Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-19
REnARks or en-. w1NsrEAp,
Or PERSON,

e~ON--~
reading, Mr. Winstead said,
Mr.. Speaker TT people whom have the honor
to represent upon dis floor would. think me I'M
faithful in the discharge of my duties, If did not
submit some remarks upon this bill. should do
injustice to my feelings if did not say that l. IN
common with my constituents, have deep interest
in its fate. We have been for long while in the
county of Person dependent to some extent upon
Virginia for many of our railroad and banking IA
cilities. Many of my people begin to look to Vir-
ginia for the facilities which should be offered them
by their own State Their feelings in consequence
of this have become identified with the interests of
this noble old commonwealth. l desire, Sir to re-
claim the affections of my people, and cluster them
around the flag of my own native State.
do not propose in the remarks shall submit,
to discuss the principles or policy of banking. This,
to my mind is not now an open question. 1t has
long since been agreed that paper currency was
best suited to the wants and conveniences Of our
people, 1t has also been agreed that we would not
have one bank with many branches, but that we
would have many banks These things having been
fixed and agreed upon by the action of former Le-
gisatures are not now open for discussion.
The only question for us to discuss is as to the
number Of banks, when they shall be established,
and where located l assume that our rule of &C.
ton should be to establish banks where the maufac-
turing interest of the people makes them needfuk,
and locate them where they have the means to take
the stock This, then, being the rule, the first
question is, are we in the county of Person manu-
featuring people? As strange as it may sound to
many it is nevertheless true that TO very great
extent we are We grow in my county plant
but little known to many Senator'S 1t was our GUS
tom for long while to ship tobacco to Virginia
Richmond and GAINESVILLE in manufacturing of 1t,
took much of the profits of our labor We several
years ago became satisfied of the suicidal policy we
were pursuing, and in the last ten years we have
erected some seven eight large factories. We
arnD ms almost Or muCh o.
bacco as we grow. This, we are satisfied, is our
true policy Many hands, before unfit for the cul-
tvation of it. made useful and profitable in its
manufacture. We have given employment to all of
our people. When all of our factories are in full
blast, we work about fifteen hundred thousand
pounds. This at ten dollars per hundred, and for
the last year have been able to realize something
like this brings planters one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars 1t brings to the manufacturers,
when worked, between three and four hundred thou
sand. For this tobacco we have no market at home.
1t is sent either North South and when sold, the
proceeds are returned in checks on New York from
fifty dollars upwards. Then comes one of our in
convenences in having these checks cashed. And
to receive the money on them we have to travel
some twenty or thirty miles. This would not be so
bad if they were all received at once; but they
come to hand almost weekly, and to travel weekly
every two weeks twenty or thirty miles to receive
their accommodations is tax upon the time and
bear. To them and to me there is no satisfactory
reason why it should be so. Thus the Senate can
see at glance the loss and expense we are at for
the want of these facilities | represent an ener-
getic and perSevering people, and they think they
have no time to lose in this way. These exchanges
when sod to others profitable; hence others, by
the omission Of this Legislature, are made rich upon
our labor. There is no good reason why we should
lose eUen this profit There is no reason why we
should any longer be the "hewers of wood and
drawers of water" to others. We have been taxed
long enough to build railroads and other convent
enceS in other portions Of the State. They have
sent me here, Sir, to demand as a matter of right
and Justice the same facilities in railroads and banks
that are afforded to others.
have only mentioned our leading manufacturing
interest We have others. We have some of the
best flour mills in the State, besides several Tan
nerieS. With strong inclination the part Of
my people to engage in manufacturing pursuits, |
think may therefore safely say, represent 10
some extent a manufacturing constituency; an in
tereSt if We expect our people to become independ
ent entitled to the fostering of this Legislature
Wherefore the needs Of Bank in the county OF
Person
The next question is if the bank is thus estab-
lShed, have We the means to take the stock The
taxation of the county of Person is large as any
county in the State the counties wherein there
are large towns. 1t will be by reference the
Comptrollers report that there but few counties
that pay more tax; but few where the people have
more money at interest We now paying
State tax between five and six hundred thousand
dollars. We do not propose to convert all Of our
means into banking, but Only about one third. The
capital ofthe bank proposed is two hundred thousand
dollars-about one third Of our capital. This we
think will give us the necessary convenience in
rying on our exchanges. Thus hope it will readily
be seen have a manufacturing interest deserving
the fostering of this Lcgislature-a trade worthy
r l. ~
capital stock bringing as humbly submit within
the rule, suggested the proper one govern us in
this kind Of legislation. This being done shall in
sist on Senators passing the BILL that something may
be done for this already too long neglected portion
of the State.
1t has been urged upon this floor that banks are
evils in the country; that they we'll calculated
to ruin the people Grant, SIR that they are evils
Then have only to say that l represent liberal
and generous constituency, that would repudate
my return, if | did not say to this Senate
that they willing and anxious to bear their pro-
portion of the evils of the country. 1t has been
also said that railroads would ruin the country
My people, Sir, have instructed me to say to you,
that they desired you to atflict them with both of
these evils. And shall contend upon this floor,
that in justice to them, who have paid literally in
the way of taxes to build railroads in other portions
Of the State that the State should build road from
Hillsboro', by Roxboro', to the Virginia line in INV
county. 1t is due to us and in justice to them,
demand it the part of my constituents. We
want proportion of the evils that bearing so
hard upon others. You will find examination,
that the people that have been afflicted with banks
are the ones afflicted also with railroads. Take
your memoranda, you will find that we'll nigh every
county through which they pass there is bank,
ard in some more than one.
The only bank bill recommended by the commit
tee on banks, and the only one that this body has
passed, is bill to establish a bank in a county
through which the Central Railroad passes, and in
which there Is already bank, with all of its stock
not taken The two banks will give them more
banking capital than they have money in the county,
and with less manufacturing interest than we have
l do not say did wrong in passing that bill but
10 say, if it was right to pass that one it is right
to pass the one now under consideration How long
is it that we outsiders to go without any of these
facilities What have we done in the comfy ri