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

E,or ,hsse reasons. then the committee have come
N The Conclusion that the estimate OF inc oahal
nissioners thai the tolls ofthe canal wheh ehargeu,
mn ,,asn, rates nav annually three millions
oTdolars and that one-haf Of lha' sum VIII " W
lived from property passing to anu nom olher
states Is 10 say the least, not exagP ,ik
II will be observed, that many OF me views Mhasn
S,e ,,l,sn az The future magnitude OF our inland
commerce. win be applicable 10 me lWo l'es - ial.,
road which are TO traverse our lefiitofy lIol ,nc
Hudson TO Lake Erie. The lhiinehse effects which
these woodworking !, Y, ~ nun, !, ~
"a produce in securing the trade OF the west 70 se
a Tntic States and In binding the most distant por-
,i,ns ~ our country In bonds OF beneficial inter-
c,nrse need no, at this time be advered to- II may
k.asr h asserted that these thoToughidrcs oil trade
ma tr.yeI SO far from lessening the commerce Of
the canals, will more probably serve TO secure and
increase H. by aording the means OF rapid transpor-
tation for properly and persons during those winter
months in which their navigation IS lnpeaea, anu
thereby preventing the diversion into o!her channels
of those bulky products which furnish 70 cahas
their most lucrative avenues.
REGARDING the event as not improbable that the
State at no distant period will take these great lines
of railroad as public property, and that they are
eventually 10 become portion OF our system o. pup
lie works, of which all The parts viii mutually sus-
tain and strengthen each other--thc growth OF The
west in swelling their revenues Is mol nauer OF
indifference 10 the public treasury.
The committee will not respass upon the attention
of the House by expltiating upon the grandeur OF
The prospect which would open upon as, were we TO
look b,yond the briefpcrod, which The present view
Has embraced is for the phianthropist and states
n,n In indulge those feelings Of honest hope and
patriotic pride which cannot but arise in conem-
nnl,tno The mighty realities which the future has in
store The duty which the present occasion has re-
qured of the committee, mas ocen o. more pfac.l-
cal character They have attempted honestly, per-
haps over zealousy, TO show that our own noble
State is neither ruined nor bankrupt that its trea-
sury IS neither impoverished nor exhausied-and
thai, however, impeded IN u.s. progress oy narrow
policy which would reard lis growth, undervaue
It's strength and stihe its energies, il isyel vigorous
and erect and able TO move onward with giants
power They have sought 10 show that the iounaa-
lions OF our prosperity are deeply laid that our re-
sources are manifold, and must always be adequate
10 any efforts which our government may make, TO
promote the prosperity, reward the industry, or stl-
mulae The enterprise of our citizens, whether occu-
pying the fair and fruitful plans of the West the To-
rests and mines of the north, or the sunny slopes
and fertile yales Of our southern and midland dis
tlictS.
They will not attempt to measure the consequences
which the completion OF great and harmonious
system of REORGANIZATION, extending into the
utmost receSses of the interior, and concentrating
within our borders the trade OF the most populous
portion Of the continent, will produce IN augment
ing the aggregate riches Of our State lin covering
its surface with opulent cities lin swelling its COM
mercal marine in securing its political supreme
cy and enargng, in all respects, its prosperity,
power and glory. Nor will they seek even to COM
pute the pecunary results which this vast and ever
increasing stream of inland trade, flowing through
ou territory for all future time, will produce in
augmenting the wealth OF its commercial metropolis
The history of Venice, in its palmiest days. stretch
ing her long line of islands and colonies far into the
east and controlling by her position, the commerce Of
Asia, presents but feeble picture of the splendor
and riches which our own great mart must eventu-
ally attain,1
Nor will they seek to span within their narrow
arithmetic, the pecuniary value OF the illimitabe
4 AZ H. Tr,,f,
value in 1898, Of only Dc millions for all the vast
territory west of the mountains, stretching from
the Gulf Of Mexico to Lake Superior, wealth has
arisen and been created within the short space of
forty years the amount of twelve hundred millions
of dollars, they would have attained only the first
step in that long series by which an empire is to as
cend TO height of power, and dominion which the
world has not yet witnessed.
Last of all, will they attempt to compute the pc
cuniary consequences Of these great arteries Of trade
in cemenng and preserving the Union OF these free
and nourshing republics. 1t is not for New York.
and her nsto calculate the value of that sacred
bond. But if we could catch glimpse however i'm
perfect OF the gigantic stake which is depending on
our prudence and patriotism-twe would count the
cost of ruined cities and desolated fedsof our RI
verS and lakes and canals INSTRUCTED by fleets and
tortresses in war, and by commercial restrictions
still more destructive in peace--we may CONTRAST
Europe as ii is, convulsed by centuries OF STRIFE, and
broken into Earring, dsunited and discordant com
munities, with Europe as it would have been had It's
whole population been united, like ours AT inc very
origin ofther governments, under one common law
speaking ono common language and bound by one
constitution.
Let us then go forward in the broad path of duty
which is spread before us,-and in rivetlng, as now
we may the bonds which unite the mighty members
OF this glorious Union discharge those high and So
Tenn obligations which owe not only 10 ourselves
and those who surround us but to the long line OF
generations who are to follow in after ages
The committee, in order to carry out the views
Of this report will be ready TO report bill making
the necessary appropriations, as their object
and shall be determined BY the other appro-
PIRATE committees, and sanctioned by the House. In
the mean time they beg leave to submit the follow
ing resolution @..N.
Resoired That it is not necessary or cxpedien TO
levy direct tax. .,.
SAMUEL B. RUGGLES,
VICTORY BIRDSEYE,
THOS B. COOKE,
ABNER LEWIS,
March II 1888 Committee.