Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-06-08
WARD
HILL
LAMON
His Friend. .
Partner
and
Bodysuard

every time, I will consider it dis.
grace and will be sure never to try it
again, but I am bound to beat that
man if am beat myself. Mark that!'
These were not the only speeches he
made in furtherance of his present
claims, but they are all of which we
have any Ineligible account. There
was one subject upon which he felt
himself peculiarly competent to speak
the practical application of the ''inter-
nal improvement system" to the river
which flowed by the doors Of the con-
stituency he addressed. He firmly be-
lieved in the right Of the legislature of
the state or the congress of the United
States to appropriate the public money
to local improvements for the sole ad-
vantage of limited districts, and that
he believed it good policy to exercise
the right his subsequent conduct in the
legislature and an elaborate speech in
congress are sufficient proof. In this
doctrine he had the almost unanimous
support of the people of Illinois.
Mr.. Lincoln knew well that the policy
of local improvement at the general ex-
pense was at that moment decidedly the
most popular platform he could mount,
but he felt that this was not enough for
his individual purposes, since it was no
invention of his and belonged to nearly
everybody else as much as to him. He
therefore prudently ingrafted upon it a
hobby of his own-the improvement of
the Sangamon river, plan to straight
en- it by means of cuts, to clear out its
Instructions and make it commercial
highway at the cost of the state
Prepares Written Address.
That the idea was nearly, if not quite.
impracticable the trip of the Talisman
under Mr. Lincoln's plotting and the
fact that the river remained nnim-
proved during all the years Of the in
ternal improvement mania would seem
to be pretty clear evidence. But the
theme was agreeable to the popular ear
and had been dear to Lincoln from the
moment he laid his eyes on the San
canon. It was the great topic of his
speech against Posey and Ewing in
Macon county, when, under the aus
pices of John Hanks, he beat those
professional politicians so completely
that they applauded him themselves.
His experience in navigating the river
was not calculated to make him forget
it, and it had occupied his thoughts
more or less from that day forward.
Now that it might be turned to good
use where he was personally interested,
he set about preparing q written ad-
dress ON it and on some other questions
of local interest, upon which he bestow
ed infinite pains.
The grammatical errors in the frs:
draft were corrected by Mr.. McNamar.
the pioneer Of New Salem as business
point and the gentleman who was des-
tined to be Mr. Lincoln's rival in the
most important love affair Of his life.
The following is portion of the fin
ished paper:
To the People of Sangamon County:
Fellow CitizenS-Having become candi-
date for the honorable office of one OF
your representatives in the next general
assembly of this state. in accordance with
established custom and the principles
of true Republicanism 1t becomes my duty
to make known to you, the people, whom
I propose to represent, my sentiments
with regard to local affairs.
Time and experience have verified to q
demonstration the public utility Of in
ternal improvements. That the poorest
and most thinly populated countries
would be greatly benefited by the opening
of good roads and in the clearing Of nav
fgable streams within their limits is what
no person will deny. Yet it Is folly to un-
dertake works of this kind or any other
kind without first knowing that we are
able to finish them. as half finished work
generally proves to be labor lost. There
cannot justly be any objection to having
railroads and canals any more than to
other good things, provided they cost
nothing. The only objection is to paying
for them, and the objection arises from
the want of ability to pay.
With respect to the county of Sanga-
mon, some more easy means of communi-
cation than it now possesses for the pur-
pose of facilitating the task of exporting
the surplus products of its fertile soil and
importing necessary articles from abroad
are indispensably necessary.
From my peculiar circumstances, it Is
probable that for the last twelve months
l have given as particular attention to
the stage of the water in the Sangamon
river as any other person In the country.
IN the month of March, 1881, in company
with others, I commenced the building Of
a fatboat on the Sanganon and finished
spring. Since that time have been con-
cerned in the mill at New Salem. These
circumstances are sufficient evidence that
l have not been very inattentive to the
stages of the water. The time at which
We crossed the mill dam being in the last
days of April, the water was lower than
1t had been since the breaking of winter
in February or than it was for several
weeks after. The principal difficulties we
encountered In descending the river were
from the drifted timber, which obstruc-
tons all know are not difficult to be re-
moved Knowing almost precisely the
height Of water at that time. I believe I
ann safe in saying that It has as often
been higher as lower since
From this view Of the subject It ap-
pears that my calculations With regard
to the NAVIGATION 81 the Sangenaon can
not but be founded tm reason; but. what
ever may be its natural advantages, Ger
tain Il ts that It never oan be 0eact5oaily
uaefuf 70 anx ErAaA axAant ussAoerA ls.aAas