Washington telegraph., 1852-08-18
Address of A. Pike, ESD,
Before the Rail Road Convention,
At Little Rock, july s, 1852

y Mr.. PREsIDENT-The Convention has
IGonored me by requesting that l should
read the charter of the Arkansas Central
Railroad, reported by the committee on
charters, and explain its provisions. l
should comply with pleasure; but L have
Just received more imperative mandate
from higher authority There has come
to me message from the starry regions, re-
quirng of me, in general terms, a speech
upon the objects of this convention. I bow
to the only despotism that exists in a republic.
I will confess, sir, that this more authori-
tative mandate tallies better with my pres
ent humor and inclinations than the former.
There are some things that I wish to saw
to this convention, which could not we'll, by
any species of legerdemain be made to fall
within the meaning of the phrase, :'explan-
atoms OF the charter I will not read that
instrument, because, by the constitution,
cruel and unusual punishments are not to
be inflicted, especially on the softer sex;
and because it is wholly unnecessary. 1t is
charter the object whereof is the building,
maintaining, and working Railroad from
point on the Mississi ppi river opposite
the city of Memphis, in the State of Ten
nessee, by some proper and convenient
point on White river, to Little Rock, and
thence, by point on Red river, at or near
Fulton, to the Texas line, at such point as
shall be most proper to connect with the
road through northwestern Texas, contem-
pated by our neighbors of that State.
These are its objects, and most of it's pro-
visions are the merely ordinary and formal
ones designed to carry out these objects,
and copied literally from charters in
louisiana for similar roads, and under
similar law. There are but two or
three peculiar features, needing any explain
alton whatever, and these features will nat
uraIly come to be considered in the course
Of the remarks which [ mean to make to
the convention; so that by the time l con-
cude, without setting to work formally to
comment on the charter, | shall have explain
ed fully all IN it that really needs any ex.
phnaton.
Mr.. President, |, like yourself, have not
come to this convention for the purpose of
taking. The time has arrived when the
shall | now undertake to demonstrate the
evils under which we labor for want of
cheap and speedy means of reaching the
markets, the enormous tax which we are
paying by way of transportation, the small
value OF our lands as result of this heavy
tax our purchasing in the dearest and sell
ing In the cheapest markets: nor as little, the
vast pecuniary benefit that system of rail
Jioad5 would confer upon our State. If the
people OF Arkansas are not by this time
satisfied as to all that they would not be sat
kled though one rose from the dead. We,
al least, who have come together here, are
atShed that this great primary road ought
to be built. We of Arkansas are ready to
adopt as our motto, "Emigration, Starva-
tt'", or Railroads." The only question
Tor US is, the hOw:-cam the road be built,
and houo can it be done?
Here again, will not trespass on the
DOMAIN OF the committee of wavs and
means. | no more intend to discuss our
pecunlary ability to build the road, than its
nGe.ceSslty-its indispensable necessity to any
'.alns worth being called an existence, in
Arkansas.
What propose to consider are those OBJ
Eaces to the building of this road, existing
III Arkansas, other than the narrowness OF
Of pecunlary means: obstacles springing
Out OF the habits of thought and the unfor-
'unate dispositions Of mind of her people,
Snd which must be removed, (as [ believe
ley can be removed,) before this or any
UIaer great work can be commenced with
ue least prospect of success.
on this subject | shall speak very frank
ana IN words as plain as possible. We
oil Know, MIR. President, that our State is
Nof' and that her people are poor. But
We are rich enough to build this road, if we
Ian get out of our way these other stumb-
mug blocks and obstacles which have hither-
:" STOOD IN the way of all public improve
fnsI ns1' and caused the squandering of all the
.ulls and means with which the liberalitv
the General government has attempted
10 endow us.
lou, Sir, and the other members of this
.On'entlon who have so honored us as to
sOuie here from other States, will no doubt
- ,nat these must be sore evils, to have
nf I'ou 50 long and pertinacously in the way
We've VI everything like improvement and ad-
,b fbdlcement n They are indeed-sorer evils
n Lan War; Pestilence and Famine. But
ey on exist. We cannot ignore their exist
ouo uVe' We cannot slip by them, shut we
and and eyes never so closely; and it is useless
ou onu worse than useless for us to come here,
ol gather together elsewhere, and frame
snale al'ers and pass resolutions and make
p;s''nes' unless we commence and deter
tboso % % continue putting out of our way
EtI obstacles and barricades, which have
~1erto resisted all efforts.
mv;..! NJ numerous are they, that, lest might
ag'ungly H.. omit any one, have made here
N' ol them In such order as thew come