Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-12-10
Blue Ridge Road.

FRIEND TmoMpsoN-SiuceI know that
you are strong friend of any enterprise, the
completion of Which, is dcstincdto add not
only wealth aud prosperity to cur State, but
which III these critical times of probable civil
strife, is calculated to augment in very great
degree her capabilities of defence, know YOU
will lend listening ear to friend of tho
Blue Ridge Road. That the time is rapidly
approaching when this road, as great State
project is to receive the necessary aid, from
the source OF its origin, to put its compile
ton beyond speculation; or thutit is to pass
into oblivion as a blind and worthless under
taking, having its origin in the deliberations
of our State legislature. (Which has so long
been characterized by the sounlcst and least
Questionable of poicy,) the least Observing
viii admit. The question:, as a friend of the
road, rcvo!ycS itself in our mind is the lat
ter To b1 it's lamcntabc fate Such a result
would show weakness on the part of it's or
i@inators bordering Oh child like imbecity
No. we repeat it, n"ror. We will not now,
since we never lnvc allow ourselves to enter
tain the idea OF its ebnndonmcnt We are
proud to sny that we have too much confidence
in the prudence and wisdom of our Lcgsl-
turc to doubt fora moment that this road
will receive liberal appropriation
II is true, that in the opening of our Leg
islaturc, We sec little of hope. 1t is alike
true that in the message of our executive, we
see little that is encouraging, except it be the
policy which he recommends, as alike applca-
bic to individuals or States which is not to
hand down crippled estate to your progeny.
Now, let us examine this policy a little far
ther. BY way of illustration We ask, would
it be wise policy in an individual under cir
cumStLnccs of the least embarrassment, to
commence bmilding large and magnificent
residence which would probably take the last
dollar he could Grasp to complete; and at tho
same time abandon the construction of a turn
pike road, which he had partially completed,
and which if he did not hasten to finish no
would either loose the charter which he coull
never again obtain, or half the travel by the
building OF some conflicting route by ether
parties, and by the cnsy completion of which
he would not only be enabled to liquilate the
last debt that he owes, but would also enable
him to construct in much mgnifccncc and
grandeur. this long contemplated mansion rs
monument OF his prudence and good man
agcment, which had he built it to the uban.
honmcnt OF his original policy would have
been monument of Ills weakness and folly.
We leave this illustration without comment.
Viewing it however MS we do, i'm connection
Governor, we again reiterate that it cannot be
Il failure. But that he will aid to the fullest
extent the carrying out of the policy which
he so wisely recommends.
To the members of our Legislature we think
there is little necessity of an appeal There
Is not one of them whether hc lives in the
highlands OF Plckcns or the everglades of tho
seaboard, who is not deeply interested III this
road. If not as n means of c,unoroo ot
least as another stay to public safety. AS
this road tlnvcrses country which affords ma
ny fighting men, who are ever ready mt a min
utes warming to defend; your lives and proper
ty. Whether against the Invasion of a for
cign force or the sudden outbrc nix of n do
nestle one
Then let thAm not lac' for r. ,ilroai' Ecili-
tics, In conclusion ! would say to you that
southern blood split at IIarpcr's Ferry loudly
warns you of the necessity of Railroad facili-
ties. Such sudden outbreaks as this are to
be successfully met only by almost teiegraphic
dispatch.
Ihht civil commotion will at an early peri
od shake the very basis upon which this gov
einncnt stands, it needs only the election of o
Black Republican President in 1860 to de-
vclopc. The name of Union which olonc for
years has kept us together, in that event will
be but the watchword for the formation of
Houtherii Confcdcracy Then to our Exccu-
tive and to the members of our Legislative
assembly, 1 would say since YOU have so ju-
d'c,onsly expended few hundred thousand
dollars IN this important enterprise, let us not
lack for few hundred thousand more which
Is only necessary to its completion.
louls truly. Billy BARLOW.
Pcndlcton, December 9th 1850 M