Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-07-29


ground, see what was passing, wanen In GREATNESS
anxiety for the signal that was to announce tie
commencement OF the Canal.
{ The ceremony was simple but full OF interes
Mr.. Kelly, one of the acting Cansl Commissioners
after short but highly appropriate address, pre-
sented two spades Judge Minor, the Presiden
OF the Board OF Canal commissioners, requesting A. IL
to hand them to Governors Clinton and MorICw
Judge Minor ed the spades, and presented then
| . tne Governors, desiring them, In the nome o
ne Commissioners and the people OF Ohio, to oesII
| 0e work. This was done, simultaneously by th'
Governors, standing Immediately opposite 10 eaei
| o;her. The moment this was announced 1t was re-
ceyed by shout, that might be heard even above
lie roar of artillery. 1t was the glad voice ol a
;appy people.
After the different gentlemen composing Inc
Two Boards of Commissioners, and the gentlemen
Immediately around the spot, had III turn assis'eo IL
the commencement, OF the " or< the procession wa
again forsed, and ed back 10 the grove, al 'h'
lower extremity of which dinner had been pre-
pared by our enterprizing townsman, Mr. stelnnt H.
There four parallel lines oil tables, one wi'ih'
another and occupying three sides OF square, CO.
vered with the greatest profusion OF excellent fare,
and calculated for the accommodation oil one 'hol-
sand persons. From each end OF the outer line o.
tables, opposite the vacant side OF the square, an
arch, handsomely ornamen,ed, was sprung, under
The nave OF which, upon an elevated seat, We're
| placed the Governors, with Judge Miner and the
Chaplain of the Day the right, and General
Van Rensselaer,. Mr.. Lord, and Mr. Rathbone, or
| the left. After the dinner, number OF ;oasts were
drunk, accompanied by loud cheering the discharge
fariiilery, and voleys of maskeIy Thus ended the
ceremonies OF the day.
We cannot close without remarking, that,
through the whole day, the s;rictes order and de-
corum voluntarily kept up; and, among the
! eight thousand persons the occasion had brought
together, instance of disorderly conduct was
| observed. Ohio Eagle.
litter Mr.. Etcing had concluded his remarks,
Cor. CLL.NTO.W rose and addressed the au-
dience He began by stating
| That no language could describe the sublimity Of
| the scene, or the suspicious Consequences OF The
proceedings of this day. As for himself, he could
not restrain the expression of the feelings which
animated his bosom this occasion. rhe day
y hich he had long looked for, with extreme solicit
tude, had al length arrved-a day OF Joy and con-
graduation to all the friends of freedom and union,
| AID which would lay the foundations ofboth
| imperishabe basis.
There is, said he peculiar fitness in the selec-
ton of the natal day of the American nation, for
the commencement of one of the greatest works OF
| the age. If this day has established orr freedom
and given a nation al being, it will also con-
suminate the p. osperi,y of the American people,
and still further exalt national character in the
| estimation of the civilized world.
| The completion of this work will form navi-
gable communication between our great lakes
! Mediterranean Seas and The Gulf of Mexico, the
Bay OF New York and the Gulf OF ST. Lawrence
Ii will open three avenues from vast interior
to the Atlantic Ocean. 1t will form Gordon of
navigabe decentralization round the fertile and
extensive portion of the United States. It's bless
ings every man can forseee, but human being can
predict all the auspicious influences which will
spring from this state of things
1t will unite the East and the West, the North
and the South, by identity of interest," by frequency
OF communication, and by all the ties which can
connect human beings in the bonds of friendship
and social intercourse. The union of the States
will be as firm the everlasting hills; and from
this great epoch III our history may dismiss all
fears of dismemberment of the American Re
public
/, AS channel Of commercials a stimulus to
manufacturers source of revenue--as en-
enlargement to agriculture, il will excite into c.
tvity all kads OF productive and laudable dusry,
and diffuse spirit of emulation and power Of
ertion of which nothing but actual experience can
furnish adequate idea. 1t will be great school
OF ingenuity that will produce eminent engineers
and mechanicians. 1t will be a guardian of mo-
rality, by rousng the human mind from state of
torpidiy and inactivity. But there are other con-
sderations which press with irresistible force in
estimating the merits of this great undertaking.
The history of Ohio, from its forest state, TO the
present period, is without parallel in the history
OF mankind. Her exis ence, as confederate state,
does not extend beyond twenty-tbree years, when
her population did not exceed fifty thousand souls;
and her first effective settlement reaches back little
more than thirty years. She now has a population,
moral, patriotic and Intelligent of near eight hun
dred thousand human beings; and OF the twenty
FIVE millions of acres, contained in her territory,
perhaps not one-seventh part has been brought a
state of cultivation.
f To what has this great increase of population
been owing To the unsurpassed fertility of your
soil to the uudoubted salubrity of your climate;
but above all, to the moral power of freedom,
which animates all the energies OF man, and furnish
es inducements 10 activity, that no other state OF
things exhibit.
With all these advantages, YOU have felt the
paralytic effects of the want of markets for your
surplus productions Cut out from almost all
profitable communications with the great market
towns OF the Atlantic, your principal reliance
has been on the consumption produced by emgra-
ton, and On the small profits elected by distant
expensive and difficult transportations. You will
I now have not only the markets Of New Orleans
and New York. but Of Philadelphia, Baltimore and
: Montreal. The Canals of New York, in their
connexion with the Susquehannah and Lake Data
rio, which must speedily be formed, will furnish al
most all these vast accommodations.
This great work will also confirm your patriot
ISM and make you proud Of your country. Every
man of Ohio viii say, not in tone of rhodomon-
tade, but in spirit of temperate encomum; See
what my country has done in her juvenile state!-
And if she has achiev ed this gigantic enterprise in
infancy what will she not effect in the maturity OIL
her strength, when her population becomes exu-
berant and her whole territory in full cultivation
And your Sister States, and the civilized world
will be astonished 1t will exhibit spectacle, un-
precedented and amazing. Al infant welding the