The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1852-09-01
Gen. Piercc,s Position i'm 1859.

votes in opposition to all such appropriations,
and in fact to all things intended to benefit
the West or any portion of it. We showed
by the proceedings of Congress that while nc
was member of the House and Senate, he
voted against several River and Harbor bills,
&c. which were passed by Congress and APP
proved by Gen. Jackson. There is no ques-
ton agitating the country perhaps, in which
the West feels a greater interest, than in the
subject of River and Harbor improvements.
tits not only matter affecting our COM
merce, but even the personal safety Of those
whom business or pleasure make travellers
upon Western waters. The West has beg
ged, demanded and threatened, to obtain her
dues in this particular, but in vain. Mere
pittances have been granted her, enough to
keep her from open mutny, but not sufficient
to crafty her demands, or satisfy actual JUS
tice. 1t especially becomes the West, there
| fore, in justice to her own rights, and to OBJ
tain them, to give no encouragement to any
man, and more especially to oppose his oc-
cupying an office in which he may exercise
great influence TO the detriment of our inter-
ests, who is in any degree known to be an
opponent to granting us our plain rights
Gen. Pierce is such man, and if the West
votes for him, the bitter enemy of her own
interests in this particular, she deserves ali
the injustice which she may hereafter receive
in this particular.
Not only did Gen. Pierce repeatedly vote
against bills making appropriations for Wes-
torn Rivers and Harbors years ago, but no
later back than last January, he made a
speech at Bradford n. H., in which he stated
that appropriations by the Federal Govern
ment for the improvement of Rivers and
Harbors, was of purely Federal character,
and repupgant to the principles and practice
of the Democracy of New Hampshre-and
he affirmed that no Democrat elected from that
State to Congress had ever supported meas
ures for these purposes! What think you oil
that, people of the West, Wings and Demo-
Gratis! But here is the proof, which we take
from the Washington Republic of the 10Th
the first statement, is reputable Magistrate
and has been to the Legislature once or twice
His and the other names, are those Of res
pectable citizens, whom no one will deny &c
be fully entitled to belief:
/ The undersigned having been requested t.
make public the views OF General Franklin
Pierce on the subject of river and harbor i'm
provements, as expressed by himself at po
litical meeting in Bradford on the 23d of Jan
uary, 1852, respectfully state that was pres
ent at said meeting, which was addressed by
Hon. George w. Morrison and Genera
Franklin Pierce, and took full notes for the
} purpose ofreporting the speakers. A pres:
+ of business at the time prevented my com
pleting the report in season Tor its appear
ance in the journals of the succeeding week
and therefore was not published.
The speakers, among other things, spok,
of the improvement OF river and harbors b,
the General Government, and denounced i
as being Federal policy; and that Messrs
Hale and Tuck were justly chargeable will
Fedora. symPathies for supporting such mea
sures in Congress. DIR. Morrison, who pre-
, coded General Pierce in his remarks, afte
= asserting the unalloyed Federalism Of tn,
measure in question, and OF Messrs. Hale ant
Tuck for supporting them, stated that Demo
cratic delegations IN Congress from this Stat,
/. had uniformly voted against these measures
4 He alluded to bill recently before Congress
and said that the proportion for this State t
lpay under its provisions would be about fit,
thousand dollars; and then asked what New
Hampshire expected in return for this outlay
: General Pierce followed Mr. Morrison, civ
: ing great prominence to this question. III
D endorsed the remarks of Mr.. NJ, respecting
it, and said, in substance, that appropriation
by the Federal Government for the improve
ment Of rivers and harbors was of a purel
Federal character, and repugnant to the prin
. ciples and practices of the Democracy OF thi
= State; and that Messrs. Hale and Tuck wer
justly obnoxious to the charge of Fedora
b sympathies for having supported such measu
9 res. He pointedly affirmed that no person
= elected to Congress as u Democrat from th
d State had ever supported measures for thes
4 purposes. He put the question to the audi
ence if this were not so, and paused for a re
: ply, which was given in the affirmative b,
n some person near the speakers stand. Ill
h then reaffirmed the position he had taken, an
> proceeded with his address.
The entire remarks of General Pierce OF
this subject were characterized by utter hos
I. tility to the Improvement of rivers and harbor;
: and other works of internal improvements b,
4, the Federal Government.
: shall be ready to verify the foregoing OF
oath if called upon to do so.
JACOB S. HARVEY.
SUTTON, August 6, 1852.
The undersigned were present at politi
T cal meeting in Bradford, January 30, 1852
q which was addressed by Hon. George w