North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-03-18
Var prophecy Of Mr.. Crazy Of Michigan
in Congress


Var prophecy Of Mr.. Crazy o. Michigan
in Congress.
In the House of Represent alives, on the
18th February, Mr.. CRAZY, on a question
OF approprialing money for harbours, said
he would vote the appropriations whc the
rich and increasing commerce Of the North
western lakes demanded. In 1884 there
was but little commerce on them, but il
now employed tonnage equal TO that oI
the Atlantic coast, exposed to greater dan
gers and consequently requiring a more
efficient protection. The vessels fitted out
from the Atlantic cities are not exposed to
the dangers Of the coast, as is the case with
those navigating the lakes, but numbers of
them make voyages in which they are alb
sent from two to three years from home
On the contrary, the vessels on The lakes
are continually exposed to danger, daily
and hourly passing within its reach. -
1t would be remembered that il was by the
Improvements of the harbors on The lakes,
that the whole Of the Northwestern do
main had been brought in to market, and a
p0puIous State raised OPP from wilderness.
Mr.. Crary expressed pleasure at The ex-
pansive views OF Mr.. PIcKENs, withre
gard to the extension OF this great empire
by the addition Of new States and he
hoped soon 10 have an opportunity OF
testing his professions. But Mr.. Pirkens
was mistaken in supposing that if we bad
a war with Great Britain, the battles
would be fought on the ocean, or that the
Atlantic cities would be The only points at
tackled by the enemy. On the contrary,
he said The battles would be fought on the
lakes. There would be no invasion on, the
Atlantic border but the enemy would
pour his squadrons in Canada, and, from
Canada, strike us in our weakest point. |
Mr.. Crarv then took a view OF the number
OF troops that the British Government had
been concentrating for the last three or
four years in Canada, and the pains that
were taken by her experienced officers in
drilling their militia. He spoke also of
their fortlticallons which had been con-
by that Government. and the
numher of armed vessels they employed ON
he lakes, in cont auention of their agree
ment ar,th as, they were preparing for
var with this country.
W-Le no one pass over the article in
another column from the Washinyton
ilobe, under the head of"England and
Ih'na," &C., without giving it an alien
i've perusa!. If we had time and snace
We should be pleased to remark al some
ength upon this extraordinary article, and
make some inquiries into the cause of The
wonderful change which has suddenly ia
en- place in the tone Of Mr.. Van Bufen,s
ryan towards England. But we have
OF, and we must content Ourselves with
ne bare remark. 1t is evident, from
his article, and from the history Of the
lst two years, tina; in the view Of our
overnment, the invasion of our territory {
ne plumber and destruction of our proner.
Z, and the murder of American citizens
midnight, are matters of secondary inn
ortance, and sink into comparative insio-
hcance, while the paItry injuries which I
ould result To our commerce from the '
IS of our trade with China are all itnnor- c
mt, calling for the Indignation Of The J
hole country. In other words, the inva- 1
m OF our soil, and TIE murder of our eli. e
ems, Is OF little consequence when com q
red with The interests OF commerce -
rankin Gazette. h
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