Washington telegraph., 1852-03-03


the people of the State, and the nation
and hold out brighter rainbow of hope of
our future destiny and the glory of our des-
cendants: and considering all these infuen-
ces, and many others, we settled down the
point opposite Memphis, for the terminus,
as standing far above all others, in promised
benefits to the State, to the people, and to
our race.
st. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans,
are the great converging centres, and
''fords, if l may use the expression, upon
the Mississippi river, Of the great Railroad
System, east of the river, which has now
progressed too far ever to be stayed or turn
ed aside by man. OF these great centres,
Memphis occupies position which must
make her emphatically the centre of tie
whole-if the Middle States and these
among and west Of the Rocky Mounts
are true to themselves. Her midway po-
sition, her mild climate, free from polar
SHOWS and torrid suns, on the bank /of the
great King Of Rivers whose head is white
with eternal frost and drives his trrbid cur
rent into the warm gulf of the "Sunny
South, D bearing untold millions Df wealth in
thousand argosies impelled by fire, and on
the most direct practical cross route for the
iron-hOrse, between the old continents of
the world; she must in time become great
commercial city possibly gut rival both of
her older sisters-a great central CITY,
And by means Of our Central RaiIroad,
to be extended hereafter by Texas to the
Rio Grande at or near IEl Paso, and finally
through California to the Pacific Ocean, we,
with her, obtain tie direct trade of the
isles OF the sea- of the gorgeous East
and Arkansas now an outpost, not only be-
comes central and one of the first States
OF the Union, but stands with her adjoining
sisters in the valley Of the Mississippi on
mld-earth, the seat and the heart Of popu-
latlon, wealth, p over, and civilization.
This Great Highway to the Pacific has
long been r,roject dear to the hearts of
most Of the thinking men of Arkansas
and nume ,rous delegation from all parts
Of the State, some two years since, held
at Mempb IS, at the instance of Arkansas,
and amorig them talented representation
from lie lena and its vicinity were vith-
out q single dissenting yoice, urgently
IN fav or Of Memphis as the starting point
of this Highway. Upon this ground alone,
then, the committee mi ght we'll have con-
slr,ered themselves as instructed to make
t'demphis the terminus. A road running
westward from Helena never can be ma
tional:, although highly beneficial as an i'm
portant local road 1t would have no di-
rect connection with the railroads east of
the river, but could only connect soith the
river: and consequently never could afford
all Arkansas the same facilities of the
Memphis road
The road to Memphis would not only
take you to the Mississippi rirer, and
to a city already Furnishing good cotton
market but when there, sir, you can either
90 up or down the river, as well as you
could from Helena and not only this but,
as soon as their railroads are completed,
now in progress, and concentrating at
Memphis, you can run in a short time to
any Of the southern, eastern, middle, or
northern cities, on the Atlantic or else
where All of the States and cities in
the Union are thus brought to our door.
Instead, then, of being made tributary to
! Memphis, as my friend from Saline sup
poses it is possible we might, the road there
makes us perfectly Independent: we can
sell our produce, and purchase our supplies
there, If ace ch00se-but if we do not, or
can do better elsewhere, we can run down
to New Orleans, up to st. Louis, Louis
vile, or Cincinnati, or across on railroad,
with the speed of the swift-winged Albo-
rae, to Mobile, Charleston, Savannah, Nor
folk, Baltimore, New York or Boston,
Does this look like paying tribute to Mem
phis? Memphis will only be the door to
let us out Of our prison-house, to range
abroad, in the wide world, and enjoy It's
blessings or Gull its bounties, as inclina-
ton or interest may dictate 1t will for
ever destroy all such monopoly as we now,
to some extent, groan under Is it not
true, that, tied down to New Orleans, as
we are now, advantages are taken of our
position, by combination, and by way of
freishts, commissions, brokerage, and a
score Of ct ceter0S our planters are taxed
from 15 to 80 per cent. on the sales of
their cotton, and other produce! If so,
let us cut the ''Gordian knot, F." and pass over
beyond the clutches of monopoly. [ speak
in no unkind feeling towards New Orleans
[ have many friends there; and have receiv-
ed much kindness at their hands | should
glory in her prosperity, her wealth, and her
greatness; and may she 60 upward and on
ward But it will do her no harm to cut
loose some of the strings of exaction and
monopoly, and let all others in, where she
alone now reigns supreme. The city cannot
; be injured by curtailing the power of only
one particular class Of her denizens; more
liberal men may succeed them. Besides,
if my friend has such dread of being tri;-
butary, [ would ask him if we are not
now paying heavy toll to New Orleans?--
Run your o1kY road to Helena, and you in