The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-18
The Danville and areensborough oonnec.

| The Legislature of North Carolina. at its lat.
Session says the Richmond Dispatch, passed 4
Oil authorizing railroad from some point
near Danville. Va, to some point in Rocking
ham Co. N. c., not nearer than 20 miles o
Greensborough. 1t was introduced as or
amendment to the bill authorizing the extern
sion of the Dapville Railroad to Greensborougi
after the reconsideration and defeat of tha,
bill. 1t was charged at the time that thi.
| amendment was the Danville extension in dis
guise, since its necessary effect will be to force
the North Carolinian Legislature to grant that
extension. Otherwise the late charter will be
most d etrimental to home interests by dvertine
trade to the Virginia roads and to Richmond
This is the view taken by Ex.Gov. Morehsad
and others. who advocate the building of the
road under the late charter, as leading neces-
snrily to the Greensborough extension. The
following review of the late Legislation on the
subject We extract from the Cdroiinian
During the last session of the North Caro-
lima Legislature, deep interest was felt in this
State. a large portion of North Carolina and a
portion of Virginia, IN the grant ofa charter
for II railroad from Danville, on the Virginia
line, to Greensboro, in North CaroIinn. The
charter as our readers will remember, was re-
fused through the active exert ions Of the Will
mington interest. After its defeat, and while
the Legislature was intent upon the very 10 I'D
able design of developing the resources of the
coal regions, charter was introduced for a
road to run from Greensboro up to the coal
fields Of the Dan River: but not TO extend
within twenty miles of Danville The mea-
sure passed the House. In this form it would
have been good feeder to either the North
a n optr h- Il
South Carolina road, according as the trade Of
that region determinatel to Wilmington or
Charleston. From some cause or other-wheth.
er from the fear of Wilmington to peril the
trade upon the test of attractiveness, or some
other cause, we know not-when the bill was
sent to the Senate, the Senator from Whining
ton proposed to amend, so as to reverse the
House bill. aud extend the Virginia road down
to North Carolina. not coming within twenty
miles Of Greensboro. AS strangely adverse to
North Carolina interest as this may SEEM it
passed both branches and became legalized
charter. 1t is apparent, if Richmond had been
given permission to locate the road 80 as best
70 suoserve her own interest. no better plan
could have been devised. Without competi-
tion from either Wilmington or Charleston,
she has now all she desired. and will ofcourse
see that the road is built. The people of North
Carolina might almost fold their arms, for such
complete monopoly does this guarantee to
Richmond the trade Of that section, that her
capital would freely be poured out for its con.
struction. 1t is to us the most anomalous leg
islation we ever heard of. Never was result
and intention so contradictory. The Legisla-
ture set out with the grand idea Of taking spe-
cial care of it's own railroads and its own sea
ports. But bewildcred, probably, by the Wig
orous attacks Of Gov. Morehead, and Others.
upon this restrictive policy, it has actually put
restrictions upon its own roads and it's own
towns, to the special protection and advantage
of Virginia.