The true Democrat., 1854-04-25
Majority for subscription

Whereas, one of the conditions on which the recently authorized subscription of $35O OOOO to the Memphis and Little Rock railroad can be made available, is, that the Arkansas Legisla- ture adopt this as the branch road from Little Rock to the Mississippi river, so that it may get the benefit of portion of the public land do- mated to the State of Arkansas, by the last Con- gress, to aid in building railroads. And where as, from recent information 1t is believed that the early commencement of this road will do much towards securing its adoption, as part of or link in the great Pacific railroad.'
 Therefore be it Resolved, That the Mayor appoint committee of three to visit the Go- vernon of Arkansas, and request him to con- vene the Legislature of that State, at as early day as the interest of the State will justify, to deliberate and act on the subject.
 Passed May the 3rd, 1853.
 In conformity to the above resolution, 1 do hereby appoint the Hon. Jas. c. Jones, Col James M. Williamson, and Col. E. H. Porter to constitute said committee.
 Done at Mayors office in the L. S. city
 of Memphis, May 3rd, 1853.
 (Signed) A. B. TAYLOR,
 Mayor.
 The Legislature of 1852-3 having as shown rejected the suggestion of immediate action on the subject of the Cairo and Fulton railroad, the question of the Governors course resolves itself into the enquiry whether or not the foregoing action of the corporation of Memphis consti- tutes sufficient cause why Governor Conway ought to have disregardcd the previous expres- sion of the popular will as indicated plainly in the course pursued by their regularly constitut- ed organ-the Legislature. Before coming di- rectly to this issue it is necessary to set their proper value on the several heads of the Mem- phis proposition.
 1st. That the railroad company build depot in Memphis central to its commercial and other interests. No matter how this may be glossed over, the plain purpose of such condition as we'll as the practical result of its adoption is the location of the whole business of the road ipse .facto in Memphis. The Gov. may have thought that the result of this will be just as was in- tended, viz the killing of of the hope of Hope field.
 2nd. That the road shall be constructed in regular progression westward from Memphis no matter s0here tue subscription nsay come from; and that of the whole amount offered to be sub scribed by Memphis only $4OOO0 could be cal led up, this being permissible only when a like sum should be outlayed by individuals; the ba- lance of the subscription being withheld for ironing and equipping westward from Memphis. The Memphis Land Company it is we'll known were the originators of this whole movement: their object clearly was to secure not only the whole of the private subscriptions, but also the proceeds of the public lands in carrying the road from Memphis as far as the means would permit through their locations, the expectation being probably that the money would give out where their engineer terminated his survey, at the St. Francois. It may have occurred to the Gov. that it would be only fair that the citizens of Prairie and Pulaski be at liberty to expend their money on grading and portion of the proceeds of the public lands in ironing the road between Little Rock and the crossing of the nearest navigable stream-White river. This might, we repeat, have given the Governor some suspicion of the boon offered by Memphis Srd. That the city of Memphis, on condi- ton of the donation of upwards of half-a-mil. lion acres of public lands, would subscribe 35C of her one thousand dollar bonds, to be receiv. ed at par, to the stock of the Little Rock rail. road, this subscription being guarded and sur rounded by all sorts of legerdemain restrictions