Richmond, March 31, 1862
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| Hon. George W. Randolph |
| Secretary of War |
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| Dear Sir, |
| Some weeks since, a few days before
the adjournment of the Provisional Congress, Mr. Currin, of
Tennessee, and myself addressed a letter to the President relative
to the building of the Little Rock & Memphis Railroad, and
requested of the President, if consistent with his views, a
recommendation for a loan of a certain amount of the Confederate
bonds to the company in order to expedite the completion of the
road. In the meantime I introduced a bill in the Provisional
Congress authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to make this loan
on certain conditions and terms, and the bill was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs. The Congress adjourned, however,
without disposing of the bill. The President turned over our letter
to Mr. Benjamin, your predecessor in office. I have again brought
the bill to the attention of this Congress, and it is now before the
Military Committee of the House of Representatives. Mr. Benjamin
promised me some days since to look up the letter and give us a
response if he could possibly find the time. He did not, however, do
this, being prevented, I suppose, by his numerous pressing
engagements. In a more recent correspondence with the President on
this subject he again requests me to confer with the War Department. |
| This road, if completed, would be of the
utmost importance to the Confederate States in the present war. A
glance at the map exhibiting the district of country through which
it is to pass would convince you of this. We have completed the road
except between Madison and White River, a distance of about sixty
miles. We do not ask the Government to build the road, to take
stock, or in any way to become interested in the road or liable for
it, but merely to loan the company a certain amount of her bonds,
upon good personal and real security, which the company can readily
give to any amount. The plan we propose, as we conceive, frees the
subject of all the long vexed questions arising under the
Constitution out of the matter of internal improvements, and we
believe there is no difficulty on this point. The Government in this
matter cannot even risk a loss, much less lose anything, while she
will do great service to our cause and contribute in a large degree
to the means of defense of a very large and valuable scope of
country now threatened to be overrun by the enemy. Keeping an eye to
the seat of war (or seats of war) in Arkansas at this time, I think
I may safely say the early completion of this road is a military
necessity, if one can be said to exist at all. Permit me to request
you to examine the letters above referred to at as early a day as
you may be able to do so, and write me on the subject. And
indorsement by you of this position would not only have great
weight, but would secure the passage of the bill before Congress, in
my opinion, and an early examination of the matter is respectfully
solicited by |
| Yours, very truly, etc. |
| A. H. Garland |
| Member of Congress from Arkansas |
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