Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-07
THE WESTERN LAKES AND WATERS.

THE WESTERN LAKES AND WATERS.
In the subned article from the old recognised
organ of the democratic party in the State of New
York. we have satisfactory promise Of the triumph
of the policy--of which, through all the trials AMI
changes of parry, we have ever been the unwayel-
ing advocatesof so shaping the legislation Of the
General Government as to shed its benefits equally
over every pat of the country. The great primo
pie on which his policy is founded is that govern
ment was Instituted TO promote the public good BY
all legitimate means. No means can be more leg
innate or moe effective for this purpose than REL
sonable appropriations of the Peoples money
facilitate commercial and other intercourse as wdl
within as without the limits of the United State.
This has Always been the doctrine of the greet
mass of the Wing party. The Democratic parry
now comngover to us on this question, its success,
in despite olthe Veto, can no longer be matter #
doubt:
FRos THE ALBANY ARGUS OF JULY %.
The NAvEATIoN OF THE LAKEs.-The navige
ton of the Great Lakes, in midsummer, when thoa
inland seas are placid as the Hudson, is matterf
ease, enjoyment, and pleasing pastme to the pa
senger traveller. Delighted as he speeds, win
arrowy lligh, across their smooth bosom, he wo.-
ders at the tales of gale and shipwreck, as the
tons of the fancy, or some ideal fable of the So.
TO the mariner even, of whatever craft, they az,
at that season, without hazard, as they are alo
without danger 1t is in the early Springs d
especially at the Autumnal season,
-"w when the Almightys form
Glasses itself in tempests, ..
that the passage Of the Lakes, always penous, be-
comes often the scene of overwhelming h,rror and
fatality.
1t will surprise the reader, not familjr with the
Lake navigation, to be told that from Tort Gratot
at the entrance into Huron, to Chicap, distance
of nearly seven hundred miles, not single harbor
save one, has been constructed q improved by
Government, or by the hand of mn. That one IS
Chicago, which, only partially constructed, requires
repairs and additions. Throughout the long extent
of coast on the Michigan SIZE of Huron, and
throughout the still longer lin, of coast on the Wis
consin side of Lake Michigal, while art has done
nothing even Nature has Dine little, to protect the
hardy navigator OF these Mediterranean seas. From
Fort Gratiot to Saginaw Bay there is, we believe,
neither netno natural hrbor OF any sort; from the
Bay to Macknaw, there are several natural retreats
from storm and tempest such as Tauwause Bay
Thunder Bay, and the lee of Thunder Bay Islands
and Pressure ISLE But these require skill, and are
not always available The harbor of Mackinaw Is
deep, capacious, and secure. Thence up the Mlch-
gan coast, st. Helena Island, Little Traverse Bay,
Grand Traverse Bay, the Fox and ManitOu Isles,
and the mouths of the Grand, Kalamazoo, and St.
Joseph's rivers often afford shelter but the latter,
in their present unimproved condition, have often
Witnessed fearful scenes Of shipwreck aid death.
Again, OH the Wisconsin coast, although the wharves
of Milwaukee Racine, and Southport-towls spring
ing up as if by magic, with vigor and rapidlty
surprising even the supposed visionary expansion
of the tide of American population and progress
afford security for vessels fortunately safely moored
there, yet we suspect few attempt to run in, where
there neither harbors nor piers, when the gale IS
up, and they are caught upon the heavng pillows
of the lake.
Upon erery principle Of humanity, the nariga-
tion Of the Lakes, if there ,cere not OTHER public
and NATIONAL reasons, Is ENTITLED TO THE PRO-
lection AND CARE THE GENERAL CONVENIENT.
But when the appeals of sympathy and humanity
are added the claims of commerce already whitul-
ing these inland waters, and destined to expand
beyond even the conception of those who live now
10 witness its gigantic proportions, one would think
that the question would need no further argument
illustration.