Year: 1859

they will promptly accept this proposition. If they are conscious of their guilt and afraid to meet the people, they will decline it. In either event, tue Democracy will judge between us. l shall calmly await the verdict.

 For the Des Arc Citizen.1

 DEFEAT OF THE DIES ARC, DAR-

 DANELLE AND FORT SMITH

 RAILROAD.

 The Des Arc, Dardanele and Fort Smith Railroad bill, in the Legislature, was lost by majority of four.

 Our citizens can bear this defeat and pursue the even tenor of their way for two years to come, when it Is to be hoped that men unbiased by local prejudices, or blind- ed by sef-inlerest, will be elected in the place of those, who have been willing 10 squander thousands of dollars from the State Treasury, yet dare to deny to some of her citizens the priviledgc of building a work for their own benefit-not their ben eff. only, but also, for that of the State itself. The question is here asked, ''How would this work have benefited the Slate?'' We answer, by spreading the arms of in- ternal improvement, which tends to ad- vance the interest of civilization and by increasing the State revenue.

 The erection of any work of improve ment has heretofore tended to advance the interests of the masses.

 The building of Railroads in Russia has been the means of abolishing serfdom ill that country. In France and England they have been the means of bringing the inland counties into closer connection with the comforts and luxuries of Paris and London. In this country they have tend- ed 10 increase the value of land and its productions. They have, also, been the means of building up towns, which other wise would have halted in their course of progress. As for example, Baltimore, Maryland, whose harbor is one of the most indifferent on the Atlantic coast, and yet she is now becoming one of the first cities in the Union, and why? Because the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as an artificial channel of trade, is drawing to her that trade, which would have gone to New Orleans by those natural courses formed by the Mississippi river, and its and the Western trade which should naturally build up Southern ely is now being used to build an Eastern ely pah abolition procliOities.

 And what has our glorious Legislature done? Nothing but the same thing, by encouraging the building of Road to Memphis (the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad ) thus building up a town in Ten nessee from which that State will derive benefit and Arkansas be the loser.

 Better let us be without Railroads allo- gelher, than to build them with their ter minus into another State. The natural of trade that we have now, will induce merchants to settle among us; but if we put Railroad into operation termi- hating elsewhere, Ii IS but telling them, ITO stay away, and we will bring our goods to you, provided, you will pay tax Io another State and not to ours."

 And all this is done, in the face of peti- lions to give us a market in our own State Way not build Des Arc up instead of Memphis? and thus concentrate our own State trade within her limits and let her derive the benefit from il. Better by far, for Arkansas to build Railroads from Des Arc 10 within ten miles of Memphis and there stop them, so as 10 draw the trade 10 one of her rising towns, than seek to destroy that town as well as others by 1riving the trade out of the State.

 Citizens of Arkansas, we call upon you 70 note this action down, and when again you are desired to speak at the polls. Speak for the benefit of your own State, and hot for that of another. ''DEs ARo'

 S-e -e--