| From the Raleigh State Journal |
| |
| February 5, 1862 |
| |
| Proceedings of the North Carolina Convention -- Second
Session |
| ***** |
| Twelfth Day, Saturday, Feb. 1, 1862 |
| ***** |
| Piedmont Railroad |
| The ordinance to charter the Piedmont
Railroad Company, being the special order, was now taken up. |
| [We have full notes of the debate on this
question, but our report on the Stay Law has run to such a length that
we cannot find space for a lengthy report. We will merely indicate the
position of the speakers. The proposition is to connect the Danville
(Va.) road {the Richmond & Danville RR} with some point on the N. C. road. The charter, as
presented, proposes to leave the terminus at the N. C. road to the
stockholders.] |
| Mr. Brown moved to amend the ordinance by
inserting the "Company's Shops" as the point at which the N.
C. Road shall be tapped. |
| Mr. Gilmer objected to designating the
termini. That matter should be left to the company. |
| Mr. Brown replied to Mr. Gilmer, insisting
that an assertion of the question of State Rights demanded that the
State should say what portion of her territory should be crossed
by a neighboring State or by the Confederate government. He urged the
company shops. |
| Gov. Reid asked Mr. Brown, if he would
vote for the charter in case his amendment was rejected? |
| Mr. Brown said he would. |
| Gov. Reid then addressed the Convention at
some length, upon the importance of the charter as a military
necessity, on the authority of President Davis, and urged that the
route and the termini be left with those who take the stock in the
road. |
| Mr. Brown again responded, and urged his
views on the ground of States Rights, and because he thought the Shops
the most desirable location for the Southern terminus. |
| Gov. Reid was glad States Rights was a
last located, for Mr. Brown had fixed it at 22 miles this side of
Greensboro'. |
| Mr. Brown explained, and retorted that
Gov. Reid had located the "military necessity" at
Greensboro'. |
| Gov. Reid said he had given a preference
to no point. He would leave the location to those interested. |
| Mr. Kittrell moved to amend the amendment
by inserting "the town of Lexington," instead of the Company
Shops. He would show hereafter that that point was the shortest route
and the best. |
| Mr. Leak would leave the location to the
parties interested. He supported the measure on the ground of a
military necessity, and the road should run where the necessity
required it. |
| Mr. Mebane suggested Haw River as a better
point than any -- being the shortest route, and securing
transportation on a larger portion of the N. C. Road. |
| Mr. Gorrell got the floor, and the
Convention adjourned. |