Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1851-12-19
THOMAS A. FALcoNER, PUBLISHER.


In the uneauivocal declaration of the Board
that no new surrey could change their deter
neiaation. But If, for the sake of argu-
ment the statement of the Report with ref
erence to the difference In distance be adj
mitted as correct, the increased distance on
the Mississippi route will, according to the
Report, involve an additionalexpense to the
Company in the cost of construction of
sI95,I99 06. The proposition aoas made
to tie Board, not only 10 make good this
difference, buf, as has been stated, Atey soere
offered relio5Ie subscriptions on the part Of
Worth Mississippi to tie amount Of some
S700, 600, Independent altogether Of aehich,
the difference in tie local traffic upon the
faco routes pould be more than Sufficient to
saue tie company from the possibility of
Toss. As to the second objection, it is ad
mitted by the Report of the Engineer that
the same obstacles as to grades and engi
neering difficulties would have to be en-
countered upon one route as upon the
other. What prejudice, then, can possibly
accrue to the Company from refusal on
the partof the Legislature tc change the.
present terms of the Charter?
But on the other hand, how stands the
matter with reference to the interests of
the citizens of North Mississippi who op-
pose this change? The advantage of roads,
however Indifferent they may be, to any
community, is not a matter of conjecture,
but railroads exert an influence far trans
cending in Importance any agent of ancient
or modern times, and may be regarded as
the lever that moves the commercial world
The present destitution of the Northern
counties of Mississippi of Commercial ia
Marshall, Tippah, and Tishamingo, have
however, possessed and do, up to this time,
enjoy the limited advantages derived from
partial thoroughfare. and the passage of
the great Eastern daily mail through their
centres. Change the charter as desired,
and they are stripped even of this poor ad-
vantage. Butthey have long and anxious
" hoped and labored for the superior fa-
cility of a railroad, opening up to them a
direct communication with the Market
relieving them of their present insupport-
able tax of transportation, and thus devel-
Eoping their resources, and imparting addi-
tional value to their property and the pro-
ducts of their industry. Under the Char
ter as it now stands there is a prospect that
these hopes may be realized. This road,
if constructed as the act of incorporation
directs, would pass some 100 miles through
the three counties above named, and iudg-
inc from well authenticated results else
where, would add not less than So, 2OO,Ooo
to the value of their real estate, and in
crease their present State and county reve-
nue. from 100 to $50 per cent, besides bull
ding up manufactures, multiplying popula-
ton, and diffusing business life, and activi-
ty and thrift, where for the want of such
stimulant all is now stagnant and dead
and Improbable The influence will ex-
tend itself to other counties South of those
named, and important commercial and ira
ding points, such as we have been accus-
toned to see grow up upon the navigable
river, will spring into life within our State
along upon the line Of the railway. Should
other railroads which are now contempla-
ted, extending from the, South or centre oi
/ the State in a Northern direction, be con-
structed, these roads, crossing, OF connect
ing with the Memphis and Charleston road
within the limits of our State will be the
means of building up commercial towns OF
still more Importance. Change the Char
ter, and as no road can be constructed
parallel with this in the Northern part o.
our State that can sustain itself, you de-
prive this portion of the State for all time
to come of all the munifcent advantages a
bove referred to, and doom it to state O
perpetual commercial vassalage, by sane
tioning the construction of q post drain Jus
over the border of our State, which mus
inevitably attract from the State its capital
! its population and its industry, and thu.
detract from and diminish individual wealtl
and prosperity, and consequently the Stat,
and county revenue.
If your Honorable Bodies sat a.
a Judicial tribunal to administer th,
law, or to mete out rigid and impartial jus
tlce, it is submitted that, ia view of tn,
: facts and merits of this controversy, Yol
would feel bound unhesitatingly TO rejec
the application TO change the Charter o
: this road. But when it is remembered
that yoa are the special and chosen guar
dians Of the State, and are uade,. para
mount obligations to protect and cher'isl
all of her interests, and the interests 0
all Of hercitizens;; that other States, witt
! Tennessee and Alabama conspicuous a
mong the number, when granting the righ
of way to railroad companies, have deem
ed it neither ungenerous nor unjust T.
couple the grant with conditions far NOR
onerous than those imposed by the term
of the present charter upon the Memphi
; and Charleston Company; and when it /
: remembered that this is -substantially..
; contest between citizens of the two State
, lastnamed upon the one side, who are ask
ing fayors at your hands that scere not gran
ted dy their ew'a Legislatures; and citizen
of your own State on the other, who cal
look no where else for relief and protec
ton if their claims are disregarded by you
who come before you with all the pre-
ponderance of facts and reason and iustic
on their side, how can you hesitate to re
ject this application, and to leave the par
ties to occupy the position the law now as
!. . signs to them?
j Feeling that they have done all, an,
!, more than all that could be asked of then
to reconcile this controversy, and satisfie,
of the palpable and substantial Justice O
: their cause, the undersigned appeal ear
{ nesdy, but with confidence to your Hon
! Bodies to stay the hand Of legislation, an,
to permit the Charter to remain unchange,
upon the Statute book. And as in dut
; bound they will ever pray DC.