The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-12-18

general government to aid in the de-
yelopement o. those great lines Of in.
ternal communication which The invent
i've genius and irresistible energy Of
the age are giving 10 the world. If
there be any one question in relation
to which more than another the PEG.
pie ofthe whole Union are united as
the voice Of one man, it is as 10 the d..
ty OF Congress to improve our great
lakes and rivers so as to afford safe and
cheap inland navigation and transport
tation. q Not intending thereby to ex.
clude other equally important objects
in our W State and else where, let US
direct our attention to certain local..
ties brought by our public works more
directly uuder our immediate obserya.
ton. Maumee and Sandusky bays,
and Cleveland harbor, where our ca.
nails and railroads terminate on Lake
Erie, and Buffalo harbor where so
much western commerce concentrates.
Is it TO be endured that the pittance re.
ouisite to improve each Of these great
harbors shall be much longer withheld?
And on the other side ofus why should
not Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ken.
lucky, Ohio and Indiana demand thu,
the canal around the falls of the Ohio
river, in which the United States have
already so large an interest, should be
purchased, enlarged and made free to
the commerce Of this vast region?
j cannottakei leave, without cor.
graduating you and the country, in
view of the prospect that the noble
stand which Ohio took and still so gal.
lanty maintains, not only at home, but
in both houses Of Congress, in the fore
front Of opposition TO the Mexican
War, is likely 10 Deere long, sustained
by the authoritative voice of the ma.
ton; that the attempt TO identity op-
position to this war Of aggression with
Opposition to the late war of national
defence, has SO signally recoiled upon
the heads Of its authors; and that, |
trust, we shall hear no more of the alb.
surdity, that national honor requires
from US the u%nrelenting and vigorous
prosecution Of a war commenced in
violation Of our constitution and The
eternal principles of right! True hon.
or requires either nations or IN.
d~ividuals to continue to do wrong be-
cause their servants and agents have
either commenced or long pursued that
career; on the contrary, the only hon.
orable course for either, in suce an e.
mergency, is to dismiss their servants,
.scease 10 do evil, and learn TO do WELL"
Justice and truth, humanity and chart
ty, moderation and magnanimity. are
infinitely nobler elements Of honor, in
dividual or national, than haughtiness,
pride, ~covetousness and revengc,how.
ever displayed in brilliant and heroic
deeds of courage. Let Congress, there.
fore, in the name Of virtue, Christianity,
and peace at home and abroad, declare
to the civilized world, that we ask not
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of Mexico, and
will have none Of her territory, except
by fair purchase. when the Republics
are at peace. To which | beg leave
to add,a the unequivocaI voice OfOhio,
should further territory be annexed to
the Union by conquest, by purchase.
or by any other mode, that she, the el.
dest Of the free.born daughters of the
Ordinance Of 1887, will spurn from her
bosom any recreant son Of hers who
shall, in the hour of trial, desert or sur.
render her first great character Of Iiber.
ty, Or fail in any constitutional effort
TO consecrate that territory to freedom
and the inalienable rights of man.
Whilst upon this kindred subject, !
cannot forget that the "5lack laws" still
disgrace our statute books. All | can
do, is earnestly to reiterate the recon-
mendation for their unqualified repeal.
Beseeching you TO unite with me in
fervent duplication to the throne Of
our Father in Heaven, that in this e.
v%entful crisis he will preside over all
our deliberations. State and National,
and direct US in the way we should 60,
| again commend our beloved State,
with all her concerns, 10 your guard.
anship and protection.
WILLIAM BEBB.
COLUMBUS, Dec. 9th, 1847. &