The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-30
DUBUQUE:
WEDNESDAY::::::J 80, 1850.
Speech of Judge Clark, at the Iowa Cit!
Convention.

PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CONVENTION.
MIR. CLARK being called upon, rose and said:
Mr. President and Gentlemen:-
1t is matter of graduation that the subject of
internal Improvement has so deeply agitated the
public sentiment-this great assemblage affords
the strongest evidence of fixed determination
that something shall be accomplished in refer
cnce to it.. 1t is true you are not clothed with
Legislative powers, you cannot make appropria-
tons, you are not a constituent portion of the
government-but you are more-you are ssthe
power behind the thronc,'' which can move the
throne itself.
Public opinion touching public necessities, is
in this country the fountain of law. Agitate the
subject which has assembled you together to-day;
make known your necessities, and you will be
heard--pour in your mcmoras-lct your repre-
scntat.vcs know what you expect Of them; pursue
the course in which you have embarked with a
determination not to rest until your great, and,
to you all important jcct is accomplished, and
you may be sure that the chagrin of failure will
not be your portion. When has any great COM
binatlon of American mind ever failed of the ac-
compllshment of its object; provided that object
ought to be accomplished? 1t surely was not,
when being but little hadful, our people rebuk-
cd the oppressor, and shook off his power:-it
was not when AGAIN they chastised that same
opprcssor for trespassing upon the rights of those
whose ''home is on the mountain wave''-it was
not when we added territory after territory to
our domain, until it extends from sea to sea-
There has been no failure Of American enterprise
in the fact that within less than half century
it has given more than ten millions of people to
the valley of the Mississippi: none in the fact
that it has spread abroad cities and institutions
upon the soil The same will and muscle which
have subdued the giant forests and opened them
to the sun; which have melted the stubborn
prairie, and caused it to wave in heavily laden
luxurience to the God of the harvest, need not
fear failure in the thing which we now desire.
l shall bear in mind, and acknowledge the
truth, that it has been said, that speeches, how
ever we'll advised, can not accomplish what we
seek: means are what we want Yet it cannot
be useless to understand the signs of the times,
and the spirit which pcrvadcs the public mind,
and is likely to rule our legislation. 1t will in
spire us with deeper faith and more hopeful en-
ergy-for it is the nature of human energy to
increase with chances of success.
We are happily free from war, which, while
it exists, absorbs the public revenues and the
public mind both will now be left to flow in
channels productive of better and more endur-
ing good. believe that that the next half cen
tury WI III is now almost opening upon us, will
be characterised, at least in this northwest quar-
ter section of the world, by Legislative enterprise
and the fruits of industry enhanced by internal
improvement.
| would say nothing here exclusively political
it would not become the occasion, and am un-
der no temptation to do it, But this much in
justice to myself aud that the party with which
l act, may say: there are enough of great, ma,
tonal objects of internal improvement, to which
the general government may lend helping
hand, and yet impugn principle of any polt-
ical creed: this is surely enough to satisfy all
of every political complexion. Then let us en-
bark the best energies of our minds as with the
heart of one man, for the accomplishment of our
object. 1t has been asked, what can our Con
ventions in these ends Of the earth accomplish ;
1t has been said that VIC are small people, and
destitute ofpolitical weight. This may be true
but neither are our necessities or our rights tc
hor bryoT 1ocly of
influence. Those necessities and rights it is
our privilege to make known and we have nc
reason to fear that the fostering hand of govern.
ment, rather | should say, the hand Of justice
will be withheld. But even if for season il
should be, we onght to look for success in the
importantly of the lone and oppressed widow te
the unjust judge who avenged her of her adver
sary merely to get rid of her: and if our success:
is to be sought in such dire necessity, the soon
er we begin, the sooner the work will be accom-
plished.
l alluded to the question of constitutional pow
er in relation to the subject of internal improve
ment. The history of this question has eve
shown conflict between expediency and prin
ciple. Many great and patriotic minds have
seen the necessity for works of internal improve
ment, and the advantages which would result
and yet have felt bound to refrain because of th
want of power. Perhaps no real or suppose,
power in the constitution has fallen so short of
well defined and satisfactory adjustment as tha
claimed for internal Improvement by the gcner
nj government But however different mind
Or different parties may fail to agree upon thi
subject, both SO far as the appropriation of mon
cy, and the execution ofthe work is concerned
it is matter of encouragement with us to knoy
that there is but limited amount of public opin
ion, opposed to the aid which we ask. We d
not ask that Congress should construct rail
road for us, nor even appropriate money to ali
in the construction of such road. We merel
. ask that they will appropriate portion of thei
own lands to aid us in the construction of
, great work which shall be productive of advan
tages to them as well as us. 1t is not upon tn
principle Of patronage from the government tha
we ask them to lend Q helping hand in this mai
tor. fbuf al.