Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-14
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, FRIDAY, JANUARY a. 1925


r, land, and Pcnnsy lvania, to the construction
OF that great road within their respective limits
IL cannot be presumed that state would refuse
MS consent In any case in winch il would be be-
heicIal To grant IT, or that the Congress would
wish 10 open a road canal contrary 10 the will
and the interest of the state through which it
would pass. The request will not compromise
any existing right. J can sec no possible evil;
on the contrary, great advantages from making
the request.
The routes specified in the amendment are
national They arc
For Canals.
|. route TO connect the inland tide waters
| along the Atlantic coast, from Maine TO Florida
2 a route to connect the Ohio and Potomac
rivers.
}. a route to connect the Ohio AMI .alle Erie.
4. "A route to connect the Illinois and Lake
Michigan.
D. "A route to connect the Tennessee river
with the waters of the Mobile bav
6. route to connect the inland tide waters
along the Gulf coast, from the Mississippi to Tie
Atlantic Ocean.
For Roads,
|. From Washington City, south, to Florida
9. From Washington City, north to Maine
From Washington City, southwest, through
Virginia and Tennessee.
4. From w ashington City, northwest, in com
pletion of the Cumberland road, TO Missouri.
>. From NewOrlcans to Columbus in Ohio
These objects announce themselves as nation
nj. They follow the course of travelling of
trade of the mails, or the march of troops, and
they unite the grand geographical divisions of
the country. The canal along the Atlantic
Coast was projected by MIR. Gallatin, in the wear
1907. The inland tide waters, in front of that
extended coast, are only separated by some half
dozen necks OF land, making III the whole one
hundred miles. Canals of eight feet depth.
opened across these necks, would give an inl and
navigation of LOCO miles, secure from storms
and enemies. STEAMBOATS, of the largest size
and all the common vessels, could float upon
1t. The communication between all the Al
lantc seapUrts would be safe, regular and rapid.
as well in bad as IN good weather, i'm war as in
peace. The PROJECT of canal between the
Ohio and Potomac has too recently occupied the
public attention TO need word OF commenda
ton from me. The junction of the Ohio and
Lake Erie was favorite object with General
Washington, and now engages the anxious de-
alterations of the states interested i'm IT. Nature
seems to have intended these waters for com
munion. In various places, III the states of
OHIO and Indiana, they approach, and almost
embrace each other The Wabash, Scioa and
| Muskngnm approximate Ia the opposite streams
of the Lake, aud call upon man to JOIN them
together. between the Illinois and AXE
| Michigan the effort of nature has been greater.
|
more grand and universal. The Pass at hi
cage Is tue Dardanees OF North America 4
\ cut OF few miles would uni,e the inland seas of
| the North, the lakes Superior, Huron, Erie, and
! Michigan, with the fifty thousand miles of ri
| yer navigation which Traverse the valley OF the
! Mississippi The junction of the Tennessee
with the waters of the Mobile would unite two
large divisions of the country, and give facilities
to the commerce OF four different states. With
all these objects, the public mind had been long
familiar, and enlogies upon their advantages
would be labor misplaced, in the American
Senate The routc along tie Gulf coast is the
only one which presents itself in the shape of a
new project, and some details upon its practical
bi!ity and advantages ought to be given. Mr.
Benton would give them, partly from his own
observation, but chiefly from a fund of accurate
information received from the intelligent dele
gate from Florida, Gen. CALL.
The direction Of this route would be east and
west IFS point OF commencement, in the her
vile river. on the Mississippi; its termination in
the ST. Johns river, on the Atlantic coast; Tie
Iberve is an arm of the Mississippi breaking
ont from the main river about 100 miles above
New Orleans, and discharging itself into lakes
MauTcpas and PonChartTain. al nine miles from
the mississippi it meets The fde! The St. johns
rs noble river OF East Florida, twelve feet deep
on the bar at its mouth, and nayigable for shps
two hundred miles.
The route divides itself into four stages:
From the Mississippi to Mobile Bay, $50
miles.
2. From Mobile Bay TO Pensacola, 10 miles.
8. From Pensacola to the Bay of St. Marks
$50 miles.
i. From st. Marks to the tide in ST. Johns
river, 200 miles.
The first stage lies through the Ibervillc the
lakes NIaurepaS, Ponchartrain, and Borgne, and
behind the range of islands which lie in front of
the coast. The work to be done upon this part
of the route Is next to- nothing. Some RATS
only, which obstruct the channel of the Ibcryille,
are to be removed.
The second stage, from Mobile Bay to Pen
sacola.-The route lies through the river Bonne
Secure, over land, five miles, to an arm of
the Perdido bay, and from the Perdido, over
| land, one mile, TO the grand lagoon which com
munCatcs with the Bay of Pensacola, The
work to be done upon this stage is To open two
canals, one of five miles, the other of one mile
| in length.
| The third stage, from Pensacola TO st.
| Marks. The route follows the coast, behind
the island Santa Rosa, to the bay of Choctaw-
| hatchy; thence, up large bayou into the bay
of St. Andrews thence, five miles, over land, TO
/ lake Wimeco, which communicates with the
/ bay of St Marks. The only work TO be done is
to open canal Of FIVE miles, between the bay of
| st. Andrews and the lake WimcCo
The fourth stage, between tho Bay of ST.
! Marks and the Underwater of St. Johns river.
/ The route is along the coast sixty miles, to the
mouth Of Suwancy river, up it to its eastern
point Of navigation, and over land, 90 miles, to
the river St. Johns. The work 10 be done, to
open a canal 20 miles, between the Suwaucy
and St. Johns through level country and a
liorif rIa