Southern shield., 1853-11-12
INTERESTING LETTER.

ten by Col. Rector, of Saline county, to the editor of Pine Bluff Republican, { from which we made some extracts last week, will richly repay perusal. His argument in favor of Helena as the Mississippi terminus of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad, are among the most able, concise and comprehensive we have vet seen-indeed 1t is unanswerable. The whole letter Is written in that free and easy, yet not inelegant style, which, while it has tendency to in struct, carries with it peculiar in- terest, and is most admirable calcu- lated to awaken the people of the State to proper sense of their deplorable condition in point of Internal Improve ment or public spirit:
 WEsTpHALrA, Ark's.,
 Slh Oct, 1853.
 Ny Dear Sir: Your kind invitation to me, to be present at the Pine Bluff Convention, which by your let ter, you informed me was to be hol- den on the 31st inst, was duly recelv- ed and appreciated. But in conse- quence of prior engagements on that particular day, could not, in justice to others; l regret, indulge myself in making so pleasant visit. ltis wholly unnecessary to you, who may have been somewhat observant ofmy ear lv, though uuavaling efforts, both in legislative and.individual capacity,to propitiate works of internal improve ment in our country,-that it would afford me the greatest pleasure upon all and every occasion, to be present, and aid, if possible to aid, my fellow citizens, in their laudable efforts, to commence, and carry out the work of progress, now so universally be- gun. The position of Arkansas (al- though it would seem solecism) is enviable indeed. With four millions outstanding, and half repudiated ob- legations, such are her untold and undeveloped resources, that these ob- ligations, upon which not farthing of interest has been paid for almost half the period of mans temporal existance, are now strange to say, to superficial observer, at par,with ev- cry prospect of rise, and none of declension.
 No one accustomed 10 reflect upon the condition of our country, with un- utterable gloom and despondency,--as something lost-dying--dead, be- yond the healing influence of the most veracious and gifted statesman as some thing to be regretted, but never to be changed. But thank God, over this dark and forbidding picture, the sons and daughters of Arkansas, in my poor opinion, are destined but little longer to repine.
 With little timely and enlight- ened legislation (and very little in- deed is required) she may lift up her dropping fortunes,-inscribe her name in proudest circle of the tenn pie of American progress, and chal- lenge the admiration of the world.
 What with territory almost too capacious for an empire,--stretching almost from the tropics of the South 10 the frozen regions of the North with a population full of industry, intelligence and enterprise, possessing a soil unsurpassed in fertility--une- qualed in mineral wealth,--with facil- ties for internal navigation unrivaIed in the Union, with her mineral wa ters-her inexhaustable brakes of cypress, forests of pine and other val uabIe timbers, s,-with a healthfulness and salubrity of climate unsurpassed by nothing save an Italian sky.
 Her eastern border swept almost a thousand miles by the great com mecial artery of the Union! Shall she be without hope!-refusing and neglecting the bounteous charities be- slowed so lavishly upon her, by her great and good parent. Shall she be without hope, say, declining the assistance of her friend, the con- dolence of the nation. All are will ing to aid her, but she is unwilling to receive. No sir, away with this whining, can't-do- anything policy. Let us raise our chains from off our bosoms. look up and go to work like men, and the brightest gem that has been set in the American constel- lation shall henceforth be known as Arkansas.
 That, hertofore most unworthy daughteramo the great American sisterhood, shall by and by, be the bright example for the emulation ot the great American family. But will the ends justify the means, seems now 10 be the questionable difficult ty. Shal! we proceed in the glori- ous work of reclamation and devel- opment? or shall we fold our arms in