Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-12-23
Gov. Roane's speech, Bcfare tls Mass Meeting, ct Litle Rock, Nou,
 1851, on Internal Improvements.
~ AND GSsrLnxrS OF THE coxvrxrnoS.

Improvement 0oiilfSSlOUefsy WHifh Has utsH con yened in this Hall, for the past few days, aud upon the mass meeting of the citizens. of thiS and the neighboring counties, now m session. l was nroupted by no wish or expectation of taking ar active part m lheir deliberations and diseussions but, rather 10 manifest, by my presence, silent though deep and abiding interest, ln the great questions upon which you have assembled to de ilberatc.
 have desired to remain in the background, not from want of idenity of feeling and interest with 1 you but because. there are assembled here mHny ! gentlemen who have made these great questions l lhetr study, who understand them better than d1 and who are better prepared 10 discuss them with thLt abilhy which the magnitude of he sub i iect demands. But, so decided an inclination has been manifested, to hear what have to say toaching Internal Improvements in Arkansas, | would be violating q rule of action lad down for my self government were tO decline responding To your flatierng calls.
 ] You will, therefore, Mr President. allow me to express the qualification which have experienced during the progress of your deliberations; gratlfca ton of a two fold character: In the first place, reioite to witness the spirit which has character lzed and peryaded your deliberations. It speaks 1 better things far Arkansas for the future What have witnessed upon thls nccaSlon, demonstrates that the same principle that animaies oW. brethren elsewhere. and prompts them 10 deeds of enter i ptise and improvement, has found iis way into Arkansas. and impsrled new life, new energy, and i new enterprise, into her citizens. TOu, gentle. men, have given evidence upon this occasion, that ! Arkansas IS unwilling longer to remain in the | back ground, and that she is determined to press i forward and take that station among her sister States, which nature and natures God has de- S.sRcd for her.
 1 While witnessing your proceedings have been peculiarly grattfed lrcm another but more per 1 sonal considerations Not sentiment has been ex- ! nj. ssl ny made hat mony with, and clear endorsement of my own views and opinions, as entertained and published i to the world. in my message 10 the laS' Leglsla ] ture. 1 then expressed the same opinions and views touching tae future interest o Arkansas, the necessity for her to begin to move in the great work of Internal Improvements and her capablliiy ] to succeed-that you have heard avowed m a more able manner by many upon this floor, during Inc sitting of thls meeting.
 In my message l urged upon the Legislature, and the people of Arkansas. through her Repre- senatves, the importance of general system oi ] Internal Improvements and, although 1, at that l tune. failed to impteSs upon tbe peoples Repre- SentaveS the views then entertained, with SHfi eient force tD induce that honorable body to give them life and efficiency, by Legislative enactment, 1 yet l natier myself that something was effected
 towards preparing the pubic mind for future ac- ton
 found but few members of the last Legisla- I All were prepared 10 admit The absolute import.
 snce of system of Internal lmprovemen;s-that
 the proceeds o( the soc, GOO donation in
 tended 10 aud m the construction Of works oi this
 nature-and that the law, as 1t then existed, on
 he sta.ute book, was exceedingly defective, and
 would result ln no good o the people of the State. Yet this fund had been distributed ly proceed
 ing Legislature, in accordance, have no doubt.
 with the then entertained opinions of the people,
 aud no sufficient public manifestation m favor Of
 its repeal had been made by them. Under this
 state of the case maRy enlightened and pnblic-
 splrlted members of the LeglNatufe were unwil ling to repeal law with which they had heard no 1 very great dissatisfaction expressed.
 i The Legislature declined aching ln accordance with my recommendation 10 sepeal the whole law; vel they made some very wholesome amendments; and public opinion, and the views have heard expressed, have strongly indicated that the next ] LegSla ure Will be authorized, by the people. tO
 go much farther in gathering up and protecting
 that fudg, f indeed they will not be prepared to
 come gtI' tp the highest StandaFd reached by ,ie
 bodeSl among J
 IL fs sad that Arkansas, while her neighbors all
 around have been up and doIng. has done nothing, 1 thai, while other States, her nlefiorS m natural reSouFceS and advantages, by he application o
 art, science, energy and enterprise have gone faI
 ahead oi her, sIie has remalned stationary.
 In one point of view, this IS true. We have
 
 he who would bow his head in despair at this.
 knows but littie of the history of nations and states. ' There iS tune for all -thiHss. so VIC
 are informed. and the time has but just come when-we can engage, with reasonable hope oi success m the great work of laleTnai Improve n3eat.
 Arksnsas was admitted into the Union with an eNtenSHe- territory. but with small and sparse popa!alion, Her previous expenses. as Territory, had been deifayed by the general goxcrnment.-- on Ter admiSSton into the the Un0n, she had to assume lhiS burhen herself. Thus, without
 wealth or citizens, She was compelled to collect revenue sufficient to meet the expenses of State 1 Government, requiring as large an amount aS
 would 'be necessary tO defrsy the expenses of a Sale wrh ;eA times her wealth. and fifty tiBes
 her population. As consequence, she became | embarrassed with debt.
 ! Then, again, large proportion of her popuia- ! ton were ol that class who seek new country
 Tor IiS hntaihed woods, Its mountains, and It's wld i ahd unbG0Aen tJftstS. They fed from lher natN t l land, because they were ' er5icied," and the Shotling ol the roa hoTse disturbed ther qa,et md f'pase. Tdey were hunters and agIIcu4tuTalisls.
 b0s lew men ol commerce were found among them. Hence, tSi,roads. teiegraPbs. or other works oi
 improvement, were H0t thought of. This has been ! the -9Se ia every community upon it's lornalioe. i m greater or leSS degfee, There may have been another reason whi1h operated Teiard her m pfe pafing iGr thlS work. Communities, like indIvid- ua.S, 1beo too highly gifted by nature. scarcely ever de mach loT themselves. The ct1ild of for, tune FeSts satisfied with what the hand ol nature Las bestowed upon hun. He reaalns St5SiUnafy. whiie less gite individuals iaheI up to The point wliefe he began, and, by coainued iabuE. pass hun. S1' perhaps, Il may have been Siih Arkan
 saS--;le ehjd oi ioEtHne--notutc's iayorIte, upon wa0m sbe,hsS showeied every blessing, every lTes- snre, every baadlshTRent She has planted in Der aosom treasures that would enrteh watld. Gold, s1ivef lFon, lead, zinc, anu epery other rare or yaiaable mnefa, ore Of lorma.,cn. that have beea iaand psobtzo!e elsewhere; and many taat cannot De met wlth on thus continent. and iH but small quantities Ia the otheIs, abound with m pTofa- s'un. She has a soil that, by lis produeli:eness, Will enrieh every citizen within heF limits, lao will obey the Divine mandate. and :. Ia5r" and feed million ot those mSerable starving ersatuTes, who are famiShing ln less favoged laRk-and a climate, too that will ri,al Italy with her classic wales and sacred groyes--snd navigabe streams, located, as by The designing hand of Nature al regular and proper intervals. upon which the com neree of Datlous might hoat dIing great pofttOA