Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-06-27

perior. where, by recent disclosures, 1t aP'
pears you have mineral riches so i'm
mense ?-where you have SO vast DO
main of which, the Indian tile being ex
tinguished, you would now cause IT to DC
surveyed and offered for saIel 1t is true
sir, do not consider the immediate con
structiou of a ship canal to unite Lake
Huron with Lake Superior, to be of so d.
rect and pressing importance. with view
to that general military defence you are
bound by the Constitution TO provide for
as do the extension and completion o.
the central railway from Detroit to st
Joseph. across the peninsula of Michigan
For that, however, If the bill which you
have passed here should become law,
you will have enabled the State of Michi-
gan to provide but, with view to those
great numbers ofpeoplc who are prepar>
ing to 60 upon your mineral lands in the
region of Lake Superior with view to
the proximity of that great lake to the
navigabe head OF the Mississippi, and TO
the splendid country beyond it; with a
view to the countless numbers of Indians
upon the borders, and west and northwest
of that lake, now so greatly under the
control of the British Indian agents and
traders; and with view to the intercept
ton of any improper exercise of that con-
troll to your prejudice, and certainly with
view TO the present and future military
defence and protection of that remote por-
ton of the Union, whose great interests
and whose population are growing up SO
rapidly, l certainly consider it to be
great national work, worthy ofour most
favorable consideration, and which ought
to be accomplished by you now.
Let 1t not be understood, however, sir,
that l indulge in any sickly apprehensions
that war is upon US. | construe far other
wise the signs OF the times. l confide in
my belief, sir, that you will give no just
cause for war. l cannot perceive that it
is for your interest, nor for the interest of
the powerful nation upon whose pos
sessions you border in tine northwest, that
war should exist. And it is my most sin
cere and ardent hope that for many, many
years it may not come. But my PROPOSE
ton is that you should prepare for it, lest
it should come--that you should be pre-
pared for it as the most certain means 10
prevent its occurrence. But if you were
certain, sir, that it never would come, are
there not legitimate purposes other than
that of providing for the general defence
which would sanction the adoption by
you of this measure! May | again re-
mind you, sir, Of the immensely of your
existing commerce on those broad lakes
of the magical suddenness with which it
has grown up? and of the boundless ex-
tent and value to which it must in future
times attain 7 Sir, the eye Of that wise
and provident people who divide with
you in part the dominion of the lakes is
already upon that commerce. They
mean to turn it through channels of their
own. A monopoly of it they certainly
aspire after. And, admirably adapted as
heir system of roads and canals and har-
Dor improvements may be to give certain
y and celebrity to their military move.
nents in time of war, it is no less admira-
'ly adapted in time of peace to the secu-
ity and extension oflheir commerce there I
SIR, at session of the Canadian Parlia. :
nent in 1912, that commerce. its outlet S
o the ocean, and especially the Canadian t
rade with your Northwestern States, i
we're considered of sufficient importance
o be referred 10 special committee of I
he body. That committee caused to
'ome before it some of the most wealthy
md respectable of the mercantile houses :
# Montreal; and, in answer 10 interrog.
tories put TO them, they testified that the {
completion Of the St. Lawrence canals
lone lin connexion with the enlarged !
CanaD would reduce lie price :
# freight to and from Lake Erie and the ]
cean full thirty-three and third per
ent. And are you to suffer that immense {
nd growing commerce to slip thus easily r
rom your hands ? Are you to take no t
measures to retain ito extend, secure, i
nd fasten it within your own borders, {
nd 10 your own Atlantic cities? Sir, a
his whole subject is worthy of your most G
'rave consideration and feel quite GER s
ain that prudence, wisdom, and sound t