Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-10-14
From the Ohio State Journal.
WcsIcrn ImProvements-Pierc Bitterly
Opposed them-Thc Proof.

soon be called to decide, is that of the improve
ment OF Western rivers and harbors by the Gener- |
| al Government. From the earliest period of our
history as nation. Congress has, from time to |
time, made appropriations to improve the harbors
and remove distinctions in the way of navigation
| of rivers, &C., on the sedbJdrd. Commerce has
certain wants that cannot well be supplied by pri
vate enterprise Light houses are necessary for
| the protection of ships engaged in commerce.-l
Breakwaters are required to prevent the waves of
the sea from doing injury to vessels, and piers and
wharyes in harbors that are exposed to storms.-l
These have ever been regarded as legitimate OBJ
jecs for the action of Congress, and that body has,
uniformly. from time to time, made appropriations
for them, and with the express sanction of all the
Presidents of the United States
| Tile commerce that has grown up on our Wes
tern rivers and lakes, far exceeds in value and I'M
portance the entire amount of commerce with for
eigu nations. If foreign commerce. is worth the
fostering care and attention of Congress, how much
more ought 1t to look after, encourage and protect
the commerce of the mighty West. We should al
least receive portion of that bounty, which has
so long been bestowed upon the sea board
pup the Locofoco party OF late years, has estab-
llshed new test Of party faith. The grand coun
CHS thereof hive declared that all appropriations
ior the improvement of rivers and harbors are anti
democratic, and unconditional. Mr.. Polk, in car
rying out the party faith, uetoed bill having for
Its object appropriations 70. purposes. At the
last session Of the National Convention of that par
ty, being that at which Franklin Pierce was nom
mated rs their candidate for President the follow
ng resolution was adopted, 1t is now part of the
Locooco National platform of party faith. Read 1t:
ResOlced, That the constitution does not confer
upon the General Government the power 10 COM
mence and carry on general system of int: nal
improvements 81
This is the precise language employed. There is
no power in Congress, they tell the people, to COM
mence and carry general system. OF course
there.s then power TO carry on PARTIAL local,
sectional system. The language will not be claim
ed to mean this. Men who have talked and writ
,,l
set up no such pretence. The resolution is design,
ed TO cover the whole ground-to utterly annihi-
late the whole system of helping the people by
this kind of benefit. If the people on Lake Ere
or Michigan want harbor improved, brcakwater
erected, or anything done that will make the tran
sportation of their produce to the Eastern market
more sale and certain than it now is, they must do
it Themselves. The General Government has no
constitutional power to help them particle. Such
is the express uneguivocal language of the LocOfo
CO party in National Convention assembled.
What is the Wing doctrine on this subject? Let
us appeal TO the same high authority, TO wit, the
resolution adopted by the Wing National Con-
vention that assembled at Baltimore in June last :
Resoiped, That the constitution vests in Congress
the power to open and repair harborS, and remove
distinctions from navigable rivers; and it is En-
PEDlENT that Congress should exercise that pow
or whenever such improvements are necessary Tor
the common defence, or for the protection and ia
city of commerce with foreign nations, among
the States; such Improvements being, in every in
stance, national and general in their character.
Now this provision Is just the opposite of that
adopted by the Locofoco National Convention
The one declares that the constiton does NOT con-
fer the power to make these Improvements; the
other declares that it DOES giue the power, and
farther declares that it is erpedient to exercise that
po,rer. The negative is Locoioco faith; the aiir-
native is Wing faith. They are both from the
highest authority of the parties in National Con-
vention assembled
We have heard men who have generally passed
Ia, ffJT
ference between the Wing and LocofocO platforms
that both parties were alike, &c. The persons
who talk this way are blind 10 every interest eX-
cept the one great idea CT negro bondage. Butthe
mass of the American people have thought, and
still think. that there other great interests which
are worth struggling for. They regard this ques-
ton under consideration as of great Importance 10
the people of the West. The difference between
us and adversarieS is direct and palpabe tina;
it must be apparent TO every one who takes the
trouble To read the resolutions of the two conven-
lions, as copied byus above.
But says the western Locofoco who dares not
array himself against the Wing faith, is not the
present Congress within the control of the Locofo-
co party, and las 1t not passed bill making river
and harbor appropriations
All of these things are true; but, by passing the
bill, they violated the article in their party creed
which declares that Congress las no potcer TO do
that act. The! practically trampled under loot
their faith, and adopted ours. They did not dare
to face their constituents with their votes on record
against these appropriations. Let the people re-
member that the bill passed, not through the aid OF
the LocofocO platform, butt spite of it. In the
House, Gjty-eight Wings voted for it, and ipcirl
voted against it; while only Jorty-one Locotocos
voted for it, and ninetynine either voted against il
or lodged the vote. In the Senate the difference
was still more palpabe. The great mass of The
Wings voted for the bill, and the great mass OF the
Locofocs voted aguinstit. Such is the history OIL
its passage. ar.
We aver tl.atif Franklin Pierce had been Presi-
dent at that time he would have toed the bill; and
we further that if he is elected, he mill pett
all such bills, Polk did in his term. And now
for the evidence.
We say that Franklin Pierce uniformly voted
against all such bills while he was in Congress
We challenge the production of vote of his III
their favor. Read the following list OF his votes:
June 2sth, 1884, Harbor and River Bill, appro
prating 722. 3s7 dollars opposedby Franklin Pierce
IJ'dppr0red by Andrew Jackson.
March Sd, 1885, approprinting 1926, lGl dollars
opposed by franklin Pierce, I'nHrored by Andrew
Jackson.
July I'd. 1896, appropiating Gas, ll9 dollars, OPP
posed by Franklin Pierce, II-approped by Andrew
jackson.
March Sd, 1888, appropriating ,374,7 1922 dollars
opposed by Franklin Pierce, U'npprored by Andrew
Jackson.
July It'll, 1898, appropriatng l,469. 1oS dollars
opposed by Franklin Pierce, Gjrapprored by Martin
Van Buren,.
August 3d. 1916, appropriating .2s3,45o dollars
opposed by all the New Hampshire Democratic Sen
atorS and Representatives, and uJ'uetocd by Jane!
K. Polk. .Hiala.
But, the Locofoco may say, Gen. Pierce has
changed his mind. We deny it. We say there is
not shadow of evidence off On the contrary
he accepted the nomination, and specially endorsed
the platform, which contains the ant-iinprovemen
clause we have quoted. Again, III speech b,
Hon. Mr.. McCernand, of Illinois, at Shawnee
town, speaking of Pierce's views on this question
he said: "If Pierce mould be elected he ,rould
VETO all such schemes" Mr.. Venable made The
ID same declaration in speech at Richmond.
But the strongest evidence, not only of Pierce's
hostility but also that of the Locooco party to West
ern Improvements, that we have yet seen, is embo-
died in article published in the Richmond (Va.)
Enquirer. This is of the leading papers of that
faith, and stands perhaps second only 10 the Union