Washington telegraph., 1852-07-14

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conferred upon me. / have only to say,
that / shall attempt the discharge of the
duties devolving upon me with fidelity and
to my brethren Of the conven-
tion We have been called together to con-
suit truly and honestly with each other as
to the acayS and means Of connecting, by
railroad communication, the Mississippi riv-
er with that immense and fertile country
laying upon the Red River above the raft.
1t would be useless for me to detain you by
feeding your fancy upon the mighty results
to oar own section of the Southwest, GER
tainly attendant upon the accomplishment
of this great work. 1t is enough for us to
know that we have come up to this meeting
to work, and not to talk The stern reali-
ties of figures are better suited to the cause
of our assembling together, than are any Of
the flowers of fancy or bursts of oratory.
This much | however think it necessary
to say, that coming, as | do, among you a
delegate from the northern portion of Tex
as, we tender to you, provided you can fall
upon any plan to construct the road through
the State of Arkansas, the transportation
to market of the products of one of the
richest agricultural countries now under the
sun. A country of vast extent, and though
really but a short distance from you at pre-
sent, as disconnected from want of commu-
nication as if they lay at the foot of the ST.
ERA Nevada. A country Astounding in all
the products of the Southern and Western
Estates, where corn, cotton, wheat, oats, and
tobacco, grow luxuriantly in the same eli
mate and in the same soil A country ex-
tending from your own Southern border be-
tween the Red River and the Sulphur Fork,
westward in direct line to the Ell Passo
idel Norte. The trade of this region we
'offer you, and pledge ourselves to continue
your great work westward. This conven-
|tion will determine whether, at present, it is
practicable for Arkansas to complete the
road through her territory. The solution
|of this is perhaps the most important ques-
|tion she has ever been called upon to de-
|cide.
Gentlemen, again l thank you, and ask
;of you that you kindly look over all errors
that [ may commit, and beg of you that you
will unite with me in my earnest endeavors
for the harmony and good feeling which |
ihope will characterize us in our delibera-
|tions.
Mr. Gholson, from the committee ap-
pointed to determine the mode of voting,
made the following report;
Nh. PRESIDENT: The committee appoint
led to determine the mode of voting, recon-
Imend
That each State represented in this con-
|vention, except Arkansas, cast one vote, to
be determined by its delegation, and given
by such member as they may select
That the counties between White River
land Memphis give one vote: the counties
between the Arkansas and White River,
with Pulaski county, one vote; the counties
between the Arkansas River and Red River
lone vote; the Southeastern counties one
vote; the Northern counties one vote; and
the Western counties one vote; and the
counties on the Mississippi, below Critten-
den, one vote. The delegation from each
such district voting by such member as they
shall select
THOS. GHOLSON, Chairman.
Which was read and adopted
Capt. Pike of Arkansas, introduced the fol-
lowing resolutions
ResolUcd. That the following standing
committees be appointed by the President,
to act during the session of the Convention:
lst. A COMMITTEE on Routes, to be
of two members from the State
of Louisiana two from the city of Memphis,
two from Helena, two from the counties in
Arkansas east of White river, two from Pu-
laski county and the counties between the
Arkansas and White rivers, two from the
counties between the Arkansas and Red
Rivers, two from the southeastern, two from
the western, and two from the northern
counties of Arkansas, and two from the
State of Texas: To which committee all
and propositions in regard to the
Routes after being read, shall be referred.
I'd A Commite on Ways and Means.
to be composed of nine members, three from
Tennessee, three from Texas, and three
from Arkansas, to whom shall be referred
the consideration of the ways and means for
building the Roads proposed by the commit
tee on Routes and all resolutions in regard
thereto
Sd. a Committee on lIensOrlalS and
Resolutions, to be composed of two mem
bers from Louisiana, two from Tennessee,
five from Arkansas, and two from Texas ::
to whom shall be referred the subject of
the Legislatures of said States,
in regard to the proposed roads, and whose
duty it shall be to prepare the proper men,
orials, and addresses for the Convention.
4th. A COMMITTEE on Charters, to whom
all drafts of charters, and all propositions
in regard thereto shall be submitted and re-
ferred, to consist of two members from Lou
isiana, two from Tennessee, two from Tex
as, two from the counties of Arkansas east