Saturday morning visitor., 1848-06-17

button. 1t will be remembered that some
two weeSs ago, we published short ar
ticle, in which We attributedto The Jeffer-
son Inquirer disposition 10 agiiaie the
repeal Of the existing law distributing the
proceeds of Che 5000 acre grant among
the several counties. We, at the same
time, hoped that we might be mistaken in
this matter, but that the tone of the In
quirer's article did moi have the right sound
10 our ears. Upon this, the Inquirer
makes sorry attempt TO perpetrate wit
ticism about the "dimension" Of our ears,
which we are disposed to pass by without
any further notice, as we think the editor
Of that paper has fully established his al
finity to the long cared animal. But all
this aside.
We presume ii is well known that the
Inquirer is printed in sight of the Missou-
ri river, and may, therefore, very natural
ly be supposedio 10 know more about opin-
ions and views of the people there, than
we do, who are unfortunately located a
way out here among the hills and bushes
of the Southwest; and as we had not, az
that time, seen or heard the question of
repeal mooted in any other quarter, it is
possible we may have been led IN this
way 10 place the Inquirer in wrong po-
sition before our readers. We have no
inclination, just now, to discuss the ques-
tion of repeal, as we know that the peo-
pie of tie Usage Valley, generally, are
satisfied to lei it stand as il is. We can
assure the Inquirer of one thing, howev-
er, in relation to the repeal of the distri-
button law, (Which it says "many would
vote for, in order 10 appropriate the
fund directly TO objects Of improvement, }
and that is, that the people Of the Usage
valley have mighty little faith in the pro-
misses Of those who are becofaing so ur-
gent in favor Of repeal, and who, also,
have most unaceountably manifested an
unusual interest for the improvement OF
our navigation. 1t cannot have escaped
the recollection of the editor Of the In
quirer, that before the distribution act
was passed, and while this fund was yet
atthe disposal of the Legislature, that the
friends of the Usage used every argument,
and begged and eNtreated the Legislature,
from session TO session, togrant US an sp
propriation, but our supplicalions were
unheeded, and we were finally told that if
we wanted our river improved, wemust do
yourselves. The people of the Usage,
despairing Of getting any assistance from
the State, bat not despairing of accom-
plishing work of so much importance TO
their best interests, sci about making the
most out Of the circumstances that sur
rounded them after the passage of the dis
tributon act, and the result has been, that
by uniting the funds falling to number of
counties interested in the improvement of
The river, no doubt is entertained but that
in eighteen months the river will have
been so far improved as TO admit Of safe
and certain navigation for distance ol
800 miles at least three -iourths of the
year. We are willing TO take il for grant
ed that the Inquirer is as warm friend
10 the improvement of the Usage as he
Eproiesses TO be, but then il he is in favor
of other objects of improvement in the
State, lei him join with us in recommend
ing TO the friends of those measures, to put
their funds together, and help themselves
asI we have done. Under all the circum.
stances connected with this subject, we
:, think we have suggested the most correct
and proper course 40 be pursued by the
friends Of other measures in the State
If the Usage river, which is confessedly
the first and mos, important object Of i'm.
provement, can be made naviga5le one.
half or three-fourths Of the year, by uni
Ting. the funds Of few counties along its
borders, why may moi the same be accom-
plished for other and somewhat smaller
objects ?-when AL the counties receive a
like amount Of funds under the existing
law. But, as we have said above, we
prefer not 10 discuss the questions at any
great length, we will close our remarks,
by expressing the hope that the Inquirer
will coincide with our suggestions touch
ing other objects Of improvement. We
hope yetto see the Inquirer, at The proper
time, opposing the repeal Of tbe disiribu-
lion act,