"THE PUBLIC GOOD SHOULD EVER BE PREFERRED TO PRIVATE ADVANTAGE."
Volume 5.
Lincolnton, North Carolina, Saturday Morning, December 8, 1849.
Numder 37.
Printed and published weekly, by
THOMAS J. ECC1.ES.
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From ihe Greensbornush Patriot,
North Carolina flail Uoad
Couvt-iitiou.
Greensb ro Nov. 29 1849.
. The Delegates Appointed by the vi
riou counties interested in the great
iv. .ik chartered by the Legislature ol
the Slate at its last Mission, assembled
in the Prebyterimi church, at half pt
11 oclo k, and were called to order by
John A Gilmer, Esq. on whose mo
tion, George Davis, Esq , of Wilming
ton, whs called to the Chair, and. on
motion of Gen. Edney, Charles C. Ra
boteau, of Raleigh, and D. F Caldwi,
of Guilford, were appointed Secretaries.
The Convention being thus tempora
rily organized, after some conversation
jj,s to the proper course to pursue, on
suggestion ol Calvin Graves, Eq., the
Secretary proceeded to call the roll ol
counties, when ine following wer found
represented by the Delegates named :
Alamance Daniel Harden, John
Harden, Joan Holt, Jesse Grant, Wni
v A Carngan, Ber jimin Trollinger, Hen
dry C Trt)!lmger, Joseph VV Steele, Da
vid L Ray, Wm Trollinger, John C
Turrentine, Thompson Murray, Robert
McCauly, Benjamin F Morton, Samuel
Kerr, Gilf9 V Mebane.
Buncombe J pg M Pattnn, Marcus
Eiwin, John E'Putiou, N W Woodfin,
Hili- M Edney.
Brunswick Dr.Fredrick J Hit!.
Burke W VV Avery, John H Mur
phy. Alexander Duckworth.
CravenC B Dibble.
Caswell Calvin Graves, James N
Fulh r.
Chatham Joshua Lindley.
. Cabarrus W . Rankm, J M Long,
E D McRee, Rufus Barringer.
Chemkee A T Davidson.
Davidson J VV Thomas, James A
' Long, H Lediord, Clnrles Hoover, T
W Siimp-on, Eli Harris, Henderson
' Adams. Thomas Jones, P K Rounsa
viIIp. Charles Mock. A G Foster. J L
Clemmons, E E Pitts, Kev T, Mt Don
ald, H Brown, H Brummeil.J M Leach.
Guilford John .M Mori-head, John
M Dick, Joel McLean, Eli Smith, Lud
nick Summers, Francis L Simpson, J
M Cunningham, Jam?s W Doak, Samu
el Dwijrgms, Elinu Coffin, John Hunt,
J VY Fieid, John Carter, F Fen'riss.
F Ellio.t, Abrain Ciapp, Ralph Gorrell,
John A Gilmer, D F CildweW, A Uevil,
John Wharton, Joseph G.bson.
Johnston Juhn'McLeod.
Lincoln Wm P Bynum.
Mecklenburg C J Fox.
McDucell -Dr'S J Erwin.
Neio Hanover Dr F J Hill, Mex
McRae, P K Dickinson. O G Parsley,
A J De Rosseti. jun., Rev M Bobbins
Jethro Bailard, George Davis, Eh V
Hall.
JS'orlhampton Edmund Wiiktns.
Orange VV J Bingham, CC Tinntn,
Jas F Patterson, John H Webb, VV t
Webb, O F Long, Edwin Heaitt, J.hn
Cameron, Ex-Gov. Swam, Joseph l'aie,
Richard Ashe.
Rowan John W Ellis, John B Lord,
J-din I Shaver, John D Brown, William
Overman, El James, Calvin 3 Brown.
Myer Myers, Dr A M Henderson, H L
Robards, Jeremiah Clarke, H C Jo.ie.-i,
Dr Samuel Kerr, J F McCorkie, E D
Austin, John K Graham, Osborue G
Foard, Charles L Torrenee, Luke
JJlackmer.J C Barnhardt, Paul M Her
Tig, Joseph F Chambers,Joel II Jenkins
William M Barker, Cl"b Klutts, J M
Coffin, J A Worth, J J Bruner.
Rockingham Joseph llolderby,Rev
R Held, E S Morris.
Rauilalnhl. M. Blair, Allen N
Tomiinsou, M VV Leach, J P Russ, C
M Lines. Ruben Gray, Thorn Rice,
M W Long, Alexander Robbms, Ahi
Robbms J W Long.
Rutherford J G By num. J J Eiwin
Wayne -J V Sasscr, J 19 Griswold.
Wake R M Skuntiors, George VV
'Mordecai, Char!es L HuHon, Chailes
CRboieau, Dabney Cosby, Dr Lang'
don (' Manly.
Petersburg, Va H I) Bird, Thorn
.as White, Wuuam Lea, Joseph Dunn,
Ed ward Graham.
From Petersburg Rail Road Com'
pany ll D Bird.
From , Greenville and Roanoke Rail
.Road ll D Biru, Ed.uund VYjiluus.
,Gov. Morehead iosu and said we had
p opportunity to eleci a President ol
Jus Cotiveuitun who wouid fJo honor to
v;e Slate ; aiid preceedeJ to pass a high
eulogtum upon Calvin Graves, of Cas
well, who had given the casting vote bv
which this charter had been passed ;
anj concluded by moving thit he be
unanimously appointed Pedden of the
North "Caro'ina Rulroad Convention.
The proposition was received with p
plailSe.
And the qaestion being put bv 'the
Chairman, he motion was unanimously
adopted.
W Hereupon, the Hon. Calvin Grave"
was conducted to ihe Chair by Governor
Morehead, and ten Jerpd his ihank9 for
tb-s mark of the regard and confidence
of the Convention. The occasion
which had cal'ed us together was one of
great magnitude. The ey es of the peo
pleoftheSia e were turned upon us,
with the moai cheering anticipations
that fr m the deliberations of this body,
this great enter priZ" might be strength
ened and matured. lie trusted their
anticipations would be realized. When
we turn our eves to other States and see
what they have done, Ihe i' q'liry was
naturally presented, how can there be
ny difficulty about ihe construction ol
thi8 liond ? He referred to the statis
tics of Eoif land upon the subject. There
they had expended two hundred millions
ot pounds sterling in Railroads; and
the great difficulty with which they had
to contend was in obtaining the right of
wav, which frequently cost froru 860
A(lO to $70,000 per mile. All this in a
country not so large as some of our
Slates! When we ca?t our eyes abroad
upon our own country to Massachu
setts, N'sw York, Pennsylvania and oth
er Staies North ; to South Carolina and
Georgia on ihe Smith, and every wiieie
to the great West, and see the great
works ot improvement proposed and
accomplish-d should it longer be said
ihtt North Carolina was unable and
unwilling to accomplish what had been
done by all? He trusted not. Better
that we had neVer e.xisied as a State,
tha.i manifest by our apathy and mac
tiviiy that we are unable and unwdling
to do any thing. Belter wipe out our
Suie hues and give up the administra
tion ot affairs to our neighbors, than to
make the hurniliatnig acknowledgement
that we are unable to take care of our
own interest and to take a respecable
position m the great race ol improve
men. He closed by spying be had ta
ken his poiHon. o:i this subject he
hid planted his fool and wha ver ob
jections nvght bb raised, he would con
Unuc to beat bark opposition and stand
up for what he believed to be the true
interest and glory of his State.
On motion ol H. C. Jones.the lollow
tng gentlemen were appointed Vice
Presidents of the Convention, viz : x
Hon R M Saunders, of VVake ; Dr.
Frederick J hill, of Brunswick ; Hon.
John W Ellis of Rowan; Col John Mc
Leod, ol Johnston; Gen John G ly
iiiim, of Ru'heiford ; Ex-Guv. More
head, of Gu ll'ord:
On motion of H C Jones the organi
ze ion ol the Conveni on was completed
by the appointment of the following
S.'cre.iaries, vz: Charles C Ra.oot.eau,
of Wi.ke, and U F Caldwtll, and L.
Swaim. d Guilford.
Ex G.v. Morehead then arose and
addressed ihe Convention, in a speech
ol great power upwi tno pracitbility of
the Road and the mode in which it can
be constructed concluding 'ith a mo
tion mat a committee ol six be appointed
bv the Chair, to be called the Commit
tee on Suuscripiions, whose duiy it
should be to mike out a list ol the
absolute .-uhsenptious to the stock of the
Road, as definitely as they can be as
cei turned, examine the subject of sub
scriptions, absolute and conditional, and
make, a detailed report lo-morrow.
The question being put, the oiotton
was unanimously carried.
The President appointed the follow
ing gentlemen to co'iop-ise snul commit
tee, V'Z: Mes.-rs Moiehed,d Guiitorj;
Mebum, of Alamance ; Tuomas, ot Da
vidson ; Jones, of Rowan ; Mordecat,
y H of W ake, and Dick.nsou, of xNevv Han
over.
Afternoon Session.
A loud and unanimous call being made
for Gen. Saunders, that gent'eman arose,
and intunatea his purpose to aodress
the Convention at some time uurmg its
session; but he was preparing a reso
lution which called toi defini e action,
and which he intended to prtBent. He
came forward to enust under the banner
of he gentleman who addressed ys this
morning, and o push forward this great
ejierpuze. The speech of Gen. S.,
i hough short, was strong and eloquent,
and received with great applause. He
concluded by presenting the loilowing
resolution:
Resolved, That a committee of eleven
be appointed by the President, whose
j duty n hai he to ii.q ore anaiiUDtiiii
' ihu most eligible plan lor increasing the
subscnplton necessary for raising the
one million of d lhr a presrnhed by
the chapter; provided it should appeir
that a sufficient sum ha not already
been subscribed for that purpose '
Hanoi on C. Jones, E-q. being called
for, addressed the Convention m a
characteristic, strong and able speerh
in which he asserted the ab lity of the
people of North Carolina to accomplish
this work : and enforced, very enaphti.
cally, its practicability and ultimate sue
cess. The people represented by bira
and his colleagues were deeply interest
in (his Road they looked upon it as
their only hope and should it fail.thou
sauds of them must leave the couatry.
Gen. Edney and Mr. Dibhle made a
few remarks, after which Mr. Davis be
ing loudly called for, vddressed theCon
vntiosi upon the benefits which had
resumed from the building of one Rail
road in North Camlna. He alluded to
the much abused and unfortunate W.
& R. Ratlroad. Mr D. then proceeded
to contrast ihe former staTe of Wilming
ton with its present growth and pros
penty- giving glowing accounts oi the
favorable prospects before the town of
mlmmgion. Mr I). went into an
examination of the amount and prices
paid bv that town alone to New York
(or articles, abundance of which cm be
produced and furnished by ihe Western
section of North Carolina, provided this
Road was finished.
The President ihert announced the
following committee under the resolu
lion of Gen. Saunders heretofore adopt
ed, viz: Messrs. Saunders, of JTake ;
McRae, of Wilmington ; Griswold, of
IVavrie; MeLeod, of Johnston; Gra
ham, of Or n-ie ; Trollinger, of Ala
mance; G.lmer, of Guilford; Leach, of
Davidson ; Lord," of Rowan; Fox. of
Mecklenburg, and Barringer, of Cabar
rus. And then the Convention adjourned
until to morrow morning at 10 o'clock.
Friday, Nov. 30.
The Chair announced :hat toe first
business this morning would be the re
Ceptioti of Reports Ironr cum ootf -:
. VV hereupon, Gov. Morehead, from
the Committee on Subscriptions, ob
served that the committee would soon
be ready to report ; and in the mean
tune, he called upon any gentleman
present who was in possession of any
information to commuuisate to the Con
vep.t'Oi , to d-t so.
IV. IV. Avery, Eq. then addressed
the Convention, pi een ling i he following
communication from S. Movlan F-'X,
E-q. the Engineer on the Buncombe
i urupike Road :
I. T. A very, Chairman, &c.
Drctr Sir: Your communica
tion of this inst., informing me of a re
solution adopted at a Railroad meeting
in tins place, requesting my attendance
as a delea e Irotn Bui ke county, to the
Railroad Convention at Greensboio1,
&'., fiae ueen received. 1 regret that
my professional engagements compel
ine to decui-e the honor intended to bo
conferred upon m I le?l a great in
terest in ihe completion of what I con
sider the engine of reformation to the
whole S ate a Central Rail ro id from
Raleigh to Tennessee, connecting our
commercial lowing with the whole of
the interior.
The developments of my surveys for
the VVesiern Turnpike nive fully etdab
iished :he pracic abdry of extending
the North Carolina Railroad west from
Salisbury to the Tennessee line, and
lhat at a omparatively low cisst. The
only doub tui point upon the whole line
was the passage ol theiiiue Ridge, which
is the dividing ground between the Eas
tern and VVesiern wateis. This Ridge
at the Swauanoa Gap is 294'J feet a
bove tide water; while the valley of the
Catawba o) the oue side at Oid Fort is
1-540 fcet above tide, loiy-ug ou: 1301
tcet of elevation on the Eastern side,
winch can be overcome at a grade of
eighty feet to the mre in 13 miles, pro
vided in tuuimit,be reduced 26J feet
by a tunnel. A 'unnei 5000 teei wii!
do this, saving 3 -mies of road. This
summit is only a- h gh as thai overcome
by lh P-nnsy ivima Railroad, and low
er than that ol Virginia or Maryland.
My estimtie of the cost of the Road
from Salisbury lo the i enne-sjte iie is
in round numbers two millions of dollars.
Thi incluues all the work and equip
ment ol the road with engines, depots,
&c, and I believe it to be a very ample
es'.imaie of the cost.
The vaiieysof the trench Broad and
Swauanoa on i:-e Western aide ol tna
ix.uuuldin rise w.th a &to(i6 ol about 20
feet lo the mile lo within five miles of
Iho Biue Riige su.nin t a di-tauce ot
55 mnes. O.i ihe Eastern side trie Ca
iwba xteuUs lro:n the loot of; he siopt
necessary lo grade up the mountain to a
)int ne r Ui Island Foid, a distance oi
66 miles. Tncre is no punioii ot the
Country that I have been in that offers
rheiper position for a railway than thes
121 miles of valley. For miles togeth
er the grading will not cost over 400
dollars per mile. These streams h-ive
most of the way broad bottom lands
and are remarkably direct.
1 consider the work of manifest im
portance to the whole State, and "to ill
the commercial town? of the Staie-f
of Virginia and South Carolina. Bv
this route Norfolk is reached in 513
miles; VVilmmg'on m 492 miles; Charles
ton in 513 miles, and Richmond in 465
miles. All these distances except the
last, are many miles nearer thin any
other route ejther proposed or construc
ted. While the route to Richmond is
but fifty miles longer than the proposed
route through Virginia, ai'd the cost of
the route will scarcely exceed one half
a pb'nt of great moment, as it will se
cure the sa :ne profit at half the tolls.
From these considerations 1 have no
hesitation in- believing that the road
must be profitable in itself, and of mes
limable value to oor eastern roads and
towns. With this extension to Kuox-
vdle, we will be in direct communica
tion with nur great national roadtoCal
ifornia, and readv to join in the contest
with our sister States for the trade and
travel to that vast treasure house.
The people of the. VV est are becom
ing fully aware of the great importance
of this work to their future prosperity,
and are determined to have a connec
tion with the East. This should be
through our own State. And I have no
fear that with such a charter as was gi
ven to the road from 'joldborou2h to
Charlotte, we will have difficulty in ma
king the road.
I have the honor to be, very respect
fully your obi. serv'i.
S. MOYLAN FOX.
Which, being read, whs I t id upon thp
table; ordered lo bn primed with the
proceedings of this Convention and the
thanks of the Convention were tendered
to ihe author.
.Mr. Thomas, of Davidson, remarked
to communicate to the. Convention; and
referred to, and sent to the Secretary's
table to be read, a letter from he Hon.
Simon Cameron, cf Pa. expressing the
favor with which Northern Capitalists
regarded the charter of ihe North Car
ohna Railroad, and asking for additional
information in relation to the same, to
guide their action in a contemplated in
vestment therein. MrT. acco iipan.ed
this letter wi'h an address to the Con
v-niion, in his usually energetic and
practical manner. .
Gov. Morehead then read a letter
from G. B. Mnly, & Co., of Lock Ha
ven, Clinton Co. Pa. containing a pro
position to tak contracts upon t'ie Road
to do t he grad ng for 50 miles Last and
the same distance West ot Raleigh, at
certain rates named, and furnishing
timber, rails, &c. and receive in pay
mnt 10 per cent, of stock; or to lake
fifty miles, on the same condition as be
fore, and e npioy N. C. laborers, &c,
which was read.
Also, as chairman of the Committee
on subscriptions. Gov. M. submitted a
detailed report of the amount of abso
lute subscriptions of stock, amounting
to 8190,800; which report he followed
with a speech full of deep impassioned
feeling and great power,- listened to
wuli breathless attention aud the most
intense interest. "I he gallant and d
terinned spmt of this distinguished
gentleman touched every heart in that
dsemhly, and awoke a feeling of enthu
siasm and anxiety deep, startling and
fervent as we have ever witnessed.
Gen. Saunders, from the Committee
to whom were referred the q iHsnon of
considering the best plan for securing
whatever portion of tho capita! of oue
million of dollars should be f )und un
subscribed, according io the terms of
of the charier, submitted in part ihe
loilowing report:
1. Rtsolved, That so soon as the
Company snail be duly organized, it
will be both expedient and proper lhat
the President aud Directors shall cause
the proper surveys and estimates to be
made, and the Road to be put under con
tract ou the enure route, ard lhat the
superstructure should be commenced
at its point of connexion with the Wil
mington Road, and also at its western
terminus.
2. Resolved, further vThat the Pres
ident and Directors, in le ting out ine
contracts for woik aud mitettals, shall
in all cases give a prcfeiei.ee to such
stock-h( Jders as my propose or desue
to become contractors.
3. Resulted, further. That it is high
ly important and necessary thai the
whole ot the unsubscribed capital ol one
ruili'Cu should be subscrib-d before the
adjourn ment of this Couvenuoa, aud that
a subscription be forthwith opened for
lis st purpose. " . ;
The question being upon Ihe 1st and
2d Resolutions,
G v. Morehead submitted his view
against the latter part ot the 1st resolu
tion which provided for the commence
ment of the Road at the point of connec
tion wrhthe Wilmington Road, and al
so at its western terminus.
Mr. George Divis explained that the
obj.-ct of the Wilmington delegation was
ihat the iron might be brought to WiU
minion, and carried on their Railroad
with facility and cheapness ; and the
passage of this part of the Resolution
would materially aid the obtaining sub- .
scnptions to the stock in that portion
of the State.
Gov. Swain then addressed the Con
vention, proposing a modification of the
Resolution that we go the whole Road
or none, it that would meet the views ox
thp Wilmington delegation.
Gen. Saunders read the Resolution a
gain, to show that the first part of the
Resolution affirmed that the whole
Kotd should be built. He was opposed
in Committee to the last part of the Re
solution, and was unwilling to trammel
the President and Directors by any con
ditions. He submitted to the Wilming
ton delegation, to withdraw the latter
clause, wi h the assurance that he would
vote for any feparate resolution declar
ing that the whole Road should he built,
if any of it, and leave the whole matter
to the sound discretion of the President
and Directors.
Gen. S. had the authority of the WiU
mmgton delegation to withdraw it, so
that the grading of the whole Road
should commence on the enure route
from Goldsboro to Charlotte, and pro
ceed pari passu.
Dr Hill also stated the reasons of the
Wilmington delegation; made a most,
effective appeal in favor ol the work;
and concluded by declaring that he
wou'd be oue of a hundred to take all
thesiock unsubcribed; one ot fitly ; or
one of ten
Gen Saunders then read the 1st Res
oluuon as proposed to be ame.niirf hv.
erKeiiieni, as iooows;
Resolved, That as soon as the Com
pany shall he duly organized, it shall be
both expedient and proper that the Pres
ident and Directors shall cause the pro
per surveys and estimates lo be made
and the Road to be put under contract
on the entire route, commencing at the
Wiltnngioti and Raleigh Railroad,
where tnr same passes over Neuse Ri
ver, in ihe county ot Wayne, ria Ra.
h igh, and thence by the most practica
ble route via Salisbury in ihe rounly
ot Rowan, to the town oj Charlotte, in
county of Mecklenburg.
Tne amendment having met with en
ure approbation, was adopted nem. con.
And ihe 1st and 2d Resolutions were
hen unanimously adopted.
Gen Saunders then took the floor, and
address- d the Convention fully, upon i's
action solar, and upon the subject ot tho
Road generally. Alter some remarks
highly patriotic and lofty in their bear
ing, conciliatory towards all differences
ol views, and tending to unite all inter
es s in the great work before us, he pro
needed to deliver an appeal of the most
earnest and eloquent character It was
the great speech of the Convention; and
we regret that the hurry of going to
press lorbids even ihe feeble attempt to
do it justice.
Having concluded the question was
taken upon the 3d Resolution, which
was unanimously adopted.
J A. Gilmer, Esq. then submitted
the following agreement to be entered
into b way ot securing the stuck in the
Road, viz:
Whereas, only a part of the One Mil
lion of individual subscriptions to the
North Carolina Rail Road Company re
quired is taken:
Whereas, Ihe purpose ol this agree
ment is to take and secure the balance
ol the One Million of said individual
stock, not already subscribed, and to be
subscribe i by others :
We, the uudert'gned interchangea
bly agreo with each other and said
Company, to take each the one-hun
dredth part of the said balance ol the
said individual stock:
Tins agreement to be binding on
none, unless one hundred persons or
companies subscribe the same, amount
to be muds up:
Each person or company tD be at
liberty to subscribe as many shares of
ihe hundred as he or they please, and
bound lor no more than his or their sub
scnptions. Nov. 29, le46.
Afternoon Session. ,
Ex-Gov. Svvaiu look tne floor, and,
at fume length urged upon the citizens
of North Carolina, here- assembled, lo
complete the subscription lo the stock
of Hits Road.
Gen. Sounders agaio addressed the
convention Vlle-was ready to devote
his tims.,to4hB success of this great
v ' J