The Arkansas advocate., 1835-01-16


 and canals. These may be local; road or a canal can be constructed III any d. rection; through State or county; but ] sir, improving the navigation of our rly- CTS are very different. The rivers of the U. States, are the common property of all; every body may navigate them with tout let or hindrance and that the joint funds of inc nation improve them, cannot, in my judgment, be denied. This principle has been acted on from our earliest histo- ", and know of no case where the Gen eral Government has refused to improve river of so much importance to any por- ton of our country, as the Wabash i'll the Western States.
 The appropriation now asked is to be expended in connection with others, to open line of water communication from New York to New Orleans. It should be borne ill mind that large appropriations have been made to improve the navigation of the Hudson, the Mississippi, and the Ohio rivers. The New York Canal will connect the Hudson with Lake Erie and Buffalo; the Wabash and Erie Canal IS to connect Lake Erie, through the Miami river, with the Wabash, at or near the town of Lafayette. The Wabash and Erie Canal is upwards of 200 miles long 1 so miles of this canal lies within the State of 0hio and 130 in the State of Indiana. This canal is now being constructed, B miles of that part of the canal that lies in l Indiana is finished, and will be filled with water next spring. Upwards of forty miles more Is now under contract next season. There can be no reasonable doubt but Ohio will finish her portion of this noble work within three years. Following down the Wabash from the intersection of our canal at Lafayette to the rapids at White river, where the lm- proyement contemplated in the bill is to be made, the distance Is 300 miles, navigable l for steam-boats most of the year, and from these rapids to the Ono Is about 100 miles, also navigable. By improving those rapids, and the ompletion of our canal, we will open a water communication from New York to New Orleans. the shortest and the best that can be constructed across this continent. Is such work not worthy the attention of the General Government, or Is the door of appropriation now closed on l the application of Indiana and Illinois for aid to complete this important public work.
 The Wabash Is a reserved public high way, by compact between the U. States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, at the time Virginia ceded the Northwest Terri tory to the U. States and, by an ordinance of Congress of 18th July, 17S7, the 4th article of the ordinance concludes thus The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and the car rying places between the same, shall be common highways, and forever free. as well to the inhabitants of the said Territo- y as to the citizens of the U. States, and those of any other State that may be ad- mitted into tbs Confederacy, without any tax, ippost, UT duty thereof.'
 Duristg the session of Congress of ls3l-2, a bill passed and was approved, authorising the improvement of the Mo nongaAela and other rivers, to points where there are na ports of entry, and the Globe, in apologising for that approval, says If the purposes contemplated by Congress can be accomplished, and the three rivers mentioned made navigable to the points in i question, then ports of entry will of course be established at the head of navigation ask, why not be thus liberal with the Wa bash! That river Is larges than the Mo- nongahela-waters more extensive terri tory of the finest soil in the world, with numerous population to be provided for.
 To show what has been done elsewhere, Il have procured a statement of appropri- ations for improving made in 1882 and 1884.
 Appropriations tor imprOping 1ircrs made Laws, lst Session, 22d Congress, 1882,
 page l34;
 Kennebunk River, Name $2,soo Pascagoua river 15,900 Red River, Louisiana and Arkansas 22,628 Berwick branch of the Piscaiaqaa river 25o Entrance of Tennessee river 16,9O0 Cape Fear river, below Whining
 ton, N. C.. 2s,ooo Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi
 Rivers 50,900 The President authorized to extend
 the steamboat navigation from
 Pittsburgh to the Cumberland
 road at Brownsville x also the
 Missouri, from its junction with ] the Mississippi to the mouth of
 the Kansas River; and also the
 upper Mississippi from St. Louis
 to Galena, with power to remove
 all Instructions in the channel