Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-11-26


ton with the North, as well as amongst
ourselves; and see thai that connection
shall be secure from danger OF navigation
as well as contingency OF war. The rail
road system is the only sure and unnt,;r.
ruPled means of connection herewith, and
that for the six months in the year, when.
from opposite causes, other ice, or DROUGHT
the ordinary channels of inland nayipa-
ton are closed. Besides great rail road
communications, we must also connect the
valies Of the Mississippi and ST. Law
renee riverside effect which, the Illinois
river presents great natural advantages
Other links of connection now in progress
will shortly be completed. The New
York IL Erie Rail Road--the Pennsyya.
MIA rail road--the Baltimore rail road
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal--the
James river and Kanawha rail road--and
other companies pushing on their noble
enterprises to completion.
This then, gentlemen, brings us to
more delicate question: and that is, hop
far nee may itlroke The aid Of the General
Government? On this point, gentlemen,
am aware there is diversity Of opinion.
1t is well known that am for rigid con-
sIruction Of our Constitution. will not,
nay would scorn to take this occasion to
pass opinion on topics belonging TO other
halls than these-and here ! would beg
all TO ACT with forbearance. Il general to.
plcs arlse' iei every constitutional scruple
% an qntouched point Your circular of
last JuIy' excluding SUBJECTS OF political
controversy, read WIN pleasure on that
account Our general government, how
ever is one OF united powers. It's re-
stfictlohs must De sacred, and on them de-
penn me oura'loh OF our Constitution and
our country on theIr integrity depends
The fond anticipation OF the founders of
our government, that for time TO come it
should far surpass all others.
As to the improvement Of The Valley of
the MisSiSsappt-what, then, can the
General Government do? The invention
of Fulton has, II may be allowed the ex-
preston, turned the Mississippi river and
lis tributaries lato an inland sea, Of equal
Importance in IFS navigation with Chesa-
peake or Delaware bay. believe il there
tore TO be matter peculiarly within the
jurisdiction oil the Federal Government,
and deserving In the highest degree OF lis
police and protection This is not a mat
ter to be lett 10 individual States. i is
one OF high national Importance. We
may safely lay down as rule, which It is
presumed will be acceptable TO all, that
whatever can be done by individuals, they
ought TO accomplish; whatever is peculiar
" within the province of States they should
effect; and whatever is essentially within
the control Of the General Government, ii
should accomplish lbelieve The free and
uninterrupted navigation Of these inland
seas ESQ 10 speak) is within the peculiar
province of the General Government.
(great apPlanse.) Button these topicsit
were useless at present to g. INTO detail.
Again, me connection OF me MISSISSIPPI
valley tclth the Southern Atlantic States,
is matter belonging to the General Go
vernmenf' and requires attention IN two
points;
Isl. A more uninterrupted communlca-
ton between the Mississippi river and tue
Gull by deepening the bar at the Ballze,
so as at all times to admit the passage OF
the largest vessels, and thus effect more
immediate junction OF the ocean and n
YER trade.
End. Security in the event Of war, not
only by an extensive naval station on the
Gulf, and the permanent occupation OF
those waters by large naval force, but also
BY the speedy fortilication of The Tortugas
These means will tend TO keep open the
present modes of transit between the
Southwestern and Atlantic States.
There is another mode OF ihter-commu-