Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-02-24

a specimen of those expanded, liberal
views which spring from the impulse OF
national feeling. These lands were gi-
ven away by Virginia, when in full flow
oil generous feeling, for the eslablshm en-,
of the Union on permanent basis; and
her ohlec' was to preclude local jea-
lousies and increase the checks and ba-
lances OF government, and not as it seems
to be the opinion of some, to afford the
means of arbitrary speculation. There
are yet among us, some of those who
lived in this countryiat that time, and be-
fore ii was donated, and they attest the
early fidelity of it to the cause OF free
dom and the government OF the United
States; and from that time down to the
present, no commeni is necessary. But
your committee might ask, what portion
of the American people have been more
ardent in patriotism, patitn under pri-
sation, and brave in BATH What peo-
pie, in proportion to their number, have
experienced greater sulferings and sa-
ctlhces When the biz ssings of peace
were with their fellow citizens elsewhere,
hey were struggling amidst the horrors
OF savage war, vis led upon their hum
bic habilation. They secured for the
country the actual sovereignty of the soil.
And in the last war, the blood OF the
northwestern soldier flowed freely upon
the altar, and no duty of the patriot was
considered too great sacrifice. Way
then this reluctance 10 part with q small
portion OF its soil 10 tbs people, when il
is only wanted to promote the interest
of the national government as well as
their own? The time, il is to be hoped,
is not far distant, when this parslmony
on the subject Of public lands, will dis
appear, and the national Congress will
be governed by views in relation 10 them,
corresponding with our wishes end VIVA
we conceive TO be an enlightened policy.
Your committee will now invite the
attention of the house, to certain inpor-
tant particulars supported by he COM
muncation OF the commissioners, and
which are facts within the personal know
ledge of some of the members OF the
committee. When the wafer is at is
lowest stage, from the mouth of the Wa
bash 10 Tippecanoe, distance of three
hundred and fifty miles, there are no Sc
rious distractions in the river requiring
legislative notice, excep, at Coffee ISL
and ripple, White River ripple, the
Grand Rapids, Hanging rock ripple,
Ramsay's ripple aud Lntle.rock ripple,
and from the lowest 10 the highest OF
these distractions does not exceed fl
teen miles. They commence al c flee
Island ripple, about SIX miles below the
mouth oil White river, and terminate
at Lttle-rock ripple, ABOUT nine miles
above the mouth of that river. Al Col
fee Island ripple, is the least obstruction,
which can be removed at the trlilng eX-
pense OF two or three hundred dollars,
and at Ramsay's ripple is represented
the most formidable barrier. The inter-
mediate rpples between these two points,
are not very dissimilar as 10 the magni-
tude of their obstruction. To avoid
these difficulties in navigation, and Sc
lSuiS a ht.Nti w 'tiC C'iO a. az
seasons OF the year, \ canal might be cut,
commencing at Little.rock ripple on the
Indiana side Of The river, and running in
a direct line 10 point Just above the
mouth Of White River, distance of six
miles and hsl,-or there might be a
canal answering The same purpose, COM
mencing at the same ripple Cd the llll-
nois side of the river, and terminating
Immediately below White River ripple,
a distance of nearly nine miles. The
cost of the canal On the Indiana side o..
the river, is estimated at sixty thousand
doilars-on the opposite side, eighty
thousand. Besides these canals, either
of which would fully accomplish the OBJ
iect, there might be two small canals
opened, con)oinlly producing the same
effects, one beginning at the Litlle-rock
ripple, on the Indiana side, and running
to Ramsay's ripple, a distance OF three
mlles-the other beginning at the mouth
of Prairie creek on the Illinois side, and
running to White river ripple, the dis.
lance of two miles and three quarters.
Although it is urged in favor of those
plans OF canallng, that among others,
grea, advantages would arise to the states
of Indiana and Illinois, by erecting wa
ter works on them, your committee, at
ter mature reflection, must signify their
unwillngness to recommend either OF
them. Owing to the scarcity oil labor
in the country subject to hire, the pro-
cess would be tardy, and the expense
greater than what is necessary Tor the
object, and more than the present pros
pect of our resources promises with GER
tainty. Moreover, the commissioners