Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-05-28
Mn.

l7N, 1870.
Mn. SPEAKER:
The hour has now arrived for the
consideration Of the General Rail-
road bill, which was introduced into
this House by the gentleman from
Adams, Mr.. French and which
entities him, in our Judgment to
the credit OF having introduced a
bill which promises more in the
way Of developing the resources of
Mississippi than any other that can
at present be offered.
The committee was obliged 10 re-
port this bill as a substitute" for
the reason that the sheet upon
which the Clerk OF the House had
made u memorandum was gone,
and he, therefore, could not re.
ceive |. us the original. After the
Introduction ofthc hill, the gentle
man from Adams Madc some slight
alterations in the latter part Of it,.
aud thereby the memorandum Of
the Clerk was lost. | say this by
way OF explanation, that the House
may not in any manner be misled
by the report of the committee,
and also for the purpose Of accord.
ing to the gentleman from Adams
the full credit to which VIC deem
him entitled.
| am glad that occasionally dur
ing the progress Of this session,
questions arise, the consideration
Of which Is not influenced by party
preference, aud is not controlled by
partisan feeling.
am sure that, in considering the
bill now before the House, we can
all lay aside our political character,
and discuss this great question
upon its naked merits.
In my judgment, there is nothing
(%unlcss indeed it be the subject OF
cducation,) which is OF moro vital
importance to the material inter-
Csts Of the colored man and the
white-thC Northern aud the
Southern m0n, and all the people,
than is the subject OF Railroads.
The present demands of our
State-her vast undevcloped re-
sources, her genial climate, and
fertile soil, all assure us that enter.
prise, and activity, aud labor will
make for her a bright and glorious
future.
The question Of Railroads Is no
ne'0 question. We have but Ia
glance our eye over the map oil
most parts Of our county, and VIC
find the different sections knit to-
gether by grand lines Of Railroads
binding the different States, sec,
lions and interests together as thu
body interlased and bound witt
cords aud veins.
Within our day We have seer
States, slumbering In inactivity, be
coming rich and commanding b.
the development Of their hereto,
fore dormant resources, aud rail
roads have done It.
Wherever Gas o general rule) th'
"irOn horse" makes his way, thu
value OF land is at once greatly In
creased, enterprise fOstered, actiVi
ty quickened, civilization advanced
aud wealth flows in TO the individ
ual, the state and the nation.
Mississippi, as is we'll known, la
neither money nor credit TO aid il
the construction OF railroads, as Ia
been extensively done in othe
States, nor were 1t otherwise, coull
she do so, IS a constitutional pro
vision which, In her unfortunat
condition, is undoubtedly q wis
one, prohibits the loan Of Stat
credit TO any private enterprises.
1t becomes, therefore, O neCessit!
at once apparent to all that she ofEe
every other possible inducement u
the introduction of railroad capita
The bill here introduced, is be
lleved to at once fill the measure 0
all that Mississippi can do in tn
-. premises. II Is belived, too, that !
will accomplish more for the futur
of the State than even its most or
dent friends dare hope.
1t at once and for the future re
moves all of the various obstacle
hitherto in the way OF the introduC
, ton OF railroad capital, such q
difficulties attendant upon exper
sive and Oft times impossible legii
ton; local obstacles, such as OF
. tanning the right OF way, with nee
essary lands, &c.
It says to the capitalist, we thro'
q open the field-here Is at once tel
Y dered as the law Of Mississippi, a
+. the various statutory provision
! which the wisdom Of years Of raj
road legislation IN the older an
a more progressive States has show
to be most effective In aid Of II
construction of railroads. II "
c cannot help with material aid, "
I will at least offer all the facilitit
afforded b. those pattern STATE
c of progression-0hio, lllinoi
l. Iowa, Missouri-and under the la
- regime OF Arkansas as well.
=, 1t wipes out at one blow all sp'
cial railroad legislation, and subst
tutes instead a law, which is a con
- plete railroad law Of itself, in fac
il a complete digest Of the laws Of OF
&c most progressive Western state
It passed to meet The various requir
. ments in aid Of railroad constru
. ton, as also in guarding the Into
re ests of the State. Let us SEQ VII
re a saving in expense alone this Ia
i, will be to our State simply in /
: way of legislation. There are nc
IN in various stages of manipulate,
to an almost innumerable number
railroad charters. OF how mu
yoiuo :, ko- manu- apa and mi