Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-06-04
SEVENTEENTH YEAR.
HAwK-EYR AID TELEGRAPH.

IIoprOvenens 81 Rivers and MaYbOBs.
Why ID IL thst Western men do not stand up
for Western interestss Why Is It that no voice
Of condemnation Is raised by Western men
against the veto Of appropriations for river and
harbor improvement Simply because Western
politicians are true to nothing but the pursuit Of
| ofhce, too often feel no higher emotion than the
love Of public plunder. And the people them.
selves are not true to their public servants-ihey
do not distinguish sufficiently between the faith
| ful and the treacherous--the honest and the
dishonest. This is proven by the fact that =
majority Of the Northwestern States have cast
heir electoral votes for men that have been con-
istens in their hostility to Western interests,
and although repeatedly spurned, have continued
to lick the hand that smosc them. The veto of
the appropriation for the Rapidslast year and the
Executive veto of appropriations for improving
the Mississippi river and the St. Clair Flats the
present spring have hardly received passing
notice. The Locofcco papers in Iowa have
nothing TO say. Their mouths are easily closed
by q small sop in the shape of Government
patronage, If they were to exhibit refractory
spirit. But they donot They have not enough
OF manly character or pride left to 60 to the
trouble Of putting on little indignation for the
sake of appearances. They have voluntarily
sold themselves and are bound by the implied
terms Of the contract to follow wherever their
leaders may dictate, however opposed to their
own interest or treacherous to the people with
whom they have cast their lot. There is no po-
litical dogma too absurd and no measure too
dcspicable for their advocacy. There is no out
rage upon human rights, even to the sappng Of
the foundations of ou, Government and the des-
truction of the Union itself that they are not
ready to wink at and sanction at the bidding of
their task.,nasters
But VIC commenced this article merely to show
how easily these acts of hostility are CLOSED over
and how willing and handy the paid officials of
Pierce are at such a job. AS long as Western
people are not very much in earnest-care more
for party success, Athere will be no appropria-
tions. See how nicely it was got along with in
the State Convention in Michigan:
"Col. W. L. P. Little, of Saginaw, offered two
resolutions, one Of which declared the principle
maintained by Silas Wright upon River and
Harbor Improvements, and the other boldly CEN
suring the last veto by Pierce of the St. Clair
Flats and Mississippi River Bill. To these Hon.
E.. II. Lathrop, of Kalamazoo, offered q suppli-
ment to the effect that "thc delegates appointed
by this Convention be instructed under no cir
cumstances, to veto for or assent to the nomina-
ton of Franklin Pierce for the Presidency"
perfect storm of spontaneous applause greeted
these resolutions as they were read, and every
thing betokcned their triumphant passage; ami
nation lit up all the countenances, and it became
obvious that the Convention for the first time,
were about to do something scih a heart in it.
But suddenly arose fearful wall, Hon. f. Tay-
lor's voice Detroit Land Office) pleading for
moderation, forbearance, deberation and mercy.
He was for Pierce and Harbor improvements
oh yes! but how would the Democracy of Michi-
gan look, ifPierce should chance to be nomina-
ted after all! After him pleaded Hon. w. NJ |
Fenton Flint Land OHice) who was nowise nfu- |
enced by the fact that he is Government officer,
and who would despise himself to weigh the en-
dearments of Office, against the love Of Democ-
racy; he also counselled caution, prudence, and |
deprecated "hasty legislation" While these
and some others were speaking, the Government
officers were busy, entreating, coaxing and driv
ing, going from member to member to member. |
In vain Mr. Lathrop speaking to his bold resolu-
ton, called upon them to take bold stand, and |
to be out Spoken fear, fear as abject as |
the avarice from which it sprung, took posses
sion of them, the unanimous applause with
which the resolutions were received died away,
the slave drivers whip cracked again tails,
elung to hind legs, and the resolutions were
tabled.