Washington telegraph., 1854-08-02
TO the Voters of Hampstead Co.

u
come a candidate. to represent you in the
popular branch of our next Legislature
Deeming it incumbent on every aspirant to
public favor, to lay before the people the
views he may entertain upon all such ques-
tions as may come within the scope of Le-
! gislative action, therefore shall attempt
briefly to indicate to you the course shall
pursue, should you honor me with your con-
! fdence hold that such is the duty Of
every one, who seeks public trust.--and
my opinions and views of public policy, /
have neither the inclination nor the desire to
conceal
need not say that am friend of In
ternal Improvements. Like the majority
OF you, am tarmer-my occupation be-
ing that Of cultivating the soil. The yearly
and may say the daily experience Of Us
all, serve but to convince Us Of the necessi-
ty Of Railroads No man can count how
much, the people Of Hampstead county lose
annually, ID consequence of our isolated stu
alton. The distant markets Of the world
where we buy and sell are inaccessible to
Us about eight months in the year. This
would be remedied by Railway to some
point on the Mississippi river; and l do
hope that the day is not far distant when We
shall have one.
The lands donated BY Congress to our
State, for Railroad from Cairo to Fulton
is most muniticent grant; and if wisely
and judiciously disposed Of, will greatly
multiply the chances Of speedy connection
Of South Arkansas with the Mississippi,
either at Cairo, Memphis or Helena The
question will arise in our next Legislature,
as to the best policy to be pursued, with re-
spect to those lands 1t is not probable,
that the State viii engage, in any work Of
internal improvement, as q party. | shall
therefore, if elected, 90 for turning over
these lands to such company as will give
the best guarantee to the State, that the
road Will be built and that too, in the short
est period Of time. If company is to
! get those lands, prefer that that company
be composed of citizens of ArkansaS-
La short, ! will 20 for such measures as will
be most likely, to secure speedy building
| Of the road
| In regard to a convention to remodel
the constitution, can have but little to say
| BY an act Of the last Legislature, the people
are called upon to decide whether they de-
sire convention. This question, you are
then to settle, at the ballot box, on Monday
next. If you decide in favor of one. so
will vote in the Legislature if elected
If you negative the proposition, 50 will I
vote. 50 far az my own views are concern
A.. ed, it could make no difference, whether |
expressed them or not. But | viii here
say, that in many respects our constitution
could be greatly improved-in others no
change is desirable. Il is enough for me to
say, that SO far as this question i concerned,
your will, expressed through he ballot box.
shall be my guide. Your wishes | will en-
deavor faithfully to carry out
1t is not unlikely, that an effort will Be
made to bring the election Of our Supreme
Judges before the people. am not prepared
to admit that it would be good policy to
change the present mode Of electing them
am satisfied with the present system of
electing these Judges-my neighbors are
also, as far as know, and | believe the
people are generally. If left to pursue my
own course, SHALL oppose any change in
that respect but should be instructed to
vote otherwise, | again repeat that your
wishes viii be to me q Ldtc
a change in our present law in regard to
groceries will probably be proposed in the
next Legislature What that change is
to be | cannot foresee. | believe that
dram-drinking is a great evil and glad
ly would hail the day when the prac-
tice would be unknown. will 90 for all
reasonable laws that would be calculated to
lessen the evil. The most republican way
Of disposing Of the question. is to leave TO
the people Of each township and corporate
town, to decide the question BY vote, as i the
case in several States. Such law as far as
/ can learn, works well elsewhere. If a
majority Of the people desire groceries let
them have them; the majority ought to
govern, and the minority ought to yield
If on the contrary the majority should de-
eide TO refuse license to drinking establish
ments, and BY that vote declare them to be
evils, then the minority are equally bound
to submit. The people are the proper ones
to decide the question and to them would
most cheerfully submit it.
IL may hos oc ainlss 10 say tnat tne next
General Assembly will have IT, s. Sena-
tor to elect in the place Of Mr.. johnson, the
present incumbent. | have no doubt but
that he is the choice Of the people of Hemp
stead county. and if elected will give him
my support. Mr.. johnson has been faith
full and indefatigable public servant, and |
see no reason why he should be showed
/ aside tO maEn room for ann-har uho ,oight
have less ability, experience and influence
Fellow-C Citizens few words more and
! shall have done | have lived in Hemp
stead county almost from my boyhood.-
Here | expect to live and die My inter-
ests are yours, and your interests are mine.
In promoting Your welfare. | promote my