North Carolina Newspapers

TO UK. COltSTSTl'F.NTS. t'm.i.o Ciexs : Having taken nn active pirt iu th line Legislature in procuring the en ictmwit of a Charter authorising the ciiintructiun of the North Carolina Hail Road, in order to prevent a rniwonstruciiort 01' eur court, ud iu orJr ilial lhat impurlant act ils.-lf may be property Understood and appreciated, wc deem it expedient to give ft brief his tory cf its progress through lie Assembly : to set furl It Us probable, effects iipou the condition of our Own countrymen, aud its claims upon their favorable cansi.Wiiiion. It is knottd to most of yon. that provionsly-to talc Ing our teals in the lute Oener.il Assembly, whilst yet among you, wo, as well ns most ot the Western nitmbcH were declared advocates of a Charter to make a Rail Road iromC'hvrlottetothatownof Dan ville, in Virginia. With great tr-al, and In good faith we set out in an endeavor to accomplish .this purpose. This pledge, and this endeavor, were pre-Hic-ited upon what we regarded, us a fixed fact, to wit: tnut the Rail ttoad authorised by the Virginia Charier from Richmond to Danville, would bespecd II 17 tun.lo ..,! .- ,m sluultdf vntutuinta rested won ih.,1 r,:'t W not llL-eU lOUZ IU DtO CtlY Of Kaioigh, however, ' hofuro- we found out that tho eventual suceess of that measure was extremely Doubtful, tnd from all the Information we have been able 10 obtain in relation to it, we are compelled to rest upon the conclusion that it either never will be made, or if made at all, it will be so limit before it is done, as to make it folly in us to ait lor its execu tion, before we attempt something for our own Slate. We discovered also, tlialm any patriotic aud enlight ened tons of North Carolina, in that patriotic and enlightened body, were averse to an enterprise which would earry the trade of these fertile regions, in both directions, imiicdiatcly beyond the borders of our Btate, They had lorg seen and deplored the want Of community of feeling and interest between the Western d Eastern portions of the State: they Incw well, as we all know, that our enfeebled con dition is in a great measure owing to this unuatural estrangement, and they strongly deprecated apian tvhich was forever to perpetuate this state of things. They oaid they thought they could devise a scheme Which would answer all the purposes ot agriculture, and at the same time prevent this severance and al ienation between brothers. They said it was true, that unless soinclhiug was offered that might better Uim our sanction, they bad no right to stand in our way, and prevent us froia helping ourselves in any such rtonner as we couW with our own means : and that if this more favorable alternative was not offer ed to the West, they would acquiesce in tho grant ef the Charlotte and Danville Charter. 1 hey point ed, nlso, to the fact when we .should arrive at Rich mond we were still ISO miles from sea, and that such market would, by no means, answer our agricul tural productions. W e were, therefore,; called upon to pa-use, and ivo .'id pause to see what this alterna tive might, be. After the scheme proposed in the Governor's message was rejected, and all hope of ad iustment seemed to have vanished, this scheme of a Ceutral Rail Uoad from Goldsboro' to Charlotte was riroposod by the Senator from New Hanover, with the advice and consent of some of us and other mem hm of both Houses, from the East and the West 'Vhe leading features of this scheme are, to atavt at a point where the Rail Road that runs from Wil mington to tire Roanoke River interjects With the Mouse, to wit, at or near Goldsboro', Wayne Conn ty (it being the head of navigation on that River,) thence- to run through Raleigh and Salisbury to Charlotte. The act further provides that whenever ane uiiHiooof dollars is taken in stock by individu als, the State is to subscribe two miliums. It also, makes a provision, by which the Raleigh and Gas ton Rail Road, (uow the entire property of the State) will be saved from utler ruin : this provision is, that one half of the stock of this road shall be surrender ed to the former stockholders, and they fce released from all their liabilities (whieh are very grievous) upon condition that they put five hundred thousand dollars worth of work- upon the road. This ceutral scheme had the one advantage overall others ever proposed in the Councils of our State, of drawing together and harmonising the discordant and long alienated divisions of our State. It presented the further advantage of falling in with the tide of travel-lintfr-and of supplying "the wanting link" in the vast chain of Rail Road that stretehes (with this ei V n, T.nlfM to the waters of the Missis- .inni. lfthad the advantage also, of cajlueting us fwith onlyTteuiUwenty-ftve miles differenoeNfldis 2 v ... d ;ni.mnfuTjvTiere oiirftosen schemd the Danville imorovement, proposed carrying us and tiver and above this, to Petersburg, to Norfolk, to Raleigh, to Newbern. and to Wilmington. It pro mised to indemnify the State in the large oktlays whieh had been made in, the two Rail Roads already , . . 1. 1. - .! nf ilia an1r in operation, ty cringing up un i .'V1 , it called for much less money from individuals, and therefore, seemed much more likely to succeed, ttyn the other scheme. Norfolk, Newbern, and Wilming a ii .HnH ttt oaaiinnr: And. am therefore, for ion. are an u ' " j -- -- , 11 grain, much better markets than Richmona conld te. Wilmington) in particular, it the best market m : Afnnv nnrt in the Southern ior aa luicnur wsuuj,i - Statu Upon the whole, the alternative proposed in this schemx, embraced far more than we asked or xpected. Who that loved the Old North State, .,.;n&v ; Kr tren9th and nride of char- WUU U1UI rsjvivsi - 0 s- cter couW'Mfbetwecn opinions! Who could doubt or Besiatet We did not. We gave up at , .,..,., f,,i. ihn nnnville Charter, and OIKV. vur uniwcuw . i s .i.:- tiiinlr vb have met the lust exnccta- fiont of our constituents, and of all the friends of Western Carolina, w e win too, imi in so uoing, We have opened a liray for the redemptioa of our Hecliuing rottuncs. Now, as to the" prncElcaEility of tSe. proposed ... . i rknlmti in lhn Yndkirl River. 146 uueiuv. iiuiu , - toiles) we know front personal observation, that the ferounu is tttgniy ravorauic ior iuc wiwimvuvu 7. : r.f thf ' A direct line nfi- ACrpiUg UJJ J nw ' fween these points; would be Well adapted to such a poad ; but ty aenecting mvuer w mid rigu vi mo a A k Mnnirv tliA.t A.innot be Surna9ed in JVIb, HO . v J - ' iuitableness, by any in the State, at the same distance rront tnesea. ruiuiuun ,u ucun. reckoned at45 miles, there it a uniform plain, abound- . . . i L f VaIV t,nan dAAi!na kbor is cheap) aikf tnTlsiofta plenty. The probn Wlity is, that these two sections catt b constructed We would suppose that deceit thavtand dollars a mile would be an ample estimate ior mis pari monmg fbr deviations, and to leave no room for cavilling, we Will put the wbeJadistiuioe from Goldsboro' to Char lotte at 210" miles, (though many thiuk it less) Taking" off these 51 miles, there will be 110 miles vktin. lo nnt 9tf 4rpll adnnted to thin rincrmwinwj, nuivu - r - - Kind of improvement There ire nmiry short hills and aconstueraoienuuioerui a.i euina. ui ntnc received positive assurance that the profile of this section is nearly; if not qnite as good; as that upon which the Charlotte and South Carolina road it lo cated I and better than that over which the great Georgia roadtart Uid. These roads laid with hea y T.iroB, coder the supervision of those accomplish ed engineers, the Gnrnetts, Cost only thirttt (him . j jniim, intuillnv oadl deDotA.wftter sta tions, work shops, offices, and in fact every thing complete. But if weare safe in our fi"rst calculation, fcere Will be enough money left of the proposed- .... ... a. r. nr.o .:in kn mree muttous 10 auow pr un, iui g in termediate riff miles of difficult country. With the tame skill employed ra the turveys and estimates, we need not have the least fear therefore,- ns to the nfficiency of the sum proposed in the Charter. Nor have We thoilightcst doubt as to the profila Ulenest of the stock. In the first place, we will pre mise that the average stock of all the Bail Koads in he tTnhed States pays a clear profit of teven pi catt.- -Kir- L . . - n ... Iw.vt . fr.w ivlmi thl m. vv e aim bu kch .. "-j...;, The informntion is derirci itot&e offl-eial reports . ., n 1 1 n 1.1: .1. n.l :n v.fa tnetttour periodical, fhe Rnil Road Jotrrnal . Again, we hate the fact stated in the same Journal, and oonfirmed by- many others, that therria no well made Rail Road in the Unite.) States; but what pay sa pr etui, on its capital stock, and often more. furthermore, we are eqnjllywell established in the fet that the Ril Bbtids in Georgia, (not one of vrbiea it Ibmlied), pay, and- have been, paying for rhi-e yenrt past, between six- and per ttnf, on the toock subscribed. Georgia is ttretohing her iron thw ird Nashville, in Tooneaice ; Montgomery tnd MfcMlei In. Alabama; towards New Orleans, and it oaint with an-xiout eyet towirds Pcntacola. in V.iuu- C-au-j m uu-inruUJ lo assii in Jo in this last wofV, with some prospect of a f ;vor.ib!e response. She has not, as yet, put herself in com munion with either of thes places, but no one doubts her ability to do so. At we said befire, she is al ready mining 7 percent profit; What will be the t9fct of completing these connexions, it is uot pos sible even to conjecture. r Whatever the result may be, it Will eveutualiy conduce to the value ot our Road, for they form its Southwestern coutinuation It is in fact, so much done for us. Look, then, to he accumulated rushes ot travelling custom which the rS' oit ii can pour down upon us. Look at the pursuits, the institutions, and the social inducements withm our ottn borders, that are strung along this route. All of these arc destined to produce way tiavclliug. This term is used to signify trips upon u part of a given road, without going through its whole extent, ana is generally iar more prontaoie than what is called through travelling, lietween Wi'.niiueton and Wcldon, it amounts to more than double the income of the other, although the coun try over which it passes is generally barren, aud ua improved. . The late Governor of tlie Slate, a very cautious and intelligent gentleman, has shown by some sta tistics, Which he laid before the General Assembly, that about four Imndml tliouwml of the people of this State, reside within fifty miles of the proposed work ; we will add, that they are among the most thrifty aud Well informed of our citizens. Consider how much of this population will be put in motion on business within the State. There is tho Mint at Charlotte, the Iron Mines and Furnaces iu Lincoln, Gaston, and Catawba- The Gold Mines in Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus Rowan, Davidson, Raudolph, and Guilford. The Banks at Charlotte, Salisbury, Sa lem, Hillsborough and IU'..,gh. The excellent Svhools and Academies, (Male and Female) in near ly every County on the whole line ; aud above all, the University of the State. There are the Courts and Clerks' Offices along the route, and the Supreme Court at Kutagh. 1 he Legislatuto, the trovernors Office, the Comptroller's and Secretary of State's Of fices. The Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, and the Hospital for the Insane. There are all the trades and professions from one cud of tho proposed work to the other There are the strong tics of a social and domestic character- all, all teudiug strongly and abundantly to create way travelling. How many of these -400,000 will have some surplus to send to mar ket, and how many will go wj.lh it, is scarcely with in the range of conjecture. Can any one doubt, who looks at these things, but that enough of travelling and other business will gatherupou this Road to give it constant employment; ami constant employment is synonymous with profitable employment.. It may be saiJthat the Wilmington Road if completed to. Man chester,' will tako oil so large a share of tho travell ing ns to leave tho Road unsupported. That this route will take a share of the 'thrtuih'JwiiUixg, Jg undeuiablo. Cut when we think of the vast amount of this kind of travelling that the Boats on the Mis sissippi and the Sea Packets now carry, and reflect that most of this will inevitably take a Hail Road, whenever one is mails throughout,, we ought not to covet all this custom. That we shall have our share of it, the superiority of our climate, and the lively and interesting fuce of the country, with all its other natural advantages, will amount to a full security. We shall, undoubtedly, obtain enough, with the way travelling above suggested, to make the investment a eood one. These are considerations that mostly address themselves to the capitalists to the class of our alliens who have money, and are seeking to put it out at a profitable rate of interest But there are considerations beside these that ap peal strongly to-the bosom as well as the pocket of every farmer. Let him look to the lact that things now stand lie toils and meats the year through, and lays ; nothing at the end of it. His lauds are wearing out I.'.' the want of a motive to preserve and improve them. sous and daughters are growing up without the benefits of a refined ed ucatiou, because he has not Ihe spare cash to send them to the higher Seminaries. His live stock are degenerating : His buildings and fences .are goinir down : His neighbors mid friends are leaving fur the "far West," and himself constantly growing more captious and discontented. It is needless to say why these things are so : yon all know the cause of it, and we will therefore only proceed to say that this plan opens a prospect for a deliverance from this melancholy condition In the first place, the ex penditure of three millions of dollars among the la boring classes will of itself produce a state of pros perity. Business will become brisk. The price of all kind of labor will rise. Every species of produce will sell higher, and a general activity and spirit will prevail in-all the departments of industry. Neither will these incidental advantages cease en the com pletion of the work. They will become less im portant, it is true, after operations shall have begun upon the road itself; but even then hands will find employment in repairing aud superintending the work, prepariug fuel, attending water stations, de pots, &c. &c. These will s'.'staiu a limitted but per petual market along the line. Hut then will come in also- the great and more rxteuded benefits- for which the work was undertaken. Every thing that can be grown upon the farm every thing that can be fashioned in the workshop, or made in the facto ry every mineral that can be dug from the earth, and every animal we rear, from a chicken to an ox, can be sent speedily to some one of the many mar kets within our reach and sold at prices at bist tlou bh those uow obtained tor them. In the mean time, the farmer may keep hit hands and horses at work upon his plantation saro the wear and tear and breakage of his wagon and gear, and escape the hardship and exposure to which the present modes of transportaliou expose him. Iu connection with this part of our subject, we would direct your atten tion to the most wonderful discovery of uoderu times, the Telegram. It is a small piece of machinery, with wires branching off m diftereut direction?, along which the lightning is sent to carry news. Every Rail Road is obliged to have this invaluable appen dage. By Ihis'meaBa the state of Hie several mar kets can be known in a few seconds at any and ev ery depot along the whole line : so that if corn or flour should take a sudden rie in Charleston, Wil mington, Newbern, Norfolk, or Potersbntg, the ouf cerof thejllail Road at that place, or tonne confi dential friend, has the Telegraph at Salisbury or Con cord set to work, and before a man can walk to his table, brinsf eut horse and saddle him for a journey, the same fact ia made public in you; own county town. Yon see that this secures you against ritn xers ehrl sprcitlators, and enables you lo avail your self of the best market in the' shortest time. But this is not the only benefit wlu'ch the farmer may expect from this great undertaking. 27i Increase in tlie Value of his Land is a consideration of great magnitude. Only a few' days ago, it is a notorious fact that ths lands of a fair quality, numbering several Ihousand acres, lying in the co inly of Davie, tome seven or eight miles from the town of Salisbury, some of them on the Yadkin River, told at public auction on a loug credit for lets than three dollars an acre. Sueh laodi in the State of Georgia lying within seven or eight mltei of any point of any of her Kail Koads would com mand at least twelve dollars an acre ; that i like appreciation will take place iff these ve-y lands and in all olhera similarly situated, if this road it made, cannot be doubled for a moment. We dor not rest th'rs assertion upon mere conjecture : like results will fallen from like causes all the world over : attend then to lire following, facts. The citizens of Wil mington subscribed to their Road as much as all their homes and lots wort' assessed at, the year before. At the last awesimeut, the tame property was rai ned at more than double its former rate. Again, the Comptroller's boukt thow, that eight limrlreil thousand dollars of value has been added to the tax. ahle lands in four eonnlies throti;li which the Wil mington Kail Road passes, since n hat been-put into operation; The lands lying along tht line of the Raleigh' and Guston Rail Road (ulthongh misfortune has besot Ihit-work in every other particular havo greatly in creased in value. The same thing can be (aid of the Charlotte and south Carolina H ut ttoad, al though there is not yet a tingle mile of if brought into me. The landr between Haw River and the Catawba, in the point of natural fertility, will com pare favorably wi h any of the Atlantio States, and when the improved modes of hnsbandty which mod ern science and experience hove developed shall have been applied to them, and this new stimulus shall have invigorated the in lusty of our agriculturalists What woudera of improvement may wc Bit expect to see in this favored region. This enhancement in the value of our real estates will not be confined to the course of the projected Rail Road. It is well known to us and to most of you, mat tho Yadkin ri vr, above the Narrows for ISO miles, can be made navigable for steam boats at a very small expense. There is no part of tny river in the United States thus remote from theses, except the Mississippi and its tributaries, that can compare with it iu their nat ural states, and if it had not Ween for the insupera ble barriers which tin slato mountains below us have placed in its current aud the shallowness of the bar at its mouth, it would long ago have become the great highway of commerce. When it shall be reach ed with the great work we are now contemplating, the cherished hope of half a century will be reali sed. The rich bottoms of this beautiful stream aud its tributaries trill discharge their teeming contents through this artificial channel, while the lands them selves will be greatly increased in value. The coun ties of Rowan, Davidson. Davie and Stokes, that bor der on the Yadkin, and tho counties' of Surry and Wilkes, which it bisects, will find their acoount, therefore, in forwarding at. undertaking that promi ses so glorious a result for them. What other hope have tht y tor redemption trom tner present depressed condition? We forbear to dwell longer upon the cheering prospect which this view of the subject opens upou our vision But it will be asked how is the one million requir ed of individuals to be raised 7 How are farmers expected to subscribe for stock, when it is known, that from causes already pointed out by us, there is but little money among them f we all answer this inquiry, by saying in roand tenns,that they may take stock and pay for it without paying any thing in money, except the five per ceut required to be ad vanced at the time of subscribing: beyond that sum, they need not be called upon to advance another cent. There are thousands of slaves iu North Car olina whose labor from the causes adverted to, is ut terly unprofitable to their owners. Should these slave owners choose to change this barren vocation for a contract upon the Kail Road, they may safely take the amount of half of their intended contract. Experience proves that this is greatly the most pro fitable employment that ever slave labor engaged in us a general business. At the estimates above sta ted, a few miles of Rail Road would keep a whole neighborhood in employment for a year or so. The most sat isfactory assurances will be givon by the Commissioners who take the subscriptions, that sub scribers shall in all cases tie preferred in letting out contracts. It is not in this business as it is iu some other badly managed concerns, that contracts are let to tho lowest bidder, independent of his skill or ability, or any other consideration. The Engi neer makes the estimate -according to a fixed rate, (say so much for the cubic yard) and then he gives the execution of it to those who arc from all circum stances, best entitled : always in a case like this, pre ferring those that have subscribed, and in all cases distributing this patronage us equitably as possible, so as to give every subscriber a chance. Kive per cent has to be paid iu advance by every subscriber. This is the positive requirement of the Charter ; but, after that, it will readily be teen, .that when the above arrangement is made, no more money will bo paid out ; but on the contrary, money for half the price of the contract will constantly be coming iu, and if the subscriber takes a coutrnet, that will ena ble him to get double the preseut hire of his slave: Or, if he can hire his slaves for doublo their present hire, he gets his stock without paying a cent for it, as compared with hi.'i former profits. But if the hire of negroes shall not rise quite so high, the nearer it approaches that point, the nearer the farmer will Come to the result above indicated. But suppose it does not rise at nil, then we simply say he cm pay for his stock by the hire of his slaves. Then how does he stand f He has lost the labor of bis slaves for one or two years: this labor was not profitable to him- on his farm. He has doubled tho value of his lands. He has secured for his future slave la bor a fair reward for all time to come ; and beside, he is the owner of so many dollars worth of stock, paying (we devoutly believe it) nol less than sic yer e:nt. ;nr annum. The two millions which tho State pays will render it quite convenient for this arrangement to be made in every instance ; and wo can vouch that H will be made in every instance where it is desired. But we have heard it objected lliat the work will be begun' .at. Goldsboro', far in the Kasti and that it will be a long time before we can have any of those promised benefits. To this, we answer, thai in all probability the work will be begun at Raleioh, and move towards the West directly ; and as soon as the South Carolina Road is finished lo Charlolto, il is believed lhat operations will begin at that point, alto. Our grounu tor me nrat opinion is, uiai me oioio m now the sole proprietor of the Raleigh and Gat ton Koad ; it has hitherto been t losing concern, but at soon as the Weslern trade shall be'opened upon it, it is manifest that it will begin to revive It is, therefore, clearly the true policy of the State thus lo begin, tnd thus to carry on.the work The State will have by nicins of its auperior a mnunt of slock a controling voice in directing the affairs of this company, and we may be sure the uiideviating principle of self interest will in this case, as in all others, prevail. Our ground for believing lhat the work will be begun at Charlotte at a proper time, is lhat, in all the conversations we had with influential and leading men in the E-ist, it was conceded that as so lilt lo had ever come from the Slate Treasury to this part of the State, we had a right to inaiel upon an early ap plication ol the benettta or I "us worn to our pre sent necessities The ju'. and- liberal feeling of the present Goernor towards the West, and the exalted character of his Council, leave us no ground to apprehend that any of our reasonable demands will be refused. We, your Representatives, in tire General As sembly, think we have done our duty in bringing before our follow-citizena a plan to liberal and comprehensive. U now remains fbr the people lo do tlreir duty, if the undertaking thai! lai now, the longest liver amongst us need never expect to witness the recurrence of such another offer. A thicker darknest will settle on our late. despondency wilt sink deeper into our hearts, and it would nave been far better inn ims ertori nau not been made. But, let u cheer up. There is too much al stake to doubt of success. The res ponse lliroushnut the country thua far hat been encouraffinir, and on every hand we hear of pre parations benig made for a mighty offutt. Able and patriotic men are taking up the matter in earnest : a spirit of eneuiry ia extending itself real estate is already beginning to rise in value and the proenecl tronnd us it brightening. Let at then lift up our hearts in the fervent hope lhat 11 The best of oar days are coining." Wilhthe utmost respect ymirob't servants, JOHN A. LILLINOTO.N, iknatarfromJluima-aiuLDtue. 11 C. JONES, Commoner from Rowan. RUFUS BARRINUEll, jocsepu w. scorr, Cammoners from Cabarrus. PUNK ROXD3. Wo learn from the Lincolnton RepuUidan, that H is proposed to hold a meeting of the cilizent of tht town, to take into consideration the propriety of eoratructing a Plank Road from imcolnton to Charlotte. We say speed the pood work. Of the advantage ef Plank Roads, we will speak; by relating an-anecdote which was related to tire Ed itor of the FayelteviHe Observer by a lady. She was travelling in the interior of New York two winters' ago. Over the common roads, tlien in bad order, the pair ef horse drew the carriage two and a half miles an hour, and lhat with great la bor. Sad leoly, thy came to a Plank R,oad, six teen milos lonrr. This distance tlie same jaded lior s?j accoinpliidi-Ml with ease in just fry houn.-r-(V.ui:lJit Jvurmtl. LEGISLATIVE SPEECH - - Of Mr. Wm. L. Lou$, of Halifax ; Oi the bill fur the relief of the Wilmington and Rj leigh Heilmd Cimiany, delivered in tlie House of Commons, January 1818. . Mr. Speaker: -' When my colleague occuj&Aliui.pat in this Hall, I was content to. remain silfMt ; not only on account of indisposition, but because, in him, 1 found a close observer of what was going on one who never failed to raise his vtice when the sub ject before the House seemed to require it. In his absence, though still tmweli, I feel it my duty to submit a very few remarks, on the present occa sieti. Tlie subject of Internal Improvements is an all absorbing topic. Il has been frequently discussed in this Hall, often agitated bcl'ofe the neoplc ever exciting deep interest. And it is a matter much to be regretted, that there are those among us who have sought, on more than one occasion, to make it a party question. The agitation of this subject ought not to have a tendency that way ; and should be entirely disconnected from the party politics of the day : Yet, as legislators, we must see, that our success, in public life, depends upon the principles and motives by which we are actua ted and governed. We ought net, therefore, te take ground against a measure because peradventure it may operate ujion our popularity we should only oppose a measure, when we believe that measure lo be against the prosperity of the State, and the interest of her people. If all of us wero underthe influence i f such high consideration?, we might, without fear, leave the consequences to time, Sir, the only way to give North Carolina that weight in-the commercial world, to which site w ould be justly entitled, is obviously by a well digested system of Internal linproveiiieiitsl-such a system as will advance her iinVrnul and external trade by affording hor people the convenience of getting to market, nnd holding out to them .-inducement! to enrich their lands, and iO make comfortable their homea-wliich would act as a check on the spirit of emigra tion, and make the good Old North State a garden spot. Mr. Speaker, in the year 1845, a bill was intro duced in the Iiegislatnre of Virginia, for a Rail Road from Baltimore to Ohio, striking Virginia at Harper's Ferry, and running through a portion of tho Western part of the State to Parksbnrg, on the Ohio river. Mr. McLane, of Maryland, the Pres ident of the Baltimore and Ohio Road, was in Richmond. He threw his doors wide open, and nave splendid entertainments. He exerted the in- ilucnce of his name, and tlie powers of Ins great j mind, in favor of the project. How, sir, did the members talk at that session of the General As sembly? They boasted of the Old Dominion, as a State associatcd'in History with all that is men tally grand. They pointed to her public works as living monuments of her wisdom and enterprise. They could not, nor would not lose sight of the welfare of that proud Old Commonwealth. They voted against tho bill, on the ground that the ex tension of the Road through the territory of Vir ginia, would conflict with the true policy of the Stuto render some of her public works useless ; and build up Baltimore, to the injury of Richmond consequently the measure was rejected. And thus the Legislature exhibited a proper regard for the welfare of the people. Let us imitate the ex ample, ai.J vote against any project which looks towards fostering a neighlioring tort n, and dividing the products of North Carolina between Virginia on the one side, and South Carolina on the other. Sir, it is our indispensable duty to be governed by silch high considerations of policy, since we have passed the bill for a Central Railroad. When that Railroad shall go into successful operation, what will be the condition of things ? The labo rious husbandman of the West will come down to the abused Ce litre, where we hear so much talk a bout Cliques," without seeing or feeling their in fluence, and go from this point lo Petersburg, Nor folk, or Wilmington, and find, for if.e product of his labor, a ready market. We arc told that it is the policy ef our State to make, for our people, a home marbt. If to, I tell the gentleman from Hertford, (Mr. RaynerJ that he had better direct his strong blows against the R-aleiglf and Gaston Road, than against the Wilmington anil Manches ter route. The first is a great river pouring a por tion of the productive wealth of North Carolina into Virginia, and making of Petersburg a Com mercial mart for this good old Commonwealth ; whilst the Manchester Road will be as a tributary stream running into North Carolina, bearing upon its bosom a part of the products ef South Carolina to Wilmington an auxiliary towards bnilding up, at that place, an emporium for our citizens. Here, at this point, by the Raleigh and Gaston Road, the people of Petersburg will contend with the citi zens of Wilmington for the products of the West. By the ?ihnington and Manchester Road, there cannot be any such contention. Yot the gentleman from Hertford it opposed to the Manchest;r Roud, because it may conflict with what he supposes te be the true policy of the State notwithstaading he it in-' favor of tlie Raleigh and Gaston Road, which may tak,on the completion of the Central Road, the products of the West and thit region of country to Virginia and, if so, destroy Ihe pros pect! of building up a commercial town rn North Carolina. ' Mr. Speaker, I have merely thrown' out these suggestions', as a set-off to what has been laid by j the gentleman from Hertford, in relation to the bill on your table. I am not opposed to the Raleigh1 and Gaston Road. F would vole, to-day, one hun dred thousand dollars, or" any amount necessary, to1 put that road in thorough repair. It is the proper ty of the State ; and, as Representative! of the people, it it our duty to take care of her public works. Not any one seemr to huvo been entrusted with the guardianship of this Road. And in the multiplicity of projects before as, it hat been well nigh lost' sight' of. True, something har been at tempted, but, in my judgment,- it amounts to noth ing. Sir, we have done much for the State; if, however, w return home to our constituents, with out voting a sufficient appropriation forputting the t..in:i. ..,.1 iUwo u-n -leave undone what we ou;;lit u- have doiMy-a blot npon our Legislative escutcheon for tits next I.e- j gislatitre to wipe off. Mr. Speaker, shall the bill en your table pas ? that is the question. What it iti object 1 The j relief of the Wilmington tnd Raleigh Rail Road j Company. What were the receipts of that Road in the year IS 18 ? I take the statement from the Report of the President and Directors of the Com pany. The gross amount is as follows : including the receipts from passengers, freights, transporta tion of mail, rents, sale of old iron and copper : SSn.J.W 53. Expenditures, embracing all the items without specifying them, 8233,132 79 showing a difference, in favor of the receipts, of $79,525 71. Of this balance, $35,909 68 hat been applied to the payment of the interest on the debt of the Company ; exhibiting a nett profit of $ 43, 416 03 of which amount, $37,195 07 has boen applied to iho purchase of new iron, rails, spikct, &.C., &.C. The State has taken stock iu this Road to the a mount of $600,001). By completion of the route to Manchester, this work is rendered far more val uable, and its receipts will probably be increased te tlie amount of $000,000 ; which would, in three years, liquidate a'! the debts of the Company, keep ihe Road in good repair, and forever thereafter be a source of revenue to tlie State, as well as profit to the individual stockholders : Besides, sir, we get rid of the dangers ef the Sea, by dispensing with the Steamboat line : and we make the Wilming ton and Raleigh Road a permanent work : thereby incrcasing the vajueof real estate, along the route, j about three millions of dollars. We arc informed, by the Report of the President and Directors of thit Company, that, from a comparison of the val uation of real estate, along the line of this im provement, it has increased in -value, within a few years, owing to this work, 1,931,396 ; which is nn increase, to that amount, of individual wealth and that is a component part of the wealth Of the State. The Railroad Journal, in a late number, osti tniites the entire expenditure, within the last twenty-five years, in the projection and 'Construction of Railroads ill the world, at one thousand millions of dollars; and also states that these improvements have increased the vuluo of property to double that amount. Then the world, at a low calculation, is one thousand millions of dollars better eff than it was anterior to the projection of Railroads. Yet there are those among us, claiming to be regarded as statesmen of enlarged and liberal views, who are endeavoring to poison the public mind against the Central project, because the State is authorised by the charier, to take stock to the amount of two millions of dollars. ' Oh ! shame ! Where is thy blush ?" Xot upon the cheek of the heartless dema- g 'gut ! bir, the patriotism that tirei the heart ot tie purest patriot in this Hall, burns as brightly t,e 0f ,,e honest, unlettered man. En- lighten the public mind; give the iieople more in formation upon the subject of Internal Improve ments, by agitation and publicdiscussion; and they will discard, from their Legislative Halls, men un true to the interest of the State, Who endeavor to keep up an excitement upon this subject from self ish considerations. My only fegret hi relation tb the Central Railroad is, that the State is not author ised by flie c barter, to subscribe the whole amount, and construct the work at once. If the value of real estate along the Road, is to be increased doable the amount of the sum expended in making the improvement, North Caroliria may well afford to lose three millions of dollars for the thereby ben- fits her citizens six millions. In projecting any work of improvement, he is an unfit representative of the people, who votes against it, because, in his opinion, the improvement will not be a source of revenue to the State. It is enough for me to know that the annual receipts from the work will keep it in thorough repair ; and that the improvement will increase the value of real estate twice the sum expended in constructing the work ; which, togeth er with the increased facilities ot getting the pro ducts of the country te market, will more than Counterbalance the original cost of the improve ment : whilst it will not only add to the comforts aud conveniences or the living, but will exert a beneficial influence upon those that are to live af ter ui. Mr. Speaker, there are works of improvement be yond the ability of individual enterprise. Is it, there fore, to be argued that these worki are not to be constructed; when witlirn the reaeh of the State ? I trust no gentleman present will assume any such position. Our constituents will demand of its here after to effect all works of Internal Improvements Calculate! to promote the public good beyond the reach of individual enterprise, and within the pow er of tlie Legislature. Sir, tlie amount of money expended in tho United States in the projectionnd Construction of Railroads is estimated at one hun dred and fifty millions of dollars : which, it is said, has run the value of property up to three hundred millions of dollars, I have shown you, from the re port of tho President and Director!" of the Wil mington and Raleigh Railroad, that real estate from Weldon to Wihnington, had increased, Smce the construction of the road, $1 ,931,296. From this consideration of the subject, the question a gain intrudes itself upon fhe mind, shall this bill past ? The improvement has advanced the pro perty, atuf added to the convenience of the coun ties through which it passes. It has increased the industry of the pjople, and their fJndncss for Ag ricultural pursuits ; whilst it tends to strengthen them in their attachment to tlieir homes. Better far that they had never possessed tho facilities of supplying themselves with the necessaries of life, il, iu tins jige ot improvement, by tlie illiberal le- gislat.on of this body, they are to be deprived of the means of gett'ng what little they marks te-tnar-ket, and receiving, in return those commodities which they need at home. Shall we diminish the value of real estate along the line of this improve ment; link tho $GOO,00 which the State bug in vested in tho work ; sacrifice individual ihlerests P the amount of about 8,000 of dollars; strike a pang of sorrow to the hearts of thousands of our people ; render insolvent many a widowed wife and fatherlest child, by voting for the amendment of the gentleman from Hertford, through a mistaken 'notion of policy? The amendment,-if adopted, would take from (lie Company the means of re pairing the Road; and, without the repairs, the Road mast necessarily go down; What, Sir.doct the bill on your table irojoe ? To involve tlie S;ae in dj'.it ? Not dollar. It s'mp'y proposes to blithe State Mortgage of $ .15 ,-:').), and tinm borrow $520,000, not upon the credit of the Stale, but upon the faith and credit of the Road. The Road, at a low estimate, cannot be rallied at.k'M. . than eighteen hundred Ihousand dollars; which is more than enough to pay the State Mortgage and the amount to be borrowed 1 By granting the re lief, then, what do we risk ? Not a cent. An J yet we enable the Company to purchase T iron, and lay down the heavy rail, which will lie a sa ving to them, in the future repairs of the Road, of $160 per mile, at shown by tlie writings of all per sons of experience upon this Bubject : and an an nual suving upon a road of 160 miles in length, of upwards of $80,000, including wear and tear of Railroad and Locomotives. Besides, sir, when tho heavy rail shall be kid down upon this Road, iu place of the light flat iron, tlie cart will pass over it with greater certainty, rendering hu:iun life more secure : which is a consideration that ought not, under any circumstances, to b hist sight of. At Representatives, we should not sacrifice the in terests of the Slate and individuals in this improve ment. We should regard it a duty incumbent on us to protect the welfare of both, by granting ilw relief asked for. Mr. Speaker, we arc told by the gentleman from Hertford, that the passage of this bill into a law, will conflict with the general policy of the State. What, sir, is that policy ? To build up a great commercial mart at Wihnington. How is the suc- cess of this measure loconjlict with such a policy? The Manchester Road will contribute to that de sirable object. It is one of the links in the great chain of improvements which is to effect this ha- : py result. That Read, when completed, will take a part of the products of South Carolina to Wil mington. The Central project will aid in the same great work, The first will tax South Carolina, os she bus taxed us from timo immemorial; the two Roads will make Wilmington a great emporium ; and our citizens will enjoy the advantages of a home market, unknown lo tlieir ancestors, -which ii devoutly to be wished for, by every true friend tb North Carolina. Tlie advocates of the Central Road have noth ing to fear irom this improvement. That projf et will, in the course of time, be benefitted much by Tennessee, as by North Carolina.' The bene fit may be in the distance; but, in my judgment, the day will come, when a Railroad from Mem phis will connect with the Central Road, at the Tennessee line, near Knoxvillc, bringing about a generous and social intercourse between the two States affording facilities for an interchange of commodities, and making us, as in days goiu by, one people. God speed the work !; I voted for. the Central Road, as I intend to vote for the bill under consideration. I voted 'ol it) because I ft It a deep solicitude in this good old Commonwealih, and waa anxious to advance the prosperity of her people. By its successful operation, the means of promo ting industry will be discussed, whilst it will ex cite a spirit of inquiry among the people, in the cultivation of the soils, the improvement of the lands, and also develop the physical resources of the State'. Lastly, I voted for it, because I love ev ery rock, tree and strean of water, within the State. Sir; North Carolina is the home of my birth, and ' contains the bones of those whose memories are sacred torn' heart To me it is i dearer, sweeter spot " than all the world besides;" The Central Road will divert Out trade from Virginia and South Carolina ; concentrate the energies of the State ; and make ns a united people. It will rcdonnd to the honor of this Legislature : and weave for tho brow of those mainly ins umental in its passage, a green and imperishable chaptef. Mr. Speaker, tlie subject it riot exhausted, but the fear of being thought intrusive, admonishes me of the propriety Of bringing my remarks to a close. Wilmington can boast of a population fam ed for their' enterprise and hospitality. We have sceii tlieiri struggling againtt difficulties, surmoun ting obstacles; and still maintaining a position which challenges our admiration. Under such cir cumstances, can we refuse tliein the relief asked for? Sir, let us pats the bill on your table ; and when they shall receive' the welcome intelligence, that their prayers have been granted, It frill be a source of heartfelt joy to them. Their aspirations will go up to Heaven, for the prosperity and hap piness of each ami all of uJ. For' ourselves, we will have tire pfotrd eonsolation of kavin'g perform ed a duty we owed to the' State and to thorn. Yci, Sir, of having acted upon the devoted sentiment! contained in tlie beautiful couplet ' I.'t truth be your guide, disdain ambition's call, And if yotr full 6y truth, you nobly fall,'1 MOST REVOLTING MURDER. ; A friend under date of Feb. 38th writes; that ono of the most brutal, horrid murders that ever shocked the tense of any community, wa! perpe trated near the village of Wenttforth', Rocking- , ham county, on Saturday tlie 2fth. A negro wo- man belonging to Dr. John James decoyed front the house hit little daughter about four years old arid a ntgro boy, the nnrse of the child, and ta-" king them into a secret retired place under a lull' near the village, in cold blood cut their threat! with a case-knife. It appeared that she had first tied strings around both their necks, as it wai v thought to prevent their-' giving an alarm by cry' ing ; but she in her confession aayt that it was by the use of those string! that the wai enabled to-' toll them off, " pretending that they were her little' horses." The mother of tlie little girl becoming uneasy on account of her abtenca, insisted on the' father making search for her, vrho tracked tbeirr up, unsuspcctiiig, and found hie little Child, who had but a short time prtVibtlt been prattling around' him with' childish glee, weltering in her blood. Tlie fact was immediately communicated, and the villager's sallied forth in' pursuit and toon ar- rested the murderess, who cbhfessed her guilt; and assigned as a reason which influenced her to com mit the deed; aihreat on the part ef her master'lo tell her.- She waa committed f; jail, ant! now a-' waits her trial. G'reensioro' Pat. WESTERN Tl'RNrlKE. We tru iufonn'l lhat His ExschVnry, Governor -Minlt, hud appointed An !-crr II. hliulord, of I.ln. -colu, Joseph J. Krwin, of Burke, and Ctorga W Haye , f Cherokee County, l'mninisiimir, unutr.llui a l of th last General Assembly for surveying, and ItK'atiiiff the prcat Wwii-ru Turnnike Read front S;. ! lbary through A.dicvil!e, to the Georgia liu;.