Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-31
THE CHICAGO CONTENTION
NJ. BorTs,s LETTER TO THE CONVENTION.
RICHMOND, JUSE II, ls47.

attend Northwestern Harbor and hVer Convention 10 d
held in Chicago the first Monday in July next, duly
received and its not being answered at earlier day arose
from the hope had INDUCED Notwithstanding The
distance from honey that should have been able to accep
the invitation and to have been with you that interesting
occasion person, as shall be in feeling and in principle
am sorry, however, say that just TO be aoge
Their impracticable.
Nevertheless, at future day and upon different theatre
hope have in my power to render you more efficient ald
han could in your proposed Convention for the subject
these national improvements. have morbid sensbIles,
labor under no constitutional difficulties and indulge no
metaphysical distractions for in my Judgment we should
have bestowed very unmere euogy upon the wisdom Of the
ustrous Dead the trainers and builders OF that godke
srument which Government owes ITS existence, II
they had neglected to confer upon the representatives Of all
The interests of all the people in the land the power TO pro-
the property and the lives OF those same people, by re-
moving Instructions navigation constructing and improving
harbors and erecting lighthouses as well within our own ter
ory beyond as well upon the river and lake navga-
lion upon the high seasas well upon the Mississippi as
pon the akes-and well upon the shores OF Lake Mch
gan as upon the Atlantic coast, provided the "c0nerce
among the sererQi States, in the language OF the consltu
ron should render necessary and expedent That they did
not neglect but fully provided for the exercise Of this nd
pensable power clear my mind and how much more
would have become enlightened and civilized Government
and how much individual and national prosperity
would have been advanced by the expenditure OF the untold
millions in the accomplishment of such works than for then-
discriminate and wholesale slaughter of deenceess and I'M
offending of sembarbaans, whose chief crime at last las
will be found) consisted in owning territory that mua DC
acquired" under the guise of indemn is question mat
will determine and that the people OF all classes and OF
all parties will have opportunity OF understanding anu a
precang before we get through with and from the
effects of this horrible and most unnecessary ana
..."
Yet it is pretended that he who make after two
bloody battles have been fought communicate its existence
ah,h
cam through his subordnae, territory and dsmembe
empires, and establish civil governments swear in citizens
by the wholesale require them tke an oath OF allegiance
20 the United States Try them by drumhead court martial,
and hang them hours rebels traitors make laws
Tor and collect customs Mexico when by the constitution
declared that Congress shall hare o,cer tomGks rules
Concerning captures land Qter-when all this be
done with impuniy by the power the people TO
cheated out of their rights and dearest interests under the
shallow pretence that that same one cannot find const
utonaI warrant for atixng his signature either TO bill pass
cd by the Representatives of the People for the payment of
what they recognised just debt due from the Government
for another making appropriations from their MEANS for
he general improvement and interests OF the country and for
ne protection and preservation of American life and property
constitution fairly susceptible of such reading
what odum would bring upon its authors and who would
be satisfied TO live under il another day
Without undertaking to decide what does what does not
Constitute inland sea, the term is not 10 be found in
he constitution, yet in the celebrated resolutions of 9s
and 80, (Which of more Importance with Of our dis
nguished statesmen, have hesitation in expressing
the conviction of my mind that the navigation the Northern
and Western lakes and rivers entitled the fostering care
Government and that the interests of that region of country
nperatlvey demand it and sincerely hope day not
distant when it will be obtained.
should despise myself were capable of occupying po-
s.on in public life with views and contracted
and be willing administer the wants of every
section OF evero-be cherished Unon with free and
liberia! hand would that where my own more imme-
date interests concerned No. sections Of the country
have influence my mind giving constructions
lions OF the constitution.
As this letter is designed answer to the Committee
well YOURSELF you win be pleased hand them,
and oblige, very truly, yours, JNO. VI. BOLTS.
;. LIsLE SMITH, ESQ. and through him the Committee.
Ma. CORWIN'S SPEECH TO THE CONVENTION.
Mr.. CoRwIS said he would have been happy could
he be excused from answering the call which had brought
him before the audience. He complmented the reverend
gentleman who had preceded him, and united with his tribute
the Puans, Of whom be presumed the gentleman
himself laugh. As for himself he thought be evil
dent every who him, from pria acie view that
lie could be descended from the laugh Ii
almost seemed if he brought forward directly after the
reverend gentleman 10 produce sort of dcod by COMPARE
son Yet however much may have been indebted the
hardy and noble Of New England for much eevaes
and ennobe the West he would say that if any
one would enter the interior of Illinois and Iowa. he would
and many of the strongarmed of Pennsylvania many
from the good old State Of Kentucky and huge stcars
Cunning to Mr.. Alen) from Ohio.
Gentlemen had all heard of Ohio he resided there himself
II they doubted the existence Of such place. and would put
him upon the sand he would prove them vet there are
some IN our wide world who have very clear idea of it,
he once met Frenchman who complained bitterly of our
Gpf00Ia's He inquired what the matter with them
Were they not dgned and genemany in their department
les, bot they spoke language ALL What not their
own mother vernacular No, they spoke kind Of Datois
re believed they called it Oaio 4 laugh
He spoke Of the involuntary impulse which had gathered
together from all parts Of the Union Of the highest re-
spectabiy and most exalted worth. In this remark he meant
fy no means to be egoisical aughl They had here
united, forming great Congress Of the american Peopk
Il far nober patriotism conquering distant nations
Eh your warclad armies thus to assemble secure the
blessings Of free Government There is people under
TIE wide heaven who would have exhibited YOU have TO.
day. - keen and true estimate OF this truth This i'm.
pulse had moved men from every pant Of the land this ga
t1erng point
Away from distant Massachusetts, from the city of the
merchant princes, the old Bay State has sent her sons
And from the old colony of William Penn come represen
atves TO this Congress Of American People, without any Del
en allowance or mileage, marry the good old drab city
Fhiadelpha TO The young city Of Chicago.
And from distant Savannah comes one TO learn hero vbe
ther RIGOROUS Republic destined be composed OF wide
y disonted fragments whether it is TO become and remar
united until the " last syllable of recorded time"
Was not this noble Congress He had been for man,
years member Of another Congress but could he anlsI
this one to The Ten Miles Square, he would gladly suaD thu
old one for i.
Congress has the power regulate commerce between thu
several states 1t you send cargo Of wheat from Chicago
to Buffalo, distance OF thousand miles, crossing AK