Democratic banner., 1849-01-08

mining companies, guarding in them the just
rights Of the people, at the same time Civ
ing assurance that the investigation of CAPT
tai should have q fair opportunity of reap
ing lis appropriate reward, cannot fail TO
open up to US brighter prospects for the fu-
tnre. Wehave received from the General
Government, what is known to be the Three
per cent. fund, also a donation of SOC, OOO
acres of land, all of which was appropriate
ed and designed to constitute an Internal
Improvement fund, and while it is not my
purpose to call in question the wisdom Of
that pulley which has heretofore dictated
the disposition Of those funds, yet I feel
that we may well construe our constitution
al duties to require of US "to provide BY
law for a systematic and economical ap-
plication of the funds appropriated to those
objects" At the entrance of Missouri into
the Union, 1t was agreed by the Federal
Government that "6ve per cent. of the net
proceeds of the sale of lands lying within
the said territory or State, and which shall
be sold by Congress, from and after the
first day of January, 1881, after deduct
ing all the expenses incident to the same,
shall be reserved for making public roads
and canals, of which three.ffths shall be
applied to those objects within the State,
under the direction Of the Legislature there
of, and the othertwo-ffths in defraying, IN
der the direction of Congress, the expen-
ses to be incurred in the making of a road
or roads, canal or canals, leading to the said
State" Since that time the introduction
of steam power, and the increased facili-
ties for travel and transportation afforded
by steamboats, and railroads have. in the
opinion of Congress, as shown by its repeat
ed refusal Of late years to make a~ppropria.
tons for objects to which this fund mightb be
applied, superseded the necessity of con-
tinuing such appropriations. The State of
Missouri, therefore, has an equitable claim
upon the General Government for the ap-l
preparation of this Two per cent. fund, a.
mounting a. this time to about 1920, OOO.-l
We are assured by the liberality of Congress
towards several Of our sister States in ref.
erence to this same subject, that we have
only to designate objects worthy Of appro.|
priations, in order to obtain all we desire.
We need hardly expect appropriations, how
ever, if the objects designated are so numer-
Gus, that a division of the fund will be of mol
essential benefit to either.
The Usage river can be easily rendered.
navigable for a considerable portion of the
year. II drains an immense extent Of coun-I
try, and is the natural outlet for its teem.I
ing products. That We should give aid tol
important a measure when we have the
power to do so, without bu~rthening the peo-I
pie with additional taxes, it needs no areu,l
ment irons me to enforce. The enterpris-I
ing spirit shown by the people in the re-
gion Of the Grand river country, and alongI
the line of the Hannibal and St. Joseph
railroad, by the liberal subscriptions fori
already made, and the prospect of al
grant of land by Congress along the route,
makes it probable that at no distant day,
such additional aid as can be afforded
consistent with the rights Of other porti9nsI
Of the State, and without imposing addi-
tional taxes on the people, we may witness
The accomplishment of this most desirable
IL CAbACunC SOuIu CdoAeIu COuulteS dIeIl
seriously affected by vast swamps which,
according to the recent report of commits
'ioners appointed for the purpose, can be
Trained at a small cost, and the source of
disease removed, so as to render it a most
desirable portion Of the country. Those
ands. if reclaimed, belong to tie Generalf
justice requires, therefore,,
hat the expense should be incurred by it.,
'r at least that such an arrangement should
BE made that the expenses be paid out oil
he proceeds of lands reclaimed.
There are other objects to which I might
but deem it unnecessary ON this oc-
;asion. Ihavo only referred to those which
" the action had upon them, have placed
hem in advance of others.
In commencing internal improvement att
his time, should it be deemed wise to doll
Missouri will have the light furnishedIe
the sad experience OF many sister States
o enable her to escape the evils into which,
hey fell. Sound policy dictates the rejec-
of any scheme to burthen the, State
heavy debt, or impair its credit. 1t
3 presumed the people are not prepared g
or that increase Of taxes which would be r
to meet even the interest uponl