The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-10-19
From the Brandon Herald.
Gulf and Ship Island Rnilroad.

Now that the election is over and the
dust and smoke Of battle have passed away,
and the field has been reviewed and the re-
suit ascertained, we again find time to recur
to this subject And we will say as we have
said before, that the building of the Gulf and
Ship Island Railroad, is a project in which we
feel deep and abiding interest; because we
look upon it as a measure, the consummation
of which is better calculated in our Judgment
to deve,ope the resources Of Mississippi than
any project ever before agitated in the State.
We view it as the means by which the State
will be released from the commercial thral-
dom under which she is now strongly bound
to the cities of Ms Orleans and Mobile, by
building UP q Commercial city within her
own borders, which will almost at once COM
pete with those cities for the commerce of the
world. And not only will the completion of
this road be the means of building up COM
mercial city on our own sea coast, within our
own State, but it will be the means of OPEN
ing up to cultivation vast scope Of fertile
but now unoccupied country, susceptible Of
producing hundreds of millions upon millions
Of dollars worth of the products of the
soil, which will find ready market at our
own commercial mart to which it can be trans
outlet to the civilized world by the means of
the shipping which will visit Ship Island
harbor.
In rejecting upon this great project and the
vast benefits that will arise from it to the peo-
pie of the State, in the event of its compile
ton, we cannot conceive how any one who
wishes to see the State prosper could be op-
posed to the building of this road. But on
ho, oon frapu l0al-c frN
man in the State should be in favor of build
ing it by any means whatever, even if it should
be done by direct taxation. While, as an in
diyidual, we would be willing to submit to
direct tax for this purpose, yet, we do not adj
yoeate it as measure that should be adopted
by the legislature. We believe that every
other means should be resorted to before this
is adopted, and after all others have been tri-
ed and failed, then taxation should only be
resorted to after submitting the question to the
people of the whole State. We are aware
that the proposition to tax the people for the
purpose of raising means to carry out any
project whatever, it matters not how mereto
rious it may be, is unpopular, and is always
seized upon by designing men and turned to
their advantage in elections, and we have no
doubt that if the question Of taxation was
now submitted to the people to build this
road, notwithstanding we look upon it as be-
ing subject of more importance and one in
which they are more deeply interested than
any other ever presented for their considera-
ton, yet, we are satisfied it would be defeat
ed, not that the people are opposed 70 the
road, or opposed to submitting to moderate
tax to assist in building it if it should be ac-
tually necessary they should do so, but be-
cause it is new question, one that is not
properly and fully understood by them in all
Its bearings upon the interests of the State.
But while this would in all probability be the
result Of this question at present, the time is
not far distant when the people will if it is
made apparent to them that it is necessary
for them to do so, submit with all cheerful
ness TO light tax for the purpose of building
this road We are confident of this fact and
could give our reasons for believing 10 If we
thought it necessary. -
But there is no danger or necessity of re-
sorting to taxation to build the Gulf and Shin
Island RailDad, il the company who now
have it in charge shall act prudentIy and iu-
diciously. If they pursue the proper course
in the management Of the road, and in the
selection Of the Northern terminus, ample
means can be raised by private subscriptions
added to the appropriations already made by
the State, and the lands donated to the State
by Congress for this purpose, to build the
road.