The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-30

privation He has made your lands valuable, and
Paio you y 20 per acre for them, which, instead
oihndinglts way into the State treasury to be dis
bursed among these settlers, has gone into the
United states treasury, 10 be expended for the bene
mt OF foreign commerce. All your boosted libe-
rality, all your 81 would be generous TO the
States, amounts to this-that. out OF your thou
sands OF millions o.! acres of public lands you have
granted TO the land States for the purpose OF inter-
nallmprovemenis, only III 500 800 acres.
RIVERS AND HARBoRs.
Sir. the rivers and harbors Of the West must re-
main uninproved her three hundred millions of
commerce and her ten millions Of people must have
40 projections; the lives and property of her citizens
must be sacrificed for the want of small appropria-
pons 10 remove the snags and bars from her rivers
her vast stores OF agricultural productions must
rot In her barns for the Of small portions of
the puoic domain In aiding her to get them TO
marke and this, too, when it IL inoune - abiv
proven that the Government receives more imme-
selves.
from statistics taken by direction of the Trea-
e'y department, II appears that, in tire 1851,
% vessels were lost on the inland lakes and rivers
30 Dy tempest, and 80 by snags; CPS lives
1851 during that year, and the total value of pro-
Perty destroyed was two millions of dollars.
noticed, the other day, letter Of st. Louis
insurance company to pilots on the Mississippi
river, directing them to avoid certain ~ in the
channel OF that stream, and stating that three fine
steamers had been sunk by striking tina. same
snag, at a sacrifice of $4,000. Now, II there was
any obstruction in any harbor on the seaboard
how long would it be before Congress would make
an appropriation Tor Its removal and who would
vote ior IT moro cheerfully than Representative
,toni mn, rne west! On my way to this city, down
Tie Illinois and Mississippi, and up the Ohio
rivers, saw scores of boats stationed on sand
bars, making Intellectual efforts to proceed on their
Journeys The boat on which was passenger
was detained twenty four hours at the mouth Of the
Cumberland river. Who. sir, ia responsible for
these distractions to commerce, expensive delays
and Immense sacrifices Of life and property? Let
the party whoee policy it has been to vote down and
veto every river and harbor bill, answer? Why,
sir, while We have been discussing the relative
claims Of Young Fogy," (Mr. DouoLAs,) and
ga fosy,' Genera! CAss,) we could have pass
ed river and harbor bill which would have sent
gladstone thrill Of joy throughout the mighty val
icy OF the Mississippi. A small approfriation--no
ouroen on the treasury, an amount We would new
er miss-would clear out the snags and deepen the
channels of our western rivers; would rouse the
young West, stimulate her enterprise and advance
her prosperity,
There can be no question as to the obligation
which rests upon Congress 10 make these appro-
pratons The same clause of the Constitution
which conlers upon her the power to protect life
ana property upon the ocean, coufers power pro.
tect ME and property upon the lakes and rivers.
congress voluntarily assumed this obi CATION in
che passage OF the ordinance of 1887 which says
he navigable waters leading into the Misss
sipPi and st. Lawrence, and the carrying places
between them shall be common high ways, and for
ever Tree 10 all OF the citizens Of the United States
without any tax, impost, duty therefor
Congress having thus declared these rivers to be
common highways for all the States, and deprived
the States OF any power to improve the same
oy lmpost, tonnage duties, other tax, she ha.
taken upon herself the rrevocabe obligatio TO i'm
prove them, and make them in truth common
hghrays' for the citizens OF all the States. There
Is no power In the States TO make hcse improve
Inents II IT Is replied that the Statee do il
with the consent of Congress, then rejoin that TO
40 u nun consent Is not poscer, it is permission.
VI hat Mate a.
What ID everybodys business ia nobody's
what States will undertake, out of the moneys in
tnelr treasures, to make improvements in which
all the States have common rest and on ht to
contribute their common shartl
Is tbis Government not partial in its appropri-
ationsi The golden regions of California
scarcely IN the Union before millions drawn
from the treasury to connect New York and San
rfahciscn by ocean steamers The eastern emf
grant, after speedy journey in a floating palace
mos himself safely harbored in the bay Of San
rranclscoi while the western einigrant, in his
wagon, must pursue his weary and pcrous pill
grimage across mountains and wild deserts and
hght his way through hordes of .avages who infest
ms path at every step of bic advance. For one
thlrd OF the money expended for steamers the
Government could open a national road between
the frontiers Of Missouri and San Francisco c.
hphsh the necessary military posts, and station
oofnpahes oil so!diers within convenient distances
all along the Route. But the cries of distress along
that route, and the murders and depred tons com
"t'ed' are far below the notice OF Congress.
TIE wEsT-r1TEsT AND RESOURCES
IL 10 time our brethren of the East had informed
themselves OF the extent and resources of the West
III they had, they would not look upon her States
either las spoiled Children asking for what they
were not entitled" or as Goths and Yandas,
seeking every opportunity to pllsge tie trea-
sury." ToIudge from the legislation Of Congress,
one would infer that they look upon the mighty
niissssippi and all is tributaries not entitled TO
as much consideration the most uncomfortable
haroor on the seaboard. II they would inform
he uyOtld ErI FL.
IRON Ohio Mr.. CAMPBELL) says, that"we had some
country. and some people there" Take your stand
at the mouth Of the Missouri and look up to its
source, 5,2l1 miles, up the Illinois 400 miles the
Ohio 900 miles, and the mighty Mississippi the
great trunk OF all, ss she sweeps her turbid waters
5000 miles. from her heaoiand home in the vii.
derness to the Gulf-travorso the valleys of the Wa.
oash' the knskaskia, the Rock, the Iowa, the Dos
Moines, the Wisconsin, the St. Peters and you
VIII Ind there is some territory there. An accu-
rate historian OF the West, the Rev. MIR. Peck,
informs us that "The Mississippi and Ohio and
their tributary waters, form an inland navigation
exceeding twenty thousand miles. for various
classes 81 boats, during two thirds Of the year. 70
the point Of junction at Cairo; from thence New
Orleans the river Ia navigable FOR the whole yee
for boats OF the largest class" There arc broad
valleys there; mighty lakes and rivers and bea D.
uiul praircsj mines Of inc 1haustible wealth. noun
'sins OF iron; vast beds Of lead zinc, and copper
and local enough to keep the hearth fire. Of the
world bright for thousand centuries" But, cir,
mere is also there the sure and durable element Of
"taltb, the sou, rlCh and productive soil soil
producing, with little labor. and in great abun.
Dance those staple articles which promote the cub
sistoDce well az constitute the commerce Of the
world. Agriculture produces the raw material,
commerce distributes IL, manufactures prepare il
for use. But, SIR the latter depend on the former
Agriculture is the only unfsiling basis Of wealth.
The proudest emporiums are liable to decay by the
opening Of new ways the diversions OF the chan.
nels OF trade; but these channels Of trade go where
they will, they depend for their life blood upon the
productions OF agriculture.
Nv bile trades proud empire hastes swift decay,
And ocean sweeps the labored mole away,
lhs self dependent power shall time defy,
As rocks resist the bioss and the sky -
The West il progressing rapidly in commercial
prosperity. In the year ISL the frat steamboat
was launched on our western waters. On the Ist
day Of July, 1851, there we're on the inland lakes
aud rivers hundred and sixty five steam
boots with an average tonnage Of 20i,6l3, aud
carrying 6,OOO,0O0 Of passenger and with az
gregate annual commerce Of $780, 1000, er
ceeding the whole amount Of our commerce with
foreign nations
TO show the rapid advance and relative position
Of the West in the construction Of railroads have
CLEANED the following statistics & ON table pub.
-. -. D.