The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-12-22
THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION.
Speech of Senator Robbins, of Rowan,


Carolina Dec. II, 1868.
1t is full time, Mr. President, that some voice
were raised here in vigorous protest against the
wild and reckless propositions now pending be-
fore this body, by which North Carolina will be
hopelessy involved in debt, her credit destroyed,
her people beggared, and her fair fame forever
furnished. Would that one of the giant North
Carolinians of old days were here to perform this
task But our sages are dead or DISTINGUISHED.
Humble and inexperienced, upon ME the occa-
sion seems to impose this duty. | rse Mr.
President. to discharge that duty-feebly, per
haps, but yet fearlessly
1t is we'll known that there is here a Railroad
Ring, each member of which is pledged to vote
for the appropriations to all the Roads in order
to secure one for his own. Thus banded to-
gether you are giving votes, Senator'S for meas
ures which your judgments do not approve. 1t
is general game Of grGb; and multitude Of
visionary projects are being thus rushed through,
the aggregate result Of which must be financial
ruin to the State To-day | declare on this
Ring; and if | cannot break i, | shall try to
make it at least ring Of fire.
Let us first make few figures, and see what
the debt of the State is. and how much you pre-
pose to make it. ] shall only mention large
items, and not waste time minor expenditures
Let US state the items under three separate
heads: First The present actual debt in bonds
issued at various times. according to the report
Just submitted TO us by the Treasurer ,SccondIy,
the amount of bonds soon to be issued under
ordinances and acts of the late Convention and
the late session of this General Assembly.
ThirdIy the bon is to be issued under the bills
now pending and passing here:
I. Actual existing debt, (see Treasurer's
report Sl9,2C9,9 f5
2 Bonds authorized bv Convention and
Legislature:
Western II. Road by ConvCn-
ton ;So coC'0o"
W VIII -o =, ", II Ta,foo.r
Road 1000
North Western RR, 10000
The Pententiary, 100000
. ,,.,,,----I---. ''4'"''o'
-, y = :, pp arnoIn,
w westerm y IA H. I I'c|0'C"2
Wil1iamston and r = Road . 600 eco
Chimney Rock r Il. 2coo,CoO
Eastern ana Il II, 2.Go0,0G0
atlantic, Tenn 4 o. H. l'"Co'G1o
Snn,' W. ra,l !, n: rpp i900C0 !, ro eco
- 3
Total debt a. now contemplated, S;;7,uao, ol5
Tho Constitution commands ro,, 70 rro-
vide means to paw the annual interest
this debt That interest Will be, 81 221, $50
The annual expense Of Safe govern
men,' see Governor HHesSasG'j "'"'-.'
nusuat Iro,sia! ''A ,"i Se'''i< zee -coc.o
Total annual tax on property. S3.Og7, t2G
In edition o. tbis .lon. 1oo con State ,,oil
,,,,ct t.,;J G. r.
- - r ~ "oI " r '"1
$500 H.. a,,,s w., ' ;-,'; "I ..
49, a'sIs o'I l'i" ~ 'I". I"' i'"Po'
,,;Ions ~ t.,T -, =, tI,';r ,,y''arI. Is,.
,Ia, thc,,,ht ~ e e. ,,'t' .} u"9
1872 y Jl. C,.. =. .Ii ~
,I -, 't .i Wv r ~, p'I . N'''''0,
tI", D'I'0
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J,,no ~ ,'@n,, I'm ~ " IIi',I', ,o"~ i'o
= .d,,;t ns tI,o ctor;4 ,.;I1. a.. If I'm c';I
Ill 49,. ;,,i. "',,' ;oi C -. l,''.
l.:,I:'I ~ III
e - D'l.'' a. ~ o', po'i''' ''0i u
f"i snI ."Nss ~" :" '.cu
10 -" 'I''s III
81 .'," VI o''o n,iio
49, r. " 10 81 o. :" .'''" per ''"t
50. 1io y. '"o 90 80 pay 'r M ''lhu"'
W. :" 10 ~ ne" IPp' "i'i i''lU"S nus lof
'"o u, ~ :, - - 49, cav -" io'1 =, one PR
ro"d "o w s"i ~ y p I"Il, W M" N
~ u D, n, ''' Ir - ~ " .o ~
y a,,d W p p.l ! 90 k..l is % % -;
ia Add;n, tb.ao f,,,at;,,'s -. -'o ,,a
b,ro If ono n5r cent 5n aa,ts ~ ti,o e,"0
NJ ,roro,,, .rI H. = tlo .,, ,o,, ,,.l,,a,a -,
raise 70 n,Set tLe interest on ,nr nty .,,,ro,
,r;.t;ons olnno Rnt tLo Hrl;o T,.,,r,',l i.,,,
Won en-, nndor tho ,,rosant St,to C'1SI;,,t;,,,,
nnlv tax nronort,, ,h,,t 10 conts ON sI0n f'r III
Stata n,rno,.s 600 his rc,,ort r.oe11l ~,
tb;s sbouir,r ubor, , ,.,,,,. ,,,,<7, 8: - ,,t
inc the interest ON rho cx;strn, JnLt tbn ox