The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-10-09
LETTER FROM CANTON.
speech of Hon. John H. James.

Editors CO1sStsttttt0n: by appoihs-
ment, and at the request OF friends
of the Marietta and North Georgia
railroad, Mr.. John II. James address
ed the stockholders and citivens in
the interest Of the road. The notice
of the meeting had failed to reach
all the stockholders, and the meeting
was not as large as it otherwise
would have been, but the meeting
was well attended by many Of our
best and leading citizens.
Mr.. James was on his return from
the upper country-Pickens and
Gilmer-whcre he had been looking
for himself that he might know for
himself, the character Of the country,
IFS resources, etc., that he might be
his own Judge whether the road
could be built, and whether it would
pay. He was therefore prepared to
speak knowingly, and was listened
to with marked attention and inter
est. With no pretension at orator.
cal display, he presented truth will,
sledgehammer force, convincing oil
who heard him Of the strength and
| power Of intellect, which has made
Mr.. James so successful. He stated
that, Judging from his own observa.
ton and from what he had read OF
other sections, no portion Of the
American Union possessed superior
if equal natural advantages, and
gave the facts upon which he found
ed the opinion but that this i'm
mense wealth would remain most
lifeIess. useless and dead without a
railroad that shut out from commu-
uication with the outside OF the
| world, this country must remain cons
paratively worthless to the citizens
and TO the state. Possessing almost
every valuable mineral IN great
abundance and the very best quail
Ity; water power not to be estima'
ted rich valleys and hill sides pro-
ducing food for millions, where pro-
perly cultivated !; growing fruits,
apples, pears, peaches, grapes, etc.
etc. Of tho greatest perfection, no,
thing was wanting to make this one
of the loveliest and most desirable
sections on the globe but develop
ment and culture and that there
could be no development without
railroad that the mule and OK
" agon was too weak and too slow.
He expressed great qualification that
the people living on the line had
done so much, the grading now be-
ing completed into Cherokee coun.
| ~ from Marietta but more was still
1 needed and more yet to be done.
lie urged every citizen to do his
full entire duty, and was assured
others would help-Atlanta WAS
deeply interested--the entire state
was interested, and as this was no
speculative scheme, but intended
for tho general good and in the hands
and under the management OF our
own people, all would help, and the
enterprise must be success. SO
cheering and encouraging were his
words, we Cherokee people felt good
and mighty kind towards John II
James.
He next spoke Of tho financial
troubles of the times, and attributed
the scarcity Of money, high rates
of interest and general depression to
the homestead laws--that these
exemptions destroyed credit--lessen-
ed the faith of neighbors in each
other and was really the great enemy
Of the poor enterprisiug man.
He opposed the lien laws and adj
yocated as the best solution of our
troubles the repeal of all exemptions,
and making the shirt on a mans
back responsible for his debts, there
by re>es,ablishing the credit OF the
| state. He, however, agreed to a
small exemption to prevent actual
notwithstanding farther. In a
word, he advocated building the
Marietta and north Georgia railroad
the repeal Of the homestead and lien
laws, the re.establishing of our cred
it by making every dollar RESPONSE.
bic for every honest debt, the cdu-
cation Of the children, building fac
tories, manufacturing our own pro-
ducts, deserving and quitting the
radical party forever, adbering close
to the democracy, and beating Grant
| for the third term. He handled his
subject well. We thank him for his
kindly aid to our railroad and hope
he viii induce his Atlanta friends to
take some interest in our road, for
they are certainly interested. Our
politics is tho building of the Mariet-
ia and North Georgia railroad.
CHEROKEE.