Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-08

on the sabject OF he Florida Canat WIN 'ne
deenes, ;n,eres, his statement be correct,
and we have, no reapn TO douot It's Cor'ec'"esS'
we have not been Presented with more I'M
portan, project sine the Erie cana'. nc lou'e
through which hi lcanal IS designa'eu ''los'
Florida is SINGULAR feasible. Nature appears
to have exer,ed berslf to effect the object alone
and onIv lief, 10 ma the construction oil a lew
locks and thirteen lilies Of excavation
There ;s me vie, which we have taken OF
the canal which apears 10 us strikingy i'm
nortant. The subsviency Of this canal to the
coasting trade Of III western and Atianlic s.a,es
appears 10 be plaal beyond doubt he
coasting and nterns trade, alter all, Is 'he A'ea
source of wealth, uny, and national prosperity
1t binds every porlon OF the country III ."e
bond of reciprocal enehls. On many o'"..
accounts this cana would be important.
diminishes the impftance OF Cuoa' ana SAVES
the destructive NAVIGATION OF the gun s"va"'
and shortens the di.ance between New 10TH
and New Orleans b more than thousa"u
miles. To this eityhe contemplated improve
ment would perhapSnly be second 10 .he Ere
canal. When the Clio canal shall be hnished,
we shall have complete inland communica'
tion TO the centre Of he western states ans
intercourse, from III nature OF The climate,
will always DC CLOSED for many months every
year. The Florida c hal would obvlate the IN.
clemency of our rgqous winters. II wou'a
be channel of comm nication TO New Orleans
and the other cities II the Mississippi, when
that through our northern boundary might he
sealed up by the hand of nature. i he voyage
to the grea, capital Of the west, and all the ci-
ties in Alabama and the contiguous sections,
would be materially shortened. The CITY OF
New York would become more than ever the
depot of the productions Of the west. II would
increase our shipping interest, ana dement, eve
ry branch of trade.
For th,se reasons vc think that our repre-
sentatives in Congress ought TO take the SUB.
ject into their most strious consideration. III
the woollen bill pass both houses (which we
hardly think, the dmnulion Of that branch Of
our foreign trade can te made up in no other
way than by opening lew channels OF coasilng
and internal trade. That the Florida canal
would have all effect OF such nature upon the
II ade Of this city appears to US nearly conc u-
sive. Why, then, should not the subject be
regulated oy Congress9 Can there be any con-
slitu,ional scruplcs male to the expenditures
of public monies in our territories? We think
not.
In our view of the Florida canal, we think 1t
far more important national work than Inc
FAR famed Chesapeake and Ohio canal ms
project Cf ever) cannot be accomplished IN
very many years to come. Its utility, even when
completed, might be somewhat questioned
On the contrary, the Florida canal will not only
be effected with small expenditure, but Its
benefits will not alone be confined TO the coast
ing trade between the Atlantic and the western
states. In the event Of water communication
though the isthmu5 of Panama, il may become
a section in the great highway between Europe
and China. Indeed the more we look upon
this neglected territory of Florida, the more we
are convinced that our aaI2 81 fgia1qEs are
to lay waste, when few hundred thousand
dollars might give 10 it nearly the value Of the
Island Of Cuba.
The following letter from gentleman high
in authority, received by Taylor, Sicarl s Co..
Of Vera Cruz, has been kindly communicated
70, pubEcatlon-PhHG nz. Feb. 5.
MExica, DEC 81, 1926.
TO he United STATES Consul Of Tera Cruz:
SRI have the honor To acknowledge the re-
ceipt of memorial from the American mer-
chants. residing in Vera Cruz, in relation to
The sudden and unexpected increase in the va
luation of American cotton. The renewal OF
this act Of injustice has originated in ignorance
of the ,rue value Of this description OF goods,
and in the idea entertained by some members
OF Congress, that the augmentation of the rate
Of duties will be attended by propor,ionate in
crease Of revenue.
My opinion is that this measure ought TO BIZ
firmly sisted, and thai il would be polite not
10 enter any such goods SO long as this exorbi-
tant valuation exists, hut rather 10 return them
to some port of the United States, there to await
the decision Of this governments; especially if
the British merchants in Vera Cruz could be
induced 10 adopt the same course Of conduct.
can have no doubt, that by this means, in a
short time, the government would perceive that
they were depriying themselves OF profitable
branch of revenue, and would pass an act to fix
the valuation of cotton goods. The want Of
such an act has increased the present auctua-
top, and leaves an opening for those persons,
who may have large quantities of such goods
on hand, to exert an injurious and improper
influence in raising the aioro.
beg that you will communicate this letter
to the signers of the memorial, and assure them
of my hes, excrlions TO obtain them redress.
am, sir, your obedient servant,