Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-07-07
HARBOR AND RIVER CONVENTION AT
CHICAGO


were in attendance from majority of the
States of the onion, and several Of them
were very largely represented. It is esti-
mated that not less t.an ten Thousand dele
gates and strangers were in attendance from
various parts of the Union. The several
fire companies Of the city were out with
their engines in procession, with military
companies from abroad and at home; and
these, with the vast array Of delegates, made
a most magnificent and imposing display.
The Convention assembled under the tent
prepared for their reception in the public
square about noon on Monday, and tempo
rarily organized by appointing Benjamin
Barton. of Buffalo, Chairman. Committees
were appointed and the preliminaries for
permanent organization gone through with.
The Convention assembled again in the af-
ternoon, and after loud and repeated calls
from the crowd, Thomas Corwin, of Ohio,
came forward and addressed them in a
I SpGCCu Vi SOIllc IOuIS uuIdIICH' IiOIdCC
Greeley was next called for, and responded
in a short and pertinent speech. The COM
mittee to report officers, presented the name
Of Judge BATES, of Missouri, for President,
! and selected, as Vice Presidents, zone from
every deIcgation~present. The report was
adopted. \ committee to draft resolutions
consisting Of two from every State repre-
scented, was appointed. Messrs. Mp.
! Tallmadge and J. d. Kinsman were selec-
ted on the part of Wisconsin. The Con-
vention adjourned to meet again the next
day, whcQ the business of the Convention
was doubtless done. We are not advised
of the proceedings farther than above given,
and shall not, before our next, be able to
give a full report
The number Of representatives present
/ from Wisconsin was 800, greater number
than that Of any other State, with the excep-
ton of Illinois.
The Convention has most important in
terests under its consideration. Upon the
wisdom and discretion of its deliberations,
will depend whether it shall have weight
and influence to accomplish the ends it
seeks.
TheConvention will probably get Through
its business and adjourn tonight or to-mor-
row morning.
Since the above was in type, we have
received Chicago Daily Democrat of the
9th, with the proceedings entire to the close
of the second day. Letters, we observe,
were received and read from Gov. Wright,
Thomas II. Benton, Martin Van Buren,,
Henry Clay, Lewis Cass, r. MCIeIIand,
| Alphcus Fetch, and Bradford F. Wood.
Some of these letters will be given in our
next. From a list of II resolutions adopt
ed, we select and subjoin-
8. That the general government by ex-
tending It's jurisdiction over Lakes and nav
gable Rivers, subjecting them to the same
laws which prevail on the ocean, and on It's
bays and ports, not only for purposes of
revenue, but to give security to life and
properly, by the regulation of Steamboats,,
has prccudcd itself from denying that iu-
rlsdlcuon for any other legitimate regulation
OF Commerce. If it has power to control
and restrain, it must have the same power
to protect, assist and facilitate, and if it de-
MES the jurisdiction in the one mode Of ac-
ton, il should renounce it in the other.
I .. That in consequence of the peculiar
! dangers of the navigation on the Lakes, a.
rising from the want of Harbors for shelter
and oil the Western Rivers from snags aud
other distractions, there are 10 parts. of
| the United States more emphaticaliy de-
handing the prompt and continued care of
| the Government to diminish those dangers
and to protect the properly and lite exposed
TO them: and that any one who can regard
provisions for those purposes as sectional,
local and not national, must be wanting in
information as to the extent of the commerce
carried on upon those lakes and rivers, and
of the amount of teemjng population occu-
pied or interested in that navigation.
10. That having regard 10 relative pop
| ulauon or to the extent of commerce, the
appropriations heretofore made for the in
terror rivers and lakes and thc streams con-
meeting them with the Ocean, have not been
III just and and fair proportion to those
made for the benefit of the Atlantic coast;
! and that the time has arrived when this in
justice should be corrected in the only mode
IN which it can be done by the united. de-
tormlned ana pcrseyering efforts of those
whose rights have been overlooked.
IL. That independent of this right to
protection of Commerce among the States
the right Of common defence guaranteed
by the Constitution, entities those citizens
lnhabitjng the country bordering upon the
interior lakes and rivers, to such safe and
convenient harbors as may afford shelter to
a Navy whenever it shall be rendered nee
cssary by hostilities with our neighbours:
and thar the construction of such harbors
cannot safely be delayed to the time which
viii demand their immediate use.
IL. That the argument most commonly
urged against appropriations to protect com
mercc among the States and to defend the
inhabitants Of the frontiers that they invite
10 g.,