Captains, cooks, drivers, hostlers, repairment, and lock tenders will be left without means of livelihood, not to mention the numerous farmers now employed in growing hay for horses. Boat builders would suffer, and towline, whip and harness makers would be left destitute.
Canal boats are absolutely essential to the defense of the United States.
In the event of the expected trouble with England, the Erie Canal would be the only means by which we could ever move the supplies so vital to waging modern war. The Almighty never intended that people should travel at such breakneck speed.