Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-10
PAINTED kNB PUBLISHED,
DAILY,
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 10, 1927.

Letter from JosEpH VI. WHIrE, Delegate from
Fbridn, TO CHARLES +. MERCER, Chairman 81
the Committee of Roads and Canals.
wAsHIseros, Dec. 1926.
Sir: A resolution which had the honor 10
offer in the House Of Representatives on the -
inst. proposing an inquiry into the exprdlency'
of making an appropriation, for opening and
;mprovipg an inland navigation, from ST. Ma
rvs to Cape Florida, aud from Appalachicola
,hrou oh ST. Andrews Bay, 10 Chsctawhachie,
was referred TO the Committee Of which you are
Chairman.
beg leave to submit, for the consideration
of the Committee, such suggestions as induced
me TO propose the inquiry, ard which, trust,
will be considered OF sufficient national impor-
tance to Justify the inconsiderab!e expenditure
that would be required. As both these objects
are connected with the contemplated canal a.
cross the promontary OF Florida, 10 connect tie
waters Of the Gulf Of Mexico and the Atlantic,
the one being al It's disemboguement, on the
Atlantic coast, and the other on The line ut in
,e,ior navigation along the coast Of the Gull TO
the Mississippi; few preliminary remarks on
The subject of that great national object, may
not be inappropriate or uninterest'ng.
The result of the preliminary surveys which
have been made OF The line Of The Florida canal,
is in every respect such 10 Justify the patron
age extended 10 this work, by Congress, at the
last Session. II was evidently the sense Of the
National leg iSlature, that while the proposed
canal would, in It's first operation, benefit the
country through which il passed; open the puo-
lie domain TO rapid population; bringto ready
sale the public lands, and add 10 the aggregate
of the national wealth the produc,s OF region
probab!y no, eaualled in the United States, in
the number aud variety Of articles, TO whose
growth i, is adapted; it would, in us indirect
operation, afford the most important facilities
20 the whole coas,ng trade OF the Northern
and Eastern S,aes, and to the whole inland ma
yira,ion Of the Western waters.
II is in the highest degree gratifying to learn
thai work Of sach singular, aad may say,
unexampled utility, is found, on survey, TO be
capable Of bring excava,ed on terms Tar within
the general loose estimates, which had been
previously formed. There is every prospect
that this ali-important communication between
the two grea; portions OF the Cnlon-oetweeh
the Atlantic and the Western wa,ers-can be
opened for moderate sum. AT the same time,
the truest public economy would Jaslity Its be-
ing undertaken and excavated even at The nigh
est cost. al which il has ever been estimated.
A single superstition will prove the justice OF
this remark. Let US suppose that the hand oil
nature had already opened communication,
BY deep navigable river between the mouth
OF the ST. Mary's for instance, and that oil the
: Suwaner, and that some foreign power being IN
possession of the Floridian peninsula, should
attend, to shut US GU, from the navigation of
such a river.
II is not too much to say, that the attempt
would be thought an adequate cause oil war;
and that the blood and treasure Of this Union
would be expended 10 any amount, to force The
enjoyment Of such passage. 1t cannot then,
but be admitted, that an expenditure OF one or
two millions would be most probably ana eco
pomicalv made, TO construct an ARTIFICIAL com
munica,ion, which, if already existing, 1t would
be thought allimportant to preserve, at what
ever cost or sacrifice. II was position often
assumed by MIR. Jefferson, that the natural SIT
nation IF Cuba gave to that Island such an ell
fec,ive command of the navigation OF the Gull
Of Mexico and Of the Mississippi, that they
ought all TO belong 10 common jurisdiction;
and that the possession Of Cuba was Tor this
reason, an object which the United States
ought never 10 lose from their sight; that this
island was essential, as the hulwark OF our
coastwise communication between the Atlantic
and Western waters OF the country. Mr.. Jei-
ferson wen, so far, year or two before his de-
cease, as 10 assure gentleman, from whom
had the information, that il was with view TO
tkis policy that he recommended the construc-
tion Of gun boats. That their use for harbor
defence. in war with Great Britain, was not
the main thing he had in view, which ~as a de-
scent ON Cuba. 1t needs but moments re-
Election on the character Of MIR. Jeffersoh's po-
licy, to understand, that no motive OF agsran-
diaement or thirst Of conquest could, in bis
mind, have lain al the bottom Of these views.
He regarded Cuba as great fortress, standing
midway on the route OF our eoastwise inter'
communication; and at point where nature has
superadded so many obstacles to navigation,
that even feeble force entrenched at the Hava-
ma, might hold our whole trade in check in this
quarter. Such fortress, he saw and felt, ought
by the great law Of selfpreseryation, 10 belong
to the United States. Now, II is one OF the
most important views which can be taken OF
the proposed canal across he Floridian penin-
sula. that il almost wholly destroys the power
Of Cuba. as a check over cur trade. This canal
would be. of choice, the rou:e Of every vessel
hound into or on, of ,he Gulf Of Mexico. In.
stead Of passing ourselves along the shores OF
Cuba, ali the foreign navigation, both Of the