Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-09-07

At an expense of five or six millions OF DOL
lars the Georgia Rail Road was constructed
bv that State. She had the sagacity and
boldness to make this appropriation out o.
her State Treasury. That road now defrays
all expenses and repairs, and pays into the
Treasury of the State the sum OF one thou
sand dollars day every day in the year
This payment of one thousand dollars day
in cash, is made, like the old Dutchman's III
terest-no deductions allowed for Sundays
rainy. days or nights.
Had the original contractors, to whom the
construction Of the Blue Ridge Rail Roao
was first let, been able to carry out then
contract, there would have been no dlfhcuity
in the completion of the work. The endorse:
ment of tile State of South Carolina would
have been made. But, in consequence OF the
failure of Anson Bangs & Co., new contracts
had to be made for building the road. Con,
scoucntly the Blue Ridge Rail Road Compa,
ny had to apply last winter to the Leglsla,
ture to remove the restrictions which stood
in the way of their obtaining the promised
State endorsement No additional appropri,
alton was asked of the Legislature. They
were simply requested to do, unconditionally
what their predecessors had agreed to do un
der certain restrictions. This was not an
unreasonable or an improper request to make
to the Legislature, under the circumstances
when the great object is considered for which
this humble favor was asked. 'Ts true the
Legislature were distinctly told that this
would not enable the company to complete
the road. Further aid Of one million OF dol
lars more would have to be granted. But
tue question was also presented to the LeglS-
lature in one other point of view, which ought
to have bad its influence on their decision.
They were informed that, unless further aid
was given, this great enterprise, which was
to increase so much the commerce, wealth,
power aud prosperity of the Staze, had to be
abandoned. This was too gigantic an under
taking to be carried out by private subscrlp-
ton. The beneficial results anticipated were
entirely to the State, and to the whole State.
1t was, therefore, most appropriately State
enterprise.
The question thus presented to the Leeisla-
ture OF continuing or abandoning the Blue
Ridge Road, was one of great responsibility,
if the road had to be abandoned, and all con-
nection with the west, by railway, given up
forever. Let it he borne i'll mind that tie
Legislature of last winter had nothing to do
with the original undertaking. They found
the road commenced 1t had been so ordered
by previous Legislature. One million OF
dollars had been appropriated out OF the
State Treasury for its construction, and ac-
tually expended. The city Of Charleston and
the people of South Carolina had, likewise,
contributed one million and half, which
was also expended. The State OF Tennessee
had made appropriations. which were also
expended on the road These expenditures
amounted to upwards of three million and a
half in the whole. The road had been graded
Il good portion Of the way The great tuuucl,
the principal obstacle to the road was halt
finished. a great deal Of the inasoMry and
bridging was commenced, and large quanti-
ties of the iron purchased, and fifteen or
twenty miles of the road actually finished.
The question, then, was for the Legislature
to take the responsibility Of saying that all
this WORK done and money expended, under
the sanction OF former Legislature, shall be
! thrown away and last forever, and that this
great project OF uniting South Carolina by
rail road with the valley Of the West, as has
been done for Georgia. Virginia, Alabama,
Maryland, PcnnSy lvania, New York aud Mas
sacillset!S, shall he abandoned, although
| solemnly aljudscd 10y our predecessors, rep
! rcsentin. our constituents and the sovereign
ty Of South Carolina, 10 be executed Tor tue
| best interests of the State This was a fear
(ul responsibility for one Legislature to take
reversing the decision OF 4 previous one,
on matter involving SO large ar amount and
interest 50 great BY the abandonment OF
the road South Carolina had likewise to ac-
knowledge Ler want Of conStancy and perse-
verance, and her'inleriority Ill enterprise and
spirit to her sister States How mortifying
to that pride and honor which offered 10 lead
the whole South in crusade against the
General Government How humiliating to
that chivalry which, under the Palmetto flag,
dashed at the cannon's mouth on the battle
fields of Mexico! How inconsistent with
that old Carolina character, 50 glorious in his
tory Tor its disregard Of money, when put in
competition with the interests, honor and pros
perity Of the State Shall it be said that
South Carolina has grown so penurious and
short-sighted that size is afraid to venture her
money like Eer sister States, i'll bringing com
inerce, wealth amp prosperity into her bosom
Shall this unfinished railway, with all its
grading, cmbankments, bridges, aqueducts
aud the long Tunnel into the mountain on
which we stand, be pointed out to our chill
drcn and their descendants for centuries to
come, as an eternal monument of the States
folly, and the childish tickleness Of their an
ccstorS Never never never! This shall
not be. Another effort must be made to re-
verse the decision OF last winter. 1t was
made against the honest convictions and pa
triotic feelings Of those who pronounced the
decision.
We all know that nothing we can do here
to day, fellow-citizens, will build the Blue
Ridge Rail Road but our object in meeting
on this high mountain, through whose bow.
els the steam engine is to pass for more than
mile, frcighted with the rich products oi
the world, and its beauty and manliness, is to
show the great interest the citizens of Pick
ells feel in the enterprise, and make another
appeal i'll its favor to the whole State OF South
Carolina, and more especially to the members
of the Legislature. This rally in so noble q
cause is made under the auspices and in the
presence of his Excellcncy the Governor and
Commander-in-C Chief of the State Of South
Carolina. You may rest assured that all the
Executive can do will be done to further this
great work. lie will bring it prominently
to the view of the Legislature in his annual
message. There is always hope in tue sec.
ond, sober thought oil just and enlightened
legislator. 1t is well known that great
many members Of the Legislature who voted
against the bill "f last session were not op'
posed to the Road. They desired to see il
20 on till it should cross over the mountains
aud penetrate the valley Of the Mississippi
Some were fearful, however, that tic work
could not he accomplished, and the sooner il
was stopped the better. Others were afraid
their con,'i ucnts were opposed 70 the Road
and felt bound to rcnrCsenL them.