Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1854-01-19

not yet adopted the laudabe policy of giving tn,
lands, in small quantities, to actual settlers;
measure which has beer repeatedly and earnestl,
pressed upon their attention-but still continue Il
seti the same and III quantities to suit the purcha
ser While this is their policy, confess / can SCI
no good'reason why the States NAV not accen
and prudenty expend, the avails of such grant.
IN aid of Internal Improvements, necessary Il
their growth and prosperity. The fact that such
donations have sometimes been mismanased fur
nishes argument whatever in nv opinion
against receiving and applying them in aid of i'm
portant public works. Such course would sure
~ be prudent for US IN cur individual capacity
then why not for US collectively
Our School Fund.- of which we are so justl,
proud. arises almost exclusively from this source
ana tins year the State will realize, for the benef
| OF Education. nearly one hundred thousand doll
ars, as interest the small portion of lands gran
ted to this State for that purpose and for all tim,
to come, we are to be thus benefited II is be
lieved that corresponding benefit NAV be realized
to other interests of the State, by like iudicion,
management of land grants
There is one subject. SO important to our com
mercial interests-so intimately connected with
the prosperity of all classes of our citizeps-and
yet SO strangely neglected, that cannot omit thi.
opportunity 10 commend it to your special con
sideratiOu. Heretofore the Federal Government
under grants contained in the Constitution has
with some few exceptions, exercised the power OF
making Improvements on Rivers and rbors, by
means OF appropriations drawn from the Federal
Treasury.
1t would be reasonable to suppose, that inter
ests SO important, would have received, at the
hands OF such a guardian, attention in some degree
commensurate with their importance Such how.
ever is not the case. The rapid growth OF our
commerce-internal and foregn-and which is
really one of the greatest sources of our prosperi-
ty, does not seem to have aroused the attention
of Statesmen sufficiently to the subject, to deter
mine any settled policy on the part of the Federal
Government. The last Congress, made appropri-
atoms, which so far the North West is concern.
ed, were entirely inadequ.te. aiida have been ex-
pended @@..1er system inefficient, as to accom-
plish very little towards the object intended-a
system condemned by the experience of nearly
half a century. The policy this subiect, is as
uncertain to-day, as at any time since the organi-
cation of the government; and for aught that is
apparent is likely to remain until the people
of the States, in this section of the Unon force it
upon the attention Of Congress in manner nei-
ther TO be misunderstood disregardeG Still
the Federal Government pretends to exercise this
power; and yet it neglects, least trfles with
the object Tor which 1t was granted. The lives of
our sailors and citizens exposed to constant
peril, from the want of that protection which these
improvements woul. afford, and which we must
have.
l would recommend therefore that bv Memo
rial, you demand that adequate appropriations be
made for these purposes, by the General Govern
ment; or IT the several States are forced to con-
struct them from their own resources, that addi-
tlonal facilities shall be afforded them by Con-
gress. The Statesman who would relieve us from
this dilemma, is entitled to our lasting gratitude
and those In place, who neglect at least, to make
tho affr ch0,,1 h., 4
constitutional way, the power of selfprotection
inherent in every community ard state
In your efforts to promote the interests and
welfare OF the people and the State, you shall re-
ceive my hearty cooperation
Finally, when we survey our state, and see around
US every evidence of increasing prosperity and
greatness we have Just reason for pride and con-
graduation. We may feHcitate ourselves upon
possessing all the advantages necessary TO enable
us to rank, IN very few years, with the richest
and most powerful Of the coniederated States -
Our climate is universally conceded to be salubri-
Gus to a remarkable degree. Our commerce.
keeping pace with the dema of agriculture and
the varied wants of a rapidly increasing popula-
ton, has grown into Importance. A teeming
soil richly repays the labor expended upon it
The facilities afforded by our inexhaustible water
power to those choosing TO engage in manufactur-
ing pursuits must az no distant day, render this
interest one of the most important that we possess
Our mineral and timbered lands are a means of
wealth which cannot well be over-estmated-
Here, under free constitution guarding all rights
the landless may secure himself home, and by
unmoles:ed industry speedily acquire competence
To crown all, our common school fund is so ex-
tensive and permanent that the means of educat-
ing all, TO all time, is secured.
Our country is at Peace, and our prosperity as
a state is mathematical of her condition Rapidlv
increasing IN all her resources at home, she has
made herself respected abroad, and ranks with the
first among the nations of the earth. The efforts
of factionists and disunonsts have resulted in
more firmly cementing the bonds of union
between the States and have only served to dem
onstrate how deeply seated is love of the Union
in every American heart. We can now anticipate
with confidence that organized effort will ever
again be made which may result in discord and
disunion.
For all these blessing we, as individuals and as
people should feel grateful to the great Creator
of the Universe.
WILLIAM A. BARSTOW.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENr,
Madison January 1, 1854.