The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-02-18

From its stream viii be sent forth to the less
favored nations of the earth the bountiful
abundance of land far moro blessed than
that which the prophetof old Was permitted
to gaze upon, but forhidden Il Anj3 Np-
plause.) = - 81
this valley win BE a@ised only " sheir v.es
this Unioh With b0o7ls fsner chan bran OF |
steel the states that lie beyond the mountains,
outposts OF the nation, and which, ringing
the commonwealth, constitute buttress and
bastion, stoekade or perteallis, to give safety
and repose to the mighty states within their
borders.
|, Seifprotection, community of interest, ties
Of consanguinity and national pride, will hold
thosest1tss toEthes great central empire as.
immutably as the. planets are held in their
Just positions by the attraction of the vast
central orb whose blessed influence gives
them stability, and from whose exhaustless
warmth they inherit vitality and nourish-
ment. - ~ ss
The march of civilization had crossed the
Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada
Its vanward hosts now pause upon the gilt
terfng sands of the Pacific. You have ceas-
ed to be the Great West. Population, wealth
and political power now preponderate in the
Valley OF the Mississippi. This Valley is
now the great centre. From this day forth
| and forever, you and your descendants can
| dictate the laws and policy of this govern.
| ment !; aye, of this continent, if you will
You have the numbers, the intelligence and
| the energy to insure its accomplishment
| You have but to combine your strength as
| or MOI dor nd
| at Washington, "These distractions which
| lessen the value and mar the beauty of these
/ great national highways, which are re-
proach to humanity and disgrace to this
republic, MUST be removed" lapplausel and
F.! your voice, echoing the will of an impatient
and indignant people, viii command obedi-
enee. Continued applause
| 1t is time that the representatives of the
people of this great valley in congress estab-
| hshed a national policy. A policy which
! looks to the heart and body of the nation,
| and not alone to its borders. improvements
on the seaboard are all proper and right
They facilitate the arrival and departure of
our foreign commerce. But is not the inter.
nal commerce ofthe nation as worthy of be-
ing protected and facilitated Is it Just
that everything should be done for the sea-
coast and nothing for the interior Is not
the one as upon the other? Are not the tax
es with which those light houses and break
waters are built drawn from the valley as
well from the border? Not dollar should
be voted by the representatives of this valley,
for amy public works either on the borders of
this republic, or anywhere else, while these
great rivers renla in neglected, Applause.
There IS no obligation more imperatite,no
higher duty can devolve upon the statesman
and law giver than to strengthen the bonds
of our federal Union. In no way can this be-
done so effectnally as by aiding and eneour-
aging commerce between the States and BY
faelhtatlng the intercourse of their private
citizens. The moderation and Justice of the
| laws which govern country exert an intiu-
ence less powerful to preserve its unity than
that which is exerted by its natural and arti-
fetal channels of social and commercial III
| tercourse.
| The want of such channels NAV prevent
the neutralizing and harmonizing of those So
cial and material effects of climate without
| which a homogeneous character in the nation
cannot be created and without such char
| acter a union cannot be sustained except bv
| force. The absence of such facilities NAV
make the very equality of the law tyranny
| 1n9one section OF the country, while in the
| other it would impose no burden. a-..-5 - 7
| Formerly, constitutional objections were
urged against the improvement of these riv-
ers by those who had no seruples In voting
for sea board works But such directors are
now rare, and their mischievous bubbles are
generally rejected by a loyal people. The
wise and patriotic trainers of the constitution
intended It's blessings and burdens to he en-
loyed and shared alike by all in equal aud
just proportion. They never designed that
~ Oh
oceans margin than that which penetrates
the heart of the commonwealth Must we |
be told at this time, in answer to our Just de- |
mands, that there is doubt existing as to |
the power of the oanaral gover~--e--s .>.-asr !
the constitution to improve these rivers, when |
in the last five wears it has built railroads |
dug canals damned the Red river, and pulled |
out distractions from streams and harbOrS, |
expanding tens of millions of the public |
treasure ? Does any statesman gainsaY its |
right to do it, then? Does any patriot qHes- |
ton its power to do it when the Union was |
in peril? When the necessity occurred |
there was power in the government some
where to provide for it. This power did not |
exist in the necessity. 1t must have existed |
in the constitution, for its use not be JUS |
tifed even by the immortal Lincoln. unless |
it is the letter or spirit of that Instrument
Existing there, and being used to save the |
Union, surely the same power may be in |
vohled to protect and perpetuate it ; to pro- |
mote Its harmony and increase its blessings. |
lfa-doubt exists as to this power, in Gods |
name give the benefit of that doubt in favor |
of that Union to save which we have lavish |
ed the wealth of the nation and given the |
precious lives of her people. Applause.
II those Improvements can be justified be- |
cause the republic was in peril, certainly |
wise and precautionary policy will justify all |
reasonable expenditure requisite to provide
for its future safety by the removal of OBJ
structions that have cost the government in
the last FIVE years, by losses, delays, and ex-
horbitant freightage much more than would
eXtermlnate them forever. The Importance
of safe and rapid water transportation thro'
the valley of the Mississippi, in every direc-
ton, commends itself to the favor of the pru.
dent and sagacious statesman as a great
measure of public safety, not only because
OF the immense facilities which it affords for
the rapid concentration of troops toward any
threatened point, but also because of the
ease with which the wants of our armies can
be supplied from this grand central granary
of the country. Here, too, on these rivers.
IN the very heart of the nation, secure from
ali possible approach of her foes, she can
construct and send forth to the ocean her an
conquerable navies to protect her commerce.
to defend her coasts, and TO shed the same |
refulgent glory over the future pages of her
history, that CLOVIS so brightly on the MAST i
records of the American people 1Ap- c
lause. iF a
IN n m ~ Il v