The true Democrat., 1856-11-11
The Cairo and Fulton Railroad.


 There is one portion of Gov. Conway's mes- sage to the General Assembly to which we do not think we can too often direct the attention of the people, and, more particularly, of our law-g givers, who now have the whole subject in their hands. It is the following:
 "The act passed at the last session of the General Assembly to aid in the construction of the Cairo and Fulton railroad, from the north- ern boundary of this State to the Texas line, near Fulton, iu Arkansas, was net accepted by the company. For, instead of granting the lands appropriated by Congress o aid n the construction oftteroad, the act, if accepted by the company, would have prohibited the sale of any of the land to raise funds to- asd in building the road That the granted lands may be rendered available to construct the road, as soon as possible it is re- commended that an act be passed, at an early period, transferring them to the Cairo and Full ton railroad company without any restrictions except such as are provided by the act of Con- gress making the grant, and such as will pro- tect actual settlers who may have purchased from authorities of the State lands sold as swamp and overfowed lands, but which may be ascertaned to belong to the grant made to aid iii building the railroad"
 
 the result of more than two years of study and reflection, and it is full of wisdom It is, too, not only the sentiment of Gov. Conway, but, so far as our knowledge extends, the sen- timent of the people at large. Within the last two months we have published the pro- ceedings of many public meetings, held in various counties, putting forth and indorsing this view of the subject. The undertaking is a great one. It is stupendous work, that to succeed in it, requires all the aid and all the credit and character that can possibly be given | to it.
 | To succeed at all, the company that under takes the construction of the Cairo and Fulton railroad, must go to the world ndorsed highly by our people and by the State authorities To give them credit and the means, they must | be sustained and supported at home. In the transferring of the grant to them, the terms must be liberal and must show that the State has confidence in their ability and nteg- rty. To tie them up with restrictions and conditions is, at once, to betray distrust of them 1 at home and to discredit them abroad This view of the subject will necessarily, we are as- sured, strike every intelligent mind, after mo- ments reflection.
 Every condition and restriction, too, depre- ciates the value of tho lands as a pledge to raise money. Every condition is barrier to perfection of title to the lands and, conseauent ly, is an objection, among capitalists to receiv- ing them as pledge for money advanced- | Where there is no conditions the title of the company to the lands perfect the lands them selves good, there is difficulty in raising mo- l ney upon them to the full amount needed But every condition imposed renders the title to the lands more precarious, and consequently is an obstacle to the use of them as pledge to raise the means to aid in constructing the road. Our chief magistrate doubtless was influenced by this view of the subject when he made the wise and salutary recommendation we have quoted above. It is recommendation found. ed in wisdom and experience.
 We will go into no discussion of the merits of this great work. It is useless, for every ci tizen fully appreciates its importance With its construction and completion new era will be inaugurated in Arkansas Soon after the State will be covered with railroads as with net work. Branches, and ramifcations of branches will run in every direction and into the remotest corners of the State
 No public measure was ever presented to the people of Arkansas in which a deeper interest was felt, or more unanimity manifested, and, it is sincerely to be hoped, the legislature will act on the subject in accordance with public opin- ion, and definitely, at an early day. Ith has been discussed and considered for upwards of four years, and farther'delay will only retard work in which the interests of all are vialv involved. The State of Missouri transferred the lands granted for the construction of that division of the road, without restrictions or conditions. in February, 1855, and 1t will no doubt be con- peted 10 our northern boundary in less than two years. Acting upon the policy that Con- gross had fully provided against the probability of misapplication of the grant hy the con- pany, and that any thing farther in the way of restrictions or conditions would impair if moi destroy, the value of the grant, as means of building the road, the Missouri Legislature i'm posed DO obstacles whatever to its imme diatc commencement, but on the contrary granted the company loan of S25OOOO-a boon not asked at all by the Arkansas division of the road. Until there be definite legislation and proper transfer of the lands, no company can go forward with this great improvement We owe 1t to ourselves, to the peoplc-to the State of Missouri and to the naton to place the Arkan- sas division of the Cairo and Fulton railroad upon terms of equality with the Missouri divi- sion.
 The country looks to the action of this Le- glSlature with the deepest soicitude and proper legislation on the subject will be hailed with the greatest rejoicing.