The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-08-25
The East and the West.

Two or three of the papers OF New Berne
and Wilmington are indignant because Gov.
HOLDEN gave the West the largest number
of directors in the Wilmington, Charlotte q
Rutherford Railroad Company. The New
Berne Times is also indignant because the
STANDARD defends Gov. HOLDEN from its
cowardly attacks, and because we do not
advocate consolidation.
For these reasons the Times announces
that it has commenced battle in favor OF
the Eastern against the Northern, Middle
and Western sections of the State. We do
not believe that the people of the East wish
to enter into any contest with other sections,
although few spectators may. Yet it is
proper. now that the question has been
raised, to compare the favors received by
each section.
The New Berne Times says "thsWest asks
for millions of dollars more than her soil is
worth from your Legislature, and the request
is granted" This is not true. The West
did ask for certain appropriations, and they
soere granted, but they were mot more than
her extraordinary resources warranted her
in asking. The West, in common with the
Northern and Middle sections of North Car
olina, has, ever since the formation of the
State government, been taxed to develope
and enrich the East. The West has submit
ted to this taxation without murmur, and
now but asks that it may be treated as it
has treated other sections. The demand is
just.
As the East complains Of the appropria-
lions which have been made for the deyel-
opment of the West, let us see what has been
done for the East.
In 1888, the Wilmington and Weldon
Railroad was put in operation. The State
loaned it 100000 in gold.
Before the Central Road was in operation,
a road, built almost entirely by the State
aid, was constructed from Goldsboro' to
New Borne, and thence to Morehead City
| a large extent of the latter road being built
through barren swamp which was then, as
now, useless and unproductive. From q
desire to build up the ports of New Berne
and Morehead City and to benefit the East
the West cheerfully submitted to the large
taxation necessary to complete these works.
Before stroke of work was done on the
Central road, road was built from Raleigh
to CASTOR and the Roanoke River. This
road cost the State 81 900, 900 in gold, nearly
all of which she lost.
From 1910 to the breaking out of the
war, twenty long years, under the same sys-
TEN, advocated alike by the Wings and Dem
ocrats, hundreds of thousands of dollars of
the school fund were distributed in the East
in proportion to Federal population.
In every instance in which slave popula-
ton was considered it Injured to the benefit
of the East, and this during time when it
was high crime to educate slaves The
East thus pocketed an unfair proportion of
the fund to the great disadvantage of the
free white children of the West.
The General Government also appropria-
ted, at different times, over 100000 for the
the construction of lighthouses, and forts,
and the improvement ofharbors, &C., &C., all
of which went to enrich the East.
| Under the auspices of the Democratic
party, that party welding the slave power,
and, with the exception of Gov. HOLDEN
and few other leading Democrats, hos
tile to the West, over 100000 were spent
in draining swamp lands and cutting canals,
all for the East.
The State has also endeavored to improve
the Deep and Cape Fear Rivers for the
benefit of Wilmington, and during the last
thirty years more than million of dollars
have been swept away in useless improve
ments."
Nor have the political relations of the East
and West been any fairer. Up to twenty
years ago the little county of Greene
one third the size of Craven-was allowed
the same representation as the county Of
Buncombe, county then over thirty times
as large as Greene.
There has never been Governor from
west of the Catawba, except Gov. VANCE
since the formation of the government
There has never been U. s. Senator from
west of the Catawba. By universal consent
Governor HOLDEN, residing in the centre o.
the State, is considered to be State man
and has always gone for the interests of al
portions of the State without regard tc
locality.
1t is but fair that the West should now
enjoy the same privileges as have been en-
joyed by the East. The Yves. has heretofore
been taxed for the benefit of the East. 1t il
but fair that the East should now be taxed
to develope the West.
The colored men of the East are noto
riously in favor of internal Improvements
and we feel confident that they are willing
to pay their proportion of taxes to develops
the great resources of the West-resources
which will soon give wealth, not only to thu
West, but to the whole State. They say
with US, the East has been aided, let thu
West now receive its share.
The STANDARD now advocates the claims
of the West It is no sectional champion
but desires to see equal justice done all sec
tions of the State. The West is entitled tt
all that has been done for it-and more
Therefore, without the slightest hostility tt
the East, we say, let the West receive it.
1 ehoro