Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-10-17

citizens of New York, conven.~i on the 9Th In
stan, in that city, we have now the satisfaction
OF Offering To yOo their cordial congratulations
on the great and interesting event which we
are now c0mmemOrat ng.
The completion gilmore than three hundred
| miles of Canal in less than seven years, by
State which possessed population not much
greater than the metropolis of the British En-
| pire--the Junction of the waters of our inland
seas with the Atlantic, are facts which will ex-
excise most important influence or the pros
perity OF our state, in the social and moral
character of our people, and on the political
power and Importance ofthis nation. 1t would
be useless Ia speak at this moiaent of the add
vantages of the Great Western Canal. You
have the best proofs of them in the joyous
| VACCINATIONS of the freemen Who surround you
hut we may be permitted To- remark, that
the character and happiness of the United
States are intimately concerned in the extern
sion Of agriculture, and the increased produc-
tlveness of our soil.
The great enterprise we celebrate, destined
| as il is 10 connect the valleys of the Ohio and
| the Mohawk, wil hereafter create a home mar
ket for our products, which perhaps the most
| sanguine amongst as do not yet fully appre-
| ciate. Our canal is hut the commencement
| of system of internal improvements, which,
by the facility oftransportation they will afford,
while they lessen the cost, will increase the
amount of our domestic productions. Hereaf
ter, our wheat will compete inthe European
market with that of Poland and Odessa; and
il commerce be thus established important to
| the merchant and beneficial TO the agrcultur-
alist. But we pass over this and every other
topic, To address you On one which appeals
powerfully to the heart OF every American
jealous of the character and pernanence of
our republican institutions. The Great West
ern Canal. while it brings distant countries
| into close contact and extends the blessings of
social intercourse, will unite n large portion of
orr people in strong ties of n community of
commercial interest; and uHder God, as we
| trust, secure and consolidate the Union Of these
States Thus our republican institutions will
he preserved the example of a representa-
| tive Government founded on the peoples will
be maintained in IFS pristine purity, and the
once fond wish of the patriot be realized in
the unsullied perpetuty of our Constitution
| We beg leave, Gentlemen, to felictate You
as citizens Of this ancient capital. The Canal
will pour lis fertiliziug stream into the bosom
OF your city, restore II to its wonted prosperity,
and add another triumph To the patriotic eff
forts Gifts inhabitants.
| ADDRESS OF DIR. MITCHELL.
Mr.. Mayor and Gentlemen of the Common
| Council,
Through you l solicit the indulgence of a
few moments, TO add my mite of contribution
toward the exercises of the day.
| Offerings, as tokens of intention or sgnf-
Cations of disposition, have had long estab-
lishment inssociety. Thus a delivery of twig
and turin solemn manner, put the purchas-
er in possession of land and its produce, SO the
| pipe and the cup, with the accompanying to-
bacco and coffee, the signs of welcome and
| mr. Of r.
the ring presented by the groom and accepted
by the bride. is testimonial of the promises
they mutually made.
| On this great and joyous occasion, act in
conformity tn the wishes of many respecta-
| Die citizens IN requesting the Commissioners
who conduct the work ofthe Great Canals, TO
receive humble oblaton
| 1t consists of two bottles Of water, one of
which IS derived from the Atlantic and the
other from the Indian Ocean. They are
brought here for the purpose of maniiesting
the satisfaction entertained by the donors. and
their maritime brethren, on the union between
| the vast reservoir of waters circumCusing the
globe, and the extensive Lakes of North a
merica.
! Ii my observations could he conveyed 10
you ~ the phrascoogy of the natives who
many centuries ago inhabited southern Eu-
rope, they would run thus:
Neptune having understood, that projects
were on the point of completion, by means of
winch his dOmnions would be very much en-
larged, and rendered more useful and convent
ent, has directed Commodore John Rodgers
ot the navy, and John Austin, Esq. of the mer-
chant-rmploy, Ia draw those fluids from the
profound abodes. Accordingly these samples
nf his saline element from the latitude of SO
degrees South, and from 40 degrees North,
were carefully incased for the present celebra-
ton. 1t is hoped they may be considered as
symbols expressive of the good feeling with
when his subjects, the navgatUrs of the ex-
panse 0i waters reaching from arctic To- antarc
TIC, ana from west 10 east, view the enterprise
IN which you are all engaged, and which nov
respected colleagues of the mission from the
city oil New York have come hither to witness
and to celebrate. am authorized TO saw that
the venerable Sovereign of the Deep is proud
OF the conte npIated connection between the
Circumhuent Oceans and the Land-encircled
seas and that he prophesies many of the in
calculable benefits which will ensue from the
intercourse.
The contents of one of these bottles offer
as bbation and first pour portion upon
the capstonr of this ffty-third lock, lust laid
by my Worshipful Brethren of the Masonic
Fraternity as token of Cement and Union and
add the residue 10 the waters of this terminal
IDg section OF the canal, on which the well
equipped and splendid boat called De Wip
CLINTON, the early and perseverlng friend OF
The undertaking, is at this Instant subsiding ia
her level as to sign of such an union as in
former days The Doge of Venice was accus-
toned to celebrate in honour of the association
between that Republic and the Adrstic.
also obey my Instructions further by stat
Ing that the chymica analysis of the other