Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-09-10

Internal Improvement, developing other re-
sources, and affording facility, blended with
economy, in the transportation Of produce and
merchandise throughout the State, and Mis-
sissippi may with truth, be styled, the garden
spot of the Union. Blend industry, enter
prise and economy with the product of our
our soil, and Mississippi, win soon be, what
the mines of Peru formerly was, in great
measure, the regulator of Foreign Exchanges.
Cotton being the regulator of commercial
| transactions. These are facts based upon
immutable truth. Let every Mississippian put
his shoulder to the wheel; lose sight Of the
beacon of self interest, act upon public utility;
and our present distress, win disappear like
as would the morning dew before midday
sun.
| express publicly, my humble opinion, upon
several sections of the act, under the convic-
ton of duty, imposed on every citizen, to
throw his mite of information, into the scale
of public utity,-which opinion ] submit with
difidence for the consideration of my fellow
citizens.
A part the 9th Section of the act, which
reads as follows, / think quite Objectionable,
viz
"And be it further enacted, That the said
board of Internal improvement, is author
Used and required, to cause to be constructed a
Rail Road, from the Mississippi City, if the
Mississippi Company shall obligate themselves
to give to the State, to aid in constructing the
said Road, one half of the nett proceeds of the
sales, of the remaining unsold lots embraced
in the survey of the said city; and if said COM
pany shall refuse to make such donation, then
from some other point near the said city; to
some point in Pontotoc County; and laterals
therefrom, one extending to some point in
T shemingo County, and one extending to the
Mississippi river, at some point in the County
of Tunica.''
LIST. BY this portion Of the act, it is made
the imperative duty of the Board of Internal
Improvements to commence on the sea board,
before the fertile middle and northern sections
of our State, are provided with the means o.
availing themselves of the advantages of q
seaport town. This is Objectionable not only
: on the score of economy but policy; more
!, particularly, when nature, has released ar
and enterprise from so large portion of labor
and expense, by intersecting these positions o
our State, with valuable water courses, which
S if improved, in connection with Canals ant
j, Rail Roads, would at comparative small ex
pense, bring the northern, eastern, western
and middle parts of our State in commerce.
: and social intercourse, and deveope by ia
- | JDo greatest portion, OF TIE HIuu6U resources
= of our State. And what is an important con
8 sideration, worthy of notice:-Improveme
in these sections of the State, would as the
progress, become Immediately a source of Rev
enue. That we should render ourselves indie
: pendent, by creating a seaport town on on
own coast, with the advantages we possess
no one may doubt; but at the same time, W
should first provide, every section CT the State
with the means of getting it. Little benef
would be derived from the experience Of Gu
sister States by adopting an opposite course
II ID. Is not the bargain made by the Legis
lature on behalf of the people, with the Mis-
sissippi Company, of too indefinite a ma
= ture!
n ed. The Legislature having voted the res
is possibility of the State for the payment of tn
" five millions to be borrowed for the purpose
= ternal Improvement; ought there not to be
- reserved power, on the part OF that body, t
direct the expenditure if advisable!
s. 4th If not advisable; ought not the ct
and 9Th sections of the act, be so amended, a
to increase the discretionary power of tn
ne Board of Internal Improvement, giving thel
as authority if they should deem it expedient t
se construct canals, and appropriate larger pre-
portion of the five millions to the improvement
of our water courses!
OF 9th. As the beacon of Sc finterest, Is nc
u yet supplanted by patriotic desire, as a pr
- mary object, to promote the public veal woul
OF it not be advisable to make the Governor
oi the State, ex-oficio President of the Boar
of Internal Improvements!
10 JOHN CRUSOE.
- TO BE Continued