Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-07-24

take their course north 10 Hudsons Bay
draining the largest extent OF richest land
collecting the products OF every CLINE,
even the frigid, to bear the whole to &C.
NAL market in the sunny south, and there
10 meet the products of the entire world:
Such is the Mississippi! And who can cal.
culate the aggregate Of its advantages, and
the magnitude of its future commercial re.
suits?
Many years ago the late Gov. CLARK and
myself undertook TO calculate the extent OF
the boatable water in the valley Of the Mis-
sssippi; we made it about $4,000 miles! OF
which $4,000 were computed to unite above
st. Louis, and 10000 below. Or course,
we counted all the infant streams on which
a fiat, keel, or batteau could be fioated,
and Justly; for every tributary, Of the hum
blest boatable character, hel ps TO swell not
only the volume Of the central waters, but
Of the commerce upon them, OF this i'm.
mense extent Of river navigation, all com.
bned into one system Of waters, ST. Louis
is the centre! and the entrepot Of its trade!
presenting even now, in its infancy, an AZ.
tonshing and almost incredible amount OF
commerce, destined to increase forever
II is considered an inland town. Counting
by time and money, the only true CONNER.
ca measure Of distances, and st. Louis is
nearer to the sea than New Orleans was
before the steam tow boat abridged the dis.
lance between that city and the mouth Of
the Mississippi. ST.. Louis is seaport, a.
well as an inland city, and is port OF de-
duties on foreign imports during the current
| IL H.. lov sr,o,,l1
become great entrepot Of foreign as well
as Of domestic commerce. With the at
tributes and characteristics OF seaport,
she is entitled to the benefits Of one, as full
ly and as clearly as N. York or N. Orleans.
About twenty years ago, moved in the
Senate, and obtained an appropriation for
survey OF the Rapids Of the Upper Missis-
sippi; it was probably the first appropria-
ton ever obtained for the Improvement Of
the upper part of the river. About twen-
ty.fve years ago, moved, and succeeded
in the motion, to include the Missouri river
in bill for the improvement OF the western
rivers; it was the first time that river had
been so included. Thus, on the important
items Of the Chicago canal, the Rapids Of
the Upper Mississippi, and the Missouri riv.
err, was among the first to propose to in.
clude them within the circle OF internal i'm.
provement by the Federal government; and
in favor OF such objects believe all the de.
partments OF the government to be united.
Confined TO them, and the constitution can
reach them, and the treasury sustain them.
Extended to local or sectional objects, and
neither the constitution, nor the treasury
could uphold them. National objects of
improvement are few in number, definite in
character, and manageable by the treasury |;
local and sectional objects are innumerable,
and indefinite, and ruinous Of the treasury.
Near 90 years ago the treasury was threat
ened with demand for 100000 for OBJ
jec,s o. internal improvement, then applied
for, and many Of them Of no national i'm.
portance. The enormity OF the sum balk-
ed the system; and SO it must be again, If
the proper discrimination is not kept up be.
tween local and national subjects. 1t 10
for Congress 10 make that discrimination |;
the President can not: he must reject, or
approve the bill as whole. Here, then, 10
the point at which the friends OF the system
in Congress, must exert all their care and
vigilance. No arbitrary rule can be given
for the admission or exclusion Of proper OBJ
ects; but really national objects admit Of
no dispute; and. confined to them, ! appre-
hend but little danger Of losing bill, either
from Executive vetoes, or for want Of votes
in Congress.
Very respectfully, Gentlemen,
Your friend and fellow. citizen,
THOMAS II, BENTON.