The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-22

sippi valley to draw FROM by reason OF ITS facilities
for the transportation of military forces, its numer
GUS rivers and their watercrait such an expedition
as the world never saw might be assembled through
this canal upon Lake Michigan. Casar's reni, pidi,
piei, would serve to describe The despatch
with which it would overrun province and return
in triumph.
Look at the map; the eastern waters Of Lake HUI
ron reach within 20 or 80 miles Of Lake Ontario A
straight line here, from one lake TO the other,
il the natural boundary of the United States. II
was never intended that great country like this
should have its parts separated as they are here, by
the most military and grasping nation IN the world.
Here you long strip of foreign territory obru-
ding itself between two States of the Union, and
reaching down for several degrees of latitude into
the very heart Of the country. BY means of this
portion of Upper Canada, Great Britain divides with
US the great lakes, the navigation OF which we
should control. The peninsula OF Upper Canada
separates Michigan from New York, takes from us
the sole command of the rivers ST. CLAIR and Detroit,
and puts it in the power Of Great Britain to stop
our merchantmen whenever she pleases, on the
great highway between the upper and lower lakes
France, England, any other nation of the Old
World, would permit such dangerous proximity such
thrustng Of foreign territory beyond the safe and
natural limits of national boundaries. Nor should
we, the greatest of the New, permit such a thing
longer than il can be honorably avoided.
Should ever war again arise between the two
countries no exertion on part should be spared
for the conquest of this part Of Upper Canada; and,
if the of should place IT IN our power
to dictate terms, the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the British
provinces of at least that territory that is south Of
line from the head waters of Lake Simcoe to Onta-
rio, should be the sine qua of peace.
The boundaries here pointed out strongly
marked by Dature Ontario on the east, Erie on the
south, Michigan State and Lake Huron on the west.
This important peninsula is of convenient size for
State, and, if war comes, it must be "AsNExED.'
We would then have the great body of the lakes
with their connecting links wholly within our own
territory; and we should then be perfectly mpreg-
nable there for all time to
In military point of view, and simply as it re-
CARDS national defence, the importance of Texas
sinks into utter insgnifcance, in comparison with
this tongue of British province. With this ship
canal from the Mississippi, through which to mar
shall upon the lakes, in war, the military strength
and prowess of the West, there is nothing to pre-
vent us from oonquerng and annexing this Estate
of Toronto" The people in it would be glad to
Join the Union.
| There has lately been good deal of bluster and
brag on the other side with regard to Oregon. Set
about this system of defence right off the reel The
moment John Bull looks along this canal, and sees
Gas he soon would that, in case of rupture, we
would have it in power to dsmember his Cana
dian provinces, my word for it, there would be inr
stanty change of tone with regard to the wilds OF
Oregon.
If we do not act thus, and carry the war into
Canada, the enemy would, without doubt, attempt
overrun the Michigan peninsula, and aim to "a''-
ner" that in he in condition to prescribe
terms. If we leave the lake defences as they are,
he could very much annoy us here; for, were he to
send forces down into Lake Michigan, to cooperate
with others from the western end of Lake Erie, we
might find some difficulty in his dislodgment. A
| ship canal from the Mississippi to Lake Michigan
would prevent this, and, without doubt, open wide
| for us the door into Canada.
| / am SuDDOang that the banks of the st, CaII
river are lined with forts on either side so that each
may prevent the vessels of the other from passing
up or down between Erie and Huron, which now is
very far from being the case. There is nothing
there at present to prevent gallant commander from
passing with his fleet, were there an object in SO
doing.
You have heard it said that overrate the import
ance of these ship canals of Great Britan that she
could not send man-of-war through them if she
would; that the St. Lawrence, not more than 40O
yards wide in some places, is the border line fol
miles, and that forts from our side could command
the passage Of it. But rre hare not fort gun
there. II is added too that vessels of but 81 feet
draft can pass the locks of these canals, and that
therefore man-ofwar, being of greater draft cannot
pass them. Pray, is there no such thing as light
ening vessels-takng out guns stores, &c, at Mon
trea and taking in others at Kingston or even send
ing the along with the vessels up through the
Rideau canal to Kingston, and away out of the
reach Of your airy castles on the St. Lawrence
have read of thing, and may have seen it
too that sailors call camel its strength is such that
il can lift the largest men-ofwar almost out Of the
water, and so carry them over very shoal places
The Dutch, for the want of good harbors, when
they had navy--and other nations likewise--used
to transport camels their seventyfours, with crew
and armament over shoals that scarce would pass
tender. We are officially told that the Welland