The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-27

scrutiny and they will therefore state succlney, the
reasons why, in their ppnon that estimate IS entitled
TO reliance
The steady progress Of population and wealth Of our
State which Is tributary to lhl canal needs little remark
Whether owing the growth Of the country on It's inn
mediate bordersor 10 the Influence Of the lateral ca
nails in swelling its commerce The tables OF tonnage
exhibit rate Of increase which will probably be mann
tanned for many years Although the contribution, thus
furnished by this State to the af the canal at
the present time is large tor wo-thrds Of the whole
Of It's tolls now drawn iToln the trade, Of our own
people, YET the amount becomes relatively unmpouant,
when compared With the results we are here
after TO derive from commerce with the West Let
then advert briefly TO the present extent and future
progress Of that commerce. and the probable effect which
1t is hereafter 10 produce upon fiscal affairs.
The western termination Of The Erie canal looks out
upon Lake Ere the most southeHy aud central OF that
great cham Of naygablc lakes which stretches far into
the interior from western boundary Around these
inland seas cluster Of five great States is rapidly RS.
ing The territory which they comprise and which IS
become tributary 10 the canal embraces that great
area, extending from the lakes the north TO the Ohio
the south, aud from The confines Of this State
to the upper Mississippi aud containing $50 900 square
miles To measure extent by well known objects it is
fifteen times large that part Of the State Of New
York, west Of the county of Oneida--neafy twice as
large the kingdom Of France : and about times as
extensive as The whole Of England, II contains $50
millions Of Of arable land, large proportion of
which is OF surprising fertility
The productive power OF this region, ard lis capa-
blhy OF supplying tonnage for export. greatly
Strengthened by the facilities which il enjoys for cheap
and easy transportation. In this respect, country
the face Of the globe enjoys greater natural advan
tages; for II is nearly cncirccd by nayigablc waters
and Its broad area is lntcrsected directions
by streams furnishing ample means OF conveyance
while unusual facilities for the construction Of canals
and other artificial channels Of communication, are
afforded by the level and uniform character of its sur
face.
These being It's geographical advantages, il needs
only the requisite number Of inhabitants to fully de-
yeope its agricultural It's progress in this
respect has been truly surprising In 1916, Ohio was
the only organized State government within its limits
In that year, Indiana having obtained the requisite
number Of 10000 inhabitants entered the Union, and
took its place By the side of Ohio. Illinois and Michi-
gan were then distant feeble territories with few
settlers hiny scattered over their broad surface while
Wisconsin, unknown even by name, undistin-
gulshed portion Of the great northwestern territory.
In the brief period Of 81 years such las been the IN
hux OF population into this great district that Ohio the
eldest member in this brotherhood of nations, now
numbers 400, 900 inhabitants, Indiana upwards of
100000, Illinois and Michigan, Cloth Of whom have
organized their governments and come into the Union
100000, while west Of Lake Michigan, not only is
Wisconsin rapidly rising but even beyond the upper
Mississippi 81, eco citizens have already laid the .uun-
da,ions Of yet another State. Such is the onward
march Of this population, that the amount Of annual
increase alone exceeds in number the white inhabitants
of ten Of the States Of the Union. The population
already embraced within the district question falls
little short Of three millions, and if the same rate of
progress shall be maintained for the next twelve wears
10 come by the year 1850, it will exceed six millions
The peculiar activity and energy of these people, and
their power rapidly to deveope the resources Of
the broad domain which they thus inhab are also
worthy of consideration, in estimating the evcntul ex-
tent Of their trade They probably possess greater
poWer of nroducton than othnr marian
equally numerous OF the human race, Their popula
ton is made up almost exclusively Of the young, the
resoute, the vigorous, and the intelligent who have
gone from the more crowded communities in the east
ern and middle portions of the Union, to seat them
selves around this chain Of waters, and there build an
empire. They have taken with them the laws, the
habits, the language, and the institutions civil aud
glous Of then parent States, but above ALL they have
carried INTO that vast field honest love Of labor and
IN the very act OF organizing their government, they
testified their Willingness to and rely upon their
own energies, hy aboIlshng slavery forever throughout:
oil their limits.
This group Of inland States has two outlets for its
trade 10 the ocean, one by the Mississippi TO the Gulf
Of Mexico, the other through Lake Erie and the
navieable communicat Of this State to the Atlantic.
Whether 1t be attributable TO similarity of origin, or
laws habits, TO tics Of consequently, superior
saubny Of climate, this people evidently prefer the
ket in the Atlantic, and they making prodgious efforts
reach it, Three great canals, Zone of them longer
length about thousand mllns are to connect the
OHIO with Lake Erie, while another deep and capacious
channel, excavaed Tor nearly thirty miles through solid
rock. uucs Lake Michigan with the navrahle waters
Of the Illinois Ia addition TO these broad avenues OF
trade they also constructing lines of railroads not
less than 1900 miles in extent, order to reach with
moro and speed, the Lakes, through which thew
seek conveyance 10 the ea-board. The undaunted
resolution OF this energetic Of men is strkincly
evlnced BY the fact that the cost Of the works which
they have thus undertaken, (and Of which are in
actual progress will exceed foy-eirht millions of dol
lars-a sum far exceeding all that New York with two
millions of inhabitants, and two hundred wears Of ac-
cumuated wealth, has ever attempted. The crcum-
stance moreover is particularly important that the pub
lie works OF each Of these great communities arc ar
ranged on harmonious plan, each having main Inc
supported and enriched 10y lateral and tributary branches
thereby bringing the industry of their whole people into
prompt and profitable action while the systems them
selves are again united on grandcr scale, in series
OF systems, comprising aggregate length of more
than $500 miles, with Lake Ere its common centre
The various portions OF this vast work are now in
train OF rapid construction. Indiana alone has 6 900
men in her employ; and Ohio Illinois, and Michigan
are making correspondent efforts; so that it NAV be
confidently predicted that within seven years from this
time, the whole inland trade of that broad region around
the lakes, will crowd the entrance of the Erie canal on
its way to the Atlantic.
And here it may be proper remark that the whole
Of the tonnage TO be furnished hy these communities
whatever may be its bulk, will pay transit duty TO this
State for the whole length Of the canals and will
therefore yield to treasury twice us large
similar quantity Of products from the districts of
our own State, midway between the Lakes and the
Hudson.
And what will he the amoun, Of this tonnage and
by what standard shall we measure it
II we take the and the products, and ghc pupr-
Iation OF our own State as guide, we fall far short
and even II we resort to populous nations-if We
select England France, aud compare their produc
tive power with that Of this youthful and rapidly in
creusng race the parallel will not he completes for
much smaller proportion of the inhabitants Of those
kingdoms is devoted TO agricultural pursuits, and their