Southern standard., 1852-01-17

y is at this time claiming large share of public
attention, not only in this, but in most of the States
of the Union
4 The Constitutional power of the General Gov
ernment to make Improvements within the States
is subject that has long been agtated in the Halls
Iof Congress, and constitutes of the principal
features upon which the two great parties of the
country are divided at the present time. The SEN
timent of large portion of the American people
being opposed to the exercise of such power BY
Congress- throws upon the State Governments the
necessity of aiding their citizens, far is con-
lyenlent and practicable to do so, in constructing
such works Of internal Improvement as may have
tendency to deyelope the agricultural resources,
and promote the commerce Of the country, We,
very properly, deny to the General Government
the right of exercising any powers not clearly del
egated IN the Constitution, and perhaps no power
has ever been claimed by Congress so liable to
abuse as the one under consideration, whereby
large sums of money may be drawn from the
pockets of the people, to be squandered upon
schemes calculated to corrupt the States and con
troll the patronage of the Government or the crea-
tioh of great national debt, thereby imposing
upon the country the necessity of high protective
tariffs, for the purpose of iquidating it, and build
ing up the manufacturing, at the expense of the
agricultural and commercial interests of the coun-
try
I But whilst our safety as a sovereign State con-
sists in a firm opposition to the exercise of any
such powers upon the part Of the Federal Govern
ment we should at the same time remember that
the duty of providing for the wants of the country
by liberal, but judicious system of internal i'm
provements, is imperative upon the State govern
ment
1t has been but a few years since the first rail-
road constructed in this country, and then from
the want of experience, and the high price of ma
tenals, it was considered of doubtful expediency.
But time and repeated experiments have tested
their great utility; until now, there are upwards
of ten thousand miles of railroad built at cost
of more than 10000 600 of dollars, in success
full operation in the various States Of the Union,
and perhaps half as many more miles projected
and IN the course of construction. They traverse
regions of country heretofore considered as worth
less, IN consequence of their remoteness from
market, developing their agricultural and mineral
resources and giving to them a value equal to the
most favored regions by bringing a market for
their produce almost to the door of the producer,
and by afording the facilities for transportation
with speed, safety and economy, they invite emf
grafton to the country, adding immensely to the
value of real estate; causing hourishlng towns
and villages to spring up as by magic in the will
deness, promoting the convenience and increas-
ing the commerce and adding to the wealth of the
people, at the same time enriching the Golfers of
the State. Nor have railroads had a less decided
or beneficial tendency in building up manufacto-
ries by affording the means of supplying the
material at diminished cost, and of distributing
the same, when manufactured, to the consumers
in every part of the State. l need scarcely dwell
upon the great importance of having staple
products manufactured in our own borders, there
by saving to the people of the State, the vast a
mount now paid by them to support the labor of
other countries, as well as the cost of transporta
ton, Insurance. commissions, exchanges and pro-
fits all of which are paid by the consumer. There
is no good reason why the people of Mississippi
should rely upon other States to furnish them with
the cotton and wooden goods which they consume,
when the materials out of which they are manu-
factured are so abundant at home or look to other
countries for supplies of Shoes hats caps, paper,
saddlery, furniture, carriages, DC, &C., when by
opening railroad communications with New Or
leans, Mobile, Savannah and Charleston, the ma
terials we'll as the machinery used in their man
ufacture may be so easily conveyed into the State,
and the profits of the labor as well as the Incl
dental expenses be saved to the country. Surely
there has been no previous time IN our history,
when the Southern States should use all the means
at their command, struggle so earnestly to make
themselves independent Of those who seek to de-
stroy our institutions, whilst they are growing
rich upon the proceeds of our labor, and there is
no other means by which that can be accomplish
ed more readily than entering upon well digest
ed scheme of internal improvements, granting to
our planting and commercial interests, all the fa
cties to be derived from the means of intercom-
munication with our sister States of the South,
and ready and cheap access to those points
where great staple finds the best market, by
building manufactures in our own State, and by
opening direct trade between the southern ports
and the markets of Europe Other Southern
States have progressed rapidly IN their march to
independence by expending large in the
construction of railroads, and by giving proper
encouragement to induce their citizens to estab
Eish manufactures, and already the enhanced val
ue of their property, and the additions made
thereby to the wealth, happiness and contentment
of their citizens have fully demonstrated the wis
dom of their policy and Mississippi, with pop
ulation as intelligent, and blessed with as many
resources as the population of any other State,
should not be found tagging behind the spirit of
the age permit her sister States to strip her
in contest for prosperity and Independence
The experience in other States has proven that
great undertakings of this character cannot be
successfully conducted by individual enterprise
alone, and it requires the means which the State
only can command, united to those of private
companies, to put them into speedy and success
full operation, and wherever this has been done,
upon well considered and practicable routes, in
addition to the advantages derived from them by
the country, the stockholders, both as State and
as individuals have realized handsome profits from
the investment; lands through which such roads
pass, increase in value sufficient to pay the costs
olaro oaI Ina thpr