The North Carolina Standard

For the North Carolina Standard.

Mr. Editor: I have been much gratified to observe the zeal and ability with which you have, in the columns of the Standard, defended the system of Internal Improvements adopted by the late General Assembly, and repelled the false idea that Democrats who voted for it, had thereby violated any cardinal principle of their party. Long a member, though a humble one, of the Democratic party, I had thought I fully comprehended its creed but it never entered into my conception that any article of our political faith imposed an obligation to oppose the spirit of progress, so characteristic of this enlightened age.

My purpose is not, however, to argue the question myself, but to inform you how it was discussed by another.

On Tuesday last, Francis A. Thornton, Esq., a member of the House of Commons from this County, appeared before his constituents and gave an account of his stewardship, in a well digested and an impressive speech of considerable length. He commenced by reviewing succinctly the earlier acts of the session—the Elections, the Lunatic Asylum Bill, &c.—and then passed on to the Central Rail Road Bill, justifying his course thereon, and proving, by a series of facts and arguments, that it was imperatively demanded by the best interests of North Carolina. He commented with great force and justice upon the productive soil and vast mineral resources of the West, and demonstrated that the want of market facilities rendered these blessings in a great degree nugatory—that owing to its isolated situation industry was paralyzed, and much of its most energetic population would be forced to emigrate: and that this general scheme could alone have arrested the passage of a charter authorizing the erection of a Rail Road from Charlotte to Danville, which would not only have destroyed the Roads already built, and owned wholly or in part by the State, but also severed the West from the East as effectually, to use his own language, "as a Chinese wall."

He next adverted to the State debt to grow out of this bill—contrasted it with the debts of our sister States, and proved, to the satisfaction of many, that the investment would yield not only the rich fruit of brotherly love, but ultimately, revenue also.

Indeed, Sir, it is but justice to Mr. Thornton to say, that his address was characterized by great force of thought, chastity of language, and grace of delivery. Should he continue in public life, I hazard little in the prediction that he will acquire reputation for himself, and confer benefits on his native State.

X.Y.