Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-01-25


sufficient attention is not given TO {
the suhjec Most of them would
doubtless do their full duty in the
premises it overhauled from time
TO time by the supervision of this
Board. l. recommend that rea-
sohablc salary be paid TO the mem
bers Of tllis Board, ard that the
duties OF annual visitation and re.
port upon the prisons and houses
for the poor be made obligatory
npon them.
| also reco nmend that an act be
passed, If deemed necessary, author, |
izing the Judges of the Superior
Conrts TO send proper criminals |
direct from the connties where
ti.ey are tried to the railroad work, /
there to be received and enrolled
by rhe Warden i'll charge, and thus
save the very considerable expense
OF transporting theiu to Raleigh
| first. THIS brings me to speak OF
oar internal improvement works.
/ The idea of utilizing the convict
labor Of tine State for the public
: benefit in this way was happy
one. Skiiltully and economically
= managed, an immense good can be
effected at very small expense to
the State. commend to your
5 avor the effort, in this way, to
t complete the Western North Caro~
t lima Road through the mountains
to the great Mississippi valley. 1t
J is sad to contemplate the mishaps
e which have SO long delayed that
q most important work, aud to see
Il the almost heart-broken disappoint
i ncnt OF those Western people
It Again and again both political
+ parties, before and since the war,
y have pledged themselves to finish
: that road. The war stopped it
t. once then the gigantic corruption
Of those who had it in charge stop
k ped it again then the ruin of our
: credit seemed for awhile to put al
o end to all opel ations for this gen.
If Grafton at least. The expedicnt Of
e] finishing it with the convict labor
y was, therefore, eagerly welcome,
n as a certain and cheap, though SLOW
/; means of building the road.
c sincerely trust that nothing will bc
permitted to prevent your liberia
sf legislation in this behalf. The en-
! tire available force of the peniten
1. tiary, except AS otherwise nov
II disposed of, should be put at once
N to the completion of the work from
d the present terminus of the road t.
lie the French Board river, and the,
j. be divided between the short brauct
y lihe and the main trunk line, ac-
le cording to pledges heretofore made
II | recominend that instead OF tn,
ST government by commissioners, tn,
* affairs OF the road shall be admins
a tered 10y the ordinary machinery o
IA railroad companies, With at leas
:, eight directors, ,and that you provid
I'd means to furnish the iron rs it ma,
n be required 1t is expected tha
IA before your assembling again tn
x road will be in operation as far a
le Asheville, at least.
ut Many inquiries are being made a
ly to the disposition of our public debt
re | presume it is the intention and dc
~ sire OF our people TO provide for it
,o liquidation at some figure as soon a
); the necessary taxation can be borne
hut when and on what terms it can b
- done. you, as the immediate repre-
y sentatives of the people, must decide
OF Whilst it is certainly desirable in man
ld respects TO take this debt Up and re
to store our credit to its ancient stand
~ ard, am far from believing that W
at are subject to sell-reproach, or are i
=. any way obnoxious of the sneers {
- those who hold claims upon us. In re
:, gard to much the greater part Of thos
) ctaius, there is not the slightest MOI
~ al oblia alton resting on the conscienc
g OF any honest citizen of North Carol
III ua. The story of the iniquities praC
to ticcd upon us is ample justification
II Tor our delay. Tho most that l ca
OF say To- YOU on this weighty matter
J. 10 recommend the appointment of
commission to negotiate with our creG
, itors and see what terms can be OF
tained.
'G In conclusion, gentlemen, l CON
/ mend the wants and wishes OF our en-
y, tire people to your wisdom and patri
IT, otism. l think the sunlight is breakin;
th through the darkness. Should ou
to Federal troubles be happily ant
peaceably adjusted, we might reason
:. ably anticipate steady improvement
in our condition. With good feelin:
II between the white and black citizens
ie of the State, the prospect of wis
OF legislation and just government before
d us, there is no reason why all classe:
N should not go diligently to work
,r With energy and prudence there il
ID every reason to hope that great crol
y can be produced, and that all the 9th
Is er industries of our people may be Sc
u excited that the year 1877 shall b.
known in history as the era of our re
- nawcd nrOSpority