Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-02-12

Nardry McBee. Esq,, distinguished for his
public spirit and enterprise, subscribed and /
paid towards the Greenyille aud Columbia /
Railroad sixty thousand dollars. This sub |
scription was regarded by many as anunwise !
and an Improbable one; but Mr. McBee |
knew well what he was doing. lie owned I
several thousand acres of land around the /
village of Greenyille. Since the completion |
of the road his lands nave inercasedin value |
four or five fold. lie is now selling lots one
mile from the Court House at two, three and
four hundred dollars per acre. Before the
Greenyille Railroad was surveyed, purchas-
cd some of these lands, two miles from the
village. ut four dollars and fifty cents per
acre. The railroad now runs through them,
and | had occasion, the other day, to pur-
chase Othcr lands adjoining, and had to pay
for them thirty dollars per acre, instead Of
four dollars and fifty cents
The Blue Ridge Railroad passes fifty-fDur
miles in the State of South Carolina This
will give onemilion three lundredund eight
y-'wo thousand dollars as the increased val
ue of our lands, according to the estimate al
ready made. Here is almost one half the
subscription, NOW necessary to complete the
road, returned to the people of the State.
But, Mr., Speaker, the advantages of this
great enterprise to South Carolina are meal
culable, They have been so to every State
which has had the wisdom and energy to form
similar connections With the great valley of
! the West. Look around you, sir, and see
what these connections lave done for Boston.
New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and
Richmond. See what they have done for
| Georgia and Alabama. The same advanta-
gcs must be enjoyedby Charleston. She is
the nearest seaport town to the valley of the
Mississippi. Her harbor is one of tho best
| in all the Southern States.
I In order to form this railroad connection
with the West. Georgia has paid five millions
of dollars, Virginia has paid ten millions,
and am not able to state ;he millions and
tens of millions paid by the States of New
York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Massa-
SSlIspsetttss Ss Is. For the construction of railroads
all the Statesof this Union have contributed
millions out of the SAFE s,rrTree9asnry except
South Carolina. She Ind literally conf c6iFSii NJ I
nted nothing, except the surplus revenue
which was given her by the General Govern
! inent, till her subscription of one million to
the Blue Ridge Railroad. If North Carolina
can give seven or eight millions, Georgia six
or seven, Alabama and Tennessee eight or
| ton millions each, and Virginia fifteen mil
lions, think South Carolina, the glorious
| little Palmetto State, might afford to give
three mil IONS.
South Carolina is a small Statcin territory
| and population, and unless she is energetic
and completes for this Western commerce, her
| prosperity, and power and Influence in the
Contederacy are gone forever. The Georgia
| Kailroad, on one side and the Virginia and
Tennessee Railr9ad on the other, will strip
her OF her commercial Importance
( The Blue Ridge Railroad will benefit cve-
| ry section of the State and, therefore, every
district in it should feel deep interest in its
success. 1t will bring for distribution, over
all the other railroads, the flour, corn, wheat,
bacon, lard, hogs, heeyes, horses, and other
products of the West. This produce is now
wanted, and purchased by every district in
the State; but, sir, like good citizens, we
must unite in a great enterprise like this,
whether it benefits one section or not more
than the rest, or equally with the rest
When tic people of Spartanburg made APP
l.plieation for their railroad GrcenyilIe did
not say, we have no interest in your road
and will vote aginstit. So it was when all
the other local roads in thosState made APP
| plication for aid. We must unite to help
one another, and all unite in great enter
prise, which is to rodound to the prosperity
and glory of the State
The only just and equitable way of build
! ing railroads is by the State. Then each in.
| tdiyidual istaxed olbuild them in proportion
to his mcalls, and, if.lcft to voluntary contri-
buttons, the burden always falls ON the liber-
al, and generous, and patriotic, to the excu-
s;is.ss q! & Ike .!se CIR. ard sSlGSah
So farms Greenville is concerned. the dis.
bursement of the money in building the Toad
will benefit her people more than they can
possibly be injured bytaxation for tho same
purpose.
1t has been said, by members oftlis IIousc,
that If they voted for this B II they would be
turned OUT by their constituents at the next
3eiections- 1 do not believe it,, if they will
take the pains to explninthcir votes. Buff
they should be dcfeated is that any reason
ior voting against their own Convictions of
public policy Will anyone pretend to say
thatit is moro imp ,rlant to tho State that he
should continue q member of the Legislature
than that the Blue Ridge Railroad should be
completed and pour into the State the rich
commerce of the West? say. for ore. sir,
that my seat in this body dues rot weigh a
feathclin Che balance when compared to the
Importance of this great enterprise. If my
constituents should see proper to take it from
me for my vote on this Occdsion. shall CON
sider the sacrifice as the proudcst act of my
life, Most willingly will consent that my
voice slIall never be heard agaiR within these
wallis if by that humble sacrifice this great
project can he accomplished, ard the pr6sper.
ity and glory of my native State increased
and. elevated amongst her sister States Of this
confcderncy.
a HtBERNfAS being recently on trial
for some offence, pleaded G Not suilty,'s
and the jury being III the box, the State
Solicitor proceeded to call Mr.. Fufkiseon
rs q witness With the utmost inpocenee,
Patrick turned his face to the Court, and
( said & DO understaud your Honor, Chat
NJ y Fufkissotl is to be witness fornensE me
again n The Judge said dryly. s.Itsecnis
- n lIr 5tal III