The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-04-10
WESTERN INTERESTS.


Some time ago. we referred to the fact
that the city of New York was urging,
with all the immense influence it could
command, large increase of the annual
appropriations to the collins Line" OF
Mill Steamers, employed between that
ely and Liverpool. Since then, the
Blltic," the fastest and most superbly
finished AMI furnished vessel of the line.
has been put in grand order, and with a
picked company Of gentlemen possessing
the requisite qualifications of expert
lobby MEMBERS" taken down into the
waters of the Chesapeake. and up the
Po:om &c to Washington, in order to car
ry the appropriation "by Storm" All
the little dramatic clap-traps, such as fir
ing minute guns, and having the company
to stand uncovered as the steamer was
passing Mount Vernon, were resorted to,
SO that the "heart of the nation'' could
be reached the more easily. "The road
to woinan's heart is through her child"
very truly remarks Sam Slick; and Mr..
Collins, with much shrewdness, tries his
way into the nations sympathetic graces
by show Of more than ordinary rever-
ence TO the memory of the Father Of
his country" just at time when the be-
nign precepts Of that father are passing
through the severest ordeal that they have
ever been called upon to Withstand. Al
last accounts, joyous feasting was the or
der Of the day on board the Baltic, moor
ed within a few miles of the national
capitol; and grave Senators, caring not a
rush what become of our Indian Trea-
ties and other Western business, which
is pressing upon them. adjourn over, to
pay their devo rs to the magnificent
Queen Of the East, the Sheba Of the
Solomons of our day, the superb and tru-
ly unsurpa. sed Baltic.
Now, We think, to use .Ninnesotaisn,,
Mr.. Collins head is about right" We
have not the least objection in the world
to his having all he can get out of the
national treasury, to enable him to COM
pete in his noble enterprise with British
lines OF ocean steamers, sustained as they
are by even more than ordinary British
munifcence. We are willing 10 admit,
that his is national enterprise, and
worthy the fostering care Of the national
Legislature. We all have feeling of
pride at witnessing the success of this
line of steamers, in bearing of the palm
of victory, as it has, in the contest with
the CunarJ line. We would go almost
any length rather than see his proud, VIC
torious "birds of the ocean, compelled.
through niggarlly policy of government,
TO abandon the scene of their triumphs,
and give up the broad Atlantic to the un-
disputed sway Of our great maritime RI
val. But there is one thing we would
not do, were we member of Congress,
representing any portion Of the Great
Western Valley. We would not vote for
Mr.. Collins steamers, or for any other
appropriation, giving direct pecuniary aid
to Eastern pockets, however national III
object might be incidentally, until East
ern members were willing 10 admit that the
West has some calm to a share in the
benefits OF the national treasury.
This declaration may appear tinctured
with sectional feeling Il is not so in
tended. "Log-rolling" is, and has been.
the order Of the day in Congress for
many years; and unit! Western members,
in body, form al unbroken front and
make resolute stand in this wise, in
maintenance o! their rights, they will fail
session after session, 10 secure them
Let them do this, and Eastern men will
be compelled to yield. The treasury is
now supplying ample means for all, and
we should resolve 10 have our share
while it is going.
Here has nature given us the broad
Mississippi. Four months in the year, the
largest class Of boats upon the Western
waters could trade between St. Paul and
New Orleans but for one thing. swell.
what is that ?" asks Mr.. Representative
OF Boston or New York; "ten thousand
sand-bars and as many snags and sawyers
between 81 Louis and your hyperborean
REGION suppose which, to clear out, and
keep Gear would exhaust the national
treasury, year after year." No, sir-no
sir; no such thing! The river, the
whole length, is destitute OF those impeii.
ments. As navigable stream, it as far
supasses the Ohio as the Ohio does the