Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-06-28

Nature TO this particular situated the head and
southern extremity Of the Lake. in the heart OF rich and
fertile country and mild climate where the free
from during many months OF the year when the other lakes
and their harbors closed and the mouth and both
sides OF the Chicago river which forms natural harbo with
sufficient depth OF water for the largest ships OF the line
extending back five miles into the country.
Mr. d. said he had been investigating the subject for the
last two years. and should introduce bills session Of Con-
gess for carrying the project into effect He had relied
upon his own and alone, but had awaited him
self of the opinions and information of othersgentemen Of
wisdom and experience, whose professions connected
with the national deenccs. While this occasion he K
pressed his views he uttered them modified aud
toned by theirs and consequently, entitled respect
and reliance Let this ship canal be made, the navy yard
Chicago established the Straits of Maeknaw fortified the
proper deences placed the St Clair river and Lake Erie
and ready TO settle the Oregon question with Great
Britain and all other Of dispute, without calling in any
OF the crowned heads of Europe IS umpire. Ii Il
should occur and Great Britain should leave navy upon
the Upper Lakes during the winter and allow il to hc frozen
up In the ice land troops could march to il and destroy
at blow, without waiting for the Of spring and the
opening OF lake navigation If she should her ships
as she doubtless would in the winter, the Gulf of ST Law
renee and the where she could protect them until the
return of spring, they would float the bosom of the
Upper Lakes again The fact which results from the decree
OF Providence that the ice disappears from the Illinois river
the Chicago harbor and the whole of Lake Michigan
than SIX weeks earlier in the spring than does from Lake
fleets could lie in the Chicago harbor any part Lake Mi
chgan during the winter if they the Mis-
sissippi they could be taken the Lower Mississippi
the Gulf and could return and be aoa upon the lake with
out hostile ship to oppose their progress weeks before the
Weland canal could DO opened They would set ont from
Chicago, proceed to Mackinaw, and follow fast the
disappears to Lakes Huron ST. Clair and Erie far The
OF the Wcand canal and blow up the locks fill up
that ditch before it clear Of ice That canal filed up
It's locks destroyed its navigation obstructed by
what process the American fleet would be left from day
exclusive possession Of the whole chain of Upper Lakes
Not only the joint occupancy but the right Of
would forever cease and Upper Canada would form portion
OF this Republic This said Mr. d., would be STEP and
pretty good stride al that towards the consmmaon Of HE
favortc schemean bound Republic But he said hs
object on this occasion not TO indulge dreams schemes
of foreign conquest if indeed that of Canada could he
dcred foreign The extension of territory and he Of
freedom would result natural consequences from
over which we have CONTROL and which he had DISPOSE
ton to arrest lie had brought this subject before this
meeting and the people of Illinois defensive ag
gcssive The whole nation has general and vital
interest in it; the people of Illinois have in addition loca
and peculiar When other portions of the Union prompt
ed by national interest," growing ou Of considerations Of
patriotism and scpreservaon have moved in this NATTER
does not become US To be silent and Indifferent.
will nc by reference to the call for great South
western Convention at Memphis in Tennessee, the 9TH Of
July next that this shpcanal and the improvement of the
Western put forth prominent questions he urged
the Congress of the United States for favorable action
No doubt but that the recommendation Of such Con-
Veo composed oil delegates from The western and South
western States, would exert powerful influence upon the
proceedings of the next Congress. Illinois, said Mr. d.
to herself and to her interests he strongly repre-
;ened in that Convention The improvement of the Western
rivers generally, and especially the Mississippi and Illinois
vers were matters Of great Importance to this State indie
pendent of the proposed shipcana and in with
hat magnificent project the advantages would be ncacabc
e the and sandbars be removed the channel deep
med, and the canal opened and it will be greater thorough
for commerce, trade and travel than any navgae
the world and will be stronger Of national defence
han all the armies and forts tho continent That the plan
practicable and within the reasonable of the nation
carcey admits OF discussion. The only objection he M ID
lad heard urged agans, il was that canal with feet
water, could float ships Of II be rccoeced that
he lakes do require ships of the largest Glass; could
hey he used the lakes If there But if these largest
vessels required the objection untenabe Mr.
D. said he would confess that puzzled him at first
,rchend how vessel drawing feet Of could
pass through canal Of only ten feet of water but he had
assured by naval officers that the thing
mpractcabc that by the Of what they call camel
" machine resembling floating dry DOCK frequently
accomplished Hero Mr. d. described the process by which
done.
The Illinois he made navgabIc from Peru 10 the
<ankakee Lake Joliet by slack water with large locks
tcamboas and ships thence Chicago, the present canal
be wdcned and deepencd and locks Of the largo
accd by the side Of the present without interfering with
he of canal This plan could be adopted, the
Government Of the United States could buy ly
aging the debt and thon into shp-canal and
,ake il free 10 the whole country Mr. d. said he had no
oubt
Ian and that united effort the part Of all its friends
'oud induce the favorable action of Congress In conclusions
wished 10 repeat that he claimed credit for originality in
lany of the views he had here advanced They
views and he hoped they would be the
pnions Of the whole nation.
The resolutions were then unanimously adopted.
On motion Of Mr. McCovSEl, it was
Resolied, That the President Of this meeting appoint
nttee Of ten persons whose duty shall I've to select and
ppont delegates from the State Of Illinois the Southwest
m Convention which is to be held Memphis, Tennessee
N the fourth day Of July next
II was then resolved that the editors Of newspapers friendly
these proceedings, he requested publish the and
he meeting adjourned sine die
THOMAS FORD, President
JOHN REYNOLDS of st. Clair,
JOHN J. HARDIN OF Morgan,
ELIJAH WILCOX, Of Kane
DAVID j. BAKER of Randolph
WIN. Il. d. EWING, Wee Presidents.
WV. W,LrEns, Secretaries.
;. FRAScIs,
In the u > District Court sitting Baltimore on Mon
Ind HIS,