The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-12
From the st Louis Republican.

From the ST Louis Republican.
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 8, 1850
GENTLEMEN: short time ago was honored
by the receipt OF your invitation to attend meet
ing to be held in your rising city, ''to take into
consideration the action of Congress in reference to
Western interests" The printed resolutions men
toned in your letter were not forwarded with
it as the letter imported, and have not had OPP
portunity to them till now.
The deep interest which take in the objects OF
the Convention, makes me regret very much that
my professional duties deny me the pleasure OF be-
ing present at the meeting. All that remains to
me is to express my hearty concurrence in the
principle and opinions declared in the preamble to
| your resolutions.
Surely "the time has arrived, q think it had
| arrived long ago. when the increasing popula-
ton, wealth and power of the Valley of the Missis
sppi demands the action of Congress" to protect
and advance their great and varied interests. And
the time has gone by, believe, when the doubts
and scruples of metaphysical politicians can pre-
sent any serious obstacle to the accomplishment Of
the great ends proposed No man ofsense and
perience, who has gotten hopes to get the title
Of a national statesman, will, think, any longer
deny the constitutional power Of Congress to do for
all that our geographical position and our phys
ical necessities require. No such man will think
venture to teach the rising generation that they
live under a Government too impotent to protect
the most important interests Of the people. too
sricted and hampered by nice constructions of the
Constitution TO improve and fructfy the glorious
land we live in. That day has past-gone, hope
forever.
The principle is decided, but the great practical
question remains, will we carry out into benehcent
action, what ninety nine in every hundred Of us
We can if we will. Nothing is wanting but unity
of thought and action. Only concentrate the real
sentiment of the Valley, let it speak with voice.
and that voice will be potential in both Houses Of
Congress. We have not yet a numerical majority
but that is not necessary. Give US but unity, and
have tho strength 10 carry out our honest, fair
reasonable objects. The Valley is already strong
in actual numbers; strong in the vigor and enter
prsc of national youth; strong in its position, and
IN the natural conformation Of it's lands and waters
embracing and hemming in IL does both the
North and the South; strong in it's broad extent
and in the indissoube union of its parts for it is
one and indiyisible; and stronger than all in its
growing condition, and in it's just and reasonable
anticpations OF future strength. The day is not
distant when the will Of the Mississippi Valley will
be the law of the land Then prudence and for
bcsrance, and national spirit will be our duty,
nuCh as unity OF hCtOu anu cnrncstncss IN ut-
manding our rights il now our privilege.
have said that the valley, great it is, is one
and indivisiblc. 1t has been so contrived and
ranged by Him that made IL, that IL IL past the
power of man to put lie parts asunder. Passion
may suggest transient causes II quarrel, and folly
may urge us into ftaterna contests, but still our
portions connected, and our permanent into
rests so interlaced and identified, that we cannot
afford be other than mutual friends and assist
ants Here, in st. Louis, need the pine lumber
Of the upper valleys of New York and Pennsylva-
min, and the iron ware of Pittsburgh and they are
brought TO us, down the beautiful Ohio, pact your
doors; need the peres Of the far western pains,
and the furs Of the Rocky mountains, and they are
ioated to US some two thousand miles down the
Missouri; and 1t would be a serious interference
with our domestic comfort TO deny us the privilege
of min Cling on our tables the sugar Of Louisiana
with the cranberries of Minnesota.
doprecate as much as any man the enlisting Of
sectional feelings and local interests 70 conflict with
the general sentiments Of the nation, or the com
mon good Of the country. But the West Is not a
section. II is the body Of the nation-some 1900
miles in length, and about as broad ne IL 10 long,
and, in point Of population, containing already
perhaps a third Of the whole. Besides the feelings
and passions of the Western people, like their in
tercsts, arc not local and sectional They arc, for
the most part, immigrants coming from every
State in the Union, and mixing with every va
riety Of men, they wear OFT all feelings and
prejudices that merely local. They love the
nation ss whole, and they love all ts parts, for
they bound TO them by the recolections Of child
hood and youth. by blood and friendship, and by
all those domestic and social charities which
sweeten life aud make this world pleasant.
The interests Of the Western Valley are essen.
tally the interests of the nation, and il they be
supported with unanimity by those more imme.