Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-08-18
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH.
Rixers and Harbors.

"A MI ERlCAN Il ELESTIChI -.
Rivers and Harbors.
The improvement Of the harbors and rivers OF
the country by the general government IS one OF
the most important questions involved IN the
present canvass. The internal commerce OF the
country is unsurpassed by that OF any other ma
ton It is the foundation OF our foreign trade.
1t is one of the essential interests OF the people,
and should be fostered, and protected, and en-
couraged by all legitimate means The appro-
priations made for the Improvement of harbors
and rivers are not for the benefit of commerce
alone. All other interests are affected by them.
OF what worth would be the wheat and other
products of the Western farms, could it not with
facility be brought to market? 1t is the fact of
having market that gives the agricultural pro-
ducts their value. Were there no markets, or
could they be reached with difficulty and danger,
there would be no great inducement to produc-
ton beyond the consumption wants of the pro-
Queer. Our country, it is true, has been highly
favored by nature in its stupendous lakes and
magnificent rivers, which have been connected by
artificial channels Of communication. But these
lakes and rivers need unprecedented har-
bors to render them fully available. And we
naturally look to the general government, to
which has been delegated by the States the au-
thority to regulate commerce and to impose du-
ties for the means to give facilities to the inland
the dangers to which it is ever incident
1t is power which has been exercised from
the earliest days of the republic power recog-
missed as legitimate under the constitution by the
early Presidents, and down to within a few years
since, when new light broke in upon the vision of
q Democratic President; and, more wise than all
his predecessors, he discovered that to improve
g fresh-water" harbors and rivers was violation
Of the constitution and that while it is lawful to
expend millions upon millions on the sesboard
for the benefit of foreign commerce, the lakes
and rivers, the highways of our internal COM
merce were without the pale of the constitution !:
and the peoples representatives, by the inter-
position Of the Executive yeto were not permit
ted to appropriate the peoples money for the
promotion of the vital interests of the country
Among those who have been thus warning
against the internal commerce of the country
has been found the present Democratic candidate
for the Presidency. He is one of the strctest Of
the sect of strict constructioniss in this respect
and, to be consistent with all his past course, he
will be compelled, if elected, to veto any bill that
may be passed for the improvement of harbors
and rivers. His partisan antecedents will render
it necessary for him to adopt such q course-he
cannot avoid it.
Now, are the American people-are the people
of the lake region-the great West-the South
west-prepared to place such power in the
hands of q man thus hostile to their great and
peculiar interests? This, as we previously re-
marked, is one of the most important questions
in issue between the two parties. 1t involves thu
interests of commerce little less in extent thar
the entire foreign trade of the country, fol
which so much is done, and SO many millions ex.
pended every year-for the protection of which
our navy floats in every sea. Look for mo-
ment at the trade of canals! 1t amounts to
one hundred and fifty millions per annum From
whence comes it? From the West, over the great
lakes, which it reaches to pass through rivers
and artificial channels. Upon these lakes, har-
bors are necessary for the safety and protection
of this immense trade. Who shall construct
them and keep them in repair? Who shall build
lighthouses?
There is but one sentiment with the people of
the Western and Middle States upon this point
They look to that power which claims and exer-
cises jurisdiction over commerce to regulate it.
to protect it as well. They hold that rights and
duties 60 together-that power and protection
are inseparable. The sovereign exercises au-
thority over the subject. The subject has a
right to claim and receive protection. Such is
the position Of the internal commerce, and such
the relation it bears to the general government.
How shall it secure protection? BY placing in
the executive chair of the nation one who has
ever evinced bitter and uncompromising hostility
to harbor and river improvements? Is it the part
of wisdom to place power in the hands of the en-
emies of this great measure-to elect President
to veto the wishes of the people, or promote the
success of party hostile to them?
These are questions of serious import and
commend themselves to the earnest consideration
of the friends Of harbor and river improvements
yerywhere.-Abany Register.