Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-12-30
Correspondence of tn. Indiana State Sentinel.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1s47.

Ihave not troubled your columns for three weeks
past, because apprehended that the Presdentss
sages, Governors messages, Secretarys reports and
such like documents, would be far interesting
and acceptable to your readers, than any thing that
my humble pen might give birth TO. | have not, in
fact yet apprsed you of the fact that, ustrious
and venerable institution called Congress has, in con-
formty with the federal constitution assembled In a
magnificent building built, of course, with ones
money in this city, for the purpose vt protecting the
liberties of the people, securing the general welfare"
and receiving at the hands Of their
sury, eight dollars for every twenty miles travel from
their respective places of abode TO the metropolis.
My only apology for this neglect is that the idea sug
gesied itself to me that, you might by chance. hear
OF 1t through some other channel.
Nothing OF interest, you will observe by the pub
lshed proceedings has occurred in the Senate except
that some two very abstract resolutions have been in
trOduced by Mr.. Calhoun; the reading OF which,
seems to give satisfactory indication OF the gentle
mans position upon the question to which they are ex-
cusively devoted; unless, indeed they to be
strued strictly, meaning nothing but what they
soy; in which view it TO me they are entirely
uncalled for. have yet heard any one, of the
general intelligence and experience IN public affairs
that Mr. O. possesses, express wish tor the Mex'can
government persevere in their blind, bigoted, and
dishonest course until she forced take and keep
her entire territory, in order obtain that indemnity
for the past and security for the future, the attain
ment OF which has compelled us to repel her bloody
invasion of our SOIL | Of the opinion that
such party exists in this country, if ii does, have
heard of read, the speeches essays of its
statesmen or edtors:-and, If no such party exists,
where is the necessity of expression, the part
of the U. S. Senate, of such sentiments make up
the Sonth Carolina Senator's resolutions! We may
| say, in order reach indemnify and security. be
forced by lust desire for conquest but
by the injustice and bad faith Of Mexico take the
whole or large portion of her territory, of which,
under different circumstances would rather refuse
than accept. Where then is the wisdom of our
king position that might bar from doing what we
clearly exgency might force US IN self defence
to dol
But it is said by many here that Mr.. Calhoun and
his followers are going the wings; especially
upon the war questions and issues;-that they have
given in their adhesion to Mr.. Clay's Lexington
speech and resolutons;-that they in fact were par
Elephants in the getting up of that meeting | might
perhaps, If had this from reliable source, give
some credit it, for there nothing in the step that
would De inconsistent with Calhounism; but have
observed much, and read much of the man, that
find reliance can be placed IN the assurances that
may come from his most intimate riends;--that the
only way to find what his will be- is to wait
unit, he speaks for himself; and, when he does so,
shall not be at all astOnished TO see him with the ad
mnstration a whit more so, to see him against;
even If to be So, he must coaesce with the abolition
lists of the north-they who, according to his own
words. are actually trying to steal his negroes.
served the subject of interest and debate has been
internal mproUements-ntroduced by resolution of
the Wings creating an additional standing commit
tee on Commerce between the States" and contin-
ued by the receipt of special message from the Pre-
sdent of considerable length and sound logic, giving
his for not approving and returning to Con-
greSs at its last session, bill entitled Gan act 10
continue certain public works in the Territory Of
Wisconsin, and for other purposes; t" which, when
stripped of its false face proved to be the River and
Harbor" bill that he had vetoed at the previous
session.
l have read this message carefully and attentvely,
and cannot for the life of me, withhold my assent
from its Administrations broadly laid down. and
unanimously adopted by the National Democratic
Convention of l844-a convention whose preamble
and resolutions constituted platform that up,
as thought, to tie very perfection of American De-
mocracy. Some few but few indeed, of the Western
Democratic members feel apprehension that 1t
may the improvement of the navigation of the
Mississippi and its various tributaries, and our lake
harbJrs Mr.. Petit, am told, is the only one from
State who drifts in with this apprehension. L
cannot see for my part, any Just ground for such
fear The of sail vessels and steam boa is
VIII, without II were feeling 1t, cheerfully pay
small Tonnage duty" 10 common fund, which, in
the aggregate, will amount 10 a much larger
nualy than they have received from the general
government for the continuation of these improve
ments, and which will be expended not for feeding,
pamperng, and enrichng the discussing officers
whose hands ii passes throug,-not for ObStructing
but improving the rivers and harbors for which their
money was paid and furthermore, if this class OF
men have not degenerated largely In their character
istic feeling of manly independence since 1886, when
quit eight years brotherhood with them, it will
be Of professional pride TO them that they
are longer begging money from those who have
no interest in it, for the purpose of making their i'm
proyements, but are doing it with their
G.. w. K.