Southern shield., 1852-05-29

| "'H0 tiic county IS dlilOSl d u6d
 level, presenting route as favorable fo
 the construction of railroad as can b. found, perhaps, in the United States. w. can say nothng in respect to the characte ol the swamp opposite Helena: but we i'm agIne that il presents no greater difficulties than tEe lew ground on both sides of tht Ohio, at Calo.
 The principal difficulty to be overcome in this, as in the accomplishment of all grea works in CT country, is that of raising the money required 10 carry on its construction
 Were such work as a railroad from St
 Louis to New Orleans proposed by single city or State, it's accomplishment might we'll be regarded with distrust; but when we divide the building of $50 miles of rail. road between four States, the magnitude oI the enterprise diminishes to proportions that might encourage the most tmid 10 embark 1 in 1t.
 The railroad now in contemplation from New Orleans to Jackson, and thence to Holly Springs, Mississippi, which in time will doubles. be built, will probably pass within forty niles of Helena, and it cannot be doubted tlat the owners of that road would makea branch to the Mississippi, opposite Hehna, in case railroad should be made iron St. Louis to that point That would leave about 275 miles to be constructed ty Arkansas and Missouri A work about equal in magnitude to the Pa ciflc railroad rom St. Louis to the Western boundary of he State. By the people of Missouri this enterprise is to be regarded in two-fold view; first, as a local work calculated 10 develop the resources of the State by giving encouragement to agricul- ture, mining. and manufactures; and, second, as project calculated to produce a revou- ton in the present commercial system of the valley O. the Mississippi, which will se- cure 10 this region the benefits of the boundIess wtaIth provided by the Creator for the enjoyment of its inhabitants. As a local work penetrating the mineral district ot southeastern Missouri, 1t would be the means of bringing into active and extensive usefulness the ores Of the Iron Mountain and Pilot ht0b,-among the richest and most abundant deposits of iron which has been discovered Hpon the face of the globe l These locaIconsiderations are ofthpnrSalvns sufficient ote might suppose, tU induce the people Of Missouri 10 lay hold on this work with a will tha would insure it's accomplish ment in the sIortest time consistent with a prudent ecOnmy in respect to it's conStruc- ton. But thSe considerations are lost 10 | the mind who we contemplate the infinite 1 benefits that nay flow from work that will bring $. Louis within twenty-four hours travel New Orleans. Such a work would be thmeans of tabshng the com merce of thse two cities upon a basis that would infus. new principles into the econ- omv of the Suthern and Western States of this great alley, and secure a degree of prosperity tht would astonish the civilized
 world.
 Construct his road, and the gardens and orchards of te South will furnish our ta-
 5les with the aliest vegetables and fruits of that region The Gulf and inland waters
 will supply ar markets with many varie-
 ties of fish ad fowl, all fresh in their prop CT season; vile the substantial commodi-
 ties of the Drth will reach our Southern
 friends "i,iii ".;i,,!i ore regularity than now, and in better conition. h2d thus communi- tv of physica enjoyments, established De- tween the nCh and the south, will give
 rise to community of sentiment; and in-
 stead of theprejudices heretofore existing
 the inhabitats of the entire country wat
 cred by theMississippi will be united as
 one family, common bond sympathy.
 This is nc day dream, produced at will
 and fashiond to please the fancy. It is in the power the people of Missouri and | c irbh n a tablish the rincipal fact-a railroad from St. Louis toNew Oreans-and then the benefits to with we have alluded, physical and social, mst follow as natural and cer- ? tain consedUnces.
 We oppce no argument to the cOnstruc- ton of raibads in an Eastern and Western : direction. Such improvements will be n highly usel in connection with a system | extending on north to south but it must f be obvious s.o every ref1ecting mind that V they canne in the nature of things, pro- duce eithethe physical or social benefits Q which road leading from north to south j. are calculad to impart.
 Commen and travel from east to west Il neither ex,ange the products of the south V for those dhe north. nor bring the inhabi- ,e ,ants of dhent climates into social inter
 course.
 l. And, hele, we conclude that no politica is compromiscan remove existing prejudices Id and estabh sympathy between the people ,e of the No1ern and Southern States, upor D. permanentrounds, so long as the princi off pal curren of commerce continne to flow a in an east0 and western direction. The ut sympathyvhich springs from social inter e. course ano community ot interests con ne stitutes thbond which binds free people ve together lder one government. Thl he bond is singer than written constitutions of and legislre enactments. Upon this de