Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-10-26
POETRY.
From The Mere Br-ualsrvics Fredoniaa.
STANZAS

81 THE GREAT WESTERN CANAL OF THE STATE
sEw-YoRK.
.neEtsne Syluas ire per hagds
Fuit, an receafes carbere midas Hou.
/. e. which was best-to travel through te
lious weary forests, or to sail on these rccen
', aters'
The nation true to honor's cause,
TO equal rights and equal ia4rs,
Iswell secured, and well released
From the proud monarch of the east.
Thus Holland rose from Spqin's control,
And thus shall rise from pole to pole
Those systems formed on reasons plan,
That indicate the rights cfman.
Nature, herself viii change her face,
And arts fond arms the world embrace;
In works of peace mankind engage,
And close the despot's iron age.
And here, behold work progress,
Advancing through the wilderness,
A work, 50 recently began,
Where liberty enlightens man:
Her powerful voice at length awakes
Imprisoned seas and bounded lakes.
The great idea to pursue, So
10 lead the veiais lie system through;
Such glorious tolls to emulate,
Should be the task of every State.
From ETe's shores to Hudson's stream
Tn unriyall'd work would endless seem;
Would millions for the work demand,
And half depopulate the land.
To Fancys view, what years must run,
What ages, till the task is done
Even truth, severe, would seem to say,
Oae Hundred years mast pass a.uay:
The sons might see what sires began,
Still unperformed the mighty plan,
The mpeded barque, in durance held, b
BY hills confined, by rocks repelled.-
Not China's wall, though grand and strong,
Five hundred leaguesit towers along
Not Cli,la's wall, though stretching far,
With this vast object can compare.
With such gigantic works CT old
This proud Canal may be enrolled,
Which to our use no tyrant gave, la
Nor o1res its grandeur to one Sape.-
IF kings their abject tribes compelled
With toll immense, such walls to build,
A nezS Republic in the west
"a great example to the rest)
Can seas unite, and here will shew
What Freedoms nervous sons can do.
See Commerce here expand her sail,
And distant shores those waters hail,
As waiting to Manhattan's coast
The products that new regions boast.
And hence our fleets transport their freights
To jealous kings and sister states,
And spread her fame from shore to shore,
Where suns ascend, or pillows roar.
To make the purpose all complete,
Before they bid tyo oceans meet,
Before the task is finished, ALL EsS
What rocks must yield, what forests fall!
7Hree years elapse, behold it done
A work from Natures chaos won;
BY hearts Of oak and hands of toll
The spade inverts the rugged soil:
A work, that may remain secure
While suns exist or moons endure.
With patient step see them move
Ger many plain, through many grove;
strength diselain'd the sod
Where tigers ranged or .Nohawss trod;
The powers that could the soil subdue
Will see the mighty project through.
We patrons of this bold design,
Who Erie to the Atlantic join,
To you be every honor paid
No time shall see your fame decayed:-
Through gloomy groves you traced the plan,
The rude abodes of savage man.
Ye prompters Of q work so vast,
That may for years, for centuries last;
Where Nature toiled to bar the way,
You mark'd her steps, but chang'd her sway.
NYe artists, who, with skilfhl hand,
Conduct such rivers through the land,
Procsed!-and in your bold career
May every plan as wise appear,
As The, which joins to Hudson's wave
What Nature to s.. Laurence gave.s
On June LIST, 1922. the canal had an unin
Ill n - 4 ~