The true Democrat., 1856-12-30
For the True Denocrnt


 Spring HiH, 16th December, 1856.
 MesSrs. JOHNSON & YERKEs:
 The Mississippi, Ouachita and Red Rive Railroad has its eastern terminus in the county of Chcot, on the Mississippi river. In running thence west 16O miles it passes over some hal dozen counties and is convenient to some hal dozen more for all commercial purposes. Al Red river 1t meets the commerce of a countr, ot almost indefinite extent and of unsurpassed fertility in the production of such articles as con. sutute the very necessaries of lfe-wheat, corn, cotton and live stock. Now ifthere be truth in the axiom that commerce will find it's best and most convenient market; then the whole of the productions of this vast and fertile country must lind an outlet to market over the Mssis- sippi Ouachita and Red River Railroad. To those of us who are familiar with Red river it Is well known that for eight months in the year boats drawing from two to four feet of water. such as are now found in the Ohio and Cum berland rivers, can ply regularly from the head ol the raft, to Preston, in Texas, distance oi SIX hundred miles: hence all the cotton and other productions of upper Red river could be sent down that stream to meet the railroad al Fulton and transported on that road to its eas. tern terminus on the Mississippi; and who car doubt, that at this point in our own State. with thls boundless extent of rich and fertile country In lis rear, city would not soon spring up Frlvallng in commercial importance Memphis ol any other oAthat mighty river? And all that Is wanting to bring about this magnificent result Is the iron and equipment for railroad of l6C miles in length, connecting the waters of the Mississippi and Red river. It has been asserted by some that the productions of upper Red rlver would be sent to Galveston; admitting this to be true, still there would be left to be transported over the Mississippi, Ouachta anc Red river road, the productions of country O double the size and greatly more fertile thai that which is now making Memphis populou and commercial city. But 1t is not true tha the cotton and other productions of upper Re- river, would be sent to Galveston. This cit, must forever remain what it is now an interme diate market for the sale of cotton, brought her to be sold again in New Orleans and other At lantic cities At the entrance into the Calves ton bay, there is bar on which there is neve more than 12 feet of water; hence large ships such as take cargoes of cotton for Europe cal never reach Galvcston; for this reason, it cal never compete with New Orleans as commer cai emporium, and for the same reason the pro auctions of upper Red river will be sent owe 'he Mississippi, Ouachita and Red River Rail roaa and down the Mississippi to the latter cit,
 in times like the present, when tbe masse ID all the north eastern States ara ,horou-h, ieavened with abolitionism, and when ,ho sa.,, spirit is rapidly increasing in all the wss,ar States, as was plainly shown in the Presdan,;, election, 1t would be we'll for us to pause an reflect, whether instead of opening up channel ot communication with the northern States an, building up cities at the very door of abolition ism, with the fruit of that labor which they ar seeking to destroy and of which they are da;l, roboing us, 1t would not be wiser and bette to build our railroads to points in our own State