The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-01-18
Law and Expediency,

pleasing matter to us, because in no other
manner could our paper be filed up so readi-
ly with editorial as in repeating the arguments
familiar to even the school boy on this subject.
Original ideas are not wanted. Steal and
quote ideas from any old bound-up life OF
Clay or Webster, Calhoun or Benton, dish
up with the stealings or extracts, long-strung
out details, and in short time your columns
will be filled to your own satisfaction, though
not to the satisfaction Of one reader in five
hundred. The editor of the Advertiser may
like this easy way of filling up his paper, but
we do not-and he will therefore excuse us,
if we confne ourself to things little more
tangible and practical than debates on sub
iects worn threadbare by much argument.
He has taken position against River and
Harbor improvements, aud defends himselfon
the patriotic ground, that he will not relin-
quish Iau0 to e.rpediency! He talks OF the
i broad platform Of principles" and brings in
many more expressions, stale aud worn out,
but big with sound, to exhibit his wonderful
extent of ideas. He has high generation
for the Constitution; !" indeed so very promi-
nent is this veneration, that he is not willing
that the past action of Congress, the opinions
Of learned and aged Statesmen, or even the
position of many Democratic papers in favor
of appropriations for river Improvements,
should impress upon his mind a single doubt.
but what such appropriations are unconstitu-
tional. 1t appears that Congress, after much
debate, has in many cases decided that such
appropriations are constitutional, and it has
made them accordingly. But here comes an
authority greater and wiser than Congress.in
the form of the astute editor OF the Advertiser,
who tells Congress and the people. that both
are mistaken in conceiving the former can
lawfully make these appropriations. We
shall leave this part of the question for Ben
and Congress to debate together, warning the
latter at the same time, that Stinson is ''some
punkins, and it had better look out.
The Advertiser thinks we have wandered
from our original position, because we went
back to the original resolution which caused
the difference-that which was offered in the
House of the Indiana Legislature, and defeat
ed by Democratic votes. Why did he not
quote the resolution itself by the side of our
editorial, and thus let the public judge, in
stead of quoting merely the editorial and in
sinuatng it did not represent the resolution.
The resolution was in the form of instructions
to our Representatives and Senators in Con-
rrracc IN ,1ca n air avarfrOr,s ond ;nA,,a1oo -
procure the passage of bill making appro-
priations for our western harbors and rivers.
Democrats opposed this, and have thus
placed themselves in opposition to all i'm
proven ents of our rivers and harbors by the
Government, while they are yearly called
upon to see appropriations made for the i'm
provement of harbors, &c. IN other parts of
the Union. They say in substance, that
while everything is done for the East, West
ern commerce must be injured our harbors re-
main neglected and the lives and property
Of our citizens be endangered daily, for the
want Of a little fostering care rom Govern
ment. This is Democracy that loves the
people so well
The West has been contending for appro-
priations to remove the Instructions in her
rivers, Cor years. The East always appeared
successful in obtaining such appropriations,
bat the West begged in vain, TIL during
Folks administration such an appropriation
bill was passed, and retoed by the Democrat
ic President. But with WING President,
the hopes of the West revived. Even De-
mocracy has acknowledged in many quarters
the demand for such appropriations, while
the old constitutional objections urged rs
merly in the spirit ofpartyism, were consid-
cred done away with by the decision of Con
gress. But it has been left for the Democra-
cy of Indiana in Legislature assembled, oil
represented, to declare that the States voice
she'll not be given for such appropriations
and for the Evansville Advertiser, right or
the bank oft eOhio river, to declareDemocra-
cy right! What say our business men-ouI
shippers and merchants-to this ? Are
you willing that the East shall have the full
benefit Of these appropriations, while the West
needing them much more, shall be deprived
of all such fostering care from Government
We shall never knowingly oppose the Con-
stitution, but we believe past Congresses are
better authority for what the Constitution
really says, or what its spirit means, on any
question, than the Editor of the Advertiser.
| IPStinson turned Democrat to have some
| fun with Sanders, and he seems TO be in a
fair way to get enough of it. Sanders slick
ed'' him when he was Wing, and we fear