Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-07-29
For 4ba Tay7rpal-
The OnsIOvx Railroad,

MeSSrS. Editors In your paper OF the
an article giving an account Of the Rail
road Meeting at Jacksonville, on the 4th
instant, which intimated that I was IS un-
Willingly led to make an attack upon the
merchants of Wilmington.
I regret that my remarks were so con-
strued. I certainly did not intend to make
any statement which would reflect upor
tho we'll established reputation of the bust
ness men of Wilmington. I made no
charges against them, but I did speak
freely against Wilmington as market
solely for the people of Onslow
[ stated that it was due TO The merchants
of Wilmington, and so informed tho peo-
pie of Onslow, that 1 was aided by them
while in the General Assembly, TO promote
as far rs possible, the interest Of my con-
stituents, AS trading people, and the city
OF Wilmington market. They used
their influence to the repeating of laws
which operated against the people Of the
country and to he detrimcnt Of Whining
ton.
In my remarks [ did allude to the
Steamer that Wilmington promised to the
people of Onslow some time ago, in case
they would raise five thousand dollars to
wards the purchase OF said Steamer The
amount, ] am reliably informed, was raised,
but the Steamer did not make it's appear
ance. I made this statement NOT with the
view TO detrac: one iOta from the reliabiIi-
ty and sincerity of the merchants of VIII
mington, but TO prove that men are prone
to starr undertakings which, III the in
poverished condition of the country, they
are unable to carry out And further, Mr.
Editor, was assured by some of the Com
mission Merchants that Wilmington
would aid the Onslow Branch of the w.
IL ". r. r. 4 prominent Railroad gen
tleman, from whose store Of experience III
Railroad matters facts and figures were
obtained in favor Of the coast line, pro
missed me aid in the way Of opening books
and soliciting stock to the ODSiOW Branch
Of the w. & ". r. L.
I said nothing to the people of Onslow
about Wilmington but what I am willing
to reiterate. When | showed Wilmington
to be subject TO moro costs and expense
LuAn NeWDern, the people OIL OnSlOW only
heard what they knew before. The only
difference between me aud tho New Han
over delegation was the least expensive
and most expeditions route to get to mar
ket. | favored q route which would give
the people Of OnslOw the advantages of
competing markets. The New Hanover
delegation proposed to run line direct
to the city Of Wilmington which would
only give an outlet there.
AS to the answer [ gave Col. Fremont,
when asked if [ would oppose the coast
route last winter, | call upon my colleague.
DR.. Armstrong, of Duplin, to state in your
columns. / mike these statements in dc
fonce of myself, the people of Onslow
were informed by mo that aid might be
expected fronl the city of Wilmington IL
bniiding tho Onsiow Branch Of the W. IL
W. il. r., nefore the other route was
brought to their notice. And [ yet trust
that the merchants and business men Of
Wilmington will lend helping hand to
tue road for which so liberal charter has
been granted. Respectfully,
j. G. MCMILLAN.
July nth, 1870.
The publication of this letter was I'M
avOidably delayed.