Washington telegraph., 1852-03-03
VOL. XII.
speech of Coz. A. Fowler,

a Mr.. PRESIDENT, AND GENTLEMEN OF THI
l<CoNvENTIoN: 1t had not been my purpose
4 to address you, on the present occasion, mol
would | now, after the able and satisfactory
discourse of the experienced gentleman from
Tennessee, but from the fact of the resolu
ton of my friend from Saline, which seems
to question the propriety of the terminus Of
the Central Rallroad, on the Mississippi,
| adopted by the Permanent Committee, and
his remarks which | feel sure were not die
tated by any unkind motive; but in their
tendency are calculated to throw distrust up
on their action, and to question their author
ity under the resolutions of the former con-
vention at this place, as well as to call upon
them for defence OF their course. Then,
as one Of that committee. though had hoped
that some other would have performed the
office, it becomes Inc, with your kind indul-
gence, to give at least some Of the reaSO2as
acithin us for our faith and acts.
And first, as to want Of authority to do
what we have done, it would be a waste Of
time to say single word further than to
refer to the resolutions themselves, under
which we acted. They were our commits
sion; and declared it to be 'of vital import
ance to the prosperity Of the whole people
of Arkansas, that railr0ad be established
| from the seat of Government to some elgi-
bic point on the Mississippi river, as soon as
practicable, cO1s11ectlpg us ac5th our sister
States, and with the great Southern empo
rum, to be extended thereafter from the
| 10 4ho of tbn Sto+o -
I &c, and directed us to take ''steps for the
location and construction OF such road from
Little Rock to White River, and if deemed
expedient' thereafter 'to be extended to
the Mississippi" And to open books Of
subscription Tor stock, &C., &C., and to organ
ize company, &c, &C.
Now under these powers conferred by the
convention upon the permanent committee,
challenge human ingenuity and ability to
point cut Il departure from their scope and
spirit: literal adherence in such cases, is
never expected-nothing but an honest ex-
ecution Of their intent, according TO circum-
stances and broad survey Of the whole
field of action. -
The only point upon which the committee
concciyes tnat a material deviation has been
made from their commission, is the location
and extension Of the Central Road from
Little Rock to FuLt0a and the Texan boun-
dairy: and has any man, woman, or child ev
er complained OF this! If so, the sound has
not fallen upon my ears And can any
harm possibly result from this extension,
to the STATE OF its people! | think not; but
on the other hand much good, and in favor
Of which the universal satisfaction with
which this part Of our labors has been re-
ceved, speaks volumes And part Of the
motives lmp9liilg the committee to this ex-
tension, as well as to the extension to the
Mississippi, and the organization of this
company Itself, is to be found In the fact
that one Of our Senators in Congress par
tlcipated with us in the former convention,
and cautioned us then and afterwards that
ull4ss company was incorporated fring
tie linz Of tie rOad, he thought it would
be extremely difficult, if at all practicable,
for US to obtain a grant Of lands from the
| Uniiel States Government, and that with
out such action on our part his exertions
would be greatly paralized: and besides, the
t0nger and more important our line OF road
might be, the greater would be It's claims to
a grant of land, and the greater also the
grant itself, if Congress should act towards
us in that spirit of muniicence and justice
which it has extended to other States in
the construction of their railroads.
But the principal if not the only objec-
ton, mentioned by my friend from Saline,
Is, that we have selected point opposite to
Memphis for the eastern terminus of the
road-and not Helena: and he has given us
some plausible arguments, in favor of his
present preference for the latter point, some
OF which, on account OF my great respect
Tor HIM and his judgment as well as in
justice to the committee and the subject
l'self, 1t Is my purpose now to notice.
His estimate OF the expense of construc
Ion, and the difference In the length of t'ne
wo routes seems to me clearly to be for.nd
I'd upon erroneous premises, if [ under stand
correctly his statistics 1t is deemed cor.
ect, as he stated, that the line rom this
Place to Helena, would be about 10 miles
at the line to Memphis wo aid not be 16C
Piles as he supposes,-ms.k king, difference
about 80 miles. TIE present road te
le,mphs is only fra ;tion over $50 miles
laklng several Considerable "elbows;'
nlch when brou ght to direct line, Oh
nearly direct q S it can be, the distance
LII be reduced 10 about 130 miles, in rounc
umoers'-ma King it only about 20 mile
nSer than a road to Helena. The differ
ice In the cost and time of tramsporta
on over this excess of about 20 miles o
tWr9ad with almost telegraphic speed
u,1 i1 s. ,arcely be worth computing, no
'ula che additional expense of construc
u When compared with the immense ad
~ II. 4ges, some of which [ will call your at
Ion to before [ am done, both in ;
Me ~ and National aspect, which roat