The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-11

| part OF report Mhlch hflngs nito view th
Missouri the Arkansas the Red river and the hsrbor at 81
Louis exposed to injury by tendency to change In thu
consideration Recent events, aud the opening scenes II
the southwest have given increased lmPoranee TO the nav
saton o. the Arkansa, and Red rivers They open dlse
bs guarded by military posts The improvement OF thes
rivers on this account as well a, from eonsdersons Of
more general character, Is embraced among the pub'
works presented by the Typographical Bureau for the pa
tronags Of Congress"
While | do not suppose it possible for the Presi
dent TO examine all the miouur OF the various re
ports submitted by the bureaus OF the different de
partments, yet IL Is papnbis that important primer
Piles like these, announc' iTeetly by one Of hii
own cabinet, could net b been overlooked or dis
regarded presume, therefore, they must necessa-
rily have received his sanction; and coming 10 US
in connexion with or rather a part ~, his mes
sage, we may receive them, so far the general
principles are concerned as coming from him. At any
rate will undertake to say, that il these principles
should not be acknowledged by the President, and
acted upon, by the approval of bills passed in con-
formity with them, the gentleman from Ohio, Mr.
ScHEsoK, who now makes the objection, would be
the first 20 hold him responsible for what would
then be considered gross ineonsistency--an mex
plicable and unjustihabe abandonment of opinions,
recently, and upon u grave occasion, announced TO
the legislature Of the nation.
II will be observed that the Secretary Of War; in
the extracts have read from his report places the
improvements for which he has submitted estimates
to the defensive operations of the government Ii is
upon this ground chiefly, if not entirely, that |
would choose TO claim the power for the general
government. ! think the remarks of the gentle
man from Ohio, Mr.. BRSKERHoFF,l though CEN
fined entirely 10 the lakes were forcibls and just.
The same grounds assumed in the report of the
Secretary of War; and, in my Judgment, no man
can successfully combat them. The defence Of that
portion Of the country does not require fortihca-
lions; il requires facilities for constructing navy,
and harbors TO render It secure when built IL re-
auires the commercial marine Of those vast inland
seas to be fostered and encouraged, the only re-
liable means by which the government can duly pro-
tect itself from hostile attacks in that quarter. The
same may be said, to great extent OF the Mlssis-
sippi river and its tributaries. The vast resources
OF the region drained by those mighty rivers, will
be the main reliance Of the government in time Of
war. IL would be folly to suppose they could be
dispensed with, and il would be madness and crime
to neglect any means ofmaking them fully availa-
BILE, when the emergency may demand them.
have already alluded to the fact that the govern
ment is now building stesm-frgate at Pittsburg.
II was the highest wisdom that dictated this meas
ure, and proper foresight will require the policy TO
be continued.
In future, sir, as the necessities Of the country
shall require them, whole fleets Of such vessels will
be constructed at Memphis, and perhaps at other
points in the Great West, ready to descend fully
equipped and Named TO the Gulf Of Mexico, and
Cdpupc VI ucicHuIlR anu pfOttCtlHR inc
that immense valley. repeat this is the soundest
and wisest policy. Ten millions Of people now in
habit that valley. Soon its population will far outnum-
Der that Of the Atlantic States Thirtysix thousand
miles Of navgabe rivers-a distance that will reach
once round the globe, and half round agan-are
teeming with brave and hardy race of boatmen, in
ured to all the abors and perils of the navigation,
and better acquainted with the steam-engine than
any other people in the world. II is indispensable
to bring our navy in contact with this population.
The strength and popularity Of the navy requires 1t
the successful defence Of the country requires it
the interests and expectations Of the busy and tenn
ing millions Of the West, demand it. Those who
control the destnies Of this nation, the gallant Off.
GERS of the navy themselves, will be blind indeed
they fail To appreciate the force Of the facts to
which have merely alluded. Men, provisions, and
materials Of all kinds abound in that favored region;
and that class Of vessels, which, in future naval
wars, will be mora useful than line-ofbattle ships
can ever be, may be constructed there with as much
facility and chespness in any other part OF the
country. Looking to the necessary policy of the
government in this respect-a policy to which the
government is already fully committed by the ope-
ratons at Pittsburg and at Memphis, it is impossi-
bic to dispute the power Of the government to i'm
prove those rivers, or odeny the policy Of exerci.
sing that power at the present time.
have already argued that the government might
remove any distractions in the Ohio or Mississippi
river, necessary to enable the Allegheny, now
gulf. If it could do this in the emergency pro-
posed, could it not do prospectively' l imagine
IT would not be necessary to wait until the vessel
should be in danger, before the power could be ex-
erted. The government might exercise a rational
foresight and obviate the difficulty before the
emergency had actually arisen. And iii could re-
move one difficulty, it could remove thousand;
and iii could do this one month before the vessel
should sail, it might do it ten years before the oc-
casion should arise. In short, sir, the government
might render the navigation of the river easy and
secure, in order that il might enjoy the advantage
whenever the defence of the country should require
the removal of her Ships or the transportation of
men, munitions, and supplies.
1t will not be doubted, sir, that if, in the actual
emergency of war, the security ofthe country should
require canal to be cut from the Mississippi river
to the lakes either float vessels through, to
carry men, arms, and provisions, the government
would have power to do the work. But the voice
of wisdom, universally acknowledged, teaches US
that in peace 're must prepare for ,cdr. If in the ex-
gences Of actual hostilities, may construct such
a work, may we not likewise do it prospectivey,
as precautionary measured May we not prepare
for the security and defence of the country in any
many in which pruden, foresight may require us to
do it' II matters not what may be the character Of
the work, or how much commerce may be encour-
aged and assisted by it, If il be certainly valuable
the constitutional power of the government.
Bat it will be objected that this principle, broadly
stated it is, would comprehend local improve
ments well as those OF national character. But
resist the objection. No man can say that mere
local improvement would become necessary even in
time of war. 1t could not be anticipated with any
certainty, even probability, that isolated road
or small stream would become material impor-
tant in the movements Of armies and navies during
actual hostilities. But with regard to the Missis-
sippi river and it's great ributaries-with regard to
the lskes-no man will dispute that it is absolutely
certain they must be the channels of communication
and transportation indispensable to the government
in war. This absolute and indispensable necessity
foreseen and acknowledged by all constitutes the
irresistible claim of these great Finland seas to the
fostering care and improving hand of the govern.
ment The distinction between national and oca
works is confessedly one of great difficulty, to
which the application of any clear and definite
principle is scarcely possible. Yet there is dis
tinction always susceptible Of being ascertained
provided tho judgment be honestly applied, without
any bias from local or sectional interests. Deriving
the power to make improvements solely from theil
importance in the defence Of the country, think tn,
principle have attempted to state reasonably clea
and definite. The work must be Of such magn
tude and importance in itself or in its connexions