The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1870-03-02
Sor tAe Hsllsoorough Recorder.


'pe''fS Soiss'Ve "a wig P'oI,eht ~ "a ehS os"se.
This is a question which the people deem
important. The interest which the State
now owns in different works of internal i'm
provement is about her only available
means Of raisinga dollar with which to ligh-
ten the burdens Of an over-taxed people;
and it therefore becomes matter Of grave
to them by whom and how
these works are managed.
The North Carolina Rail Road is to-day
the most profitable investment in which the !
State has an interest. On the FIRST day Of
April it proposes to pay into the impoverish-
ed treasury ninety thousand dollars and on
the FIRST day Of July ninety thousand more !;
taken in the aggregate no mean item of re-
venue to depleted treasury. Superior
administration Of its affairs accomplished
this. Would it be well Just now to change
an administration that has rendered so good
an account Of It's stewardships. The pub
lie accords to it the highest praise. For
once party prejudice has been unable to find
aught to censure, but on the contrary has
accorded its appreciation. let Legislators
consider whether they were consulting the
wishes and representing the views Of those
whose mere agents they are when they
enacted, or are those views consulted, in
now permitting to stand enacted law that
may produce change in the affairs of this
great corporation. Do the circumstances
under which the act was passed, by which
the Superintendent of public works claims
Che power Of exercising controlling inAu-
ence in this great line of Rail Road entitle
it to consideration and respect as the deli
berate action Of the law-making power Of
North Carolina? Did the members Of eth
er House, after leaving for their homes at
the end Of last winter session know Of the
existence Of such an act; None but few
who for certain purposes were entrusted
with the secret. A purely ring mea-
sure, rushed through blythe combination Of
few members, the title Of the act only be-
ing read. This is notorious fact and mem
bers Of the legislature know it. 1t was
done at the close Of the session, when bills
we're passing their final readings, members
anxious to get Of and everything, as Is al
ways the case under such circumstances, in
a state of confusion. Should not law thus
passed be repealed if for no other reason,
ttO give opportunity for that reflection and
deliberation its importance demands? II
an important act. Itdemands thought and
consideration. It's very phraseology shows
the incOnsiderate and hasty manner in which
it was rushed through. Let members have
an opportunity Of, at least, understanding
and weighing the import Of this measure.
The States interest in the many pablo
works which he owns, in al Or in part, i
q matter Of interest 10 our whole people
The State spropcrty is their.property. Now
three fourths Of the North Carolina Rail
Road belongs to the State--to the people,
land they are satisfied with its present
infringement. Why then change or at
tempt to change an administration that is
everywhere and by everybody applaudedi
And suppose the existing act Is held not
70 be in conflict with the chartered rights Of
tie North Carolina Rail Road Company.
ito whose hands does il consign the peoples
property and to whom doe L virtually give
is management? Why to the superinten-
dent Of public works, Of course you answer.
Has ,hc oiisial career II this officer been
such, thiat you, a ii give Lin asirong hlld
upon the confidence 81 The people? Have
they % soon forgotten, DO you suppose, tic
real estate transaction had with one pryhe
and others IN Chatham county relative to
the location Of the penitentiary? Hardly !
| don't say Mr.. Harris vas guilty Of fraud
IN sl,s transaction, but FOR one who above
al others should 1--we bcen acting IN good
faith, the circumstance, viewed in It's most
favorable light, falls short Of establishing
his capability as Superintendent Of public
works. This too. unfortunately for him,
was among the first Of his official acts. The
public is by no means satisfied that Mr..
Harris was not paid for the part be played
in this transaction. This as far as know
is the only instance IN which want Of g.
deity on the part cf this high officer could
have been turned 70 personal profit, and il
is idle 70 ay that his good faith i not IN
this instance suspected. When man falls
after q series Of temptations. victim 10 love