The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-08-06
WHOLR NO. ll4l.
John III. Bots on Internal Improv.
menfs.

try. The letter of Mr.. BD;ts TO the Chi.
cago Convention is bold and decisive, and
worthy Of attention.
RICHMOND, June 10Th. IS47.
Mr. DEAR SiR--Your letter ofthe 18th
May, accompanying an invitation from
tho Committee of Correspondence, 'to
attend a Northwestern Harbor and River
Convention TO be held in Chicago on the
first Monday in July next" was duly re-
ceived. and its not being answered Of an
earlier day, arose from the earnest hope
that | had ind ulged, Notwithstanding the
great distance from honey that should
have been able 10 accept the invitation,
and to have been with you on that inter-
esting occasion in person, as shall be
in feeling and principle. | am sorry,
however, to say, that just now it seems
to be altogether impracticable.
Nevertheless, al a future day, and up.
on a different theatre, / hope TO have il
in my power TO render you more efficient
aid. than | could in your proposed Con-
v%ention. On the subject Of these Nation
al improvements, | have no morbid sen.
sibiIities, l labor under no constitutional
difficulties. and / indulge no metaphysic-
al distractions; for IN my judgment we
should have bestowed very unmefited
eulogy upon the wisdom Of the %illustri-
Gus dead, the trainers and builders of that
godlike instrument, TO which our govern.
ment owes its existence, if they had neg
lected 10 confer upon the Represents
tiyes of all the interests, Of all the people
in the land the power to protect the prop
erty of those same people, by removing
obstruction to navigation, constructing
and improving Harbors, and erecting
Light Houses, as we'll within our W
territory as well as beyond it-as well
upon the River and Lake navigation as
npen the high Seas-as well upon the
Mississippi as upon the Lakes-and as
well upon the shores of Lake Michigan
as upon the Atlantic coast, provided the
commerce of the several States" in the
language of the Constitution should rem
der it necessary and expedient. That
they did not neglect, but fully provided
for the exercise of this indispensable pow
er, is clear to my mind, and how much
more would it have become an enlight-
ened and civilized Government, and how
much more our individual and National
prosperity would have been advanced by
the expenditure of the untold millions in
the accomplishment of such works, than
by indiscriminate and wholesale slaugh-
ter of a defenceless and unoffending race
of semi barbarians, whose chief cause at
least, las will be found) consisted in own
ing territory that must be acquired" un-
der the guise of Indemnity" is a ques-
ton that time will determine, and that
the people of all classes and Of all par
ties will have an opportunity of under
standing and approaching, before we get
through with and recover from, the effects
of this horrible and most unnecessary and
iniquitous war.
Yet it is pretended that he who can
make war, after two bloody battles have
been fought, communicate its existence
to Congress. and thereby himself escape
the responsibility; who can, through his
subordinates. annex territory, and dis
member empires, and establish civil Co.
vernment; swear in citizens by the whole
sale, require them to take The oath Of al
legience to the United States, try them
by a drum-head Court Martial. and hang
them upin six hours. as rebels or traitors;
make laws for. and collect customs in
Mexico, when, by the Constitutions, ii is
declared. that Congress shall hare po'C-
er TO make rules concerning captures on
, land and 1~cater;"" when all this can be
{ done with ~impunity by the one mar pow.
er, the people are to be cheated out of
their rights and dearest interests. under
, the shallow pretence that that same one
man cannot find Constitutional warrant
for afixing his signature, either TO a till
: passed by the Representatives of the peo-
: pie, for the payment of what they recog-
nize as q Just debt due from the Govern
' ment, or for another, making %appropria-
d tons of their own means, for the general
Improvement and interests ofthe country,
and for the protection Of American lite
a and property. If our Constitution were
i fairly susceptible of such a reading, what
l. odium would it bring upon lis authors
and who would be satisfied to live under
it another day.
s Withou; undertaking to decide what
o does, or what does not constitute an IN
land Sca,"-us the term is not 10 be found
o in the Constitution. nor yet in the cele.
brated resolution of 80 and which
d are of more importance with some OF our
distinguished statesmen. have no hesl-
Is tation in expressing it as the conviction
e of nv mind, that the navigation of the
Northern and Western Lakes and Riv.
i ers. is entitled to the fostering care oil
Government, and that the interests of that
q region of the country imperatively de-
il mand it; and / sincerely hope the day ID
not distant when it will be obtained.
n l should despise myselfifl were ca
t pable of occupying a position in public
}. life with views so narrow and contracted
r as not to see and be willing to administsI
e 10 the wants of every section of our eve
i to be cherished Union, with as free ant
n liberal a hand, as l would to that wher'
nv W more immediate interests wer'
concerned. No! sections Of the %countr!
# have no influence over my mind in givinI
n constructions to sections Of the COnstitu
ton.
AS this letter is designed as an answe
D. to the COMMITTEES as we'll as yourself, 20