The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-23

my being detained Tor day or TWO here he detention
itself has been, other respects, OF gratifying nature
fof il has enabled the advantages OF the situa
ton OF this village lake harbor have been always
advocate for the improvement OF rivers and hafbors
out OF The funds OF the national treasury have heard
some stripings in Congress assert that though light
house mehi be built the Atlantic seaboafd and the
hsrbors on that coast be otherwise improved, without
violating .ny principle OF the constitutions YET ina, Ion-
gress had no power to DO The the lakes hat IS
say, though Congress might expend countless sums
money upon harbos where the water Is salt and there Is
tide, they could not expend cent where The waller H.
fresh ard here tide. [Laugherl have also heard
IL argued with about as much reason That because the
lakes had the natural advantages possessed by Inc
ports on the Atlantic that therefore nothing must be
done 10 improve them 50 to afford protection 10 the
shipping security 10 The lives OF Mariners or advance
menl the trade and commerce OF the country. Such
the absurd and narrow ground taken by The oppo-
nens OF internal improvements. II would be just as ra
onal TO argue that because come into the world IN
helpless condition, without food or raimen that there,
fore infants ought to be lett IN stale OF nudity ana
starved 10 death. [Greal laughter
But must nol imagine that | am making speech IN
Congress- ii IL necessary 10 convnce you OF the
conslulonalty of the Improvement OF inland harbors
and rivers and of the universal benefits that flow from
such works. Your harbor is sufficient to convince
you confess taken by surprise at the remarka,
ble natural advantages il possesses. But how would
these be improved Tor the general good by the
expenditure OF an adeq uate sum OF money!
The next thing have 10 confess that was not al
all aware Of The great beauty anu maKnincen scsnes
that meet the eye along The western coast OF tins STATE
had heard much OF II before but confess my views
were not sufficiently extensive.
What have seen for the last few days has asonished
me aud freely admit. in The first place, that hal no
lust Appreciation and the second place, no just knowl
edge OF The value Of the great highway that was in pro-
gress OF construction between New York and your beau
iifu village But the work is now done, and all who
have passed the line must have seen and fe lis vast
importance There ~ no set OF men, III any country,
who have achieved work OF public character OF great
er utility than this, who deserve better the unqualified
appreciation and praise OF those who are benefited by It,
All who reside along the line, well as those tho live
al this its termination, will derive the greatest ad
vanlages from it, The value OF Their property and yours
will be raised Men and merchandise VIII leave New YORK
in The morning. and be here at night You want to sell the
produce of your so The fish OF your lake, The game Of
your forest. or whatever else so rich and beautiful
country yields for the suslenance OF man--New YORK,
The hes, Of markets, is here. [Cheers.l II you want
for comfort or ornanen--New York is at your doors
This railroad spreads the Empire city from Manhattan
Island TO Lake Ere. Il among the wonders OF the
markable age in which ive-an age almost miracu
ous in the application OF the productions Of Nature to the
uses CT life, and agents IN extending trade and com
merce, civilization and religion, from pole TO pole One
Of these agentss and you have witnessed It's Won
ders in come xon with this railroad, accomplishing what
a few years ago would not lave been believed. Blu.
there another agent and the youngest or the Oldest OF
YOU could have deamt OF thing so miraculous a.
that intelligence can be transmitted with the rapidly OF
the lgbtHngs wing, tina, the first branch OF the para
graph aln now uiering may be in New York before
come 10 period, perhaps before come 10 semicolon
Laughter and cheers.]
Let u.s. them thank Heaven that live in age in
which we SEE such acknowledgements oil the great
principles of Nature wlch hid from the eyes OF
ancestors They call upon US TO thank the Divine Benei
icence giving such advantages this period Of our
history, and in The county IN which we were bo n 1t
your country and with lis liberal principles and
free insiuonslls educated men and women, It's public
schools, with instruction dropping on all like the dew Of
heaven. These things which ought to make US
thankful. With the first rays OF the rising SUM- and lis
last beams sinks TO rest in the western horizon, we
ought render grateful homage 10 the Divine Being
for the great indulgence He has given us in the bound
less physical OF country and in the
lghtenmen and freedom OF It's insttutons-a country
where intolerance bears down upon conformity
or dissen-where every unrestraned worships has
God according the dictates OF his conscience, and
where every has part in the work OF legislation,
and may act important part, il he is capable, IN the
higher departments OF the government OF thirty millions
OF people.
My fdends the performance OF our duties must be
equal to the duties themselves We mus, live up TO our
obligations. This is all that is asked from us as good
citizens II fail discharge those obligations and 10
perform those duties, and if the moral ties that bind MS
TO each other severed and broken, will gay that
may no, drag along in way, and that we shall
not lind food and rnment, bat will say that we shall
lose all that grandeur OF sentiment and noble feeling
which make feel proud people Tor in the union
OF these States is that their greatness and strength
nation consist, and make ask II there is better
government the face OF the earth that may adopt
II IN preference 10 ous own. Till we can find It's equal
lei cherish the apple OF eye In this respect
fulfil our duties. There is no happiness in this
world, save only so lar follow the path OF duty.
We cannot separate duties from our happiness any
more than can strip ourselves Of our consciousness
and and become brute beasts We must meet all
our duties, and not GEEK TO evade any There may be
matters about which men dier; bu, they of such a
nature as 10 justify The risk OF Remembering the Union
by pushing them 10 extremes Let stand up, citizens
OF New York, and keep all the of fathers,
or break them all of. But lei US not equrm-t is an
uncouih word, bal il is good ngllshl-let not rlum,
and wTiggle and thwar and betray reason and de
haueh understanding by attempting To sneak out of
the principles upon which fathers laid the foo
OF this great coniederacy. Much applause | do moi
wish Introduce political discussion here = eak only
OF practical matters OF vital importance-great national
principles that common all, and that involve The
dules the interests, and the happiness OF every lv
ing under the protection OF the general government, what
may be his local hahaiion whatever may be the
hue OF his political complexion. Loud cheersl
now wish to call your attention to the gentlemen who
have taken an active part IN this great work OF public
importance find there seventeen men, directors of
this comanyal OF whom live in the city oil New York
with the exception Of highly respectable gentleman
heir names follows Benjamin Loder, presiden,
Samuel Marsh, vice president; Thomas J Townsend
treasurer, Henry Sheldon; Daniel Miller; Charles
NJ Leupp; Shepard Knapp Marshall o. Roberts
Henry Suydam, jr John J Phelps; Homer Ramsie
Cornelius Smith Thomas w. Gale; Norman White
William Dodge; Theodore Drkon William h Skid.
more. The secretary is MIR Nathaniel Marsh The
chief engineer from ls5 to 1850 Major T s Brown,
now chief engineer OF public works in Russia From
1850 till the present time Mr. Horato Allen has bees the
chief engineer Mr. Lode, who devo,es 10 much oil his
time and attention 10 the affairs Of the company receives
snail compensation The other sixteen direc,ors do
not receive cent Several of these gentlemen have for
many years given two hours Of their time the prose
cuon OF this work for one that they have devoted 10
their private business They derive no benefit from
il except what they derive common with the resi- OF the
community; and such has been sometimes the state of
the finances that the whole hing must have been stopne