The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-02-20

2 The Virginia Legislature is asked to char
ter company to build a Railroad from Lynch
burg to Danville, Va. and thus make more di-
rec: line between Columbia S. c.. and Baltimore
via Charlotte. Greensboro, Danville, Lynchburg,
SC. 1t is said that such line would be shorter
by 100 or $50 miles than any other. The char
ter for the proposed company has passed one
branch of the Legislature, but Gov Pierpont
has sent in a special message protesting against
it the grounds that it would ruin all the Rail
roads and canals in which the State is stock
holder to the amount of s2600o,O00 He says
it is q scheme got up by the Baltimore q Ohio
Road. What the Legislature will do remains to
be seen
THE STATE CREDrr.-NotAing can more deep
Fly act the true of the State, than her fall
ure to maintain her integrity. Yet no one who
has not made himself intimately acquainted with
the condition of our people, can have any conceP-
ton of their poverty or inability to raise money
The subject Of paying the State interest on the
coupons due and falling due is exciting the deep
est interest not only at home but abroad.-Rdt-
eiyh Sentinel
| Why is it, then, that the Legislative has just
passed bill giving $4,000 year, for four years.
of the peoples money to the University, to the
| exclusion of other institutions and the COMMON
schools? Why not appropriate this amount to-
wards paying the States creditors! BY reduc-
ing the number of Professors and Tutors in the
University, it is said the Institution might be
kept in operation without appropriation from
the State Treasury. Let no officers salaries be
increased or appropriations made until the people
get more money in hand. Prudent men gener-
ally pay their debts, before giving their funds
away! We should be Just before we are generous.
THE OBJECT.-No doubt tho main object that
prompts Congress to pass bill giving away the
Public Lands, is to afford an excuse for high
protective tariff to raise revenue for the support
of the government; while the realsnotive is to
shut out foreign importations, protect Northern
manufacturers and enable them to monopoze
trade. High tariffs were always an injury to
Southern people. and hence the ma ority general
ly voted for candidates who favored low tariff
they decided in several contests against the gra-
tuitous distribution of the public lands. and con-
tended that it was the true policy of the Govern
ment to sell its lands and put the money in the
common treasury. and fix low tariff on import
ed goods. allowing the people to buy where they
can buy cheapest. But as the South now has no
voice in Congress. such matters arranged
without regard to her interests.
TIE LABOR QUEsTIoN.-The Superintendent
of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. Col. S.
L. Fremont, in lis annual report, says:
The labor question is that seems likely to
give the future management of the railways in
the South the most trouble and anxiety. l am
unable to a satisfactory solution of the diff
Guilty. How many negroes i'll one hundred will
prove reliable and steady laborers it is hardly
possible to determine; but if we could believe
there would be one, it would be a hopeful condi-
ton of things compared to the present uncertain
ty. am confident it cannot reach two in the
hundred that now nhabit this section of country.
The remedy is white labor, if it can be had; us
a consequence have authorized the employment
of all the industrious and sober white laborcrs on
the track
This Road has to employ great many hands
the "freedman' has had fair trial, and the re-
suit is indicated in the above extract. The fact
is becoming more apparent every day that un-
less the freedmen become more diligent and in
dustrous, he will lose employment altogether.
Efforts being made in all directions to
supply tho place OF negroes with white labor,
simply because they cannot be depended on to
remain for year at any one place. If North |
ern fanatics had any real love for the freed peo-
pie. they would encourage them TO practice hab |
its of industry and economy. instead of talking |
about the right to vote, &c. All colored people |
who are honest and industrious will be kindly |
treated and can make good living. but the indo
lent and vicious must perish out sooner or later.
B- Some one write. letter from Morehead |
City, n. c.. to the Norfolk Post, saying that he |
recently saw John Wilkes Booth. the man who |
killed President Lincoln, in foreign country,
and that Booth said he escaped from this country
through Florida. 1t is generally believed that
Booth was killed in barn by soldiers who
pursued him from Washington and think
he is dead, notwithstanding the statement Of the
Morehead City correspondent.
A NEW BANKING SCuEME.-The Raleigh Sen
tinel proposes new scheme for organizing
Bank in this State. 1t says:
I'm this State there are millions of acres of
lands now uncultivated and unproductve. We
suggest that company be raised by the land.
holders pledging their surplus lands. at fair as
certa;ned value stock in the Company. Let
every man subscribe his lands and receive, when
the Company is organized. certificates of shares
to the amount of his stock. Let this stock be
pledged the whole amount for one fourth its val
ue, to be borrowed for a term of years. at per
cent. Let the funds thus raised be employed in
National Bank.