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

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Illinois river. Gov. Ford, Judge Douglass, ana
Col. Taylor, who are now at l.ockport, proposing
to return this way in the course of a week,
committee was appointed TO correspond with
them and invite them to be present at the meet
ing, and the time of holding it will be determined
by The time Of their return Of which we shall
know definitely in a few days, when due notice
will be given. Speeches from all these dslin.
sulshed individuals may be confidently expected
This ship canal business, We can assure our
readers, is very far from being s'hoax," as some
isnorantly pretend. Nothing is more certain than
that Commodore Morris with corps of engineer.
has been ordered hither by the President, to ex
anime the route from Chicago to the Illinois ri.
yer, and the practicabity Of so improving the ri.
yer that it shall be navigable for large vessels
And we seriously believe, if the report of Com.
Morris is favorable to the project, it will Lo I'M
dertaken before another year. The opening of a
ship communication between the Atllntic and
the lakes, through the heart of the country, is an
accomplishment SO obviously necessary for the
safety OF the country in the event of war with
England, that the pitful sum required to build
this ship canal would be no obstacle whatever in
the way.
The following remarks, made by Judge DOUG
LASS at public meeting recently held at Spring.
field, on this all important subject will be read
with interest:
Lieut.. MAURY was the distinguish
ed author of many excellent papers,
over the signature of Harry Bluff,
U. 5. N. His articles upon the Gulf
of Mexico and its defences, and the
necessity of a Naval depot on the
Mississippi, were generally read,
and had great influence in inducing
the favorable action of Congress up
on those subjects. More recently
he has turned his attention to the
Northern Lakes described their cx-
posed condition, and a plan for their
defence. The basis of that plan is a
ship canal from Chicago to the Hi
nois river, opening channel for
war steamers between the Gulf of
Mexico and the Lakes through the
Mississippi and Illinois rivers. The
first of this series of articles he
MIR. d. had transmitted to the le-
gislature of this State last winter,
and it was now to be found recorded
in the volume of legislative reports.
The project was not original with
him or Lieut.. MAURY. 1t had long
been a favorite scheme with the peo-
pie and legislature of Illinois, and
had on several occasions been favor
ably noticed by the government of
the United States; but the time had
now arrived when the people should
move in the matter and demand
prompt and efficient action by their
representatives. The occasion was
suspicious to favorable result.
The condition of our foreign rela-
ions, imposed upon the government
he necessity of placing the country
n a state Of defence.-This was one
Of a series of measures of national
defence. 1t was proposed and ad-
1ocated upon that ground alone,
reference to other consider
atoms, and the commercial advanta-
yes that would flow from it. The
British government have been act
ng upon the wise maxim, ssIn peace
prepare for war" She has opened
channel of communication for her
Navies from the Ocean to Lake
She has constructed the
3ideau canal from the St. Lawrence
o Lake Ontario, and the Welland
'anal from the Ontario to Lake Erie
It an expense of millions. These
ire emphatically War measures.
They can be regarded in no other
light when we consider their loca-
ion, and the circumstances atten-
ling their construction. What me-
'essity was there for a canal from
he Gulf of st. Lawrence to Lake
ontario, when there was navica-
lie rivera natural channel of lar
,er dimensions, connecting them?
Vas not the river st. Lawrence adj
quate to all the purposes of com
nerce and trade? Was it not suf-
Client to float upon its bosom all
he produce and merchandise of the
ountry? What necessity was there,
hen, for a ship canal, running para
81 to this river, and connecting the
anne bodies of water? The answer
obvious; independent of the rea-
ons assigned by the Canadian Par
lament and the British government
Or this immense expenditure of mon
y. The st. Lawrence river approx
mates the American line, and would