Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-08-13
Chicago Convcntion-Mr. Webster's Letter

try, and son to his country's glory.
Chicago Convention-Mr. Webster's Iette
MARsHFIELp, June 90, 1917.
Gentlemen : | had the honor to receive, som
weeks ago, an invitation BY you, as a Commi
tee OF Correspondence, to attend a " North Yves
ern Harbor and River Convention. to be a.
sembled at Chicago on the first Monday in Jul,
without regard to distinction of party. IL Gil
cnmstances had allowed me 10 fulfil my purpos
OF being in the Wertern country, at this seaso
of the year, should have complied with tina
invitation. But events occurred, to defeat tina
purpose.
Understanding that should not be able to b
R RssR6SffoR ysa4 xBgllad w4ftea tq The sS G2n
nevertheless communicate my sentiments upol
the important objects which have called them 10
gether. A willingness to comply with tina
wish, as well as desire to treat with just respec
the invitation received from you, induces me t
address to you this letter.
The improvement of North Western River
and IIarbors has become an interesting subject
not only from the augmented business and po
pulation of that part of the country, but also
from recent Legislative and political occur
rences do not understand, however, that the
North Western Harbor and River improvement;
are to be the exclusive Objects of that descrp
ton. which shall engage the attention Of the
Convention take it for granted, that those wht
propose the Convention regard such improve
ments, all over the Union, as standing on the
same ground of Constitutional authority, ant
the same principles Of public policy. Although
the necessity for making and improving Har
boris, and for the clearing out of rivers, may be
felt TO be most pressing, at the present moment
on the North Western frontiers, and the greatest
disappointment felt, in that quarter, at the recent
and repeated failures of measures adopted by
both Houses of Congress to provide for such ne
cessity, yet it hardly needs be remarked that the
West and the Southwest and the South, the
North, and the East, are all deeply interested in
the fate of such measures The question is
general, not local. 1t affects every part Of the
country, and every State in the Union Any
proceedings, therefore, of Conventions or other
public bodies, called to deliberate on such sub.
jects, and to express opinions, either on points
Of Constitutional law, or public policy, must to
meet my concurrence, be as broad and compre-
hensive as the questions themselves. They
must be such as are fit to be adopted by the
Government, for the good of the whole country
and the equal advancement of the interests of all
its parts. And have entire confidence, that nc
more limited or restricted construction of Cons.
titutional power, and no narrower or more local
view of public policy will receive the sanction Of
the convention now about to assemble.
Gentlemen, it is an easy task to communicate
to the Convention my opinions, upon the sub
jects which are to engage its attention. have
only to refer to my public conduct, to the mea-
sures which have supported, and to my public
speeches in and ont Of Congress, for the last
twenty years. Full extracts from these speech.
this NAV not be the mos, interesting or attrac.
tive mode of presentinp nv opinions to the Con.
yen,ion, it will, at least. be attended with one
ADVANTAGE. Ii will show that nv onnions
whatever they are. are not of recent adoption,
They have not been recently esnouscd nv mo
in consequence of apy new derree Of favor or
popularty attaching TO the cause of Internal
Improvement. On the contrary, thew have been
steadily maintained for lone course of wears
not only AGAINST able and Ingenious argument
ON the opnosite side. bnt also AGAINST the most
powerful party influences. and the mos, vche.
inent denuncia,ions of their alleged tendencies
towards consolidation.
Nineteen years ayo. tina, Is to say, in June
1928. it pleased the citizens of Boston 10 give INC
a public dinner. On that occasion made a
speech containing the extracts which now
trauscribe from n nrin,ed volume
:. Another subject now beconinr nxcoojiro,,
interesting was in v,rious form. nre.anted r.
Congress at the las, session and in regard +,
which I believe tbero i s,bs,,n,;,lIv, Garor,,
union of opipion amonp the mnnhers from hi.
Commonwealth moan What ia commnnl,
called Internal Jmhrovomorts ,Ibo rroo, a,'
orowi,r ;mnor,,rca or,his s,I,;oc, ,n,,, bono
Iustifv n few remarks r.la,va to if an the nrr
sent occ,sion II vas ev;Jen. to all norsoos a
much observation at tho cIoso of rho l,,o a., =