Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1842-11-19
IMPROVEMENT OF TIE IVES.
TERN WATERS.

improvement Of the Mississippi and its
tributaries has at las, become the sub
ject, not only otta:k, but Of action in mos
Of the principal Eastern cities as we'll as
those OF the West. The newspapers
throughout the country are daily lending
their aid in cnighteniAg the public us to
It's Importance. Year after year the sub.
Ject has been brought before Congress
by the western members, but has univer.
sally been opposed by those from The At
lantlc States; but hereafter we hope bu,
little il any opposition will be brough. to
bear against the passage by Congress Of
an appropriation sufficiently ample TO
make the navigation Of the Western riy.
ers equal in safc.y to those cmp,ying into
the Atlantic. The commercial intercs,
in the East is equally interested with
that Of the West. Thousands and thou.
sands of dollars are yearly lost 10 East.
crn shippers, to Eastern insurance com.
tpanies and to Eastern merchants by the
almost daily steam boat losses on the
Mississippi. The farming community
in tie West lose more in one year, by the
increased price they pay for goods and
the disn,inished price Of their produce,
(occasioned by the distractions TO safe
nayiga'ion) than would clear the princi-
pie. distractions in the. Western rivers.
But this is not all. The loss Of one, or
one part Of the community is not a. cor
responding gain 10 another part. 1t is a
loss Of wealth TO the whole country. 1t
is so much Of the products Of the labor
and the industry Of our country thrown
away; and opposition to sucha measure
is like, 10. use arnold adage, .'cutting the
pose off tospitc the lace.' We hope,
ere the close Of the next session Of Con
gress, that every city and town.in the
West will contribute in furnishing thai,
body wi;i,.cs,imates Of the losses now
yearly sustained, as we'll rs the probable
benefits and advantages to be gained by
aspermancnt aud thorough improvement
|ofthe western rivers. Let public meet
jngs be. called. Let the merchant, the
iarmtr, the mechanic, and tho working
man count up his individual loss. To
the people Of this Territory we say there
is need Of action. Let not The idcathas
yolr previous action upon this subject is
sufficient. New events daily.occus Which
tend to show the increased Importance OF
the subject. Let not the idea that be-
cause Congfess has not hesctoiore listen:
ed to your petitions and memorials she
will still refuse so to do.
We would recommend that coun-
ty meeting be called in each county
in the Territory at all as early a
day as practicable, and that every
person in the county should exert him.
self to furnish tha! meeting with cs-
Inmates; that these estimates should be
summed up BY committee appointed by
that meeting, and the result with suitable
instructions be forwarded 10 thc LegisIa-
ture. The Legislature would then be
enabled to act promptly in the natter.-
The members would then have data upon
which TO frame memorial, tha, VIC are
sure would lie ofno little weight in-con
vincing Congress 81 the necessity ol're-
moving the distractions occasioned by
the rapids in the Upper Mississippi.
VIII not Des Moines county start the
ball in the Territory? Let those moro
particularly interested answer.
TIE DUTY OF DEMOCRATIC LE-
GlSLATORs.
Tho, those .,cni''ers of,he Legislature
sl.o were selected o,, AM who received
lie votes ofthe democratic y'rty, have
nigh and important trust commil.sod ''ol
hem, and that they arc in duty bound TO /,
ha: party faithfully to perform the trust
70 committed, wc hope every democratic
member will reccllect. Aud what, let US
.sk, is this trust? We do not pretend to
lictate to the several members what their
'uty IL, but there are several things
which the party as a whole consider TO
'e the duty Of those whom they have
hosen as the representatives. oflheir will,
md which should DO strictly attended to
y those representatives. Among other
hinys, VIC consider the following 10 be
ONE Of the most important Of those du.
les:
That the people, as whole are capable
{ governing themselves, is the Gounda
ION Of . democratic government; and
nat cxpe'ients should not be resortcd to
tthe cost or to the least de.riment Of this
r'nclplc should bo most. strictly guarded
gainst by those who have been delega-
Cd with power. There arc numerous
rays in which this principle can be in
rlnged upon, for. instance, superabun-
ant legislation has the esiec, &c take
rom the mass privileges whichthey have
ever surrendered; legislating Cor the
sw at the cost Of the many, or III other |.
'ords, .abridging the free action Of the
'ass for the purpose Of giving increased
berries and benefits to few; adoptinp
experimental measures for the mere pur
ose Of legislation, and thereby exceed
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