The true Democrat., 1856-11-25
Ofice ef tte C. ]. f. P. R Comp'y,) L'ale Rock, 44rkansas, Nov. 2l, '56. Hon. WM. R. CAIN,


 Hon. WM. R. CAIN,
 CAR. Cnamittee 70 h. In. in He Saqte Dear Sir-l have your note of enquiry of this date, with copy of resolutions proposed in the Senate ts-day, but laid upon the table, l respond with pleasure to your request, in ac- cordance with the uniform practice of this com pany, which having nothing to conceal, is req dy at all times to yield information to either branch of the government or to any gentle man who may wish to enquire into its affairs On this point call your attention to the course of my predecessor, during the last session, and to the language of my recent report to the Ex- ccutve, now your tables.
 Referring to the first enquiry, embodied in those resolutions, beg to advise you that this company has naate no selections, under the act ot Congress making the grant. This company not having accepted the lands at the hands of the State, is not officially known at Washing ton, as the party entitled to receive them.- The authorities of the State and the land de- Partment at Washington, are the agencies through which the business and correspondence are conducted
 The "selection" consists merely in the labor of listing at the land department, the lands in. cluded in the grant, for transmission 10 Arkan- sds
 The interests of the railroad grant have been in charge of a State agent, appoint ed by the Governor. Sub-agents employed by hlm, have been engaged, not in "selecting," but In making examinations under special printed instructions from the general land of- ilce, for the purpose of enabling that depart ment to list and certify to the State for the use ! oi the swamp land grant, and the railroad grant the lands th"t belong to each-it being under stood that lands belonging to one of these classes, had been enormously listed by locating agents, as belonging to the other. It is under stood that lists of such lands have been filed. with proofs of their character and quality; and that decision IS be had by authority of the department as to aohat lands are to go to the swamp land, and what to the railroad grant.- It Is considered that lands belonging to one grant, cannot, even by the authority of the le SiSlature, be set down to the other: for tbe al- lotment of each tract follows the intendment of the law, which fixes its condition accordin, to It's character and quality. The State being only go-beGween, executing a trust, cannot change It's terms, nor make that. techn;ooUy swamp land, or dry land, when not such in 1 fact.
 ! It IS not ln my power to state the quantity of lands which will remain to the railroad grant The allotment being incomplete. and the in- roads made upon them by pre-emptons and improper swamp land selections being large. it is feared that the quantity intended by Congress to be applied to this national work, may not be realized
 The remaining points of inquiry, being but branches of one subject matter, will be best answered collectively.
 The stock subscriptions amount to, say S232,. 175, but small portion of which has been ad- ded since the adjournment of the General Assembly. Down to that period, subscriptions had been obtained with facility; and had the action of that body resulted in transfer of tte lands to this company on the terms admitting of their acceptance, it was hen expected and is now believed, that subscriptions could have been obtained to any desirable amount. But It was then, and still is, matter of conviction, : not only with the public, but with those in charge of the interests of this company, that without aid from the credit and resources to be 1, expected from free and fair use of those lands neither this, nor any other company, nor the State could accomplish the proposed york; No expectation or hope was entertained. of building the Cairo and Fulton railroad from subscriptions alone. It was for this reason. that when the legislature closed it's session