Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-11-06
Letter from Senator Geyer.

DCldte from lnlS Ctute. WTOlc lllc lOllONlllS
letter 10 the Convention recently held at
Burlington Iowa. 1t takes the right ground,
and seconded as he win be, by MILLER,
DARBY and PORTER, we shall have no tenn
porizing or half way support given to meas
ures that may be introduced into Congress,
having for their object the improvement of
the rivers Of our great west:
Sr. Louis, Oct. Goth, 1851.
GENrLEMEN: | have the honor TO ac-
knowledge the receipt of your obliging let
ter inviting me TO attend a convention of
delegates from the States of Illinois, Missou-
ri, Iowa, and Wisconsin, and Minnesota, to
be held at the city of Burlington, OIL the 23d
inst, for which tender to you my grateful
thanks, and regret that the pressure of my
engagements will obligc me to deny myself
the qualification it would afford me to be
present, and cooperate in the effort to pro-
mote the object of the convention.
The removal of Instructions to navigation
at the Desmoincs and Rock River Rapids,
though of more immediate interest to the
States and territory to be represented in the
convention, is eminently national work.
The free navigation of the Mississippi river
is guaranteed TO all the ctizena of the Unit
ed States by solemn compacts. Every i'm
provement in that river is for the common
benefit, and ought 10 be made at the common
charge; but apart from that consideration,
the removal of the only serious Instructions
to the safe and uninterrupted navigation Of
that great river, for distance of two thou
sand miles, in which the people of nine States
and one Territory are directly interested,
ought 10 command the prompt attention of
Congress.
There are doubtless still some persons
who either deny altogether the authority of
Congress TO make appropriations for the i'm
provement of river and harbors, or limit the
power to tide water, but the general power
has been so often exercised, and so generally
conceded, that it cannot now be regarded as
debateab!e. In respect TO the Improvement
Of the Mississippi river and its navigable
tributaries, there is not only power delega-
ted, but trust created, which Congress is
bound to execute. The General Govern
ment is party to the compacts by which the
navigation of these rivers is declared to be
rroo 70 oil tbo o;4;yc,. Of tbo I-,;4ol C,,io.
They are now and are to remain forever, ma
tional highways, over which no State can
exert any authority. 1t belongs to Congress
exclusively TO regulate the navigation and
use of them, and to provide for improve
ments. The United States, in assuming the
control of them, to the exclusion of the States,
assumed also the obligation to provide and
apply the means to make them available as
national highways, by making all pratical
improvements which may be necessary to Sc
cure safe and uninterrupted navigation.
] cannot agree with those, (of whom
there have been some in the nationrl coun-
cils) who regard appropriations for the i'm
provcmcnt OF our rivers, as mere gratuities,
which may be bestowed or refused at the
pleasure of Congress, and are always to be
postponed until there is a surplus in the
Treasury which is not required for some
other purpose. In my opinion the obliga-
ton to make such appropriations for the
work which is the object Your convention
to promote, and others of like character, is
perativc-and cannot be disregarded with
out breach of plain duty.
1t must be admitted, however, that there
is some apology for the inaction of Congress,
for several years, in the apparent indiffer-
cnce of those directly interested in the pros
ecution of works of improvement in our riv-
ers. They have certainly failed to urge
their Just claims, with the unanimity and
energy necessary to success; indeed they
have net been able always to command the
favor ofthcir own immediate representatives.
The call of the Burlington Convention, and
the promptitude with which that cal has
been responded to by the people of the States
and Territories to be represented, indicate
favorable change, and encourage the hope
of more efficient action in future. The
deliberations OF the Convention will, ] hope
result in securing the cooperation, not only
Of the States Immediately interested, but Of
all the States and people of the valley of the
Mississippi. When the people of this val
ley shall be sufficiently impressed with the
importance of acting in concert, to make
common cause for the common benefit, they
may command success. | am not without
hope, that the day is not far distant, when
there will be more Of union and concert
among the representatives from the Valley
States, and more energy in maintaining then