Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-05-06
River and HnfhNr hill.


tutiondlist, and regret that we have not
room for the whole article. Ii is time the
people should be aroused to the inequality,
direct robbery, and danger to the perma-
nence of the government, attending the
internal Improvement SYSTEM" one of the
safely ratres Of high tariff
"Though this harbor and river system, as
it is called, has created much excitement. il
has not generally received the attention it
deserves. think it was a member from
New York, who predicted a few wears
since IN debate that This system, would ul-
timately cause the dissolution of the Union.
What abuse of legislative power is more
likely to do SO? Against these unprinci-
! pied combinations, some relief has occa.
sionaly been found in the firmness, and
patriotism, and honesty Of the Executive
This Is, however, an uncertain protection,
and when the abuse is better considered,
and more generally understood, it cannot,
and will not be borne. We have com.
planned much, and think justly, of the
partial operation of the protective tariff
This however favorS a class, and in theory
at least that class may be found in all sec
tons of the Union. Not so with these To-
cal improvements. They are entirely 10,
cal or sectional in their character, Without
u single national feature about them What
possib bic interest have the Southern States
for example, in the improvement of har-
bors from Burlington TO Baltimore? Why
should we be taxed to improve the channels
of commerce from these ports to the West,
lrhcn the object and effect is to injure our
OUR? Why tax us 70 clean out the mouths
of every rivulcl on The Lakes, or TO cut
through the marshes of Michigan to build
up the fortunes of village spectators p
If The harbor of Boston needs attention.
let Boston clear it out. 1t is her own at
fair, not ours. Most of our Southern CT
ties have taxed themselves TO the verge of
bankruptcy to extend their own commerce,
whilst they are called on to contribute to
about 100000 to make a merc riUcrIaad-
ing at ST. Louis!i Let Us complain Of
this oppression, and we are told 0. lois
renting in St. Louis by the square foot
houses going up like magic, ana an in
crease OF wealth beyond all example. 4
, few thousand dollars to clear out the Sa.
vannah river, would gladden. the hearts OF
= every merchant in Savannah and Augusta.
But whilst they are devising The means OF
raising ii themselves, they are called or
: to contribute to $4,000 per Gnnum 10
Northern and Western rivers! Let us
complain of this, and our ignorance is PHI.
I tied. Southern gentlemen arc not b.am
: ed for their opposition to the improvement
; of the West, they know not what Iney CO
They are unacGuainIed with the vast eX
tent of Western commerce?
Let us propose 10 amend by inserting
some Southern river, the improvement o.
: lChich conflicts lCith the prirate interest anC
commerce of this log-rOIiiHg combination
and we are told that . it travels one steE
beyond the scope that the committee haC
marked out for itself" They had only
appropriated for the Hudson and the Mis-
= sissippi, and its main branches. The Ten
K neSSee is large tributary of the Mlslsslp
: pi, but unfortunately ii proves an impor
e tant link in a great line of improvements
y connecting the Southern Atlantic coas
: with this same prosperous West, and con
!, hcting lcith the interest Of erery port ant
c Improvement North and West Of Bait
0 more. twas therefore " beyond the Scop
e which the committee had reserved for it
: self' Why the Hudson? When clea
t of ice, we know that that river is coveIet
d with boats of the largest class, runnin;
and racing day and night at the highes
e speed, and who has ever heard of any Sc
: rious difficulty in the navigation between
Y Albany and New York? Even the accom-
5 modating bureau Of 1874, did not repor
e in favor of this river, and at the last ses
5 sions, 1t is said, it did not full within tn
e scope of the committee. On a trial c
IS trcngth, however, ii was soon found tina
d the bill could not pass without buying NOR
;, Uotes from New York. This necessit
J. brought it loithin the scope: the Hudson
d was inserted, and by this bride the b
/, passed. This caution seems to have ha
J. its effect upon the committee, and TIL
session the Hudson stands foremost.
Re have named the only necessity for this ap
;e preparation. True, N. York was heavi
provided for on the lakes, and lake river:
i'll but the Empire State knows her strength
y and as the price of support, insists on ve
n ry full fellowship in The plnnder.
of
r, 81 will say nothing of the Constitution
he know that in the present state of polit
" cal morals that is feeble barrier again
A. any selfish project | ask however, wit
of no hope of an answer) why these por
it and rivers are entitled to preference owe
of others? The absurd claim under the o.
dinance of 1857, is not often referred Il
in 1t was once claimed under that ordlnanc,
in that because the States could not shut a
to the Ohio, they had no power to keep IL opel