Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-12-18
SENATE.
THURSDAY, Dec. 10, 1858.
RITITL

SENATE.
THURSDAY, Dec. 10, 1858.
BILL.
By Mr.. Bellany : A bill authorizing the
Commissioners of the Town of Tarboro' to
grant the right of way through said town
to the Williamson & Tarboro' Railroad
Company. Referred to the Committee on
Corporations.
On notion of Mr.. Barrow, the rules were
suspended, and the bill providing for the
Registration of Voters in special cases was
taken up and passed it's several readings.
This bill provides that all persons, who
have registered heretofore, are entitled to
gister to do SOY
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Bill to be entitled (" an act amendatory
of an act to incorporate the Western North
Carolina Railroad Company, and acts
amendatory thereof"
The question being on the amendment
offered by Mr.. Robbins to the 9th Section,
to wit
"Prouided, That no branch shall be
built until the main Road to Duck Town
and the branch to Paint Rock shall be
completed - which was adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Moore, of Carteret
the vote, by which the fifth section was
stricken out, and the proviso offered by
Mr.. Barrow, rejected on yesterday, was
reconsidered.
The question recurring on Mr.. Barrow's
amendment, to wit provided that the
State shall be entitled to pro rata vote
upon her stock, according to the represen-
tation of individual stock in the meeting "
Mr.. Osborne, said that the effect of this
amendment would be to increase the pow
ers of the State. He was perfectly willing
that the State should retain so much con-
troll as was provided for in the original
Charter, but this proposition would give
her the entire control of the Road, which
is in contravention of the provisions of the
original Charter.
Mr.. Barrow said he had no desire to
abridge the rights of individual stockhold-
ers, but he thought his amendment would
settle the disputes which he understood
were chronic between said stockholders
and those representing the interest of the
State.
Mr.. Osborne offered an amendment to
the amendment. to wit : 's 'sProuided, That
the State shall be represented in all the
stockholders meetings, as is now provided
for in the original Charter (which was
rejected, and Mr.. Barrow's amendment was
then adopted.
The question recurring on the passage
of the bill, it passed by the following vote:
Ayes 80, Nays 8.
CALENDAR.
Bill No. 2, amendatory of al act to in
corporate the Western North Carolina
Railroad Company, and acts amendatory
thereof
MIR. Sweet said that it appeared at
glance that this bill increased the indebt-
edness of the State to the extent of about
So, 100000. It is useless, Mr. President,
to enter into an argument against the in
crease of the Indebtedness. The Western
division of this road, to which this bill re-
lates, has capital stock of Sc, COO, 900, and
it is yet in its swaddling clothes not as
yet has single spade boen stuck in the
ground. Why ask for an additional ap-
preparation This stock may be found ad-
equate to complete it. The burthens of
taxation were already onerous upon the
people, and he could not vote to add to
their grievous burthens and, even if we
were as rich as Crnsus, this additional ap-
preparation should not be granted, until it
is ascertained what amount is actually re-
quired.
Mr. Lassiter said he would state that he
had understood that it was necessary to
procure the appropriation, in order to put
the entire line under contract, and, with
that view, he thought the bill should pass.
Mr.. Welker said if he understood the
matter correctly, he was opposed to that
clause which authorizes the stockholders to
borrow $2,O0O,O0O, and giving those who
loan the money a mortgage on the entire
road. It appeared to him as bad policy,
and placed the State in such a position
that she might lose her entire interest in
the road.
Mr.. Osborne said he intended to vote for
the bill. Notwithstanding the objections
offered by the Senators from Craven and
Guilford. This work is ahead of all the
railroad schemes in the State, and there
should be enough money appropriated at
once to complete it. To appropriate only
a sufficient amount to complete one section
at time, the section will be worn out be-
fore another is completed. Besides, the
sooner the road is completed, the sooner
the great resources of the rich mountain
regions will come down it-a section of the
State that has been denied. for years, the
privilege of intercourse with the outer
world-a section that can sustain double
the population of the entire State. He
thought the appropriation would be well
it would be source of revenue. His de-
scription of the rich country through
which this road must pass was graphic and
and the Reporter regrets his in
ability to do Mr.. Osborne justice by giving
his remarks in full.
Mr.. Robbins said that he felt, to-day, ,ithe
of being Senator. He had
tried to keep silent on this question, but
his conscience would not let him. He de-
sired to see this road built he had kind
friends who were interested in it, and
thought the road ought to be built at once.
{ agree with them. It would be a good
thing to have this road which runs from
my town into that rich mountain country
which the Senator from Mecklenburg so
described, but can are do it? It
will not do for us to stay here and build
air castles, when orr poor people are to pay
the piper. Can they do IT.? If this tax of s per
cent is not sufficient to pay the interest,
then it is unconstitutional, and if it is suf
ficient, it will raise $4O0. 900, which is
greater than the annual tax for the entiro
State heretofore. Are We ready to increas
this tax It is more than our peop. ,,.a
bear, aud do not desire to see the people
crushed and beggared, in order to build
this road, no matter how much desire to
see it done.
Again, $4,000 900 are to be borrowed