The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-06-20
SPEECH OF MIR. WENTWORTH.
OF ILLINOIS,, on THE
OF THE WESTERN VATET

The immediate state of the question before
the committee was as follows
Mr.. WISE had heretofore offered the follow.
ing modified resolution
!" RcS0ired, That so much of the Presidents
message as relates TO the policy of attending to
the lakes and rivers of the West be referred TO
the Committee on Commerce"
And Mr.. THOMPSON of Kentucky had offer red
, the following modified amendment thereto.
Resotrcd, That much of The Presidents
message as relates to the improvement OF the
western rivers and harbors upon the lakes be
referred to select committee of nine members"
And the pending question was on agreeing
10 the amendment rs thus mod fed.
Mr.. WENTWORTH rose and addressed the
committee as follows;
Ma. CHAIRMAN: As representative from a
State deeply interested in the Improvement of
three OF the great western rivers, Ohe Wabash,
the Ohio, and the Missssippi,) but from dis
trict more Immediately interested in the i'm.
provement of the lakes and all the northern
frontier waters, rise TO ask n division of the
amendment, since believe the interest of the
lakes is perfectly safe in the hands of the Com
miee on commerce and as an act of courtesy
to my friends representing the riparian districts
o.! The State, am willing to give that branch of
the amendment such direction as may best
suit them. Far be it from me to create any in
vdouS discrimination between the interest of
the northern frontier waters and those of the
Mississippi and its tributaries All | ask is,
that the immediate representatives of each shall
control the reference of their respective inter-
ests both Of which are common sufferers, and
have been for-ebe past five years-ever since
the session of '3S and 49, when all appropra-
lions for the West and Northwest, for the i'm
pavement Of rivers, erection of light houses,
construction Of harborS, and even for that great
and useful national highway, (the Cumberland
Ioad,) begun with the plishted faith of the ma
ton 10 complete it, were denied. The trivial
exceptions TO this assertion. CLEANED by Titles
here and there, can have no effect upon its ex-
tent, when we consider the importance Of the
matter All these great and imperative interests
of the country have been most Outragcously
neglected. Too long-altogether too long
have the people of nearly half of our Union,
from the disproporlOn of former representa-
tons on this floor. been knocking at the doors
of Congress, making just and long-repeated
complaints, and demanding their uHquestiona-
BILE deserts. Up to this time, they can scarcely
be said TO have had admittance, and relief has
been administered TO them only as crumbs
thrown from the windows, as the waste of the
PRODUCTIVITY lavished upon our army and navy.
Why, sir, during the short time of which
have been sp aking, there has been expended
upon our navy alone rising $3000O000; and.
when you seek for the advantages of all this,
tell you that you may as well seek the tracks
which our ships have left on the ocean.
The Presidents message has represented our
country at peace with all the world. Our flag
proudly floats upon every sea, and is respected
by every nation upon the habitabc globe. On
this very floor our navy has been called :"
peace establishment" and no man has presum-
ed TO contradict it. Now, is all the money de-
manded for the use of our navy in the estimate
of the necessary appropriations Of the present
fiscal 90 000 0il0 ito
All through the lat war, when the gallant
achievements Of orr navy gladdened every
American heart, and won herself untading lau-
rels, the expenditures never were as high as
the estimate Tor our present period Of universal
peace. The highest, in 1915, was only $500
600, and the year before, only 1871 ,000.-
Alter the war, our naval expenditures went
down to 100000 and in 1922, to 81, 22I,.
900. During Mr. AdamS'S administration, tho
average was three TO four millions. Under
General JackSon'S administration, they were
Kept below four millions, in accordance with
an olt.repeated recommendation of Secretary
woodbury. In 1886 with plelhorc treasury,
they be gan TO increase and have been ncrcas.
ing over since, until they reach $4,000, 900 by
the present estimate. Now, il four millions
haS. einnough under General Jackson, five and a
population iuis,.' aasSh TO keep pace with the
r .he highest sum for wnch the friends of rho
improvements o! enr lakes and rivers ougLt "a
Votc' Gentlemen have drawn glowng n;c,
lure OF our splendid navy, and they would give
sun additional lustre TO it. But it is not in
sPendld government that tho people find the
':ost happiness, nor in splendid armies and ma
vies that they find the most safety. All his
can be best secured by lcgislaling for the neces.
sites Oh the people, and so erecting govern
,.cn! upon their most holy affections by DIS
,ou.hs It's blessings equally to every section.
n,up my inSlnuatlon that am opposed to
,nUn',nsurate with the necessities of our
Of being ' unw iii plead guilty to the charge
for mere outward splenaapp!P Rs any money
tract from the honor justly atte,,.J,,,nw, oua oe
memorable achievements upon iies 1 ,;oh .m" ,
which have forever embalmed her in hen Scas'
history All have to complain of is, tEerlcan
has too long been the pet child of the nations !.
aud, like most pet children she is now inclined
TO run away with all the pa,rimony. But
should do injustice to the gallant dead, and to
many now alive. Qhough cruelty almost forgot
ton IN our munifcence to those who hazardcd
their lives in other quarters to defend their
country and who compose portion of our
western constituents, did here neglect TO state
mat our upper lakes have furnished theatres
lhough not quite as many of them) of rs much
true Vaior, patriotic devotion, and hard fighting,
as the Atlantic. waters. Conspicuous in the an
hd's OF american patriots stand the noble Perry
ana McDonough. Would to God that The
renowned Perry stood in my place to expatia,e
on tne importance OF harbors on the lakes in
military point OF view, and to give his own cx
pc fence from the want of them! Think Won
sir,Y'at in case OF another rupture between this
government and Great Britain, il is our Allan
tic ssontier that is to be alone exposed to at.
tack-a'one liable TO be pillagcd and burnt7
come to Ear different conc! fusion.
Gentlemen, TO excite spirit of emulation.
-.hHv" descanted at length on what Great Britain
rs doing Tor her navy. They could have arous-
ga more praiseworihy emulation had they dc.
picted what England is doing on our Canadian
frontier; had they enlarged upon the danger 10
be apprehended from the erection Of British forls
within cannon.shot of several of our important
ciIies; had they warned US to look on, for onr
Trade, which she is now endeavorinr TO soenre
by the vast sums she is expending in bnilding