The Arkansas advocate., 1836-05-20

the general prosperity of the country
 Your committee are not aware that aiiY
 disadvantages can possibly arise from tie
 construction of such works to individuals, the community at large, or to the General Government. On the contrary, the effect
 will be ifi every particular, of tho most beneficial character: The land subject to
 inundation iss perhaps, more valuable from
 the extraordinary and inexhaustible qualities of it's soil, than from the extent of iis super
 ficial area For there is not doubt; that as long as the Mississippi rolls the mighty volumes oi iis turbid and angry waters into tine Gulf of Mexico, the soil of these lands will be as fresh and as vigorous, as the day when the enterprise of man made the first stroke to subdae it from it's natural rude nesss and subject It to all the various arts
 ot cultivation and improvement. With such 1 facilities as would belong to them, if re- claimed; who can say what point will be the
 extent of the improvement, the wealth, the
 greatness and the power of this portion of our country The brightest picture which fancy can paint of it's condition. will scarce y be an insight into its future destinies.
 The Missssippii instead of being lined with swamps and stagnant waters, presenting dreary and desolate waste, the loathsome abode of reptiles; and the fruitful source of certain disease, will be througed with busy and active population; with their farms, their villages and their cities indenting it's borders m every direction that the eye may range. The St. Francois, White rirer, the Arkansas, the Red river, and other tributa- fhe L
 ed, and the necessary embankments con- structed, will present q new and interesting | s!aeetaeles Population will flow into and fill up space which now defies the courage of man 10 occupy. The desert will be con verted into fruitful fields. New channels of commerce will spring up trade will be ex- tended; the agrlculturlst will be stimulated to fresh exertlons by the exciting causes around him; the resources of the etsintry, which lnsuperabe barriers 10 individual en- terprise have kept hid, will be developed
 the elastic power of man if the avocations
 of social life will be extended to it's utmost
 capacity, and the country rewarded with the most happy results affecting the moral,
 intellectual and political condition of soeie- l ty. In surveying the extensive range of the valley of the Mississippi, and contem-
 plating its future destiny, We cannot but have reference to the facts here set forth in
 miniature, and to those salient principles in
 every active and intelligent community
 which contribute to it's progressive improve
 ment, as calculated to realize what may now seem to be the visions of fancy. If any should be scepical on this head, let them look at the broad deep rivers intersect-
 ing 1t in every direction, its commercial
 facilities, its agricultural resources, its min eral wealth, sweeping within its immense range every variety of growth peculiar to its climate, from the gorges of the Allegha-
 ny and the frozen regions of the Rocky
 inountams. to the burning sands on the
 delta of the Mississippi, each section of the
 country becoming alternately, in the course
 of their intercommunicatron, the suppiiers
 and the consumers to the other; and they
 may have some faint outline of the bound
 less capacities ard striking tendencies. of which we have been speaking.
 :; Your committee, therefore, deeply i'm. r pressed with the importance of this subject must be excused for earnestly pressing up on the House prompt and speedy action
 Tn tho proposed work. Other considera-
 tions than those of mere interest 10 itself
 demand this at the hands of the Govern
 ment. The Government IS the proprietor
 ot the soil. No steps can be taken to. wards tho accomplishment of this object. unless she shall undertake t herself or a. } bandoh her interest 10 others who will do so. : The Government Is certainly bound by r every obligation which can subsist between ' itselt and tho citizens of the country, to dc 5 every thing calculated to benefit the people !, and melforate their condition. The pre- yaling sickness which attends contieui,, 3 to these swamp and Inundated lands, cal : be almost wholly prevented by removing it : palpable causes. The Government IS ful . y able to do this, without the possible 9 chance of injury resulting to herself.- : Besides this consideration, no less i'm 3 perIons duty devoIves upon it, to redeem ; from waste and wortfdessness a portion O } our country, which every feasonabl calcula ] ton lustlfles Us in saying, can be rendered equal to the finest parts of the habitablt globe. In word, where such great ad 7 vantages are likely to be the consequences the Government fs bound by the mos
 solemn obligations which can enter into the
 relations of life; If for no other cause. fo,
 the sake of its own honor and character; tc
 undertake the projected works. But shoule
 the apprehension exist, that inc grounds here assumed are fatiacious, and that the
 danger of involving itself m immense ex. penses IS too great for the probability of per.
 manent advantages that .s.rht res,.it ta .he