New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-18
IuPROyfNG THE MISSIS sIPPI RIVER.

1879 IN General James A. GOdttd
For my self. | believe that one OF the II andest of
our material national nterests-Cne that II national
IN the largest material SENSE OF tnat worlds the
MssssIpp River and its vlgablc tributaries. Ii Is
the most gigantic single natural feature OF our CONT
nent far transcending the glory OF the ancient Nile or
of any other river on the earth. HE statesman
ship of America must graphic the problem OF TINS
mighty stream. 1t is too vast for any State to
handle; too much for any authority less than tn
of the Nation itself to manage. And believe the
time will come when the lDcral-Inindcd statesman
ship OF this country will devise IA wise and compre-
hensye system, that will harness the powers OF this
great river to the material interests Oh America so
that not only all the people who live on It's banks
and the banks OF its continents, put all The citizens
of the Republic, whether dwellcrs III the central
valley on the slope OF either ocean Will recognize
the importance of preserving aud perfectlng this
great natural and material bond Of national union
bet ween the North and the South-a bond to be so
strengthened by cOmmerce and intercourse that 1t
can never he severed lApplause.l
One of our early Presidents went so far as even to
exceed his early preconcelved opinions Oh the con-
sttutOnal power OF the Executive, III oruer 10 Dly
from France a mighty emplre to he added to the
Union and he did 1t for this reason chiefly, that
the young Republic could not permanently endure
as a Nation without owning and controlling the
mouths of the Mississippi Nearly the whole cont
nent west OF that river Was bought. 70 make the
Union perpetual by bringing every foot OF the shore
of the Mississippi under our llag. If L did not
think il almost unworthy of great theme. |
would say That if there had been no patriotic I'M
pulse higher than any consideration OF material wei
fare which moved twenty millions OF Americans TO
resist the attempt break the Union i'll pieces. and
impclled them to hold it together by all the cost of
blood and treasure that late required If
there had been no higher national sentiment in
spirinV Them the immense material stake which
the pcoplc of the great North and West and centre
of this country had III the free use of that river
from its To its mouth, that their commerce
might 20 southwark TO the sea under one flag
yexed by conflicting natODalltles, this material
stake alone would have made all the people OF the
upper valley of the Mississippi resist To the last the
[ ismcmberment of the Union.
This great river, which our fathers made suCh
Sacrifices to acquire, and which the present gen
Grafton made much costlier sacrifices to redeem
from dIsunOn and t. hold within the grasp OF the
Nation, We have held not in obedience to mere SEM
timcnt alone. not with view OF keeping At rs II
vast and worthless waste OF water. but 10 utilize
it by making it the servant of all the people of
tins country. How shall utilize it, unless at
the skill OF and make ii subservient TO the in
tcTcsts Of cOmmcrccf
Now. Mr. Speaker and gentlemen of the House
there is another reason why am in favor OF tins
measure ! rejoice IN any occasion which enables
Representatives. from the North and from the
South 80 unI.c in an bipartisan effort 10 promote
great national interest. lApplausc.l such an &C
casion IL good Tor us both And when We can do
IL without the sacrifice OF Our convictions. and can
benefit millions ol our fellow citizens. and thereby
strengthen the bonds OF the nIon ought to do It
with rejoicing; for IN 50 doing, we shall inspire
people with larger and more generous yIeNs, and
help 10 confirm for them and for pc teTity TO
latest generations, the iudlssOluidc Union and the
permanent grandeur of this Republic. snail vote
Tor this bill. Applause Oh hotn sides OF the House.