The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-03
CHI A RI Es TON
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH s, 1859.
Ho! for Port Royal.

The Port Royal Railroad bill has again
lifted its head in the House. of Representa-
tives, and is made the special order for one
o'clock to-day. We do not know whether
the origina! bill. has been amended OF
changed in committee; but we are still sat-
isfed that the whole scheme is thoroughly
and permanently Objectionable.
We do not oppose the construction of new
railroads in South Carolina. On the con-
trary, knowing, as we do, their value in
developing the resources Of the State and
in making produce profitable, by giving it
cheap and rapid communication with the
best markets, we are disposed 10 give every
new railroad all the assistance in cur power.
While, however, we do this, we cannot
admit that it is the duty of the State to
build local railroads for $he benefit Of GER
tain localities at the expense of the people
at large.
It is the habit, now, to pray the Legisla-
ture for everything that may be wanted,
from velocipede to a two million subsidy.
| This habit is the natural ofshoot of the
action of Congress. AS that body, repre-
senting nominally the whole Union, knew
no limit of authority but its own will, and
mocked and laughed at the wise restraints
of the constitution, it was only natural that
the State Legislatures, which were its crea-
lures, should wink at the same policy, and
that spectators and "ring" leaders every
where should endeavor to make the Gene
raj Assembly of their putatiVe States the
foster fathers of their every scheme of plum
der. Too much government is our bane.
We do not want paternal government
which shall regulate our incoming and out
going, our schools and our dwelling houses,
our dresses and our dinner, our living and
our dying; nor do we want a government
which shall subsidize railroad from Pen
Corner to Five hole Swamp, and run up our
debt to S42, 900, 900, as has been done in
few months in North Carolina.
It must always be understood that we do
not object to the State giving such assis-
tanoe to established railroads as is neces-
sary to save the State from total loss of
what it has already subscribed. A dollar
in time will save nine. Il ia common sense
and prudence to spend in order to save,
and for the purpose of making profitable
what has already been spent. But the
Port Royal Railroad does not come within
this category. Nothing has n spent
upon it by the State, and, indeed, so far as
we know, nothing Of any consequence has
been done by any one. Nor is it line of
railroad necessary for the transaction of
through. business, OF to enable the State to
maintain its present commercial position.
Charleston can accommodate three times
the business which she now has. Cotton
may pour down at the rate of FIVE thousand
bales day, and We will find room for it on
our wharvea and on shipboard. We have
every facil:sy for the transaction of busi-
ness. Our Charleston merchants and fac
tors are experienced and sagaciOus men,
the wharves are all that could be desired,
the lines of railroad give speedy and sure
communication with the interior. We have
not one. half the trade that we could do and
that we will do. The Port Royal Railroad,
then, is not needed because Charleston turns
away business and cannot give it the requi-
site accommodations. And as for the depth
of water at Port Royal, about which 80
much is said, it is practically all moon
shine. At this moment propositions are
before our commercial men for the build
ing of steamships which shall carry 40C0
bales of cotton upon draught of lG feet.
This is the style of steamship that can
always Cross the Charleston bar, and which
will be far more profitable than feet Of
"Great Easterns," which Port Royal might
sigh for and sigh for in vain. There arc,
of course, important interests to be served
by granting subsidy to the new railroad.
Spectators hold the land adjacent to the
terminus of the line and along its route.
They will profit by the opening of the road,
and when the land is sold it will not matter
TO them what becomes of the railroad and
of the subsidy or guarantee Of the State.
We do not see that the Port Royal Rail
road has any claims whatever upon the
State, or even shadow of right to ask for
help. AS local road it will be of benefit,
of great benefit, to the country which it
traverses, and for that reason we should be
glad to see it built. Not, however, at the
expense of the State, or by its credit, but
at the expense of the section Of country
which it will pass through, and upon the
credit of the company itself. The public,
who require this road for their local accom-
mediation, should be able to subscribe enough
to give its bonds market value. Then the
road can be constructed legitimately, and
the State will suffer no loss. If, however,
o State subsidy OF guarantee-it would
amount to the same thing-be granted the
company, it will ,e for the benefit of the
jobber and speculatcr, and because, in all
probability, of an unreasonable jealousy of
the growing strength of Charleston. Such