The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-07-14

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occupied antagonist grouad upon this most b
important subject; one, the old, but now
apparently defunct Wing Party, contend
ing that twas the duty of the Federal Gov. 4
crnmcnt to foster and aid internal improve
ments Of purely local character, having
no direct reference to the general interests
ofcommerce, and her hand-maid, navigation;
and the other denying this--denying the
right of the Federal Government TO take
treasure collected from all and belonging
to oil for local and specific purposes
asserting the propricty and expediency Of
making such expenditures, only, upon works
of a positive or relative national importance.
The great difficulty of determining what
were or what may be considered improve \
ments Of such character, has been the 4
theme Of much discussion, and has doubt
less rendered it impossible to announce in b
special language a fixed principle in regard
to the matter; but it has been conceded
that money may be properly expended by u
the general governments for improvements
that promise general good, and come with
in the province Of a system which, by uni
ty Of purpose and action, looks to the adj
vancemcnt Of the whole country through
series of extended operations. affording
common benefit to the citizens of all the
states. This view adopt and l heartily
approve of the principle held by Mr.. Cal
houn and other able States Right advocates,
that the Mississippi and its tributaries fall
within the system which should receive
Federal aid and encouragement. Travers-
ing the largest and richest portion Of the
confederacy, and bearing upon its ample
bosom the commerce of world, it were
hard to conceive any more proper work Of
internal Improvement, than its wants afford;
and this is equally true as applied to those
tributaries of the Father Of Waters which
benefit number of States directly, and
the citizens of the country indirectly, whcth-l
er we look in their improvements to in
creased facilities of navigation and transit,
or the ends of national defence. ''l oH 80
Among those tributaries none can be
more important than Red River, the Ouach.s
ita, Black and Little Rivers, aud their
branches and kindred streams. They pen.
citrate a country upon which Nature has
avishcd her richest gifts, leaving little to
be done by man to secure those treasures;
but If we may take the past for criterion,
quite sufficient for, if not beyond opening
a record for failures upon which yearly VIC
make entries; and instead of demanding
our share of the Federal treasure, ora por-
tion of it, at least whilst millions arc pass.
ing annually into the hands of the more
active and energetic citizens of other sec.
tons, we have looked on with folded arms,
merely spectators of q division in which il
might be supposed we had neither lot nor
part. Few, save dreamy theorists, will not
admit that this course, so clearly wrong
and suicidal should be abandoned and en-
ergetic action take its place. 1t is false,
as has been charged by our opponents, that
the democratic party is opposed to Internal
improvements when they are Of the char
actcr to which have alluded. So farfrom
this, We defend and sustain them as correct
in principle and wise in practice, ..+ +
Ispeak not only for myself, but give ut
terance to the principles Of our party, as
understand them, when Iunhcsitatingly de-
clare that if elected, will leave no means
untricd TO obtain such legitimate aid from
the general government as will assist in re-
levng us Of the evils which are now para
lying our industry, whether it be in alter
Huc ScCuoIls Vi luHu lOI ndll hOdu pufpO-
Sos, or the removal of Instructions in our
river which is the outlet for large portion
of the commerce of three States, and The
highway to our military posts on the Tex
an frontier. | may not be more fortunate
if opportunity offers than others, who de-
serve our esteem, but in the language of the
gallant Miller" / will try" ltfortunate-
ly happens that this is peculiarly the time
for reflection upon this momentous subject,
and you are peculiarly the men upon whom
such reflections should have q governing
influence. The tale ef the suffering Of the
people of the northwest in consequence of
having neither navigation nor any general
line of communication with the Mississippi,
is terrible, indeed You and those you
represent, are but too familiar with this
widespread and most poignant distress.
and ] feel convinced that you will agree
with me in two things--frst, that more
money has been lost to the planting inter
est by the evils named than would remove
them; aud, second-that it is duty to our
cplyne and our families tn unifa cnrdio11r