The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-01
VOL. VINO. 6.
make the general connection and facilities

So soon as steamships of wal can DO
built they may during peace be employ
ed in carrying the mail On these river
routes, so as to be kept partially manned
and equipped for immediate use in case of
war, and in this arrangement our govern
menl will be initiating the example alrea-
dy set us by other enlightened nations.
We have thus briefly mentioned the
most important national channels of inter.
communication for military and commer-
cal purposes, the ship yards, naval sta
lions, and the western armory, necessary
10 make them available, and certainly
useful. in securing the general defence Of
the country in case of war.
In addition TO these grea, works neces-
sary for commercial uses, and indispen-
sable for general defence, il is deemed of
vital importance TO the health OF the Mis-
sissippi Valley, and TO secure The speedy
sale and settlement of the Government
Lands, that the bottoms be projected and
reclaimed by the immediate adoption of
a general system of levees. The pecu-
mary interests of the general government,
as well as the general interests of this
Valley, will be promoted by this great
work.
II is believed that one, or al most two
ranges of sections of lands, at government
price, would pay for levying the Miss.
issippi, Ohio. Arkansas, White, ST. Fran
ole Miscour, IlI;nc;s W,Lo,L - III
rivers. and that, in addition 10 the i'm
provement OF the health, and The imme-
diale settlement of the bottoms, ten TO
twenty times as much land that is now
ovcrilowed, would be reclaimed and oc.
cupied by farms, as would be required 10
pay for all the levees TO be made.
The low price OF cotton makes the pre-.
sent favorable time TO accomplish this
work, as planters would put their hands
upon it, and take the lands as an invest.
ment.
Connected with the means TO improve
the health, and promote the general COM
forts and prosperity of the West. is the
establishment Of Marine Hospitals by the
general government on the Mississippi
and Ohio rivers. On these great thor
oughfares, thousands are daily floating,
not only citizens from every State in the
Union, but from every par, Of the world.
Among these, many are INDECENT, and
all are liable to be taken sick. When
rendered helpless by disease, those who
have the means to defray the expenses Of
hospital comforts and conveniences, are
forced TO remain on the boats, or suffer
the inconvenience and neglect generally
inciden, 10 the sick public hotels. whilst
those who are without means, must eth
or suffer and die on the boats. or be thrown
upon the cold charity of strangers in the
river towns, who are so often and so hea-
Willy taxed in this way as 10 make them
indifferent too, and negligen, of the snf.
ierlngs Of their INDECENT fellow creatures.
Several years since, commissioners
authorized by Congress TO locate Marine
Hospitals from New Orleans TO St. Louis
&C., selected sites at Matches, Napoleon
and st. Louis, and several on the Ohio
river, and Memphis was afterwards adj
ded to the number, but no appropriations
have ever been made by Congress to erect
the buildings. These Marine Hospitals
should be Immediately erected, and the
Navy Yard greatly increases the necessi-
ty for Hospital at Memphis.
Upon these works Of general and spe-
cial importance TO the West and South
generally, there is probably but little diff.
ference of opinion, and but little if any
objections can be raised 10 a united and
Jealous ellor! 10 obtain their accomplish
ment by the general government, but an
other great object for which this Conven-
ton was assembled, presents greater diff
Gculies in the way of adopting, and car.
rying out any plans by which success
may certainly and speedily be obtained.
Labor in the West, and the South par
ticularly. is mainly applied TO agriculture.
and is unproduc'ive-much more unpro-
duc,ve than labor IN the North Eastern
States engaged in manufacturing, presen-
ting contrast, in two great sections of
the country, in the greater profit Of labor
in the Northeastern than in the South
Western States.
Considering the policy Of the Govern
ment as it now is, and as il viii probably
be continued, from the large majority Of
the people being in favor of the perma-
nent protection of home industry, and to
home supplies, at least so far as the rev.
enue standard will permit; this disparity
IN the relative value and produciiveness
of labor in the two sections Of country,
may be attributed to causes that are, and
will be only temporary in their effects.
The older Northeastern States grad
ually, under the protection Of the Tariff,
have been extending and building up their
manufacturers which arp still insufl;cippt