650 



FARMERS' REGISTER— INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 



the smallest fear of its being onerously lett by any 

 cilizeil. 



The repayment ot tlie loaii, th^ cotiventioii con- 

 ceives, mrty be postponed to A Very distant period, 

 as it seems that money lenders, where they are sa- 

 tisfied with the investments, make their terms 

 more favorable in proportion to the length of time 

 for which the payment is deferred. 



The convention would not recommend to the 

 legislature to borrow a large sum of money to 

 spend in idle and unprofitable experiments ; but it 

 may not be improper to remark, tliat even if the 

 works proposed should be entirely unproductive, 

 the introduction of five millions of capital, to be 

 spent within the state, could not be considered as a 

 certain loss, and would not be altogether without 

 advantage. And this brings to our notice another 

 reason why the proposed loan should be preferred 

 to drawing the money from the pockets of the ci- 

 tizens, either in the way of present taxation or 

 subscriptions to stock companies. There is in 

 North Carolina a scarcity of circulating medium, 

 and it is, we believe, a subject of complaint before 

 your honorable body at its present session. Is it, 

 then, the part of sound policy to make further ex- 

 actions from those who are already oppressed, or, 

 by availing itself of the present occasion for its 

 useful and safe application, by the introduction of a 

 large circulating medium into the state, entirely to 

 relieve the evils complained of.' 



Nor will the effect be temporary. It is not like 

 chartering a bank, which issues its notes, and 

 thereby creates a present abundance, to be followed 

 by a correspondent famine, when it shall call them 

 in; but the amount under consideration is added 

 to the permanent wealth of the state. It is funded in 

 a perennial stock, which not only remunerates the 

 holder by a regular payment of interest, but also 

 by a vast increase of the value of the real proper- 

 ty of the state, and furnishing the materials for 

 productive labor. 



The stimulating effect which is wrought upon 

 every species of industry, by the introduction of 

 such great quantities of circulating medium into 

 the country, would scarcely be less than magical. 

 The price of labor would be wonderfully increased 

 in the vicinity of any branch of the proposed 

 works ; lands would rise rapidly in value ; and then 

 ready markets would be fijund for large amounts 

 of the more important articles of produce, as well 

 as the smaller matters, which are the peculiar ob- 

 jects of female care and industry. Nor would this 

 effect be confined to the immediate vicinity. Like 

 the successively wide and wider circles which the 

 falling pebble causes in the agitated stream, the 

 impulse would be communicated from neighbor- 

 hood to neighborhaod, until its vibrations would be 

 felt in every corner of the state. 



The deferred payment of the debt has been, by 

 some, objected to, as an unjust imposition upon the 

 succeeding generation. But who, it may be in- 

 quired, is to partake most largely of the benefit of 

 the outlay .'' Surely the legatee to whom a rich in- 

 heritance is bequeathed, can have no just reason to 

 complain that a mortgage is upon it for a tenth of 

 its value. All that posterity can demand of us, 

 and that it may well demand, is, that we should 

 fairly improve the family inheritance ; and it is not 

 unreasonable that the inheritance itself should pay 

 the expenses of the improvements. 



The convention are perfectly aware how much 



all men are creatures of habit, and that there is a 

 startling association with infinity when they first 

 begin to speak of millions; but there is a happy 

 elasticity in the mind which enables it gradually 

 to expand to the full and easy reception of thd 

 most extensive ideas. Let the people become ac- 

 quainted with the vast advantages which an exten- 

 sive system of internal improvement holds out to 

 them, and the millions which it will take to pro- 

 duce these advantages, will soon become familiar 

 to their ears as household words. It is this capacity 

 in tlie mind, together with its tendency to stretch 

 itself to the full extent of the magnificent objects 

 by w hich it is surrounded, upon which we found a 

 strong argument in favor of our system. Its na- 

 tural effect will be to set before the people the 

 highest standards of arts, science, and moral re- 

 finement, and they will instinctively elevate them- 

 selves to their enviable level. 



The convention would respectfully suggest to 

 the legislature that, in taking up tiiis interesting 

 subject, they should adopt the prudent course 

 whicli both the committee and this convention have 

 found it necessary to pursue, and, while you adopt 

 the general outlines of the plan, leave its details 

 to be settled by an independent and disinterested 

 board, to be raised by yourselves, under the light 

 and instruction of proper engineers. The reasons 

 for this course cannot fail to strike a body so intel- 

 ligent as that which we address, and we will not 

 weary your patience by pressing them upon you. 



Gentlemen, vve trust that your honorable body 

 will act up to the crisis at which you have arrived ; 

 in fearless independence and noble liberality, meet 

 the people half way in tiie generous spirit with 

 which they approach you ; seize the occasion which 

 now presents itself, to associate your names with 

 one of the brightest eras in the history of your 

 native state; and when, in future years, your sons 

 shall point to the strong foundations of their coun- 

 try's wealth and glory, let them say, while their 

 bosoms swell with filial pride, my father was one 

 of that enlightened and independent legislature, by 

 whom they were laid. The convention does not 

 profess to be so far the agents of the people as to 

 be able to act efficiently ; but they may be well 

 supposed to imbody the wishes and opinions of a 

 majority of the state, at least as great as forty four 

 is to twenty. With this claim to the attention of 

 the legislature, and pleading a cause which might 

 well rely upon its intrinsic worth and deep impor- 

 tance for full investigation, this convention, in be- 

 half of the thousands of our citizens of the present 

 day, of all sexes, ages and conditions, and the 

 countless millions of unborn generations, and ap- 

 pealing to all the best principles and affections of 

 your hearts, your sterling patriotism, your filial 

 reverence, your fraternal regard, your conjugal 

 tenderness, and, above all, your jiarental love, with 

 manly confidence, presents its memorial. That 

 the God of our fatliers may so direct your delibe- 

 rations, as that they may be crowned with the most 

 lasting and extensive benefits to your constituents, 

 and the most unfading honor to yourselves, this 

 convention, as in duty bound, will ever pray. 

 DAVID L. SWAIN, President. 



Read and signed by all tlie members of the con- 

 vention who voted in the affirmative. 



JA. COOK, 



E. L. WINSLOW, 



Secretaries. 



