The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-04-21

pfOpl1aiDUSs lIlsttic lar du litC iAFCAo oAiN
roads, and all other objects of improve
ment, in the whole of the interior embra-
ced in this vast boundary, from the foun-
dation of this Government up TO the pres
eni hour, would not amount to as much
as had been expended on single fort or
breakwater on the seaboard-he referred
TO the Delaware breakwater and the. Rip
Raps." Scarcely as much as it had cost
TO erect the s2endid edifce in which we
are now deliberatIng. And vet it was
said the West had got more Than their
share, and that nothing could satisfy their
ravenous appetites. Last session,thc hsr-
Dor and river bill, which for the first time
made some liberal appropriations 10 wes-
tern objects. was vetoed by the accidental
President who had never received a sin
gle vote for that ofiice-an act OF usurpa-
ton which would have prodnced an uni
versal burst OF Indignation, but for the
insignifcance Of the man.
Mr.. Cobb here desired to ask Mr..
Stewart, whether he had not voted for
that man as President! Mr.. Stewart re-
piled, neyer-for President. never. sir;
but he would not stop 10 handy words
about Tyler the subject was TOO low and
disgusting. A laugh.
Though the people Of the West had
contributed millions or millions TO the
Treasury, what had they ever received!
Comparatively nothing. Her money,
ike her great rivers, had flowed in per-
petual streams to the Atlantic, never, new
er 10 return. Where were her appropri-
ations for buoys, lighthouses, beacons,
forts, breakwalers, and all the thousand
objects which carried the contents of the
Treasury 10 the East! The interior and
the VI est had none of these objects: and
if appropriations for works Of internal I'M
proYemen.s nnst be denied, what was
she ever to receive! The doctrine of these
ultra cons tructonists would take from the
Government all power 10 appropriate a
dollar to the West. Where was our ar
my! on the seaboard. Oar navy9 on the
seaboard. Our ship yards! on The sea-
board. Our forts! on the seaboard.-
Our buoys and beacons! on the seaboard.
Our piers. harbors, breakwaiers. and 9TH
er defences! on the seaboard Take away
from US our internal Improvements. and
what have we left! Nothing, sir, abso-
lutely nothing. What Western man
could vote for such doctrinesl il would
he treason 10 his country and constituents
10 do so. But he would turn the aiten-
fion of gentleman to one fact that seemed
to be fo:gottel in some quarters. In times
past, the West was as nothing in the esti-
nation Of certain transcendenial construc
tionists, while the Atlantic States were the
whole Union. To the backwoodsmen,
thew gave out OF mere condeseension; but
with sparing hand. The seaboard took
OF; Of the head Of the heap, while he
West got the sweepings Of the gra floor.
The prime dishes on the Government Ia
bic were for the princes OF the Coast.
while the West must be content with the
crumbs. But period was fast approch-
ing when the West could no longer be
found begging for crumbs, and having even
the crumbs refused. or given with mig
gardly hand. No. sir! If the people ofthe
West were at this moment fully represen-
led, according to their present population,
III that Hall, they would Command what
they now had to ask in vain. If they
had their rights on this floor today, they
would control the legislation of this coun-
try. But few years would set this MAJ
ter right. -Four or five years wonld bring
the next census, and then the people on
the west of the Alleghanies would demand
with voice that would not be disregard
edit would then be their turn to giue
and take; and let gentlemen beware In
time.
Gentlemen said theSiates ought to make
these Improvements. But what was the
character of these works! Were they
not national in every respect! The
great rivers of the West belonged to
no State or Staies-they were TIE prop
erty of the whole country. They consti-
ted the States boundaries, as did the At
lantic-they were as national as the ocean.
These rivers were among the internalcon-
Germs Of no State. What right had any
State TO carry on Improvements in rivers
which were not theirs! The gentleman
from Virginia said that the States had ru-
ined themselves BY their internal improve
ments. That made against bis argument.
They had ruined themselves in doing. out
of their own Stale funds. what ought 10
have been done outof the National Trea-
sury. The execution of works strictly
national, had been improperly cast upon
the States; and if they had been ruined,
it was because the General Government
had refused 10 exercise is own legitimate
powers and perform It's legitimate duties.
A sense of common justice would lead
Congress to appropriate something to en-
able the West to clear out her rivers, and
build her roads. anddeve,op her boundIess
resources. The Improvements provided
r. a. L