Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-11-13

Iuiy slHceTe THANKS lot the commence rep0sed
in me by the Convention Permit me to say
that it is exceedingly gratifying to observe the
Interest manifested in the work which is about
to be undertaken. This interest could not be
made rhore evident than it now is, by the large
concourse of citizens from different parts of our
State Aud it is doubly gratifying to see not
only those directly Interested, but the immense
numbers of our fellow-citizens who have no in
terest aside from an indirect one, to bring them
here. st. Louis, the great commercial mart Of
the Mississippi Valley, ever foremost in inter-
nal imprcvementa, sndin anv scheme Of inter
Jest to the the State, is represented by delega-
tion Of her most influential citizens; and to them
1--we give a cordial and hearty welcome. She is
mot only represented by her citizens individu-
ally, but by mcmbers delegated by thescorporate
authorities, by members of the Board of direc-
tors of the Pacific Railroad Company, sister
Company, having in view the same object Of In
terual Improvement--and by the gallant 81.
Louis GrdyS, whom we are proud to welcome
with their glowing honors, redounding to their
praise, and assigning them an enviable position
i'm the minds Of their fellow-citizens.
. This is, indeed, glorious day for northeast
ern Missouri day which will be long re-
membeted in the history of this country-6eing
as it is, the day on which we are about to COM
mence system Of internal improvements in this
portion Of the State designed to develop fully
It's unlimited resources. The legislature Of
Missouri has at last seen what the great inter-
ests Of the State require and has come forward
with liberal hand and offered that aid which
long ago should have been rendered. There is
nothing now wanting but a commensurate en-
terprise and'public spirit displayed by our citi-
zens as individuals. 1t is true, that the Nation
al Legislature has failed to grant that boon,
which we have right to receive at their hands,
and which, had common justice been extended,
would have been granted.
| understand that the representative Of this
Congressional district is present, and in the
name of his constituents charge him. as d rep
resentative, to demand the appropriation of land
equal in hberality and extent TO those which
have been made to other States of this confeder-
acy, and let him not ask it as gratuity, but as
sert the right Of our State to such an appropri-
alton. Our fathers and we have pioneered in
this State, and our efforts have made it what
Iitois, ana have made available TO the government
the immense lands lying within its bounds
We have endured these tolls and hardships to
add one star to this glorious Union, and for our
Ilabors we demand a sufficient grant of public
lands to carry out our system Of internal i'm
lprovements; and | fatter myself that the wish,
so uniformity acquiesced in by the constituency
of the State, win meet also with their hearty
Incorporation. Indeed, have been recently in
formed, by good authority, that had it not been
for the pressure of business at the last session
of Congress, our call on the General Govern
ment would have been met with favorable re-
sponse.
But felloW-cltizens, we must not rely alone
upon the action of Congress or the State Legis-
hnt our
zeal, and our own means to succes sfully accom-
iplish this work. II is one which should occupy
a prominent place in the considerations of the
people Of this country-certainly one which
aims at the Improvement of the State, bv ma
king her immense agricultural and mineral re-
Sources available, and is 1t not worthy of high
position in our thoughts and actions? When
we look over this. vast Union, crossed and tra-
yersed as It is by railroads in portions of coun-
try far, far inferior in natural wealth to ours,
land see the prosperity and eminence to which
they have arrived through the instrumentality Of
railroads, ask, is it not time to put forth every
ienergy to make the same instrument become the
imeans Of our prosperity? Surely il is not nec-
essary to exhort our fellow citizens 10 engage
in this mighty enterprize, and which is but the
commencement, and st. Joseph not the termina-
ton, but will be. only single link in chain
(which shall extend over the vast expanse of ouI
country from the Atlantic to the Pacific; and thi.
great thOroughfare, by facilitating the means Of
communication between us and the non-slave.
holding States, and making our fellow-citizen,
personally familiar with our institutions, arlC
thus establishing feeling of friendship and in
timacy, between the sister States of this Con
federacy, may be, through the wisdom of al
omnipotent Providence the means by which
this Union shall be forever perpetuated.