the burden of debts before
we can be made liable for Them and more unstatesman
like STILL he is willing to spend all the appropriation to
in such way that unless every mile is completed all
will be lost and he will give nothing additional for COM
pleton in any event! But in the plan by sections, as
advocated by Judge Ellis, and authorized by the ex
listing charter charters each section as the work adj
vances is nished-that much is done and be used
even if the appropriation does fail to complete the whole
line. 1t will gradually upon the people of the par
cular section through which it will run, and upon the
State at large. Mr. McRae has been decrying debt
and taxation for the last six months, and yet he pro-
posed to bring upon at once an expenditure for which
we are not liable for years. Strange economy to pre-
ciptate debts and burdens while decrying the-tO pro-
pose to spend money which, he says cannot finish the
work to which it is appropriated and in way that I'M
less all is completed all must be lost We ask the at
tention of the people of the East into whose Mr.
McRae has been DINING the cry of taxation and
debt. Mr.. McRae is getting the mountains
He will be there in week or two. The people OF the
mountains don't want to Cypress the State Mr. Nc
Rae proposes to do. They are willing to go on with
their road in sections.
Another thing has been brought SO prominently for
ward into the canvass that may now be regarded as
regular topic of discussion whenever the candidates meet
1t is matter in which the East is deeply Interested
We allude to the Danville Connection. Mr.. McRae is
warmly in favor of this work. Judge Ellis is opposed
to it on State grounds.
Gov. Wise, of Virginia. is awake to the value of the
connection-to Virginia., and is, therefore anxious that
it should be made. In his last Message No. g., page
2, he says:
centre of trade is ndispensaby necessary to save
the cost of exchange though the balance of trade be
favor and the cost of exchange is nothing compared
with the loss incident to the want of control the
great monetary operations of the country dependent up
on a central commercial power"
After charging upon this he says:
That control cannot be had without centre of
trade and that centre of trade cannot be built up with
out public works to bring back country to point
OF commerce.
To what State this be more truly applied than to
North Carolina? Where is the want of q centre OF
trade more severely felt? What State suffers more
from not having the control of the exchanges based upon
her own products? full consciousness of the wants
and necessities of the State induced her people tC
enter upon the present system of public works.
system far from perfect but e least aimed at being
a North Carolina system. Are we now after spend
ing millions upon these works. to have their main design
defeated by their being made feeders to the exchanges
of other States instead of assistants to our own? Are
we to have these works acting as wall of division be-
tween the East and the West cutting them off from
each other, or are we to preserve them links in q
chain to unite the two sections in inssouabe bonds
These are the questions which arise out of considera
ton Of this Danville Connection movement.
After stating the necessity of bringing the back country
to point OF commerce. Gov Wise proceeds to show
how this is to be done-touches upon the various public
works in his State and insists upon their completion
He then says:
| And by completing the Southside to Norfolk, ant
connecting the Danvile Road with the works of Nort
Carolina, and finishing the York River Road, we viii
have the most essential southern and eastern connec
tions'
Here is an explicit recommendation of Gov. Wise II
the Legislature of Virginia, to build the Danvlle con
necton. If this would benefit the trade of Virginia
would it not work corresponding injury to the trad
of North Carolina Shall Virginia build up her centr
of trade at our expense?
Now this is practical and not a merely theoret
cal issue, and it is one that will be upon us in tn
next Legislature. Gov. Morehead is a candidat
in Guilford and is warmly for this connection
and will use all his efforts in its behalf and W
may rest assured that strong effort will be made t
pass charter through the next General Assembly,
Now, if the East, by its vote in August next indicate
careessness as to this measure there not some dar
ger of the West going for it? True large portion
the West admits that it is bound by compact, direct
implied to oppose ito carry out in good faith the
: Outstanding arrived at when the North Care
lima Road was chartered and accepted by the West
substitute for the Danvile Road but if the East
voting for Mr.. McRae, gentleman who advocates th
connection, by failing to vote largely against hin