The daily union., 1846-05-02
CON GREs SION AL.
APP II N DIX


h.eky, published in yesterdays "UniOn," the bill
making appropriations for certain hGrbOr' and
rpd5
No. l-Ertraels from The address Of the degoeratie
II Sait convention 10 lhs people Of HlinOiS, 1916.
! The recent convention held al Memphis, in which
I6heen great States including Illinois, were repre-
|,snted, over which that distinguished statesman,
VJoHs C. CALHOUN, presided, was tho moa
Important event for the prosperity OF the
J IWsst that has transpised since the battle OF
New Orleans. In this convention, which was CON,
Dosed of Ave hundred intelligent men, the neglected
kommerce Of the West was recommended to the no.
es Of the general goyssnmeni and the great nsers,
HE lakes, and ship-channol between them were
Considered prominent objects Of national concern
Some OF the resolutions, which were unanimously
ldopled by that body, well deserve repeating here
Il was Resolved, That safe communication be-
Tween the Gulf of Mexico and the interior, afforded
by the navigation Of the Mississippi and ONO nv
rs and their principal tributaries, Is indispensable
10 the defence of the country in time OF war, and
kssential also TO its commerce That the I'M
kroyement and preservation Of the navigation Of
Hose great rivers are objects as strictly national as
kny other preparation for the defence Of the eoun-
kry and that such improvements are deemed by this
Eonyention impracucable by the States or by indi.
kdual enterprise, and cal for appropriations Of
money for the same by the general government" {"
Thar the deepening Of the mouth Of the Mississip-
20 as to pass ships of the largest Glass; cost what
may, Is a work worthy Of the nation, and would
really promote the general prosperity" THAT
he project ofconnecting the Mississippi river with
b, axes OF the North by ship canal, and thus
vih the Atlantic ocean, is a measure worthy OF the
kaghIened consideration Of Congress" That the
uaf and lake coasts greater in extent than the
llanc seaboardj that the interests TO be defended
one quarter are quite important and altogether
,s national as those iu the other and that the
,sndlures required for the proper defence Of the
Vls and lakes will fall far short Of what has been
|, freely voted for the coast deiences OF the Allan
pn
Here is declaration from an intelligent body Of
men convened from every part Of the great Mlssls-
uppi valley, proclaiming the right to a share Of
n. national disbursements for the encouragement
md protection of western commerce This declar-
non NAV have no effect in establishing fact which
100 apparent to require confirmation but II shows
lust apprehension Of this important subject uni
rasally prevails, and that no difficulty will be
bund in arousing the strength Of the West TO any
uubined action which may be necessary to accom-
pIsh it.
The commerce Of the western waters exceeds IN
uue tae whole foreign commerce Of the United
States, and no good reason can be assigned why the
nme protection should not be yielded I'd both; yet,
whilst millions Of dollars annually appropriated
the benefit ofthe Atlantic trade, the West gets com.
arstyely nothing Ii is not only the injustice which
I've suffer from our neglected commerce that demands
.dress. The disbursement of nearly all the whole
Ends which are poured into the national treasury
toni every part Of the Union are made within the
ulantc States alone, whilst the West is drained Of
: bu money and gets no return. This circumstance
enough OF Itself TO keep our pockets dry, and de-
Ipnye us Of the currency needed for the common
transactions Of trade; and aggravates most essen
Iaay the injustice we suffer from the inexcusable
- Of rio la nj
ts, commerce which is Of such immense value to
hs nation, whilst 1t s the life of the West, requires
hat the works recommended by the Memphis con-
roton should be accomplished without deayi We
sk that suitable appropriations should be made for
Aese objects, and we claim it not as favor, but
(, ght We are equal in population TO the Atlantic
Safes; we contribute as much TO the national rev.
sue; and protection and reasonable facilities
| he necessary for western commerce than for that
the maritime border. Illinois ID 60 situated as
10 be Immediately benefited by every important
work that is recommended by the convention. -
The inconsistency Of any objection to our claims
Upon constitutional grounds can scarcely fail to
anke every fair mind with peculiar force. The aid
required for our commerce is allowed on all hands
\ be necessary The works proposed are Of general
interest and Of nearly equal importance to all the
r.ai States Of the West and essential 10 national
Prosperity. Individuals cannot accomplish them,
), nor can individual States. The work can only be
rcomplished by a combination Of the States. The
grand design Of the confederacy was to promote OBJ
tca Of the general weiiare which could not be &C.
4 umplished by single States How then can we avoid
4 b. conclusion that this demand upon the gen.
ta government is Just and Indispensable Will our
asrn friends tell us how they are able TO smother
heir constitutional scrupes in voting appropriations
sr the fishing interest, for lighthouses, for PEN
aoners under the bounty of government, for foreign
Intercourse, and for the navy Is all this expense
incurred for the purpose Of enabling us to wage war
nth more effect protect our citizens upon their
!. arms, or in their domicisl Are the lighthouses
d which illuminate the whole length of the Atlantic
Oast and many of the rivers leading into the ine-
ror placed there for warike dcfencei-or have they
een erected for the benefit of the maritime COM
mercer Is the navy which is scattered through every
sea Of the globe, sent abroad to defend us from
like attack or is it to protect, extend, and facilitate
foreign commercci OF what use is one important
department of our executive government, the navy
F what use is that department at this time, or what
Practical benefit has it yielded to the nation for the
Y |st thirty years. but In providing for the safety and
GENERAL welfare Of our commercial interestsi This
p the principal duty Of that important department IN
lime Of peace or il might well be abolished, since
hree that have transp.-d since the close of the rev.
IoIutonary war.
81 Ii should be remembered that we ask for no at,-
q propration unless for works that strictly ma
lonal in their character. IL we are met with an
bection that has been urged against any system of
Internal Improvement by the nation, let us beg those
vho would condemn every appropriation for objects
which this term "internal' may be applied, to
u how us what change in the constitution forbids
Congress to accomplish any work, or to effect any
n object that is required by the national welfare be-
is called for in the heart Of the nation and
bot upon the Atlantic coast or high seas. General
Jackson vetoed the Maysville road bill, and in so
u, Ong performed constitutional duty. Does it fol-
n c*, because he would not permit an improper bill
Or internal improvement to pass, that every meas
}, IRE par,aking Of that character, whether right or
q wrong, should be condemned Congress must use
heir discretion upon this upon all other subjects
VI national Legislation. And with what propricy
can it be demanded that they shall refuse justice to
& , lest they may inconsderatey fall into the habit
0f bes,owing the public money on improper Objects
e Shall we believe that Congress can still turn a
deaf ear to the suffering interests Of western COM
nsroe if the whole delegation from the Mississippi
y valley prove dgent and faithful to their constu-
ntS Should we, however, be for the present dis
,ppointed n our Just expectations, the peculiar and
Commanding situation Of Illinois in relation to the
/ great interests of western commerce demands that
'he should be foremost in pressing this subject upon
) he Immediate attention of Congress, and IN asking
Tor the cooperation Of her sister States so far as