Washington telegraph., 1852-04-21
The Railroad Bill.

In this work-a-day life and age OF ours,
engaged, as we are, in the never-ceaslng
struggle for the thousand and one glittering
objects of our eager desire, it is not surpri-
sing that self-interest should become the
ruling principle Of our actions, and lead US
to the accomplishment of our own peculiar
aims, regardless of the views and feelings,
perhaps, the just and lawful claims Of 9TH
ers.
We beg the pardon of our readers for
uttering truism SO ancient and common
place as the above. Our only apology is,
that it was the first and most prominent
thought suggested to our mind on reading
the editorial which our worthy coastrere OF
the ''Arkansaw Traveller gave us last
week, upon the Railroad bill introduced
in the Senate by Maj Borland. We Go
not presume to call in question the right
nor the propriety of our contemporary to
fight skilfully and manfully for his favorlte
route to Gaines Landing, but we would
humbly suggest that, in our opinion, he has,
in the last view with which we have been
favored, ::cut it little too fat" A bill
has passed the Senate, which provides most
literally for the construction OF the great
Central Road, stretching from our extreme
Southwestern border diagonally across the
State, thereby perfecting necessary and
most important link in the great chain that
is to unite us with the bustling world be-
yond the Mississippi river. Unfortunately
for our Ouachita friends, Camden does not
lie in the route of this great work, the only
one that is at all practicable, and likely to be
accomplished within the present generation.
Hence the expression of hope on the part
of our friend of the Traveller, - that the
bill, conferring upon our State such liberal
and generous aid towards the improvement
of her domain and the prosperity OF her
people, may be signally defeated in the
House.
Within the past few months we have had
frequent opportunities OF ascertaining the
general sentiments of this community upon
this subject, and we do not hesitate to affirm
that it is the unanimous opinion that the
road through Little Rock to Memphis is the
one for which preference is felt, and the
only one which can, with any prospect Of
success, claim our support. We are, there
fore, heart and mind, enlisted in the cause.
We cannot, for one moment, be diverted
from our purpose, to listen to the specious
arguments SO plausibly put, as to the great
superiority of the Camden route nor can
we be dragooned by the opposition Of our
Southern friends, or the failure of the pres
ent bill, into an abandonment of our pre-
ference or a reluctant support Of an I'M
practicable work A more particular and
candid review of the subject will enable our
worthy cotemporary to see, that although
Camden may not, by the completion of this
central road, be, at once, elevated into the
rank and position Of an important city, yet
the State of Arkansas with this liberal gift Of
four millions of dollars, will be enabled to
rouse herself from the long and idle slumber
in which she has been almost hopelessly sunk
by the misrule of factious demagogues, and
create for herself future more worthy Of
the pride and regard of her sons, as it will
be guarded by the memory of past errors,
and the experience of many and sad re-
verses. New life and vigor Will be inf1as-
ed into every species of employment, and
be felt and enjoyed by every portion of the
State, no matter how remote from the line
Of road, nor how apparently little interest
ed in its construction.
The great central road will become a vast
artery, passing through the entire State in
its greatest length, sending out from either
side, in rich and rapid currents, streams Of
generous ife-blood, to warm and vivify, and
convert into active joyous life, what is now
but wretched and effete vegctation.
THE ELECTION IN ST. LoUIs-Gre at
Riots.-The day of the election in St. Lou
/ I q L