The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-09-08
The Father of Waters.
A writer, referring to the vastness Of IL
Mississippi river, says

in length. 1t would reach from New ork
across the Atlantic Ocean, or from France
to Turkey and the Caspian Sea. lis aver
age depth is SO feet, and its width half a
mile. The floods are more than a month
travelling from its source to its delta. The
trappers can exchange the furs OF animals
caught by them on the Upper Mississippi ter
the tropical fruits gathered on the banks be-
low. The total value of steamers afioat on
the river and its tributaries is more than
$50, 900, numbering l 900 boats, with
more than twice the steamboat tunnage of
England. 1t drains an area of l, 200, 900
square miles, and washes the shores of
twelve powerful States. In one single re-
servoir at Lake Pepin, between Wisconsin
and Minnesota, 200 miles from the sea, the
navies of the world might safely ride at an
Choir"
Besides this immense artery of com merce.
there are other mighty streams flowing into
1.-THE Ohio, the Missouri and others
on which the West is dependent for much of
her prosperity. If these rivers become OF
structed by bars, snags, or other impedi-
ments, not only our boatmen, but our whole
people, suffer.
These rivers are great National Highways.
1t is the duty of the General Government 10
see that they are kept open and in proper
order for the purposes of navigation. If it
is not the duty of the government thus to
provide for the safety and security of its
people in life and property, for what pur-
pose was it formed
Of all the parties which aspire to the con-
troll of the Government the Republican party
IS the only one aOhicA has pledged itself to
propide .forthe ImproUemsntof Rivers andHar-
bors! Boatmen--rivermen-- whose
Interests depend in agreat degree on the Sc
curity of aVigation-mechanics who rely
for your daily bread on the prosperity of the
boating interests-draymen, day labcrers,
warehousemen-all concerned in this great
interest, remember the above fact, and act on
it in making your choice of the party which
is to control the government for the next
four years.
Let US see the planks in the respective
platforms on this subject:
The Bell-Everett party, as it does every
other great question, shirks any expression,
for or against. You can't tell how it stands
in relation TO the Improvement OF Rivers
and Harbors.
Both the Democratic factions re-aftrmed
the Cincinnati Platform at their last Nation
al Conventions. Here is what that plat
form says on the subject under consdera-
ton
-. That the Constitution does not con-
4
er to commence and carry on q general sys-
tenn of internal improvements
1t don't? Where then does the power
exist Surely there must be some power to
do this necessary work The States can't
do it. A few boatmcn can't undertake such
an enormous expenditure for the good of
others as much as themselves. The Demo-
cracy have never hestated to vote appropri-
ations for Eastern and Southern light houses,
breakwaters, beacons, &c, but when they
have been asked to exercise the same need
of juytice to the West, they have not done
it, because the West was supposed to be poor
and weak, with comparatively few Uotes TO
give. Now the East and South are pretty
well supplied with these things, and the
Democracy have discovered that it is un-
constitutional to vote appropriations when
the West is TO reap her share of the benefits.
Her rivers are permitted to become grave
yards for human beings and floods of de-
structIon for merchandise, and the Demo-
cratic party denies her any remedy And
still it has the effrontery to appeal to per-
sons having interests connected with river
business for their votes
Here is the pledge which the Republican
party soemnly gave at Philadelphia, and
which it reiterated at Chicago. Read it
and mark the contrast.
"That appropriations by Congress for
River and Harbor improvements of Ma
tional character, required for the accomoda-
ton and security of existing commerce,
are authorized by the Constitution, and
justified by the obligation of Government
to protect the lives and property OF its
citizens"
There is the old Whig doctrine that Clay
fought for. That doctrine is re-asserted by
the Republican party, made up of old Wings
and honest Democrats who see the justice
of the measure. No other party but the
Republican, takes this bold and generous
ground. If it comes into power, no petty
constitutional scruples will prevent it from
doing its ohole duty to our 1ohoLe people.
Voters of Southern Indiana, who are deeply
-vitally-interested in this question, do
not allow the absurd and unfounded cries of
"nigger equality and " abolitionism, " so
constantly made use of by the Democracy
because they can say nothing else,
blind you to the real principles of the con-
test, and prejudice you against a party the
whole aim Of which is the promotion of the
best interests of the people of the entire
Union.
ELKHoKN MILL.-The New Elkhorn Mill
is now almost completed, and in few days
the prOprietors will apply steam, and the
whistle SO long familiar TO us will again he