The true Democrat., 1856-11-25
GEO. CONWAY
Little Rock, 4,k., Nov. 18th, lS5t

Litde Rock, A,k., Nov. 18th, 1856. Hon. GEO. CONWAY
 Dear Sir:-I have your note of enquiry of thi. date, in which you state that the Illinois Central railroad company, Is being represented as "an abolition c0lcefT''-that "none but dbokitionisf, lad 9fice, or managed the road; and hat uales, eUen cle1hs dnd hrtorers Uere a5olitioaists, Mey io0ttH be rsected, and Mat tt Uas male test f. al htear enptCgme'ltS;;" aud you ask me, as to its | correctness.
 The orlginators of that company were mostly merchants ship owners, railroad men and capi- tallStS, having financial and commercial rela- | tons with nations and States without reference to sectional lines belonging to that conservativ class, whose large views and large enterprises are felt in their powerful effect upon the inter- ests of the Uhole country.
 l While the bill charterlng that company was under discussion in the Legislature of Illinois, l It was charged to be a scheme of " aristocratic wings" QOr there were wings ill those days, got up to overthrow the democracy of that stubborny democratic State. But the selection 1 of prominent democrats for the principal ap- 1 polntmeuts in the business of the company 1 quleted that apprehension; and Illinois, 1 am 1 happy to assure you, is still democratic State 1 During the same discussion a jealous opponent charged the corporators with being "aboition- ists" and affirmed that their road would be used for running of southern slaves" The bill passed, however, and such has been the wise and just policy of the company, that though 1t has encountered much opposition and denunciation, have not, from that day, until reading your note heard of that charge being repeated. It Is within my know ledge, that negroes going northward on that road are first required to satisfy the conductors by free papers other sa- tisiactory vouchers of their freedom. This yiglant precaution need not, by any means, be set down as proof of proclivlty, one way or the other, on the subject of slaUery. t IS matter Cf business, for most stringent State law eX sLs In limos for the protection and reclamation ot slave property, by which q party knowingly aiding or abettlng Tn the coGCeaiment or escape of d fugitive slave, IS liable to tine owner for nls value, besides being subject to criminal pro- oecutlon. A suit Is now pending against the company In the circuit court of Alexander county, for the value of an escaped slave, who havlng free wife Tn Cairo, and being permitted hv hls master to visit that place frequently sue ceeded ln eludlng the vlglia1ce of the conduc- tor by bringing two old citizens to vouch for hls freedom. You vii, perceive, my dear sir, that though every man managing or operating the road were abOlltlOnlSts or even negro steal. CTS, the company could not afo,d it-it tcoud not pug dfCde1ids, and that Is the test n railroad management, to which you may appeal for the protection of your rights. If d slave escape over that road, t is an accident, such as occurs Iuite as frequently on similar lines in slave States. l here must be mistake in the appli- cation of the language quote from your note Was 1t not the "mtde, -grounl raiir0at'-no, he Ccatrq}, against which those grave charges were made?
 For your own inform ition-not because feel justified in making personal alusions, l will state that one ot the heaviest stockholders, whose name find first in the list of directors of that company, IS the proprietor of two large cotton plantations ill southern State, success fully worked by slaves owned by hm-their land commissioner and most of his employees, from the city of Washing ngton-their first general superintendent from Maryland-one assistant superintendent from keutucky-the other com manding d military com ,any, that was the first 70 turn out at the call of the U. $ Marshal, two years since, against opposition, and coutuuely and threats to enforce the fugitive slave law, aud protect slave owner while prosecuting hls claim. The consulting engineer and land com missioner of the Cairo and Fulton railroad for Arkansas and Mls,eur, and the chief engineer of the Missouri division, come from the ser vice of that company.
 II poittrn} considerations interest you, 1 will add tna; when the democratic young men of Chicago, during the late canvass published call for the formation of a democratic club to bear the flag of B3tclanan and Brecbinr1dge, an officer of the company headed the list; and it IS safe to assume, that large majority of those connected with the affairs, as nauagcrs or em- ployees voled the same way
 The Illinois Central railroad is a great con- necting link, bringing near together an binding Tn lndlssolub.e ties the commercial and agricul- tural interests of the remotest northern and southern States. An hour spent on the ievee at Cairo, where piles of rich freight of every de scnption are gathered for distribution, from all points, 10 all points, in the contederacy, and where men of all shades of all political opinion and of social ideas meet and learn to think bet ter of each other, will disclose to the we'll n- formed observer considerations, founded upon financial and economical grounds, as well as upon the obligations of patriotism and good neighborhood, inducing the conclusion that the charges referred to are founded in serious mis- representation. Yours trulN,
 M. BRAYMAN.