The Arkansas advocate., 1835-06-26

] representation in Congress, that 1t would
 be the best policy for US, and that under the Constitution of the United States and the Treaty fer the purchase of Louisiana from the French Government, tha! we would have the right to be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the ori- gInal States whenever we numbered 30,- 0o0-the ratio agreed upon, at the adop- ton of that Constitution. It is true that the precedent has been different; but there IS no constitutional barrier to be found.- Since ascertained that 1t would be practica- ble for me to attend this meeting, have not had leisure to examine the archives of the Executive Department, or other data, on which to make precise reference; but upon investigation of the subject, l have no doubt that you will find that, of the nine new States formed in the South and West, a large majority of them entered the Union
 with numbers much inferior to ours--and all but three of them with resources far more limited. 1t is also matter of histo- ry and fact incontrovertible that aH of them, immediately after their admission as
 States, increased in wealth, population, and responsibility beyond all former calculation.
 In relation to the internal improvements
 made and making in our country by the
 General Government, and the prospect of their being arrested in the event of our sue cess in the present undertaking, much has
 been said and written by those in favor of remaining III our present state of depend
 ence and yassalage. Even some of tbe prominent advocates of our side of the ques-
 ton formerly objected to the measure, on the ground that a constitutional barrier
 would be held forth against their extension,
 should we become a State. Let us look
 into the substance or the faIlacy of this ob-
 jection-the true state of the question.
 Under the administration of our present ve- nerable Chief Magistrate, the rule seems to
 be settled down, and t IS a construction of the Constitution to which most heartily
 respond, that Congress shall make no iq,-
 ternat improvements tetthin the limgts of any
 of the States, unless for national purposes. This Is strictly within the rightful and con
 stitutioual powers of that body, without any
 resort to s'latitudinarian'' doctrines. Of what character are the internal improve
 ments in progression among us? h jus tice to our Delegate, though in Territorial
 politics have ever been found in the mi- nority arrayed against him, for one, I am
 free to admit, that Congress through his agency has bestowed on this Territory ma
 ny favors of this kind-many improvements
 atiordlng great conveniences to the citizens and facilities to emigrants. Bnt, fellow ci-
 tizens. when we take brief survey of them
 all, 1t IS found that most of them that are of any service to the citizens of the Territory,
 are also of great national importance, and
 as such will be continued and improved by
 the nation ln any event. Our frontier stu-
 ation, and as such our importance to the Confectionery, either as a Territory or 8 State, will always compel the nation, acting upon the first law of nature, the principle of kself-preseryation, to keep open aud extend all the great avenues of communication through the country 10 the South and West. The warllke and almost innumerable tribes l of Indians assembled in the West-and the
 Mexican Republic, destined yet ] fear to revert to monarchy and spotism-eom-
 mand our entire border in that direction,
 and also the sources of the navigabe
 streams which pass through our interior.
 Then as 1t regards national defence against
 foreign foe, there IS no point in the Union
 which national preservation would more re- quire to be fortified and defended than the
 frontier of Arkansas. Facilities must be
 made for the speedy transportation of troops ] and munitions of war. and to arrive at or
 depart from the point of support, or the l 6GSe hae of operations, whichever 1t may
 happen to be-eyery thing. troops, muni- 1 tions and funds for their support and trans 1 portation, must be levied in or pass through our. Territory. Consequently 1t will be of
 the highest order of necessity to the entire
 nation, that our navigable streams and prin- cpal leading roads should not only be kept
 open, but placed in the best possible condi- l aon. To this class belong Red River, 1 White River, Arkansas river, and tile three
 great primary roads cutting the Territory from East to West and from N orth to 1 South; to wit, the road from Memphis by Little Rock to Cantonment Gibson-the
 road up White River to the Western boun-
 dary-and the road from the Missouri line l by Little Rock 10 the Mexican boundary.
 Other roads to and from different points,
 will also be found of service to the United
 States, and put in proper state of im- l provement. All these things will be found
 doubly necessary when the Mexicans shall
 have extended their settlements near to our 1 border. All these facilities will be found
 doubIy necessary should that Government, 1 4l, T. IL