Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-09-16

wish to see the forbearance which has so
long characterized her conduct in this mat
ter, still aIther continued. Approving of
the Platform which the Convention has
adopted, and conscious, from my ihpres.
sions of right and duty in regard ton, that
l shall be among the last TO abandon IT,
l prefer not TO connect our efforts TO sus-
tain it, with an issue which all must admit
TO be in some degree, at least, affected by
different considerations.
In my judgement, all that is necessary
TO insure success, is dispassionate, but steady
and firm action. Let the great principle
we are now contending for, be once more
re-estabishcd in the councils of the nation,
and the institution Of slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia will fall of itself Other
and more important interests will intervene
and induce the inhabitants themselves to
labor for its removal.
| must not, however, be understood, Ell
Their by what | now say, or by what was
said in my letter TO the New York delega.
ton at Utica, as repeating the declaration
that would, if elected. withhold my appro-
baton from bill for the abolition of slave.
ry in the District. could not now give
any such assurance, for the reason that the
circumstances by which the question is
now surrounded, are widely and materially
different from what they were when the
declaration was made; and because upon a
question of expedieney, circumstances
must control. At that time, the appre-
hension was honestly entertained, that there
was danger Of servile war, in conse.
quence Of the extent TO which the agta-
ton of this question had been pressed.
Participating in this apprehension and
believing that such declaration in advance
of any action of Congress upon the subject
wonld have salutary influence in allaying
the excitement, and warding off the danger
which nenaced the peace of the slave hol.
ding States, did not hesitate to make it,
Whilst, on the one hand, all grounds for
this apprehension have passed away, we are
on the other threatened with a subversion
of the spirit and character Of our govern.
eminent, through the successful encroach-
ments of the slave power. If, under such
circumstances, two branches of the national
legislature should decide that due regard
for the public interest requires the passage
of such a law, | should not, if President,
think it within the line of my duty to arrest
its passage by the exercise of the veto pow.
er.
Among the difficult subec, that occupied
the attention of my illustrious predecessor.
whilst was member of his cabinet, and
Of myself whilst President, that of river
and harbor Improvements by the aid of the
federal government, occupied prominent
position.
Whilst the conviction was very general
with ourselves and others, that large class
of them was deserving of aid from that
quarter, and that it could be extended to
them without exceeding the prescribed pow.
ers of the government, all were strongly
impressed with deep sense of liabilities
TO abuse, to which the legislation of Con
gress upon the subject was unavoidably ex
posed. The matter was one of frequent
and earnest conference between Presiden,
Jackson and myself, during the frs: two
years of his first. and the whole of his last
term. The result was conviction that no
better course could be adopted than to ap.
prove such bills as we were satisfied came
within the class referred to. and do all that
could be righifully done by the Executive.
to prevent abuses by appropriations for OBJ.
jects that were not entitled to the aid ofthe
Federal Government. The appropriations
for river and harbor improvements contain.
ed in acts of Congress approved during our
respective administrations, will show the
results of that conviction: and / know of
nothing that would prevent me from pur.
suing the same course if should again oc.
cupy the office Of President.
The subject is one Of vas, importance,
and well deserving the attention bestowed
upon it by the Chicago Convention of last
year. have not before me the letter ad.
dressed by my lamented friend Governor
Wright. TO that body, but was strongly and
favorably impressedb by the views he express
ed upon The general subject
The views which have for many wears
entertained in regard to the best disposition
by Congress, of .hc public lands. have re.
Gently set forth in my published letter to
the Industrial Congress" They arc
First. Tha, Congress ought to act upon
the principle, that the'United States have a
greater interest in the early settlement and
substantial improvement of the public
lands, than in the amount ofrevenue which
may be derived from them.
Secondly. That the accumulation of large
tracts in few hands, should be dscounten.
Gnced, and
Thirdly. That liberal facilities ought to
be afforded for the acquisition of small por.
tions, by such OF our citizens, wherever re.
siding, as are in good faith desirous of DOS.
sessing them as homes for themselves and
their families. These opinions are announ.
eed as far back as 1885; whilst a candidate
for the Presidency. set forth, also, in nv
letter TO the Industrial Congress, the recon.