98 



FARxViERS' REGISTER 



rNo.2 



those, in whose name we have been authorized lo 

 addreas you. These matlers are merely relerred 

 to show the ability of the state, and the ample 

 means she has to sustain that credit, which it is 

 proposed to bring into n)arket. 



Having shown the condition oC the state, the 

 necessity and demand for a change, and the 

 means for effecting it, your memoriahsts are 

 brought to the mteresting question, as to what is 

 best to be done? In answer lo that question, we 

 have to present to you that plan or system which 

 was the result of the anxious deliberations of those 

 in whose behalf this memorial is presented. No 

 higher evidence could be given of the actual 

 wants of our people, and of the demand and ne- 

 cessity for something to be done, than in the vol- 

 untary congregation of that assembly, whose 

 wishes and opinions we have been directed to 

 make known. A body comprising near 200 dele- 

 gates, selected from forty counties, men of char- 

 acter, of intelligence, and of wealth, voluntarily 

 obeying the call of their country, argues a deep 

 distress in the community, and a loud demand (or 

 its remedy. The strifes and struggles of party 

 have been silenced, and the voice of patriotism 

 alone has been heard, invoking you to action. It 

 is the first and dearest privilege we enjoy as a free 

 people, that by the fundamental principles of our 

 government, every plan for changing our condi- 

 tion and promoting our happiness and prosperity, 

 both in choice and execution, must originate with 

 or be sanctioned by the people. The plan, then, 

 which we have the honor to present, originated 

 with a large portion of the people, and claims 

 your most liberal and attentive examination. 

 Your memorialists shew, that after a week of 

 earnest and anxious consideration, the convention 

 agreed upon a plan which is embodied in a series 

 of resolutions herewith submitted, and annexed 

 to this memorial. The convention came to the 

 conclusion, with great unanimity, that all the 

 works mentioned in said resolutions were of a 

 great and useful character, and constitute a sys- 

 tem of improvements which, if begun and suc- 

 cessfully prosecuted, would eminently conduce to 

 the prosperity of the state, both as increasing the 

 commonwealth and in elevating and confirming 

 its moral and political character. 



Of the merits of the general system recommen- 

 ded, it is proper to say, whilst there existed a dif- 

 ference of opinion as to the grade or class of the 

 respective works, yet there was none as to their 

 eminent utility and meritorious claim to the aid 

 and patronage of the legislature. But the con- 

 vention was admonished, as all must be, by past 

 experience, that the works proposed must be 

 brought within the available means of the state, 

 or all would fail. Hence the necessity and expe- 

 diency of a classification. In this, too, they were 

 following the example of the national legislature, 

 in their works of harbors and fortifications. 

 What the nation could not accomplish with its 

 ample resources, it was not to be expected a sin- 

 gle state could effect, with its limited means, 

 though confined to works within her own borders. 

 Here then collision begins, here is the danger of 

 failure, and here the demand for disinterested and 

 enlarged patriotism. Hence it is deemed impor- 

 tant that your honorable body should be fully and 

 candidly informed of the reasons and views, which 

 influenced the convention in recommending cer- 



tain works tor prompt and immediate execution. 

 Let them not be charged with selfishness or with 

 local preferences, but remember the difficulty of 

 the subject and the necessity lor action. 



1. A guarantee by the state of five hundred 

 thousand dollars to the Ga.^ton and Raleigh rail- 

 road. This is not a subscription or a loan, and 

 does not call for any expenditure. It is a mere 

 loan of the credit of the state, upon such surety 

 as the legislature shall require to enable the com- 

 pany to obtain a loan on better terms than they 

 otherwise could do, and thus be enabled to com- 

 plete their great work. This favor appeared so 

 reasonable in itself, as lo meet with but little op- 

 position. It is deemed due to the liberal spirit of 

 those enterprising citizens who had been willing 

 to risk their own fortunes in so great a work. It al- 

 so recommended itself to the convention, as a work 

 penetrating to the capital of the state, there to be 

 connected with other works, and accommodating 

 many of our citizens in the transportation of their 

 produce to market. Having already received the 

 favorable action of a committee of both branches 

 of your honorable body, more is not necessary to 

 be said. 



2. A subscription by the state o^ four -fifths of 

 the capital slock of the Fayetteville and Yadkin 

 ra-l-road. This is one of the great works in the 

 general systen;, and may be considered as stand- 

 ing at the head of those recommended in the first 

 class. In regard to this work, the convention had 

 certain data, both as to its necessity, its impor- 

 tance to a large portion of the state, its policy, as 

 sanctioned by a vote of the legislature and of the 

 people, and certainly as to the cost of its construc- 

 tion. As to the work itself, it is to connect the 

 east and west; to commence wiih a home market, 

 from the banks of a river, rising and terminating 

 within our own limits ; to be extended lor the pre- 

 sent to the Yadkin, a stream which passes through 

 a productive and populous section of the country, 

 and whose product must be carried to a distant 

 foreign market, unless this great work shall suc- 

 ceed. As early as 1815, the idea of connecting 

 the waters of the Yadkin with that of the Cape 

 Fear, received the favorable action of the legisla- 

 ture. But unfortunately the geological structure 

 of the intervening country presented difficulties 

 not then to be surmounted by a canal, with the 

 limited means of the state. Those difficulties dis- 

 appear, however, before the mighty engine of 

 steam. The actual extent of internal communi- 

 cation, by means of rivers and roads, which di- 

 rectly or indirectly connect itself with this road, 

 cannot be estimated at less than thirty counties, 

 embracing at least 15 millions acres of land, and 

 probably much exceeds that quantity. Thus will 

 the occupants of moderate sized farms be enabled 

 to make outfits for market in their own vehicles, 

 and for which the power of a single horse v.'ill be 

 quite sufficient to reach some depot on the main 

 route. Also in securing, what every farmer in the 

 country will know the value of, a much smaller 

 portion of time in the accomplishment of the ob- 

 ject. For it is to be remembered, the great ad- 

 vantage of the rail- ways, over all othgr means of 

 conveyance is the saving of time, the annihilation 

 of space. Time is money, and the attainment of 

 greater speed and certainty, amounts, in effect, to 

 a reduction of expense. The advantages of a 

 more speedy conveyance, are often of" greater va- 



