Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-23


our views, aud consider the Ohw a"d the
Mississippi with i's great branches, hut as Il
proloDsation ofihe Canal. 4, must be admitted
To be not only Of national importance, but of
the very highest national importance, IN a
comme,cisi, military, and political point of
| 'I-". Thus considered il involves the com
pie'ion ut the improved Of the naviga
ton of both of these rivers, which has been
commenced under the appropriation Of the
last session of Congress /; and, also, canals
| round the falls Off Ohio at Louisv lille, and
Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee river both
of which, il is believed, can be executed at "a
moderate expense. With these improve
inrns, the projected canal would not only
| unite tile three great sections Of the country
| together, as has been pointed cut but wauld
also unite, in tho must intimate manner, aA Of
the states ON the Lakes and the Western WA
tiers among themselves, and give complete
effect To whatever Improvement may he mad.
by those slntes Individually. The advantages
IN fact. from the completion of this single
work. AS proposed. would be so extended and
ram'led throughout, these great divisions of
our country, already containing SO large q
portion Of our population, and destined, IN a
lew generations, Ia out number the most pop
uihuS states at Europe. az to leave in that
quarter no other work for the execution of
The general gn, ernment, excepting only the
extension ut Cumberland road from Wheel
ing to ST. Louis, which is also conceived to
be Of national Importance"
The route which is desned next in import
ance in national point Of view, is the ore
extending through the entire tier Of the 1t.
iantic states, including those on the Gulf of
Mexico. BY adverting TO the division of our
country, through which this route must pass,
It will be seen that there is striking differ
ence In Geographical features between the
PORTIONS which extend south and north of The
seat OF government including the Chesapeake
bay, with its various arms in the latter jisi-
SION. In the northern part Of the disison al
OF the great rivers terminate in deep and hold
navigabe pst,iaries, while an opposite cha
riclcr distinguishes the mouths of TN. rivers
IN the other. This difference gives greater
advantage to Improvement, by canal in the
northern, and less in the southern, DIVISION.
la the former, It is conceived To be OF high
national Importance 10 unite its deep ADD Cd
pacIous bay by series of canals, and the
Board was accordingly instructed to exam
ne the routes Tor canals between the Della.
ware and the taritan, between Barnslablr
and Buzzard's bays. aud Boston hsrbor and
Ndrrasauset hay. The execution of the yery
important link IN this line of comnunicat,on
between the Delaware and the Chesapeake.
having been already cummenced was no
cninprehended in The order These orders
VIII he executed by the board before ihr ter
m'nitiun uf the seasun. The important re-
suits which would follow from the comoleiion
OF TINS cham, in commercial, mill ary and
pulitlcal point of view, are 50 striking r,a,
they need not be dweit on. I;~ ,u!d. at an
times, in peace and war, Afford promp,
cheap, and safe communication between all
oil the states North Of The srat Of government
and & eatly fLcili;as ia i. commu ication with
the centre Of the Union. The states of New
Hampshire aud Maine, though lying beyond
tue i0nt where these improvements wpuid
terminate, would not, on that account. less
participate IN the advantages, as they are no
less Interested than massachusetts, hrrsnlr in
avoiding the long and dangerous passage
round Cape Cod, which would be effected Inv
the union of Barnstdble with Buzzar;i's bav.
In The section lying south of this, none Of
these advantages for communication by canals
exist. a line of inland Navigation extends. il is
true, along nearly the whole line of co;,sts
which IS susceptible. ofmprovennent and NAV
he rendered highly ser,iceable, particulars
III war, and on that account NAV he fairly cnn.
sidered of natiunal Importance The Dis
mai Swamp canal, from the Chesapeake B I,
to Automatic Sound, which is neatly cum.
pleteu, constitutes Very important link in
tins navigation. Bat it is conceived that. for
The southern division OF or country, the i'm.
pro,ement which would best effect the view,
Ut Congress, would be a durable road, TX
tending from the seat Of government 10 New
| Orl'ans, through the Atlantic states and the
Board wi'; accordingly receive Instructions
IL examine the route as soon as the npx, a.,
son wii. permit.
The completion Of this work, add the line
ut Canals tOilie North would unite the sever
al Atlantic STATES, including those ON the
Gun, IN a strong bond Of union, aud Connect
| the Whole with the centre, which would AL
SO Ire united, as has been shOwn with those
90 Tie Lakes and the Wrsern waters, by th,.
Improvement projected in that quarter
These three great works, then, the canal Ia
Ohio and Lake Erie, with The Improvement q;
the Navigation Of the Ohio Mississippi and
the canal round the Muscle ShoaI the serip.
"f canals connecting the bays north Of the
Seat OF Government and durable road ex.
tending from the Seat OF Government TO New
Orleans, uniting the whole Of The Sou,beru
a 'iahtic States, are coD'rired 10 be- the mos,
Important objects within the provisions % tile
act ct the last session. The beneficial effects
which would How from such system NJ i'm
pr",eineut would extend directly and inme
diaiely Ia every s. ate in the Uninn: and tb,
expenditure that would be required for is
csmpeiion, would bear fair proportion IA
the wealth and population OF tie several
sections Of the country. at least, as they will
stand few years hence. When completed, il
would greatly facilitate commerce and INFER
course among the states, while it would afford
to the government the means Of transmitting
information through the mail promptly 10
every part, and "f giving effscfoai protection
u every portion of our widely extended
equity.