Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-05-22
NEAR NASHVILLE, April 80, 1852.

NEAR NASHVILLE, April 80, 1852.
| GENTLEMEN -
received your invitation 10 attend general
railroad convention TO be assembled al Florence,
on the lst Monday Of May next
| Absolutely prohibited by my other engage
ments from being there, can only assure you
Of my thorough and cordial sympathy in the ob,
| Iects Of your meeting. These are expressed by
you to be, "to consult and deliberate upon the
magnificent railroad system Of the South and
| West" Magnificent il is indeed Magnificent
in the great results, politically, commercially
and socially, which it is destined TO effect
Heretofore, we have been connected with the
world only through the uncertain and partial nav
igation of our rivers now we are about to open
up communications, which mock at the slow pro-
nress of all former modes. But, do not hail
the coming revolution so much for the increased
facilities for gaining riches, as do for the i'm
provement which il will give in our moral and
social relations. When the proposed railways
shall have been completed, we shall have be-
come a eontenled and settled people. Conten-
ted with our homes, with our farms, with our
own respective regions of country. How is this
now, and how has it been for years All the
while we have been dreaming Of other countries
Arkansas, Texas, and California have been
running in our heads, and we have hardly had
the heg. tc h1jld up institutions Of learning, TO
erect churches, and TO make other establish
ments essential to our intellectual and social
condition Underthe probability that we should
move of 10 some new country soon, we have
put aside many applications for the above purpo
ses. When, however, we have the facilities
which all these railways promise, who in Ala
bama, Tennessee, or Northern Mississippi,
would think of ofexchanging his own for any other
country on the globe Who especially Of the
valley of the Tennessee, would even dare TO
complain of his own heaven favored land
You further speak Of its being the object Of
your Convention, ''more especially to take into
consideration the construction of the entire rail.
road communication from Louisville and Cincin.
nah by way Of Nashville and New Orleans
am sure il was by mere casualty, that your own
beautiful city on the Gulf your Gully seaport was
omitted. To connect the great commercial in.
teresis ofthe North and South, is Of great impor~
tance, but that connection need not be with
New Orleans alone. Mobile has her claims,
also. and connection with her would likewise IN.
crease the happy influences to which you aludc.
The purpose of "harmonzing the common sym
pahes Of the respective sections OF our great
conlederacy" will be hest promoted by a con-
nectOn with as manv important termini as pos
sibe. ! seize on this doubtless unintional omis-
sion, not for any idle purpose Of criticism, but to
keep alive in the public mind, the importance Of
not overlooking our connection with Mobile
She has the Second best harhor On the Gulf Of
Mexico, that of Pensacola only exec Hing it,
She lies fronting out upon the Island Of Cuba
Between her ard Havana, halflhe commerce OF
the world is destined to pass. Steamships and
sail vessels Of every nation in the world, will be
daily and almost hourly passing almost in sight
of her, bearing the trade aud commerce Of the
Asiatic continent 10 all civilized countries. Two
railways will soon be- complete, aud probably
ship-chanDel across lhe i.lGuus, which will
make the Gulfof Mexico cmphaiically the high.
way Of all nations. TO open quick and cafe
commun icaiion with such highway, ought TO
be an object never 10 be lost sight Of 10 have
two communications with il, by road TO Mobile
and New Orleans both, would not be more than
the magnitude of the gfeai interest involved i'm.
perously demands. The citizens Of North Ala.
bama set out originally 10 open q communication
with the Mississippi river. Before they could
accomplish this. Mobile sends ~ her great road
to the mouth Of the Ohio, go as to give them the
choice of three markets, tha; Of Memphis, New
Orleans and Mobile, Ia sending "p that road,
Mobile was not insensible 10 the interest Of
North Alabama. She ordered branch 10 be
surveyed from the neigeborhood Of Jacinio 10
the Tennessee river between Hamburg and the
State line, expressly to meet any road that
might connect with il there from Nashville or
Florence, or from both The recent difficulty
which has taken place in locating the Memphis
and Charleston road through the State Of Miss
ssipp, presents a fine opportunity for Florence
10 participate fully in the benefits of not, only
that road but with that Of the Mobile by direct
connections. The location Of the Memphis and
Charleston road altogs within tie State Of
Tennessee. as far as B.. l.e Tennessee river,
would give it the State a.. $4,000 per mile,
and f-lly compensate for any loss Of the Missis-
sippi subscription, which ighi be sustained by
such location. The expense Of crossing the
river could be equally divided between that and
the Mobile road. The point ol crossing might
be agreed on as near the State line ferry az
practicable, so as 10 suit The convenience Of both
roads. From the point oi crossing, The Mem
phis and Charleston road could be extended on
10 the town Of Florence. thence 10 Tuscumbia-
and thence precisely on the route heretofore Sc.
lecied. Such location Of the road would give
10 Tuscumbia and Florence. not only the iul
benefit Of a connection with Memphis and Mo-
bile, but with New Orleans, through any road
that may hereafter be made from the latter city
iniersecting with the Mobile road at any point
whatever This would make the interest Of
Florence and Tuscurnbia joubly secure. For i
New Orleans. should hereafter make road from
Jackson. Mississippi. Aberdeen. direct 10 those
places, which ] sincerely hope she may do. sill
the making ofihe Memphis and Charleston road
as here Indicated could not fail TO be eminenty
uscfli 10 bofh ofthem d shoaIld Be Iemembered