The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-02-15
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.

WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE
ThO reader will find below a letter from Mr..
Owen, under date of the Ord instant, which he
styles an ''additon TOP or ''a modification of
his letter to the Statesman, in another column,
but which we pronounce apology ADVANCE,
for his intended desertion of the interests of his
constituents; and we are satisfied they will find
it SO. He is hostile to the Canal, knowing at
the same time that any effort to procure an APP
preparation for the Wabash must I,as bill
introduced for tn at purpose would be broken
down by amendments attaching every river IN
the Union to it. We have neither time nor
room to say more just now, but would direct
tn attention of the reader to that part of the
letter in which he speaks of the work as 'sgreat
national thorougfhare." and in the same breath
asserts that it is to be left by Congress the In
plans is national and which is not. Was there
such nonsence?
WASHINGTON CITY, February 3, l843.
To the Editor of the Evansville Journal:
SIR-About fortnight since. addressed to
the Statesman and to the True American a COM
municaton of some length, of which you may
have probably transferred portion, at least, to
your columns. have. as yet, heard nothing in
reply, from any part of the District; yet have
something to add to, and something to modify
in, what then wrote. As what l have to say
is on matter specially interesting TO Evansville,
1 address this communication also to you.
In the letter to which l have above referred,
stated that DIR. DAVIS had sent to his committee q
resolution proposing to appropriate most of the
public lands in the Vincennes District to the
Canal, and the rest, with other lands in Illinois,
to the River. And I added, that if the commit
tee on-Pubic Lands reported bill to that effect,
my present intention was to support it.
have now TO add, that there is no probability
of any such bill being reported from that COM
mittee; norsRny chance, as believe, of its be-
ing carried Though the House, even if it were
reported And, fnrther, after carefully review :
ing this question, as my duty required me to do,
will not withhold my opinion, that a fair or
satisfactory argument could not be made in de-
fence of it.
great thoroughfare from the Lakes to the
Ohio is work OF national character; important
in time of peace; doubly important in time OF
war. To aid in completing such a work accord
| ing 10 some definite plan, either by improvement
OF the River. continuation of the Canal, a
grant of public lands may be fairly and reasona-
bly, demanded. But how demand for aid
in completing two outlets be defended? On
what grounds? On none, it seems to me, with
out giving up the character Of the work as a
great national thoroughfare, and regarding it as
private speculation, or, at best, mere State i'm.
provement.
One plan or the other is the cheaper and bet.
ter plan, TO complete this thoroughfare the river
or the canal. That better plan, be it which il
may, should be selected and for it's completion
the grant should be asked. If the claims OF
both pressed, each will destroy the other.
Whatever is done let me earnestly recommend
to the friends OF these rival interests, in argu-
ing the merits and claims of their own project
to refrain from attack on the merits and claims
of the other. Such course is suicidal. We
sh all be told from other portions of the Union
''Gentlemen of Indiana. settle your family quar-
rel first: agree among yourselves what it is you
want, and then it will be time enough for us tC
entertain your plans, and examine into the jus
tice of your demands"
| In the hope of ehTectng this desirable object
of harmony and unity of purpose, so that we
may present an undivided front, the Senat orr
from Indiana have informed us, that they pro
pose to call meeting of The entire delegation
of the State, to take the subject into consdera
ton. OF the result of their deliberations you
shall be duly informed.
ROBERT DALE OWEN.