Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-11-05

ltate our Military operations, in that
quarter, il was recommended to the at
len!ion OF Congress seven years ago by
the then Secretary OF War; and at the
last session of Congress, the House of
Representatives seemed SO strongly I'M
pressed IN It's favor, that bill, making a
liberal donation OF land to the state, to
aid in its construction, was lost by The
vote of very small majority OF thai TO-
dy; | think of three only. And Oh more
fall and mature reflection, | yet hope,
that Congress may afford US some assis
lance.
AS an additional induceme nt to those that
have been presented 10 the consideration
of Congress, to assist in this work, il is
now we'll ascertained that there is no po-
sition combining greater advantages Tor
an extensive national armory than that al
the rapids, either Oh the Illinois or the
Fox river; both points being within a
lew miles OF tie place where the canal
must have lis southern Termination. In
the midst OF eXhaustlesS beds OF stone
coal, and surrounded by country OF al
most unparalleled ieeallty, as well as
great salubrny, with water power ade-
quate to all necessary purposes III the
manufacture oil arms, as we'll as tabrlcs
Tor domestic purposes, believe those
points are destined 10 become the seat
of as extensive manufacturing establish
ments as any in the whole western coun.
try. And from their local position, with
view to convenience In dlstrlbul ing
arms and clothing to large portion Of
our frontier posts, no place can be more
desirable, for such establishments.
But last and cogent reason with me,
against granting Tins work to private
company is, the pernlclous and almost
uncomfortable political influence il IS cal
culated to place in the hands OF a few.
II my anticipailons OF the value OF this
canal be, in any considerable degree,
realized, it must be apparent that It's
managers will be able 10 WELD very
large capital, more than equal 10 the or
binary revenue OF The State :--abd the
interest they will have in retaining pos
session, VIII increase, with our progress
in wealth and population. Their ener
gies, therefore, and their money may not
be the least etlectuai oi them, wi, neceo-
sarily be directed against every arrange.
nent that might lead TO surrender
of their properly. But their ope-
.a,ions might not, nay, from the
experience OF other countries, |
ch "A
there. the charms and advantages OF
power are so ailuriDg, thai they would
soon seek 10 direct The desiinies Of the
state. Such has been the effect oil &c
tensiUe monled arislocracies IN other
countries, and why might it not be SO
here 1 venture 10 say, (and an indepen-
dent citizen or statesman should never
be afraid to express his opinions on All,
subject connected with the public wei
fare) that even our Statc Bank, tiitling
and insignificant as It's capital was, III
comparison to what believe would be
accumulated from this canai--had the
effect, through the influence OF its direC.
tory, 10 unlte men III opinions and actions,
that no other cause that then existed
could have done. In our elections, and
in our legislative measures, believe il
to have been felt. In saying this,
mean neither 10 reprosch The people
nor the legislature. In mos, cases
have no doubt that they yielded, as /,
were, to an unseen influence, and to one
that they were even unconscious OF feel
ing Yet that i. was SO cannot doubt.
In thus frankly expressing my OPT
MON, may create enemies, but II must
be amongst those only who are conscious
Of the truth oil what say, and who have
willingly eXerted the very influence |
have mentioned. The resentment Of
such, however, if any such there be, DC
1t remembered l do no, deprecate. The
candid and upright part OF the commu-
nifty, even if many of them should be-
lieve me to be in error, will do Justice to
my motives. And from such, and many
such | believe will be found, as shall
upon reflection believe, that even they,
uncousciously, yielded 10 its influence,
feel that have nothing to dread. Such
men will duly appreciate my candor and
may eventually even profit by il the m
selves, should any similar institution be
again established amongst us.
Ii then am right in my supposi'ions
in relation to the effect OF the State Bank,
what Influence might not the canal cor
poraIion, with its great revenue, exert in
the state? And particularly, as the state
has reserved no control over its opera