Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-16
SPEECH OF
WIN. M. MCPHERSON, ESQ.,,
Upon the Opening Of the River
improvement Conve0tion
ne 1T. Louis, Feb. Dist.

his is a speech that should be read by
every man In the Northwest:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION II can.
not but feel gratified by this unexpected
complement that has been extended to me-
| 60 not take such = compliment to myself
~ mucn rs do 70 the city Of st. Louis, Of
which have the honor to be citizen. !
take it rs such and apprecia il the more
because il comes to St. Louis | know not
with what ability can discharge tho. du-
ties OF my position, but | vii, execute them
to the best Of my ability, trusting to your
indulgence and assistance in the questions
that may arise during the deliberations Of
this body. Gentlemen, this is an important
meeting, il a proper use is made Of it, The
subject is one that 10 entitled, not only TO
the consideration Of the citizens and dele
gates here assembled, but to the consi6era-
ton Of the law>mak:ng power OF the nation.
Ii is a question that every one may ask
himself with propriety. why has this great
question slept 80 long why has the nation
been permitted TO sleep on in icthar.y and
indifference towards this important subject,
one that should not be overlooked in the
development Of this vast country OF the
West-this opening and improving Of the
great artery Of the inland commerce Of this
continents Applause. We cannot give
any satisfactory answer. Railroad corpora.
tons have hitherto seemed to be the prom
,nent consideration of the country. The
grea. schemes Of the railroad corporations
were TO be fostered by, perhaps laudnbie en-
deavors but they seem TO have entirely alb
sorbed the public mind, while this free ca
nal this free channel OF navigation, that
will cost nothing bu, the removal of the
slight Instructions which the rapids above
have thrown upon it--has been left 10 work
its way AZ hes, it could. and the insurance
companies and thr bostmen meet and s,iug-
gle as best they can with the obstacles
thrown in their way. Gentlemen, it is not
| . question OF prompting the interests Of st.
Louis or New Orleans, or New York, or Du
buqre, or any Of those growing towns or
cities that are upon the bsnks Of the Mis-
sissippi. IL is not question Of contest. IS
some foolish cditors make it, between CHS
cago and st. Louis, as to their individual
ascendency, but il 10 . question about what
shall be done Tor the great agricultural in
tcrests Of this mighty Valley. Applause.
IL is . question whether the agricul>
tural interests shall be taxed beyond en-.
durance. aud with them the cultivators of
the soil thus far impoverished. Because it
takes but little arithmetic to determine that
. bushel Of corn can DO carried but CONF
parstively short distance BY railroads before
It is all swallowed up by the cost Of trans
porfAtion, and il therefore becomes necessa.
~ for the farmers Of this mighty valley,
which IN few years will be capable Of feed
ing the world, to have cheap means Of
transportation for their produce to market.
That is the question, or whether their pro-
duce shall oil be swallowed up by long
railroad transportation. 1t matters little
comparatively, whether the trade comes to
St. Louis or gees to New Orleans or Chica.
60. Chicago may take it oil. il you please,
all Of the products Of the farmers industry;
hut il the farmers src wealthy and if We, 10
! 81 Louis, have anything to sell we shall
! hsss = chance to get part Of their money, if
! The fagnssrs, produce comes hefs.- Then
Ch'cago heAaA e1A,l chance Of getting soue
falAoe Qnooeo1a II E1haAeiook that pgpduce,
~ lsFPFf':%ins SaaPEsssso''' Ae ~ ~