Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-01-22

II
the vast expanse Of that dark and
benighted quarter Of the globe.
am not, myself, among the num-
Der who believe that the evils of
slavery must necessarily overthrow
this government. This great fabric
Of human wisdom, created BY our
fore-fathers. for our welfare and pro-
lection. a0iH Be preserved, and those
who think differently, in my opinion,
falsely estimate the elements By
which it will be sustsined-the in
terest, the intelligence and the pat
riotism Of the American people. I
see no reason why future genera
tions may not look upon the old en-
blems Of our union ard strength, as
gracefully it shah spread its folds to-
the breeze, and neither stripe nor
star shall be seen to have disappear
ed. But, on the other hand, new
consultations will arise, in the
North, the South, the West, and
add to Us interest, its beauty, and its
strength. Not that other nations
are TO be brought into this Union by
war, conquest, or any unjust or ag--
gressive acquisition, but by that
peaceful and conquering influence
which will emana,e from our FREQ
institutions, our intelligence and
enterprise. At no distant day,
comparatively speaking, the Ameri-
can people may with ruth, exclaim:;
"This boundless continent is ours"
Ii is the destiny Of The Anglo Saxon
race!
There is another consideration Of
vast importance to the interests Of
our Sta.e. 1t is the improvement OF
our rivers and harbors. Without
being felt by the general government,
the uninterrupted navigation OF the
Ohio, from Pittsburgh to its junction
with the Mississippi, for nearly the
entire year, might be secured. The
object is one of too deep interest, not
only to our great commercial me-
tropolis, but to a very large portion
Of our people, TO be longer delayed.
and too expensive TO be undertaken
bv State authority, with heavy pub
lie debts and extensive internal i'm
provements, to provide for, OF their
own.
The harbors along the great chain
Of lakes. so auspi"iousIy begun, should
not be permitted to fall to decay
The immense annual losses to lie
and property. from the want OF ac-
cessible and safe ports, is appalling.
II would be we'll that this subject
should be pressed on the considera-
ton Of the National Legislature, at
the present session, with an earnest
ness and zeal equal to its imPor-
| tance.
The time, in my opinion, has pas
sed, when the consritutionality OF
these works, as regulations Of com
merce, can be denied; or, connecting.
rs ihev do, the trade and intercourse
between so many different States,
can be said not to be strictly national
in character.
1t is true, any indiscriminaie sys-
tenn of appropriations, is not to be
justified. Each work should stand
or fall upon its own individual merits.
A bill not regarding the proper dis
tinctions, and which would have
plundered the treasury, was vetoed
bv Mr.. Polk, and he was sustained,
in his action, BY a constitutional ma
iorily in Congress.
would, respectfully recommend
to the General Assembly, the passage
of a resolution instructing our Sena-
tors in Congress, and requesting our
Representatives, TO use their earnest
endeayors, to secure judicious appro-
I priations, without delay, Tor the inn
provement Of our river and Harbor
navigation, and that they sustain the
President in his recommendation
therefor.
will, also. avail myself Of this oc-
casion TO mention, that, since my
annual communication was made, a
letter had been received, dated at
Paris, from Alexander Kattemoire,
on the subject Of literary and scien-
tific international exchanges.
Mr.. Vattemaire is a Frenchman OF
high character and OF extensive in.
tellectuaI endOwments, who has de-
voted many years TO this business
He is the agent Of several OF our
sister States, and some Of the Euro
pean nations, for the purpose OF efiec-
ting exchanges Of scientific. legal
literary and other works. Indeed.
every thing, in the way Of useful in
formation.
1t appears from his letter, that
there was correspondence between
him and my intermediate predeces>orS
un or a resolution of the General
Assembly, but nothing of importance
effected. Byconstiiuting Mr.. Vatte-
maire an agent for Ohio, il appears
to me much benefi. may result
The scientific and literary treasures
of the Old World. as they appear.
a.. f-1~.