The Arkansas advocate., 1835-01-16
Huron river, Ohio
 Ashtabula creek, Ohio

Huron river, Ohio 6,70o Ashtabula creek, Ohio 5000 Cumberland river 30,OOO Hudson river (page 103) 70,0O0
 The statement shows that millions on millions are applied to improving rivers and small streams east of the the moun- tains. If but 10. 20, or 50 miles long, you call them rivers, and we improve them. i do not mention this in the spirit of complaint but to show the contrast. We have our 800 miles Of Wabash, IUOO miles of Ohio, and 2000 miles of Missis- sipr: these we think, present equal claims to attention, and feel tito be my duty 10 urge them on the attention of Congress. All other rivers have been improved ex- cept the Wabash, while bills for that river are vetoed or withheld. Now is this ne- eessary, is it just, or proper, and do those in power think that my constituents will remain forever silent under such circum- staneesf | have recently been taught that. system is practiced to keep men silent that incline to speak out. When congress adjourned last summer, l ad- dressed circular 10 may constituents, in- forming them what had been done for their benefit, and how much was left undone, but said nothing of the hattering treat ment the Wabash bill had met with, and concluded by advising the people to cor rect these wrongs through the ballot box.
 After the publication Of my circular, the Globe, a newspaper published in this city, devoted two or three of its long columns n abusing me, because l had dared ad dress my constituents. But do not feel injured by the attack of the Globe: the writer in that paper must establish a char acter for truth and veracity among the peo- pie of Indiana before he need expect his word to be taken againstone that they have known long, and known well. The writer of the article in the Globe has mistaken his man the press. nor no other power that can be brought to bear upon me, can lntlmidate or keep me silent while the in- terest of Indiana is at stake and in this case of an appropriation to improve the Wabash river, ] contend that justice has not been done her.
 l do not intend, Mr. President, to charge the chief magistrate with intentional in- justice, but only to say, that ne has acted under mistaken apprehension of the facts which has worked injustice to my constituents.
 A president, or any other public officer, IS but transient being, here to-day, gone tomorrow; but the principles of justice on which our government should be ad- ministered are immutable, and will endure to all time to come. Every public man owes heavy responsibility to hls consti- tuents, and would have felt unworthy the confidence reposed in me, If ] had re- malned silent on a subject so deeply inter- esting to those that |, in part, have the honor to represent there.
 The term of service of ohr present chief magistrate is drawing 10 a close What he has done, he has done. Ii will go down to posterity, and form his political character; aud God knows l would not, if could, strip laurel ifsreai hs brew. But
 hls subject of improving our rivers cannot rest here, the people should take that mat ter into their own hands, and in selecting a successor 10 the present chief magis- trate, betore they cast their Uotes, ascertain whether he is for or against internal im- provement, No, sir, that is too broad term; 1t can be construed 10 mean any thing or nothing, or explained away. The voters should ascertain whether candidates are for or against improving our rivers, and no one holding the opposite doctrine need expect one-fourth of the votes in the valley of the Mississippi.
 l hope the resolution, and the one for es- tablishlng a port of entry at Lafayette, will be adopted, and that both congress and the President will agree that the General Government should aid in improving the navigation of the Wabash for l am un- willing 10 believe, without more evidence than IS now before me, that there is dis position in either to prevent it.
 To my old friend Mir Dwight. of the New