Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-09-03
Additional Letter

TO TIE TUNNEL niDL cgLgBR NTtoN AuG I9.s1859
CHaRLorrE, Ang. 18th, 1859.
Mcssrs. w. 5. Grishnn, and others of Commits
Gentlemen: Your favor inviting me to be
present mt the Blue Ridge Barbecue Mud Mass
Meeting. to be held Mt Tunnel flill OF tile 9til
inst, was duly received.
Upon the receipt of your note hal ' 'olvcd
to be present mt the meeting. and had made my
arrangements accordingly. Inn, however. just
advised that il Will bc necessary for to be in
Richmond, Va, on the lGih inst, whch pre-
eludcs the hope of my being able to parakc of
the Festivities of the 10Th with the friends of the
Blue Ridge Railroad. AS | am denied the
pleasure ot meeting with the citizens of Pick
ems District on tlmt interesting OCCASION, may I
not express the hope that South Carolina will
not nOanuon this great work. traugbt with 50
many beneficial results to all PORTIONS of the
State, when completed. Its object is to connect
the barbour OF Charleston. aS the nearest At
lantlc port, BY continuous line of railway.
through your entire State, with KnoXvillc--the
center of II vast region of country
PORTIONS of North Carolina. Tennessee. Ken
tucky and Nirgnin-ncarly equal in extent to
the New England States, This vast region is
destined To become the - New England of the
South Situated near the center of the above
States, anil about cqua-disant from the MsSis-
sppi OH the West, the Atlantic on the East, the
OHIO on tho North. and the Gulf of Mexico on
these great arteries of commerce, by railway,
witha ilmore fertile tlnu New Euglanl: with
water power certainly not inferior. and with n
scenery nn IA temperature and salubrity of eli
mate, far superior The time is not distant
when it will tccm with more capital. wealth and
population than, perhaps, amy other equal por-
tiOn OF the South. Already Tennessee aud
Virginia have spent mitous of dollars to reach
this proud region by railway, and to day they
are more than realzing their most snngunc cx-
pcctations. Kentucky and North Carolina are
driving the ironhorsc in the same dircctiun and
with the same object in view and the latter
State wW reach it, though it he ut the cost of
millions. The prize is noble one, and Is wov-
thy OF the contest of such generous rivals. And
shall South Carolina, with her race half rum.
with all the advantages of harbour. route and
'listaucc with her former rcnown and chivalry
inglorlousy retire from this generous emulation
OF Stites-thiS work national in its results? ilcr
intelligence, her liborality, her enterprise her
past history, NIL foyblit. But reach Knoxville
by the Blue Rhlgc Railroad, the most direct
route to tho Atlantic, and Kentucky and the
North and West with all their trade. resources
and population, are bound to connect the Ohio
River with that city. giving n continuous line
OF railway from the Ohio Rivce to Charleston.
This, il not done immediately cannot be other
wise than accomplished soon. If not, it will
prove au exception to the eutirc history and
progress of railroads in this and every other
country, and exist as asst gmaupou the intelligent
enterprise ofthc millions of cntcrprisng inhnhit-
ants dwelling in the valleys of the Ohio River.
and those of its tributary streams. with such n
new and direct connection between extended
regions of fertile couutry, different in its soil
productions, and climate. with such vast amounts
andvaiicty tproducts TO exchange. What wuuld
he its results TO mn almost unbounticss extent
OF country, to the city of Charleston. and the
State of South C.lrOlmr! The mimi is appalled,
in contemplating the benefits and blessings il
would bcstow in the moral. social. political and
commercial revolutions, which would inevitably
follow it's completion.
But time AMI other engagements will not
permit me hastily To pursue this Interesting
subject further, even in its mere outlines. Snf-
hcc to say, that many nj the greatest intcllccts
AMI purcst patriots of South Carolina living
since the era of railroads, have regarded this
great enterprise as important to the prosperity
and renown of the State Please present my
grateful Acknowledgements to the citizens of
pickcns District for the honor extended TO me
by your polite note. AMI accept for yourselves
generally. assurances of my high regard.
am, very respectfully, yourS,
IN,,~