Washington telegraph., 1852-05-12
Rail Road Convention of Hemp
stead County.

AT a general convention of the citizens of
Hampstead county, held at the courthouse
at Washington, in said county, on the 10th
day Of May inst, the following proceedings
were had, to wit
On motion of DIR. c. B. Mitchell, Prof.
S. L. Slack was called to the Chair, and on
motion of DIR. B. p Jett, O. Jennings. Esq.
was elected Secretary of the meeting.
DIR. Mitchell then moved that committee
of ten be appointed by the Chair to draught
resolutions expressive of the sense Of the
meeting, which was accordingly adopted !;
whereupon the following gentlemen were
appointed on said committee, viz: &. Is.
Mitchell, RIB Purdom, B p. j ett E. Mirick,
James I'll. Walker, A. o. Stewart, r. p.
Williams, Paul r. Booker, E. j. Smith,
and S. r. Sanders. Which committee, after
withdrawing for short time to deliberate,
returned the following preamble and resolu-
tions, to wit
WHEREAS, our friends and neighbors of the State
of Texas, and elsewhere, feeling the indispensable
importance of system of Internal Improvements,
have proposed Railroad Convention to be held
at Little Rock on the 4th of July next, to take
into consideration the subject of communication
with Memphis, and as consequence with other
parts of the Union by means OF judicioas system
of Railroads: and many portions of our State hav
ing promptly responded to the call thus made, and
we, the citizens of Hampstead county, Arkansas,
feeling the great and urgent necessity OF prompt
and energetic action, and likewise feeling that the
prosperity or decline cf the whole State, depends
upon vigorous and united effort of the people in
| the cause of Internal Improvements-thcrefor
| be it
| Resoloed That we cordially approve otthe pro-
| position to hold a Convention at Little Rock, at
! the time and for the purpose above stated
Resoircd That the time has arrived for the State
of Arkansas to bestir herself, and devote all her
means and energies to the vigorous prosecution OF
| the work of Internal improvement: and that
there is nothing that can relieve us, and place the
State and people upon a solid basis of prosperity
but a system of Railroads, connecting us with the
| commercial cities of the United States.
| Resoired, That the Chair appoint twenty five
delegates to attend the proposed Convention, and
that said delegates be instructed to pledge the
warm, energetic and cordial support of Hampstead
| county, to the building of Railroad from Mem
phis, Tennessee, to the Texas boundary via Fulton
on Red River.
Resolrcd, That in the opinion of this meeting the
exigencies Of the times and the necessity for Rail
road facilities, call loudly upon the people tc
SUBMIT TO IMPOSITION or A DIRECT TAX Fol
| RAILROAD PURPOSES.
| ResolUed, That it is the of this meeting
that the distribution of the 900 acre and Semi
nary funds among the counties, is policy at once
| unwise, ruinous and not only at war with the in
terests of the State, but in direct contravention
the objects had in view by Congress in maxim:
these grants to the State.
Rcsoircd, That we will support no man for tht
ensuing Legislature, who is not an uncompromisin:
advocate OF a repeal of the law or laws dstri
butng those funds among the counties of th'
State.
Rcsokrcd. That we recommend our fellow -citi
zens of Lafayette, Sewer Pike Clark, Dallas, Ho
| Spring Saline, Pulaski, Prairie, Monroe, White
| ST. Francis and Crittenden. counties, to co-operat
! with Us in the views and policy herein set forth
Which preamble and resolutions, afte
some appropriate remarks from Messrs
Mitchell, Walker, Pike and Slack, were, OF
motion of Dr. B. p. Jett, adopted, with on'
dissenting voice only. And agreeable to th'
second resolution, the following gentlemen
were appointed by the Chair as delegates t.
the convention at Little Rock, to be held ol
the 4th of July next, viz: Messrs. Mitchell
Sandefur, Hubbard, Hannah, E. J. Smith
Jctt, G. w Green, Royston, A. O. Stewart
Maddux, Jennings, Field, r. II. Conway
II. =. johnson, Williamson, Hampstead
McFaddin, Booker, Mirick, r. Pryor, R
P. Williams, j. 4. L. Purdom, W. Neil
roy, and H. A. Blevins.
DIR. Mitchell then movea that any five O
the delegates appointed to attend the gene
raj State Convention on the Ath Of July
next, be empowered to appoint substitutes
in case any Of said committee fail to at
tend said convention, which was adopted
DR.. Mitchell then moved that the Tele
graph be requested to publish the proceed
ings of the meeting, which was adopted
| And on motion of Dr. j EFT, the meeting
adjourned.
S. L. SLACK, Chairman.
0. Jennings, Secretary.