Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-07-04
misAs result in retarding useful works now pros

De4UOSy progressing 10 cOupletiOh
have been thus minute in order that justice
might be done Others, while claiming it for myself
While in the extracts given and the train of arsu-
ment referred to- it will clearly appear that language
used by me. and which language have not at any
time denied, wss enormously applied by Inc report
ers to tho "West" it will lat the same time appear
how mistake OF the kind might be made without
any suspicion of an intention to misrepresent
The rule laid downby Mr.. Foster, that a differ
ence, as to the statement in report, presents an
tissue Of reracity' between the persons entertain
ing such differences, is indeed loose one, and one
that would operate quite as hardly upon reporters
themselves as upon other persons-and we need not
travel far to show this.
Mr. Fosters report Of my Gainesville speech, con-
tains the following language:
1.-THE main purpose of his visit was to explain
the principles and policy Of the Democratic party
His opponent, Mr.. Pool between whom and himself
no difference upon national politics existed, yet
stood widely asunder from him on geeat question
of State policy"
The report of Mr. Garner (Op) contains the
following: I" He said there was no point of personal
difference between him and his competitor, but a
wide difference on State and Federal affairs" Now
either Mr.. Foster or Mr.. Garner is in error. Their
reports in this particular are at points. Both can
not be accurate Now if Mr.. Garner insists Oh the
accuracy Of his own report and denies that OF MIR.
Foster, then according to Mr. Fosters own rule, an
issue of veracity would be raised between them.
Now if Mr. Garner were to call on me to give
evidence upon this issue, would be compelled to
say that his report upon this point was correct and
Mr. Fosters was erroneous and have no doubt
every one else who heard US would concur in this
evidence.
This little instance, occurring in the same debate,
shows very clearly that reporters themselves are
not nfallibe, and that they too need little of that
L. Iol 20 oth
| Every one knows the circumstances under which
reports are made in this State. None of them are
full. and many of the most accurate contain errors.
The discussions between Mr.. Pool and myself occupy
about four hours and if published in full would fill
some ten columns Of the largest newspaper in the
State. Now have not vet seen report that filled
more than about three columns, so that more than
two-thir,s Of our speeches not reported at ALL
The comments Of the Opposition papers upon the
reports of my speech, leave to pass for what they
are worth. | know they have been circulated ex-
tensiveiy in the West for the purpose of preudicing
me with people in whose cause have been labor
ing for the past sixteen years, having raised my
voice in their behalf during my first session in the
Legislature in lS44-1nd having at no period from
that time to this RENTED my exertions to promote
their interests And this was done too while some
of those who are now holding me up as derect to
Western interests speaking and voting directly
against tiOSo lccsts. ous WV S"'" "6os So'iiS
Of the most prominent papers of the Opposition,
were dealing heavy blows upon the cause of West
ern interests, while |, upon every stump from the
ocean to the mountains, was battling in behalf Of
those interests.
Everywhere my best ability employed to
convince our people of the importance Of completing
| our Western railroads as speedily as practicable,
and that it was practicable and consistent with the
best inter ests of the State to complete them speed
! ;l,,, %bo ,onlJ Io occomnliS bod I Of
ten compelled in this labor. to meet excited preju-
dices existing in the minds Of some of our best ct
zens at the risk too of mourning their displeaSure
We. met them boldly, openly and without equivo-
cation reserve.
But of all the obstacles that presented themselves
none were so obstinate certain leading Opposition
papers, that week after week teemed with exaggera-
ted statements and figures Of the cost of these works.
calculated to frighen the people from their support
And if the people of the West have any one to
blame now for not obtaining such aid for their pub
lie works at the last session of the Legislature
they desired, | know of none upon whom that
blame could with more propriety be visited than up
on these same papers.
These things the people of the West we'll remem-
ber They know who their true and consistent
friends are, and am perfectly willing to abide their
decision without fear of the result And feel
very sure too, that they will arrive at the conc!u.
sion, that any Action by public men calculated to
excite sectional jealousies will not tend to advance
| their interests.
know of no cause directly calculated to re-
tard if not materially to obstruct the progress of
public works in the West than a sectional contro-
versy between the East and the West upon the sub
ject Of amending the Constitution as proposed by
the Opposition.
In no instance of my life have felt that occupi-
ed position Of truer devotion to these works than
the position ] now occupy upon the question Of
amending our State Constitution ard adopting the
system of al ralorema taxation These works are
needed at once. Our Western connexions should
be made without delay, in order to give life to the
capital already invested, and that the resources Of
the country itself may be developed. This is being
done and can be accomplished at All early day. un.
der the present order of things. Let US not fly
from certainty to uncertainty. The interests now
involved in Western improvements are too great and
too varied to be subjected to dangerous experiments
We are progressing surely and certainly with these
works. and they viii! continue to progress surely
and certainly to completion unless their friends are
tempted to engage in political experiments upon
social system, the results of which, to say the
least, rest in doubt and uncertainty
must apologize for having occupied so much of
| your space What have said l deem necessary
under the circumstances. ] hope to visit all of the
Western Counties soon. Indeed shall make it o
point to do SO. desire to meet the people, to whose
interests have been represented as being recreant
in order that they may have opportunity of de-
termining, with all the light before them, who their
true friends are
| Respectfully, &C.,
JOHN W. ELLIS
Raleigh, June 18th, 1860.