Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-09-07
Internal Improvements.

iy David X. Atchison, and place the demo-
cratic party ON an internal Improvement
platform. Speaking of Atchison, the wri-
ter says
He has always been the advocate for In
ternal Improvements in Missouri, provided
those improvements were proposed TO be
done in constitutional way. He was the
advocate OF Congress donating lands for
! Railroads in the State and the donation OF
lands TO the State of Missouri would nc
| doubt have been made at that session by the
democratic mambers in Congress. The bill
was up and would have passed at that ses-
sion. But here be 1t observed, that Colonel
Benton Joined the freesollers and abolition
lists of the North and his exertions to carry
off the democracy of Missouri with him
divided them, and he gave advice TO these
who still adhere to him TO vote for the wings
that they were more in accordance to his
political principles than his old friends, that
his old friends the democrats who opposed
himl Those who went off with Col. Ben
ton voted for the wings, the consequence
was that Missouri elected almost an entire
wing representation in Congress. Now
mark you, my fellow citizens, at this crisis
the bill for donating land to Missouri for
Railroad purposes, was perfected and near
ly ready to be put upon its final passage
When the bill was put on its final passage,
both wings and democrats from Missouri
voted for tie bill and it passed. 1t would
have passed at that session, by the demo-
cratic vote from Missouri, even, if Col.
Benton had not went over to the Abolition
lists of the North, and carried off Democrats
who voted for the Wings, and carried their
election. And now, forsooth, the wings
claim all the credit for passing the law for
donating land for Railroad purposes in Mis-
souri,.
Up TO the time Of the democratic split in
Missouri, democrats opposed internal i'm
provements on constitutional ground. Since
then they have somewhat changed their po-
sition, and the Antics now make it ques-
ton of time, and extent of the works. But
a large portion Of the democratic party in
Congress opposed the grants of land to Mis-
souri, notwithstanding the powerful inAu-
ence attributed to Senator Atchison. The
record shows that the Missouri land bill was
passed by ayes l03, noes rs. An equal
number of wings and democrats voted for
the bill, while sirty democrats and Sirteerl
wings voted against it! If the usual dem
ocratc delegation had been in Congress,
hampered as they were by constitutional
scruples, and the support Of President
Folks anti-improvement doctrine,it is a fair
inference that the bill would have failed
But we had wings there TO stand up for the
State, and to make personal appeals to men,
bers, and the bill was carried-no thanks &c
Senator Atchison, either,
Look at the last session, and you fine
Phelps and Lamb voting against the river
and harbor bill, which was vetoed by demo.
cratic President Pierce, and he and they
are sustained by the administration party il
Missouri.
VIII western rivers and harbors ever b.
improved while we send members to Con
gress who vote against appropriation, fol-
that purpose? Verify not. If Senator
Atchison has the influence claimed for him
he deserves more Of execration than praise
for recreancy TO western interests.
The position of the administration is ia
ken on the subject of Western Improvement
and if by any mishop the democrats had sue
ceeded in the late election, they would hav,
sustained the President-but the peopl
have only left Phelps in Congress, and it il
to be hoped he will take warning. Rea,
the following from the St. Louis Republi
can of the lst: