The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-05-20


turned ami clsapea her oloso with sudden strpps,h,
And slowly. sweeuy, became aware .! I
Within my ur Is dod'a angel stood. nt length, Il
-! white-robcd and calm and fair.
And now look beyond tho evening star,
gSySnd ,hS tho a I s,np S
.,r .. -''L 3 o'nIorc bcautrful than thoy.
-Eo'j 7-sT'5o -. IT, T.
THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE
CHARLOTTE RAILROAD.
Tho loading idea Of tho carly stato Legislatures
Of South Carolinao tho subject OF railways was to
establish communications with the great West.
Tho present s'South Carolina Railroad" is tho re-
azation OF this idea to the State line OF Georgia.
1t is equally apparent that tho public mind looked
forward to tho poriod whom, from this parent stem,
q network Of railroads would spring up to all
points in this State as well, which would furnish
convenient tranHportati n, and thus draw to the
metropolis OF South Carolina tho commerce Of half
y dozen prosperous states, and build up our city
into tho leading exporting and importing seaport
Of the South Atlanti, coast, and, through the
agency OF such commercial contro Us Charleston,
would be in position to furnish material aid to
all OF our people, from the noaboard to the noun
tains. :. .r
To accomplish thoHo high nfms, both tho State
Of South Carolina and tho City Of Charleston haro
lavishly contributed OF their means Money and
endorsements to tho extent Of millions OF do liars
have .Bson freely furnished, not only oroads in
our own State, but to a number Of other connect
ing roads beyond our borders, which, It was
pocted, would act as nuxilaries to the commerce
OF this city. Upon the successful accomplishment
Of these ends deponds, not only the prosperity Of
tue South Carolina Railroad Company but, dis.
guiseit we may, tho commerce aud tho welfare OF
Ill 49, uko olro 10
to Iresorye and protect thcao vital interests that
the South Carolina Railroad Company invokcs tho
aid of tho Courts to restrain palpable Infringe
ment OF its charter, and to prevent the wealth Of
tho State from going towards building up distant
points. * &rt
The State OF Georgia wields every influence at
her command in the intel ost Of her soaports;
our sstar State OF North Carolina hus thought It to
her interest to build her railroads with different
gusge, SO that overy pound OF freight, other than
to her own ports must break bulk ut hor borders.
Who are tho parties who ask for FREQ passage
across State, and who actually, by adroit man
agsment, induced the Legislature Of South Carroll
nato promise to pay them FOR destroying our we'll
understood plans Of internal improyementa2 These
very nelshbora Of ours who legslato against ua
with their narrow gungo roads.
Our commercial readers arc aware that, for moro
"a
and Columbia Railrond has been to divert trade
from its nBual channel to Charleston, and to carry
it 10 Now York. Every bale OF cotton transported
along that road to Charlotte, and thence to Now
York, has been so much Of tho life-blood Of COM
morce diverted from Charleston Was it to effect
this object to build up New York at the expense Of
Charleston I'd fostor tho railroads and seaports Of
North Carolina at the sacrifice Of the interests of
it's own roads, that the State subscribed to the
Charlotte and Columbia Railroad II we correct
ly remember the circumstances, the appeal TO the
State and to the city Of Charleston for aid to tho
Charlotte and Columbia Railroad, was bascd upon
the assertions that the road would contribute 10
the prosperity Of Charleston; and tho eloquent
gentleman from Charlotte, who addressed our citi-
zens ON that subject, not only assorted, but de-
monstrated that the receipts Of cotton at tho port
Of Charleston would be nearly doubled by the con-
Htruotionof this road. Their appeals werc con-
vinoing, and the State and city subscribed What
is the result The road completed by their efforts
is usedto divert trade to and through North Caro-
lima, and to destroy tho very interests the protec
hon and Advancement Of which were tho objects Of
its construction, It mny bo beyond our power TO
remedy that OWL. The road is built and chartered
and We cannot impair its right or control its ope-
rations. But it now socks to become still moro
potent enemy. It seeks an ally in tho Columbia
and Augusta Railroad, WHICH, built by its efforta
and differed by IFS President, is hardly 60 much
m independent road as branch or continuation
Of the Charlotte and Columbia road from Columbia
to Augusta. No moro fatal blow could bo given to
Charleston and the State than by tho construction
Of this road. No one acquainted with tho re-
sources Of tho country through which 1t passes
will entertain for moment the idea that any local
traffic or development OF internal resources is an
tioipated- It's pole object ts To- connect Augusta
toih Charlotte. L, III III, l.. .E.A
Names arc things and Ind the road been on
titled q rond from Charlotte to Augusta, tho truo
scope Of tho 1neasnre: wonld have boen manifest
and the bill would have boon defeated. But those
who engineered tho work wero too astute to e1-
press openly the real object OF tho bill. Tho road
was first chartered as tho Columbia and Hamburg
Road, ffteen yeara ago. subsequently it's tito
WAS changed to the " Columbia and Augusta Rail-
road" and It was authorized to oross the snyan-
nah Riveri then by another and final amendment,
1t was authorized 10 connect he Charlotte and
Columbia Railroad ,oin The Georgia Raaroad.
BY successive steps Il had now (18SS) reached
that position, which had boon kept steadily in.
view from the outset, and so adroitly had it been
managed that neither was suspicion excited nor
alarm given. &st'f
Looking back upon the action Of the State Log
islature it 10 matter Of surprise aud regret that
the Charleston delegation had not perceived the
tendency.of tho blll, land the dangers which
threatened the most important interests Of this
city from it's passage. Had the attention Of
the Legislature been called TO it, We do not
believe that the bill ever could have passed,
but unfortunately u pds overlooked, tho bill
quietly passed, and tho only possible mode in
which the danger can bo nverted, is by testing
the constltutlonality Of tho act ohartaring it. 3
The proceedings which the South Carolina Rail-
road Company, has initiated are Of course primarily
for Its OWE bonoft. Itis not willing, nor could It
with any propriety permit it's resources to be d.
minished, or its traffic diverted without testing
the rights OF the proposed Columbia and Augusta
Road IL defending, then its own interests, it bat
tlea at tho same time for the well-known policy Of
t., Ss".e and city; and even in those almost hope
lss ines, OK prostration and depression Of public
spirit It's officers are mindful Of the expectations
OF the groat mon who, under protraoted difficulties
in The past, have worked out It's career Of useful
ness to both tho State and the city, and who win
not bo detorrod from at losst an earneat effort to
realize those hqpos III 1.-The no distant future, by
tho mischieyous schemes OF those who, 1t may be,
have no South Carollns TO- live tor-no aspirations
for tho future Of old Charleston. - .
But IL is .contended that tho South Carolina
Railroad Company should haye acted moro prompt