New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-10-23
RIVER AND HABBOR IMPROVEMENTS
Defense of the Right md the Duty of the Amer
lean Union 10 Improve Its Navisnbie Wa
tiers,


tiers,
SPEECH BY SAMUEL b. RUGGLEs,
At Censtnsioa Hail. "a tAe City Of Mao fort, October
g, 1852
A meeting was held on the evening OF the sth
October, 1859, at Constitution Hall, in the City
Of New-York for the purpose of hearing an
address from SAMUEL b. RUcsLEs, Esq, upon
the subject of the Improvement OF Rivers and
Harbors, by the National Government. The
meeting was called in consequence of the COM
pliance of Mr.. X. with the request conveyed
in the following letter:
Nrw.YoRR Tuesday Oct. s 1882
Hon SAMUEL H. RvooLrs-Dtor Sir: Among the ~
ues If the pending Presidential Canvass City has
spccn interest in that which relates to the duty of the
National Government 10 sid the National Commerce, by
the Improvement Of our Rivers and ilarbors.
We take the liberty on behalf OF large number oil
fellow citizens, to request that you viii address
them upon this subject at early day may suit
your convenience. Your former connection with this
matter a. President of the Board of Commissioners OF
the Canals Of this great htnieworks truly national Ia
their relate distinguished abilities which You
have brought the discharge of the duties of that high
position and the general interest which YOU have al
ways monested in the subject lead as 10 look 10 you
with confidence for Information upon which may he
useful in the coming contest.
Trusting that you may md II convenient 10 omply
With our wishes In this respect,
We are, tFay oleat nj servants,
PANS nAsIst LING SlSs s Snhsi ph e,STi
q AuSusfUs DAVIS. ii ! Rin6Np,
GEORGE W BLUNT, MOSS hAhNARp J''
AMI many others
The meeting was organized by the appoint
ment of CHARLES AUGUSTUS DAVIS, Esq,
Chairman, and GEORGE w. BLUNT, Esq
Secretary.
The letter Of invitation having been read, Mr.
RusGLns addressed the meeting as follows:
Mn. CRliRMAr AND GESrLEMrs l am here
this evening, upon your Mind invitation, to ad
dress YOU on the subject Of the Improvement,
BY the Government of the United States of
the Rivers and Harbors, required for the safety
Of our National Commerce.
The fattcring manner in which You have re-
ferred 60 my former connection with the public
works of this State, deserves my grateful ac-
knowledgements; and beg 10 assure you, that
any efforts may have made to hasten the
completion of these great channels Of com-
mercal intercourse, are more than repaid by
this proof of your regard l hepe that you
will permit me 10 add, in justice TO myself, that
these efforts never had any personal object, be-
yond the satisfaction of contributing, in some
small measure, to the general good
The proper improvement Of the great navi
gable waters Of the Union, Z. render them
safe and convenient for its rapidly expanding
commerce, isa subject highly important to the
American People. II ought TO be above and
beyond all rarty conflicts, but l regret TO per-
ceive that il is deeply involved in the approach
inc Presidential Election.
The Wing party, to which We belong, have
now been urging, for many years, the improve
ment of our Rivers and HarborS by the National
Government. Their opponents deny such I'M
provements 10 be constitutional or necessary,
or claim that, if necessary at all, they should
be made solely by the separate States.
II wss some years before the issue on this
question was presented in the precise form l
have above stated; but recent events have
il distinctly in this shape before the American
people; and il now forms the most prominent among
he eatsres which distinguish the ecptepding partee