Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-10-16
From The ~. LOUIS Intslligo,eer.
Burlington Convent on.----IYIasa Meet,ns

pursuant TO previous announcement. meet
ing OF citizens was held at the Rotunda ON Sat
urday evening, for the purpose of giving express
SION upon the necessity of improving the Rapids
oil the Upper Mississippi, and appointing del
egatlon to attend the contemplated Burlington
convention, to assemble on the 23d inst Hon.
l.. M. kennctt was called to the Chair, and Mr..
D. Humphrey appointed Secretary.
On motion, made and adopted tothafefTect, the
chair appointed Messrs. G. ID. Drake. ]. b.
Crockett, N. Ranney, Geo. R. Taylor, and Jno.
W. Mein' committee TO prepare resolutions
expressive OF the sense Of the meeting.
During the absence Of the committee. Col.
Curtis, City Engineer, was called upon. and
gave an elaborate and interesting statement Of
the feasibility Of the Improvement and the DIFF
ferent projects contemplated for its accomplish
ment.o
Inc committee then returned to the meeting,
and through its Chairman, submitted the follow
ing resolutions for adoption:
The citizens of st. Louis assembled in pub
Inc meeting, with the view of appointing Dele
gates to the Convention to be held in the CITY of
Burlington, Iowa, on the 23d inst, for the pur-
pose OF devising ways and means to secure the
immediate action of the General Government for
the Improvement Of the Rapids of the Upper
MTs6iSsspPi Ylvof, deem 1t proper to accompany
the appointment of their delegates with state
ment OF their views and principles in relation to
he-Prosed Improvement; and il is, therefore,
!. RESOLVED, That the Mississippi river, CON
sidered either as means of REORGANIZATION
between the didernent parts Of the vast valley
through which it flows, or as an outlet to the sea
for the people and productions of that valley, or
III its relation to the commerce Of our country,
foreign and domestic, or as q source and means
Of National prosperity, wealth and greatness,
should be regarded as a NATIONAL HIGHWAY,
and that its national character ought to be pre-
served. cal
2. That any obstruction that seriously i'm
pedes its free and successful navigation is mat
ter OF National interest, and its removal should
be the work Of the General Government, not
merely for the advantage Of those who reside
along its banks, nor for any transient local, or
sectional good, but for the benefit of the entire
people of the country, who in every section are
Inoreor less interested in the condition of this
great stream.
3. Resoloed, That by its past appropriations
for the removal of distractions from this river,
the General Government has fully recognized
ITS National character; and by specific appropri-
atoms for the improvement Of the channel at the
Rapids, has given to that work its approval; and
that every consideration of public good, in the
be renewed, ssd continued with liberal hand,
until not only the recks at the Rapids, but every
; other inpediment Of magnitude, from the Falls
oil 81. anthony TO the Balize, shall be removed.
a. sReSored, That in our judgment, no inn
proyement of the Rapids win accomplish the
" objects designed, unessltis of such nature,
as Will afford constant navigation, free from toll
'iupon the commerce of this great 4horoughfare. 4
-. That 70 or more delegates to the proposed
Convention, be appointed by the Chair after the
Adjournment of this meeting; who are requested
TO represent in that body, far may be rec
essary and proper, the views expressed in the
foregoing resolutions
6. ReSotUed, That we regard with warm in
terest the Hannibal and ST. Joseph Railroad, be-
ieveing that it will exerta powerful influence
for good upon a large region Of our State which
needs but an outlet for It's productions, to become
equal in agricultural greatness TO amy other re-
gion in the West; and we rejoice with cur friends
III the north at the favorable auspices under
, which they commence, and we hope will COM
= plete their great undertaking..
e Resolved, That seventy-tSe delegates be
appointed by the Chair, after the adjournment
of this meeting, to represent st. Louis at the
ceremony Of breaking the ground for the rail-
road at Hannibal, on the Sd day Of November
next.
8. Resolved Thst the Chair be requested to
announce in the public prints the names Of the
delegates appointed under the preceding resolu-
ton.
After some debate in relation TO the number
81 delegates provided for, the resolution were
unanimously adopted.
Col, Stewart, President of the Hannibal and
st. Joseph railroad, being present, was invited
to address the meeting. He did so in forcible
argument, and after speaking of the great advan-
=. tage to our commerce in securing the work con-
templated by the assembling of the coming
Convention, he branched out into an argument
showing the necessity of pushing forward to
completion, with zeal and energy, the Pacific
and Hannibal and St. Joseph rai!rOads-he would
not stop with these, but exted branches through
out every section of the State, His remarks
were well received by the meeting
On motion, ordered that the proceedings of
the meeting be published in the several city pa
pers. O G -
After remarks from1J. B. Crockett, and 9th
ers, urging the necessity of a large delegation
attending from st. Louis, the meeting ad journed.
TItwill be observed by the last resolution, that
tho committees provided for will hereafter be
announced.
WALKING FISH
In very dry seasons, the fish inhabiting small