The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-06-04

Of Pc e., will be handed down IN perpetual re-
membrance ny the benefits it will confer. You
cannot pass your eyes over the map, without be-
ing forcibly impressed with the Importance OF
tins work.
BY this Canal the trade of the Ohio will be
poured into the Chesapeake, and conveyed on her
| broad and beautiful bosom wherever it may be
needed. The immense coal and iron treasures
of the valley of the Susquehanna will find ready
transit to navigable waters-and thus give profit
TO the owner and comfort to the consumer. why
are the deep bowels of the earth pregnant with
treasures, Why are the inland fields weighed
down with harvests which the cultivators cannot
consumer Has benehcent God made any thing
IN vain9 Was it designed that those mines should
be unexplored- harvests unconsumed! The
art of man here ministers to the beneheence OF
his Creator; and conveys the rich products of the
earth to those who require them. We celebrate
this day, the triumphs of the art of mani not en-
ployed in devising instruments OF destruction;
| but in bestowing the comforts OF life. 1t was
said by an immortal Patriot of Ireland, that he Is
benefactor ofhis country who causes two blades
of grass to grow, where but one had before been
produced He is no less public benetactor who
plans and executes the means of conveying, at
a reduced price to the door of the citizen, the
comforts he needs We cheerfully award that
need to those whose intelligence and perseve-
rance have projected md executed this important
work We give all due Acknowledgements to our
neighboring sister State, for her kindness IN al
lowing us to construct this Canal-believing that
the advantages will be reciprocal; that she viii
be twice blessed-blessed in what she takes, as
well as in what she gives.
1t has not been my design to go into an extend
ed and minute detail of the Importance of this
work That duty has been ably performed by
one who has preceded me- Nor will | enter at
large on consideration of the relation of Inter
nal improvements to the prosperity of our coun-
try. That relation is agricultural, Commercial,
and political. Your QWi reflections viii ill up
the outline without aid from me. Our territory
embraces almost every variety of soil and climate
and strength will be impaired to our institutions
when internal communications shall give us a
home market for various productions and
thus make us less dependent on other countries
for what we buy or sell. The trade of the New
York Canals amounted last year to seventy-three
millions. Who can calculate the results that will
arise from the general extension Of such works.
The American statesman, viewing our vast ex-
tent of territory, has been accustomed to anxious
consideration on the prospect the perpetuity of
our institutions No people have ever received
the blessings that have peen showered upon us;
and is the character of nature, that the very
extent of our happiness makes us look forward
with anxiety for its continuance. The despotic
governments of Europe look with Jealous eye
upon our institutions: because they know if the
serf who is bound to their SOIL and is trampled in
the dust by the iron foot of absolute power shall
ever feel the fires of liberty, kindled by our ex
ample, burn within his bosom, CHS soul vii
walk abroad in her own majesty-and his body
swell beyond the measure of his chains that burst
! from around him.
! The republics of former times did not endure,
because the people had not sufficient intelligence
and virtue to resist the Entertainments of despo-
tism. But our ancestors brought the religion and
the philosophy of England to our shores and
the. settlements they planted-Minerva-like
started forth in all the maturity of manhood.
Other empires have fallen by their own weight
and the event has been predicted as the
result of wide extent of country. True,
our territority reaches from the ST. John to the
Sabine, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
and it might be supposed that the bonds arising
from communityof interests may not be sufficient
" strong to hold us together without the concen-
trated power of despotism. But the far seeing
statesman has looked forward to Internal Inn
provements, a strong cord to unite toge-
Their in one happy family, for ages yet to come.
The genius OF has caused the shores of
Europe to approximate the shores of America ::
and the genius of man, by means of internal com
munications, may yet make the remotest citizen
of country almost our neighbor. Perhaps
another generation may see our Internal lns-
provements extend beyond the Rocky Mountains
to the Pacific Ocean, and thus cover our coun-
try with blessings and with glory.
Allow me, in conclusion, to offer as a senti-
ment,
The Halley ofthe Susquehanna- de-
signed her products, like her waters, to flow
into the Chesapeake. We celebrate the accom-
pllshment of the purposes of Nature by the tri-
umphs of Art.
The Stockholders of Philadelphia = whose
public spirit so largely aided in the completion
of the work we meet to celebrate.
After this toast was announced Nicholas Bid
die, Esq, amidst the calls and cheers of the
company, and responded to it in the following
terms:
Mr.. Biddle said that as one of the stockholders
of Philadelphia, he returned thanks for the cor
diality with which the sentiment had been re-
ceiyed. In the early stages of the work, some
fears had been entertained lest the trade Of Penn
sylvania might be thus diverted from the exclu-
siveiy Pennsylvania channels. But this anxiety
was only momentary. We believed that it was
due to the great interests of the interior that they
should be allowed to seek their natural course
to the sea; that this trade, after it reached the
Chesapeake. would still be an object of generous
between our two commercial cities;
and more especially we felt that truth too often
neglected in the jealousy of rivals, that there is
quite room enough in the world for us ALL We,
therefore, the stockholders of Pennsylvania, unite
as cordially as you do, gentlemen Of Maryland,
in celebrating the success of our Joint labors.
But, for myself, rejoice the more at it, be-
cause its completion, and the respectable assem-
blage who have come to witness it, prove the un-
abated interest felt in the prosecution of those
great works which are now in danger from the
caprices of public opinion.
Some years ago, with the characteristic en-
thusiasm of our countrymen, and some touch,
perhaps, of their imprudence, we began an ex-
tended system of internal communication. But
before the works finished, the general troubles
OF both Europe and America rendered it more diff
cult to raise the funds for their completion, and
some disappointment arose in the sanguine hopes
of immediate profits from them; SO that now the
ardor with which we began is succeeded by re-
taxation Of effort, by tone of subdued expecta-
ton, nay, often by timid and childish despon-
works have cost, as if we expected to have them
for nothing. They lament that we have paid