The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-01-15

al
t'ia as a9
rive no personal benefit from the elteIpI Sc
Terms of alibera aracle l,a,e besn oiief
Eed py the Legislature to any private conpa
ny who would undertake epmplete til
road And from The fact that no offer ha
been made upon the terms proposed, would
suggest TIE pFopriety 81 holding out still
lgreater Inducements, ia order t. have thi
road completed biz individual enterprise.
The subject Of Internal Improvements
generally, Is ut this time claiming lara,
share Of public attention, not onlg ii this
but N most Of the States of the Union.
The Constitutional power Of the Genera
IGoverninent to make improvements within
the States IS asubjcct that has long beer
agitated IN the Halls Of Congress, and con
stitutgs ono q the principal features upor
which the two great parties Of the country
are dlylledat the present time. The senti
lnent Of large portion of the American
people being opposed to the exercise of such
power BY gongressj throws upon the State
governments the necessity of aiding their
citizens, rs tar as is convenient aud practi.
rcabeatO dose, in constructing such works 81
internal improvement as may have a tenden-
cy develope the agricultural resources, and
promote the commerce of the country. We,
very properly, deny to the General Govern
ment the right Of exercising any powers not
clearly delegated in the Constitution, and
perhaps no power has ever been claimed by
Congress so liable to abuse as the one under
consideration, whereby large sums Of money
may be drawn from the pockets Of the peo-
pie, to be squandered upon schemes calcula-
ted to corrupt the States and-control the pat
ronage of the Government, 0r.for the crea-
ton Of a great national debt, thereby impo-
sing upon country the necessity Of high
protective tariffs, for the.purpOse Of hquida-
ting it, and building up the manufacturing,
at the expense of4the agricultural and com-
mercial interests Of the country.
But whilst cur safety as "a sovereign State
consists in firm opposition to the exercise
of any such powers upon the part of the
Federal Government, we should at the same
time remember that the duty Of providing
for the wants of the country by liberal
but judicious system Of internal improve
ments is imperative upon the State govern
ment
1t has been but few years since the first
railroad was constructed in this country, and
then, for the want Of experience, and the
high price of materials, it was considered of
doubtful expedicncy. But time and repeat
ed experiments have tested their great utili-
ty; until now, there are upwards of ten
thousand miles Of railroad, built at a cost of
more than 300,00D,000 of dollars, in sue
cessful operation, in the various States of the
Union, and perhaps half as many more
miles projected and in the course of construc-
ton. They traverse regions of country
heretofore considered as worthless, in conse-
quencc OF their remotencSs from market, de-
vcloping their agricultural and mineral re-
sources, and giving to them a value equal to
the most favored regions, by bringing a mar
ket for their produce almost to the door of
the producer, and by affording the facilities
for transportation with speed, safety and e
economy, they invite emigration to the coun-
try, adding immensely to the value Of real
estate; causing tlounsling towns and villa
gcs to spring up as by magic IN the wilder
ness, promoting the convenience and increas-
ing the commerce and adding TO the wealth
of the people, at the same time cnriching
the Golfers of the State. Nor have railroads
had less decided or beneficial tendency in
building up manufactures by affording the
means of supplying the raw material at a
diminished cost, and Of distributing the
same, when manufactured, to the consumers
in every part of the State | need scarcely
dwell upon the great importance Of having
our staple products manufactured in our own
borders, thereby saving to the people Of the
State, the vast amount now paid by them to
support the labor of other countries, as well
as the cost Of transportation, insurance, com
missions, exchanges and profits, all Of which
are paid by the consumer. There is no good
reason why the peoplcof Mississippi should
rely upon other States to furnish them Will
the cotton and woollen goods which they
consume, when the materials out of which
they arc manufactured, are so abundant Al
home, or look to other countries for supple.
Eof shoes, hats, caps, paper, saddlcry, furni
ture, carriages, &c, &c, when by opening
railroad communications with New Orleans
Mobile, Savannah, and Charleston, the ma
terials as well as the machinery used in the
manufacture, may be 50 easily conveyed int
the State, and the profits of the labor, a
well as the incidental expenses be saved t
the country. Surely there has been no pre-
vious timei in our history, when the Soutle err
States shouly use all the means at their CON
mand, or struggle as earnestly to make them
selves independent of those who seek to dc
stroy our institutions, whilst they are grow
ing rich upon the proceeds Of our labor, an
there is no other means by which that ca
be accomplished more readily than cntcrin
upon well digested scheme Of internal in
Iproyements, granting to our planting an
commercial interests, all the facilities to |
derived from the meansof intor-communici
ton with our sister States Of the Seutl
and cheap access, to those points Whei
our great staple finds the best market, b
building manufactures in cur own Stat
} and by opening q direct trade between II
Southern ports and the markets Of Enrep
2 Osher Southern States haze progressed ral
: idly in their march to Independence by c.
-fpending large sums in the construction
railroads, and giving proper ene0uragemel
t to induce their citizens to establish Inannfa
: tories, and already the enhanced yalueof the
property, and the additions made thereby
The wealth, happiness and contentInent
y their citizcns, haze fully demonstrated q
Z wisdom of their policyj md Mississippi
:, with population as Intelligent, and bless
y with as many resources as thc p9pulatlon
9 any other State, should not be found laggil
!! behind he spirito the ACC, on permit b
sister states to oatstTip her. ina contest t