Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-11-30
Mr. Crppnsy Letter.

The editor Of the -ltccrtser checrfully accepts
Mr.. GREGG's explanatory remarks ut the outset OF
his letter, and finds pleasure in exempting bim
from all unfnirncss either in act or intention.
OF course our remark in reference to Mr. G's
sub. cription of ten thousand dollars to certain
railroad on certain conditions was conjectural.
We so distinctly expressed it. We supposed II
might be as We said; from having heard that MIR.
G.. was "a year or two ago. Il very warm advocate
O. road from Hamburg to Columbia by rhe lower
route as contradistinguis from the Ridge route
But this has nothing to do with the Blue Ridge
question.
Mr.. G's next point touches upon new matter
the Port Royal road and very interesting matter
wthal. But neither has this any thing to do with
the Blue Ridge question.
So of tho Plank Road paragraph. 1t may not
be very wide of the mnrk. But it has nothing to
do with the Blue Ridge question.
So too Of Mr.. GREGG's prediction about tho
price of cotton. Although he gets around in tho
queerest manner imaginable, yet what upon earth
has it to do with tho Blue Ridge question
And, finally, of the drainage 0fauamp lands
by the state,-yes, this has little to do with
the Blue Ridge question. It sanctions the prin'
cple of State Aid for purposes Of material dcYel-
opmcnt. But 1t goes to q dangerous extreme.
The Blue Ridge Road will benefit the Ohole State,
or as nearly 10 as any onterprize Of tho kind. 1t
will pour the traffic of the Great interior into
South Carolina at point whore it can bo distri-
buted to every portion Of tho State All WILL feel
its benign influences, if in no other way than
through tho facilities afforded to Charleston on
tcrprre for it is we'll known to every man, that
increased facilities for our cities arc beneficial to
all the trade which concentrates in them. But
other than this, the benefits of the Blue fldge
Road will go in the tangible shape OF bread ana
meat to every district in the State For this kiud
of public Improvement there is reason in asking
departure from the doubtful policy of State Aid
to local enteTprize,-somewhst the same reason as
Mr.. CALHOUN thought would justify departure
from fixed policy in favor of improving the
Mississippi riyer-the reason Of general if not
universal benefit. But here We have this idea OF
State Aid carried to the extrome of directly in
crossing the private wealth of comparatively feW
individuals at the public expense. We suppose
that all ,hcso swamps.Laro boen. held by known
owners since the days of the Royal Grants. The
heirs or assignees of those owners, or their sue
cessors, still have valid rights to .ueni. Now the
State, as we understand Mr. GREGG, is to help
these individuals convert lands worth EJty cents
per acre into lands to be worth serentgfre dollars
per aero. The State is to lend these persons mon
ey at a rcry loo rate Of interest and to furnish
cngineers, taking mortgage Of the premises II
the land proves failure, the Government loses
all. If the land is good, the individual (aud no
ono elsc), gets tract Of fifteen hundred acres
(original cost $500 now worth, clear Of mortgage,
I,ine scrcnty.fre thousand dollars. Good STARS
what business! And who would profit by it!
Two CLASSES of individuals, viz: Rich proprietorS
and spectators; because tho poor propriotors, in
most instances, would yield to the much wanted
cash-in-hand, say So or SO per acIe; which the
spectators would offer. Hero then is Stats Aid
to make rich propric;ors lorls'nnd land-specula-
tors princos,-Statc Aid to operate in fow local-
ties for the benefit of u few. With the same plau-
sibility, tho same advantages could DO demanded
by the owners of poor land alt orcr the State, to
make their soil permanently fertile by application
of lime and salt And this lesson is recommended
AZ coming from England, forsetful Of the fac that
the English Government has to offer prelnuns Of
this sort to hid in the actual subsistence OF her
dense population, and of the further fact that 1t
may be thousand years before South Carolina
will be reduced to any such necessity. So Mr..
GREGG is an advocate Of this scheme, aud yet
refuses to allow the good State to help work
whore every body will feel portion of the goods
Yours, truly dc.