The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-03
9 III "A r L II S II O N
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH Q. 1sc
ho, for port Royal.

The Port Royal Railroad bill has again
asses s;s aeaI in Inc iiouao OF Kepresenta-
ises, and is made tho special order for one
e'elpek TO day. We do not know whethor
the original bill has been amended or
changed in committee; but we are still sat-
isaed that tho 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 to give every
new railroad all the assistance in our power.
While, however, we do this, we cannot
admit that it is the duty Of the State to
build local railroads for the benefit of GER
tain localities at the expense of the people
at large.
1t 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 offshoot of the
action of Congress. AS that body, repre-
senting nominally the whole Union, knew
no limit of authority but it's 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 spsoulators 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 $42, 600, 900, as has been done in a
few months in North Carolina
1t must always be understood that we do
not object to the State giving such .assis-
tance to established railroads as is neces-
sary to save the State from total loss of
what it has already subscribed. A dollar
l.
and prudence toepend 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 been 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, or to enable the State to
maintain it's 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 wharves and on shipboard. We have
every facility for the transaction Of hulssi-
ness. Our Charleston merchants and fac-
tors are experienced and sagaoious 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 reuui-
site accommodations. And as for the depth
Of water at Port Royal, about which SO
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 4OCO
bales Of cotton upon draught Of Is feet.
This ia the style Of steamship that can
always cross the Charleston bar, and which
will be far more profitable than q feet Of
"dreat Easterns," which Port Royal might
sigh for and sigh for in vain. There are.
Of course, important interests to be served
by granting subsidy to tho new ilroad.
Spectators hold the land adjacent to the
terminus of the line and along it's route.
They will profit by the opening Of the road,
and when the land is sold it will not matter
70 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 a shadow Of right to ask for
help. AS local road it will be of bene6:.
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
ct 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
70 give its bonds o asrket value. Thea tho
II 6ft
road can be constructed legitimately, and
i the State will suffer no loss. II, however.
State subsidy or guarsntee---it would
amount to the same thing--bs granted the
cofapany, it will be for the benefit Of the
jobber and speculator, and because, in all
probability, Of an unreasonable Jealousy Of