Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-01-11

ouigrown her constitution. The mode
originally adopted to secure to the people
control OF the government, has ceased in its
practical operation TO give due effect in
legislation 10 the popular will.
Perhaps no Stale in the American con.
federacy can boast migh,ier natural resour.
ces. Although we have soil unsurpassed
IN fertility. and adapted to the growth of
nearly all the great staples of the country
mineral deposits Of ineslimable value,
mountains Of iron, vast beds of copper,
lead, cobalt and coal-and navigable
streams stretching in nearly every direc.
ton; yet only small portion of that soil
has been cultivated and few of those
mines worked, or indeed their extent and
existence become generally known. A
geological survey is demanded by due re-
gard for present and future prosperity. As
the Federal Government is still the propri-
etor of large tracts of land, the sale of
which would be promoted by such a sur
vey, ii can justly be appealed to for aid in
the enterprise. Such survey, together
with liberal charters for mining companies,
guarding in them the just rights Of The PEG.
pie, at the same time giving assurance that
the investment of capital should have a
fair opportunity of reaplng its appropriate
reward cannot fail TO open up to US bright
er prospects for the future. We have re.
ceived from the General Government, what
is known TO be the Three per cent. fund.-
also donation of 100000 acres Of land,
all of which was appropriated and design.
ed to constitute an Internal Improvement
fund, and while il is not my purpose to call
in question the wisdom of that policy
which has heretofore dictated the DISPOSE
ton of those funds, yet feel that we may
well construe our constitutional duties 10
require of us ito provide by law for sys-
tematic and economical application of the
funds appropriated 10 those Objects" At
the entrance of Missouri into the Union, it
was agreed by the Federal Government
that five per cent. of the net proceeds of
the sale of lands lying within the said ter
ritory or State, and which shall be sold by
Congress from and after the first day of
January, 1921, after deducling all the ex-
penses incldent.to the same, shall be reserv-
ed for makiag public roads and canals, of
which three.fitihs shall be applied to those
objects within the State. under the direc-
ton of the Legislature thereof and the
other two fifths IN defraying, under The d.
rection of Congress, the expenses incurred
in the making of road or roads, canal or
canals, leading 10 the said State" Since
that time the introduction of steam power,
and The increased facilities for travel and
transportation afforded by steamboats, and
railroads have, in the opinion of Congress,
as shown by lis repeated refusal of late
years 10 make appropriations for objects to
which this fund might be applied, superse.
ded the necessity of continuing such ap-
preparations. The State of Missouri, there
fore, has an equitable claim upon the Cen
eral Government for the appropriation of
this Two per cent. fund, amounting at this
time TO about 100000. We are assured
by the iberalily Of Congress towards sew
eral of our sister States in reference to
this same subject, that we have only to des.
ignate objects worthy of appropriations.
in order TO obtain all we desire. We need
hardly expect appropriations, however, if
the objects designated are so numerous,
that division of the fund will be of no
essential benefit TO either.
The Usage river can be easily rendered
nayigable for a considerable portion of the
year. That we should give aid to so i'm
portant measure when we have the pow
err to do so, without burthening the people
with additional taxes, it needs no argument
from me 10 enforce. The enterprisipg
spirit shown by the people in the region Of
the Grand river country, and along the
line of the Hannibal and St. Joseph rail-
road, by the liberal subscriptions for stock
already made, and the prospect of grant
of land by Congress along the route, makes
it probable that at no distant day, with
such additional aid as can be afforded con-
sistent with the rights of other portions of
the State, and without imposing additional
taxes on the people, we may witness the
accomplishment Of this most desirable OBJ
leCt. The extreme south eastern counties
are seriously affected by vast swamps
which, according TO The recent report of
commissioners appointed for the purpose;
can be drained at small cost, and the
source of disease removed, so as to render
it most desirable portion of the country.
Those lands, if reclaimed, belong TO the
General Government; justice requires,
| therefore, that the expense should be in
Cured by it, or at least that such an ar
rangemen, should be made that the expen-
ses be paid out Of lands reclaimed.
There are other objects TO which might
refer, but deem it unnecessary on this &C.
casion. | have only referred to those
which by the action had upon them; have
placed them in advance of others.