Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-14

| the route Which he had traced. The removal
oil some RATS OF timber in the Ibcrvlc would
open communication between the Missssippi
and the Mobile, bay; two canals of six miles
would unite the bays of Mobile, PertliLo, and
Pensacola: canal of five miles would unite the
bays of Pensacola, st. Andrews, and ST.
| Marks; and canal of twenty miles would cut
through the peninsula of Eiorsla, and unite the
Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic ocean. lie
dwell uron the advantages of completing this
communication, which nature had indicated
between the Mississippi and the Atlantic. IL
would diminish tho distance two thousand miles
Ii would be safe from pirates and storms, from
the fleets of enc les, and from tue power which
may hold the Havana. II would enable the
produce Of the valley Of the Mississippi TO dis
tribute itself along the Gulf coast and to pcne-
trate the interior Of all the Southern states
The same barge or Steamboat which had is
sued from the Ohio, the Upper Mississippi, or
Missouri, instead of being confined to the SINGLE
market at New Orleans, would have that mar
Set and hundred others open To il. The her
vale would carry the trader to New Orleans by
the lake Pontchartrain, enable him 10 pene.
trate the interior of the state of Mississippi BY
turning up the Amitc, the Pearl, and the Pas
cagoula rivers. He might go to Mobile, and
thence into the heart of the state of Alabama,
by the Tombcckbe and Alabama rivers, or to
Pensacola and ST. Marks, and enter Georgia
upon the west, through the Apalachcola and
Flint rivers; or, continuing his course across
the peninsula Of Florida, he might turn up the
Atlantic coast, touch nj Savannah and Charles
ton and reach the interior of Georgia and South
Carolina by the several rivers which flow from
them. The advantages of such multi piled mar
llets would be reciprocally beneficial. The
valley Of the Mississippi is agrcullural the
southern states are planting. The surplus flour,
beef, pork, and whiskey, which lies at New Or
leans, almost without price aud without demand,
would find markets at Mobile Pensacola, ST.
Marks, ST. Augustine, Charleston, Savannah
and at the innumerable towns and cotton plan
tations which cover the banks of the rivers i'm
the states Of Mississippi, Albania, Georgia, and
South Carolina and the territory OF Florida
The advantage Of an inland communication
between the Mississippi and Atlantic, did not
escape the observation of Mr.. GaIlatin, in his
great plan for roads and canals In the year
1907. At that time, the Floridas did not be-
long to the United States.
The route. along the coast could not be con-
templatcd. Mr.. Gallatiu could only look TO
the country above the 3lst degree of north lat
tudc, and in that region he indicated a canal to
be opened, five hundred and fifty miles in length,
at an expense of thirty millions of dollars, and
ten Years of labor. Great as would he Due la
Dor aud expense of such an undertaking, Mr.
! GailHin was of opinion that the COMMERCIAL
and other advantages of iischargiuo the MiSss
! SippI into the Atlantic Ocean, through the inter
mediate Territory and State Of Georgia would
be worth it all page 4 of Ius Report) But
now, by the acquisition Of the Florl,las, a new
| routc presents itself, req,'ii,ag bit thrty-One
Utjter ~ cn'2 rs 10 complete 1.-THE work of one
summer and the expenditure ofIcss than quar-
| Ter Of million
! Upon the subject of the ROADS, which his
amendment specified, Mr.. Benton would be
brief. Their number and direction had been
! stated. Issuing from the doors of the capitol,
four of them would proceed to the fOnr grand
divisions of the republic. The fifth, traversine
the valley of the Mississippi, from north to SOUTH
would pass through! the centre of the inerme-
date states Interscctlng The great southwest
road in Tennessee. and the great northwest
road in the state Of Ohio. Each of them com
bnes the characteristics Of national highways.
They followed the direction of travelling, whe-
Their for business or pleasure-the direction of
the great mails, and the lines upon which troops
would be marched for the defence of the
country.
3. Have we the money TO execute this great
system of internal improvement?
Mr.. Benton thought that the funds were
forthcoming. il would have been idle TO put
the Senate upon an inquiry into the proPriety
of adopting tiiIs great system, IT. in the event of
its adoption, should have no money to carry
ii into effect. lie had considered that part of
the subject before ne had submitted any plan,
and he saw, or thought he saw, two distinct
sources from which the funds would be derived.
First, from the lapse Of different appropriations
now applicable 10 objects which would soon
cease to require them, Under this head came
the Sums appropriated for paying Revolutionary
pensioners, for completing the Notifications, and
finishing the public buildings. The pension list
now required S1.29O,00O, the Qualifications
5000 900 the public buildings 100000. The
pension fund had diminished more than one half
in the last three years, and must entirely cease
in a very short time, from the deaths of the
pensioners. The expenditure for Notifications
a5d public buildings must cease in a few years,
| from the completion of the works. From the
| lapse Of these three items of annual approPra-
tons, the sum Of two millions of dollars will
soon he disengagcd from their present objects,
! and applicable to such new purposes as the
! Congress may determine. The second source
| from which the necessary funds may be derived
is. from the increase. revenue from the customs
/ IT is the theory of economists, that consumption
and population increase together. In the Uni
. ted States ibis theory has been more than realz-
/ ed. In 1890 our population was four millions,
orr revenue from customs four and a half in
! 1923 the population is eleven millions, the du-
| ties from customs seventeen: the revenue is
quadrupled the population not quite trebled
! The present revenue is more than enough for
the current expenses ofthe year: the annual in
/ crease must therefore be surplus, applicable
/ to new objects, of expenditure. This, without
the benefit of the new tariff but, under the oper-
! alton Of the increased duties, it is admitted on
all hands, that the revenue must be increased
\ upwards of two millions per annUm.
Here, than, are ample funds for carry ing on