The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-08-16
SENATOR !. Il0AR
ON THE RIVER ANo tlARsoR BILL.
Ills neftnse Of His Attion-Grand Results to b.
Accomplished by the tApnropriA,ion-i.rnIn.
rent Work a. an AuntalIns Fac. +.
tor OF Sectional Di,llkes.

" WORCESTER, MASS, August Ex-senator
lloar has addressed letter to the people
OF Massachusetts, giving his reasons for
voting for the River and Ilarbor bill, and
giving some views on internal improve.
ments. In opening; Mr.. lIoar says to the
people: p 5a5
III has never been your. fashion to con.
demn your public servants unlleatd. You
will be glad to listen to the reasons which
have governed large majority OF your
delegation, as well us n large majority in
both Houses Of Congress, in giving their
support 10 the River and lIarbor bill.
No representative Of Massachusetts
could have had the slightest per.
sonal motive to do other than
his simple duty in the matter. The
bill contained only n moderate appropria.
'tion Of s37l 900, to be expended within her
limits, and this for objects so clearly Jus,
and reasonable that they would have Kept
their place il the bill Ind been reduced by
twothirds. II We have erred, it has been
with the sincerest desire to do right and
without the smallest motive to do wrong.
| expect 10 satisfy You We were governed
by the grave, honest, sound Republican
Massachusetts, reasons. In one thing, at
least, You will agree with me.
Being convinced by these reasons myself
il l had failed to act upon that conviction
from any fear OF personal consequences
should have been unworthy Of you-and
unworthy OF the respect OF honest men,
There is no son Of Massachusetts who loves
her more than do, but fully believing,
after careful consideration. that my duty 10
her and the whole country required OF me
that vote, could not have failed to cast it
for all the lionors and Offices within her
gift. The people get more for their money
from this class Of appropriations
than from any other. These works are
permanent; they DO not perish with the
using. The moncvisexpended by II Board
of Engineers; this Board is made up OF ex.
perienced army officers and has the conf.
dence OF the country more than any other
public body, not excepting the Supreme
Court itself. No member of Congress or
else can influence the expendi.
ture. Tine economy and honesty OF the
expenditure OF no dollar in this depart.
ment has ever, so far as | know, been
challenged. 1t is absurd to say these har-
bors and bays and great rivers are not TO
be made accessible TO the districts or towns,
or factories in their vicinity, or
that it is not proper to exercise
her national authority 10 doit. You might
us well say while Boston harbor is national
it should not be so dredged. Ships could
60 to its wiarves because wharves are
local. You might as well, in building the
Boston & Albany railroad across the State,
refuse to have side tracks at towns and Cit
les because they are local. There is one
respect in which this river and har-
Dor money is best spent OF all
public appropriations, save only pensions.
There are vast spaces in this country
where the United States Government has
been known for IL generation only in the
character oi II conqueror or tax .gatherer.
1t is good that they should see this great
and beneiicient power in its character OF
benefactor, but it is also well for the peo-
pie in those sections OF the country who
have been educated for half II century 10
look on the National Government with
jealousy and dislike, and who have felt its
terrible power in war, in wasted fields and
desolated homes should learn to associate
its image with the beneiicent work which
joins them with the great system Of National
commerce, and on which their prosperity
and wealth are hereafter TO depend.
Whether the policy oil this bill is to be
popular in Massachusetts this afternoon,
or this week, or this year, 1 do not know
1t is the life OF NIL her traditions and is
sure sooner or later to command her. sup.
port"