The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-09-11
ADDRESS, TO THE CTTIZENS OF INDIANA.

act of Congress of March I'd, 1927, granting land for The Wabash and Erie
Canal, it was at first deemed proper to terminate the canal on The Wabash,
!, the mouth of the Tippeeane river, about fourteen miles above lafayette;
to be oflong continuance; for the town of Lafayette, 81 short a distance be-
low it., began 10 attract its extension sc far, and success a m point would
about mere localities become ultimately merged in the fact that neither at
Lafayette, or at any other point of connexion on the Wabash river, would
the canal secure The continuous, uninterrupted navigation between Lake
Erie and The Mississippi, contemplated by Congress and the people of the
Stale, from the time of the first movement in that enterprise. The Wabash,
although a broad and beautiful river, and for a portion ofthe year naVigable
dcipations ofthe public, IS o afford that degree OF navigation, from any desig-
ted point ofit, necessary to the desired result 1t is a river, the navigation
it now affords, and is destined to afford, to a much greater degree, when it
shall also have received that aid from the General Governmental is entitled
to, will always be th in the country through which it passes, irrespective of
any thoroughfate in the interior by artificial means, Between this and the
canal interest there is necessarily no conflict; fol, whenever there is a rise in
the river sufficient to carry of The produce and other irsghtS Of M &c country
that is not the case, that the canal will be in greater requislon:a ndit is be-
cause this is certainly OF the case by far the greater part Of the year, more
contemplated, becomes indnpensably necessary.
In reference to these views, and impressed with their correctness, the Leg
isaure Of this State passed a law, by a large majority in both bra ces of
it, authorizing the extension of tbe canal FROM the mouth OF the TPpecanoe
river, along the Wabash Valley, to Tere-Haute; and thence, by Eel nvert
form such a counexon as would take it TO Evansville, IN the Ohio. This
extension, however, as The matter OF compact orr grant then stood between
Ofthe State. which, failing lin that general collapse which visited the whole
ws left not only unfinished, but almost entirely unavailable, except between
TfPpecanOe and Lafayette; AT this gloomy period, Congress came to The
the work from lafayette to TerreHaue, upon the principle Of the original
grant-ths having having been urged upon Congress, and insisted upon by
the State, as coming within the letter and spirit of the act containing the
original grant. To be moree explicit: The original act ofCong!ess po7id-
The State had abandoned the first point selected, and established the emin-
us on the Wabash, at Terre-Iaute, that the latter point drew o 1.-THE appo-
piaion as fully in every respect IS in the first instance it vas drawn 10 the
former. The act of extension has been deemed necessary by the State TO
an illustration 0 that necessity, had been resoued to by the State when she
at last ran the risk ofhavng TO complete the extension entirely out ofh er own
resources. Alter the claim had been thus acceded TO, ii seems toh have been
the understanding of the parties that the right OF the State had became K
hausted as to any further grant beyond the terminating point N the Wabash.
AT this stage in the history Of the work, although there was much forwhch
its friends could feichate themselves, those feelings were not unming ed with
gloom. The realization of their wishes, the full and triumphant proof of the
proper character ofthe enterprise, in the immense benehtto be conferred on
the State and country could not be afforded when 1t should be- a yet par
,Ies s' nsrcefvsd M =" snc'ons |" the State ntea after mature deGberation in
her councils; and such was her present condition, that this consummaion
was not to be expected from her, for she owed a heavy debt, and vas limo
condition to meet the liabilities already incurred. Now Congress has again
come to our assistance. The same convictions which have sustained
hopes under every Vnssiude and disaster, have had their effect at Washing
of about 100000 acres, in the vincennes Land District, TO enable the State
i-andit is the ont to which we have particularly TO invite your attention.
shall the State accept pit this grant, an, and duly 81, 'P TTSs1 s the son I6sraliy .,, Con- on.
been alreay done in fnrherng this enterprise, the millions which have been
sign no further reasons, there IAN be but one opinion upon the subject The
O ~ res b' p9Hss, to this e general anin;a question ns i" 4, mu nab be in the m sfn5%a' n Which There her s m1y
should be aVahed of to accomplish the object oft, and we shall therefore,
very respectfully, submitsome ofthe plans proposed, under the hope that pub
Judging from the estimates which lave been heretofore made to the Legis-
lime, by Engineers in the service of the State, and from reliable informa-
in derived from other sources, in addition to the sum of $905,S $50 which
quire 81 s7s.soO to finish it. To raise this it has been proposed that the
State should resort to loan, to be negotiated on the basisohhe grant, pedg.
ing the proceeds thereof towards The payment of it. This, Of course, con-
templates some provision for the payment of interest, the proposition embra-
this would not be of long duration; for the 100000 acres at sI,25 per acre
would realize a million Of dollars; and, ifiudcio1sly disposed Of probably
her canal lands east of TTppecanoe- is s265 per acres although the sales
were made, in some instances at inauspicious periods.
Another plan is o give the grant TO a company upon what might be deem
+ is J = sSah n aou g9a noa be se TO-, aS pssTi n ds v al the unl so' tSe o som Ms nss sSo Il
consist of those who hold the bonds of the State, and to which suggestion
we snail reRr hereafter individuals, unless Wnen acung under some very
peculiar incentive, whould not be willing to invest from other pursuits, and
make the heavy advance in money, necessary 10 carry O such an extended
work. But few companies would be found able % do it, and The land alone
would no answer, in the progress OF the work, to be given IN exchange Tor
materials and labor, of which we have convincing experience o the line of
the canal between Tere-Haute and Lafayette. In this case there was an
issue of Land Scrip, but the depreciation oft showed the difference between
land and money in The prosecution of public Improvements, and it has been
so great and runousa as almost TO put n entire stop to the work.
This reference applies, with at least equal force, to a third plan which has
been suggested, that the State should rely upon he. own citizens, her farm
es and others along the line, TO finish the canal by giving them, from time to
time, such small tracts of land ashley might select and work out. It's said
that in some part of Illinois, and on the Railroad from Detroit to the ST. Jo-
sephs, in Michigan, this mode has been found TO answer, but we ire lot appr-
zed of any thing in The general condition of the public works ofthose States
to warrant such a belief Fit be the fact, It'll must have been in a very linn
lied degree, and under very peculiar circumstances. In III opinion, it has
bot little to recommend it, although at he first blush lit may appear TO be rem
denng a most paisewonhy service TO a portion of our citizens. In the con-
strucron of our public works, there must be a Simultaneous operation by the
many-a concentration of effort. An occasional volunteer along the line
would be a slow process. But suppose the farmers cam Ell mGsse, they
would not do it without abandonment of their homes and agricultural pr-
suits; and it would but lily suit them TO yield TO those systematic regulations
=nnnciualay as TO time, PROMPT Obedience as 10 orders. and The oiher prop