The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-12
N o w IN PO u It

examine the ground betw Chicago and the head
waters of the Illinois riv with a view to the
struction of canal by the Federal government They
ala So and on their return to st Louis submitted all
ther observations to me- nd hence the publications in
the newspapers and the port of the Secretary of War
are ofong landing and that the nationality of the
Chicago canal and Of Of the harbor at it's mouth
are by no means conce ptions with me But must |
confess that did not obse then what have since
seen-the Falls of Niagara surmounted by ship canal
and aschooner clearing fro m Chicago for Liverpool
The river navi alton of the great West is the |
most wonderful on the globe and since the application
OF steam power to the propulsion of vessels
lance chcapnes magnitude of cargoes, all there
and without the peris of the storms
mics The steamboat is the ship of the river and finds
In the Mississippi and its tributaries the amplet thea
tire for the diffusion of its use and the display of its
power Wonderful river, connected with seas by the
head and by the mouth stretching its arms towards
the Atlantic and the Pacific lying in a valley which
Is valley from the Gulf of Mexico 10 Hudson's Bay
drawing its first waters not from rugged mountains
of the continent, and in communication with the
sources OF the St Lawrence and the streams which take
their north to Hudson e Baydrainnp the largest
extent of the richest land collecting the products of
every CLINE, even the frgid to bear the whole ge
pat eft the ' south and there to the
And who can calculate the gate of its advantages
Many years ago, the late Governor Clark and my
self undertook to calculate the extent of the boaable
10000 miles Of which 10000 computed to unite
above ST. Louis and 10000 below. OF course, we
counted all the infant streams which fat a keel
or batteau could be hoated and justly every ri
butary Of the humblest boatabe character helps to
swell not only the volume Of the central waters but
Of the commerce upon them OF this immense extent
OF river navigation all combined into system of
ters st Louis is the centre and the enrepo of its
trade presenting even now, in Its infancy astonsh
fng and almost incredible amount of commerce. destined
to increase forever 1t is considered inland town
of distances st Louis nearer to the sea
than New Orleans was before the steam tow boat |
abridged the distance between that city and the mouth
of the Mississippi st Louis Is a port well az an
inland city aud is port of delivery by law and has col
current year; and with liberal custom would become
great entrepot OF foreign well as of domestic COM
MERGE With the attributes and characteristics sea
port she Is entitled to the benefit of one fully and as
clearly as New York or New Orleans
uttwenty years ago, moved in the Senate, and
obtained an appropriation for survey of the Rapids of
the Upper Mississippi 1t was probably the first appro
pration ever obtained for the improvement of the up
per part OF the river About twenty-five years ago
moved and succeeded in the motion to include the Mis-
souri, river in bill for the Improvement of Western
rvers-t was the first time that river had been in
GUIDED Thus, on the important items of the Chicago
canal the rapids Of the Upper Mississippi and the Mis-
souri, river was among the first to propose include
them within the circle of internal improvement by the
federal government have always been friend Of that
system but not to it's abuses and here lies Difficult
ty, and the danger and the stumbling block s sue
cess Objects of general and national Importance
alone claim the attention of the federal government |
and in favor Of such OBJECTS believe all the depart
ments Of the government to be united Confined to
them, and the Constitution can reach them and the
treasury sustain them Extended local sectional
objects and neither the Constitution the treasury
few in number, definite in character and manageable
by the treasury local and sectional objects are nnu
nerable and indefinite and ruinous to the treasury
Near twenty years ago, the treasury threatened
with demand for two hundred millions of dollars for
objects OF Internal Improvement, then applied for and
many OF them OF no national Importance. The enormity
OF the sum baked the system and 1t must be again
the proper discrimination is not kept up between local
and national subjects IL Is for Congress to make that
discrimination the President he must reject
or approve the bill as whole Here then is the point
Mt which the friends of the system, in Congress must
exert all their and vigilance No arbitrary rule can
be given for the admission exclusion Of proper objects
but really national objects admit Of dispute and
confined to Them apprehend but little danger of losing
bill either from executive vetoes for votes
Very respectfully, gentlemen your friend and fellow
citizen, THOMAS H. BENTON
Siias Wrights Letter
CANTON, 3lst May ls47.
GESrLEMrN-Your circular inviting me to attend n
North Western Harbor and River Convention, to be
assembled at Chicago the first Monday of July next
was duly received forwarded by MIR Whiting, Of your
Committee My attention had been previously called to
the same subject by the invitation of n friend ut your
city to attend the Convention and generously rendering
me quarters In his family during its sitting | was
forced from the state of private business inform him
that could not make the journey, at the time named;
and the period which has elapsed since | declined his
invitation has only tended to confirm the conclusion
pronounced to him Were il possible for to attend
the proposed Convention without an unreasonable sac
rihce should most gladly do So my location gives
me strong feeling in reference to the prosperity and
safety OF the commerce of the lakes The subject Of the
Improvement OF the lake harbors Is one which nv SER
vice In Congress has rendered somewhat familiar to me
In legislative aspect while my personal travel upon the
two lower lakes has made the necessity for these i'm
provements manifest to my senses. | am aware that
questions of constitutional power have been raised In
reference to appropriations of money by Congress for
the Improvement of the lake harbors and am well con
WINGED that honest men have sincerely entertained |
strong scrupes upon this point but all my observation
ana experience have induced me to believe that these
scruples, where the individual admits the power TO i'm
prove the Atlantic harbors arises from the want of an
acquaintance with the lakes aud the commerce. upon
them aud an inability to believe the facts In relation 10
that commerce. when truly stated. IL IL not easv for
one familiar with the lakes and the lake commerne 10
realize the degree of increduty to the magntude
and Importance Of both which Is found in the minds
OF honest and well informed men, residing In re
mote portions Of the Union, and having no personaI
acquaintance with either; while | do not recoiect
an instance OF member Of Congress- who has
travelled the lakes, and observed the commerce.
uno them within the last ten years requiring anv fur
er evidence or argument TO induce him TO admit the
power and the propriey
Tor the lake haroors as much those of the Atlantic
coast have long been OF the opinion therefore that
TO impress the minds Of the people OF all portions OF the
Union win realizing sense Of the as they are in
relation 10 these inland seas and their already vast and
rapuy increasing commerce, would be all that Il
CURED 10 such appropriations thu state Of the
naCona treasury Will from time time permit for the
Improvement OF the lake harbors mean the improve
ment OF uch harbors as the body OF the lake
requires Tor ts convenience and safety contra dtn
sulsnou rom the numerous applications for these inn
which the various mpetng local interests
upon the shores Of the lakes may prompt; and make
osuncton because my observation has shown
That sppcations for hsrbor improvements at ths public
expense are made and passed. within distances OF very
IL fbe no