The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-06-20

which he had no disposition to ar
rest. He had now brought this sub
Ject~beiore this meeting and the peo-
pie OF Illinois as defensive, not an
aggressive measure. The whole ma
ton has general and vital interest
in it; the people of Illinois have, in
addition, local and peculiar one.
When other portions of the Union
prompted by a national interest,
growing out Of considerations OF
patriotism and self preservation,
have moved in this matter, it does
not become us to be silent and in
different.
1t will be seen by reference TO the
call for great southwestern con-
vention at Memphis in Tennessee on
the 4th of July next, that this ship
canal and the Improvement Of the
western rivers are put forth as pro-
minent questions to be urged upon
the congress Of the United States
for favorable action. No one can
doubt but that the recommendation
of such convention, composed of
delegates from the Western and
Southwestern states, would exert a
powerful influence upon the procec-
dings of the next congress. Illinois,
said Mr.. d., owes it to herself and
her own interests to be strongly re-
presented in that convention. The
improvement Of the western rivers
generally, and especially the Missis-
sippi and Illinois rivers, were mat
tiers ofgreat Importance to this state,
independent Of the proposed ship
canal /; and in connection with that
magnificent project, the advantages
would be incalculable. Let the
snags and sand bars be removed, the
channel deepened, and the canal
opened, and it will be a greater
thorough-fare for commerce, trade
and travel, than any navigablc water
in the world, and will be stronger
arm of national defence than all the
armies and forts on the continent.
That the plan is practicable and
within the reasonable means of the
nation, scarcely admits of discussion.
The only objection he { Mr.. d. } had
heard urged against it, was, that
canal, with ten feet water, could not
float ships of war.-It must be rccol-
lcctcd that the lakes do not require
ships of the largest class, nor could
they be used on the lakes if there.
But even if these largest size vess-
els were required, the objection was
Mr.. ID. said he would
confess that it puzzled him at first to
comprehend how a vessel drawing
II feet water could pass through
canal Of only 10 feet of water; but
he had been assured by naval Off
GERS that the thing was by no means
by the use of
what they call " camel" or a ma
chine resembling floating dry dock,
it was frequently accomplished
Here Mr.. ID. described the process
by which it was done.
The Illinois River can be made
from Peru to the Kankakee
or Lake Joliet, by slack water, with
large locks for steamboats, and ships, |
thence to Chicago the present canal
can be widencd and dccpened and
new locks of the large size placed
by the side of the present ones with
out interfering with the use of our
canal. This plan could be adopted,
or the government of the United
States could buy out our canal by
paying the debt, and then convert it
into ship canal and make it free to
the whole country. Mr.. ID. said he
had no doubt but the State Of Illinois
would give her consent to either
plan and that a united effort on the
part of all its friends would induce
the favorable action of Congress.
In conclusion he wished to repeat
that he claimed no credit for oriei-
nality in many Of the views he had
mere advanced. They were now his
own views, and he hoped they were
or soon would be the opinions of the
whole nation.
The persons arraigned in Hancock county for