Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-07-24
CHICAGO CONVENTION.

LETTER FROM THE HON. THos. 3. BENTON.
To MesSrs. Wayman Crow, Edward Walsh,
Jas. e. Yeatman, and others, a committee,
+ DC.
Gentlcmen: In my brief note addressed
10 you on my return from Jefferson City,
expressed the gratitude should have felt IN
going with the St. Louis delegation to the
Chicago Convention, and made known the
reason which would prevent me from hav.
ing that pleasure.
The Lake and River navigation OF the
Great West, to promote which the Conven.
ton is called, very early had share Of my
attention, and never had doubt Of the
constitutionaity or expediency of bringing
that navigation within the circle of inter-
nal Improvement by the Federal govern.
men., when the object to be improved
should be one OF general importance.
The junction of the two great systems OF
waters which occupy so much Of our coun.
ty-the Nortern Lakes on one hand, and
the Mississippi river and its tributaries on
the other--appeared to me 10 be an object
of that character, and Chicago the proper
point for effecting the union; and near 80
years ago, wrote and published articles in
ST. Louis newspaper in favor Of that OBJ.
iect, indicated and almost accomplished by
nature herself, and wanting but helping
hand from man to complete it. Articles in
theSt. Louis Enquirer OF April, 1919, ex-
press the opinions which then entertained,
and the "report" Of thetr~period published
in the same paper, TO the Secretly of War,
by Messrs. Graham and Philips, in favor OF
that canal (and which "report'' wrote(
was probably the first formal communica.
ton, upon authentic data, in favor Of the
Chicago canal. These gentlemen with
Mr.. John G. Sullivan, OF Missouri, had been
appointed by the Secretary at War, to run
a line from the south end Of lake Michigan
TO the Mississippi. ] proposed to them 10
examine the ground between Chicago and
the head waters of the Illinois river, with
view to the construction OF a canal by the
Federal government. They did so and
on their return to 81. Louis, submitted all
their observations TO me; and hence the
publications in the newspapers, and the re
port to the Secretary at War. mention
this to shew that my opinions on this sub.
ject are Of long standing; and that the ma.
tonality OF the Chicago canal, and OF course,
OF the harbor at its mouth, are by no means
nc" CoHScPhiOhs WIN Dut, i UIuSt
confess that did not foresee then what
have since seen-the Falls OF Niagara sur.
mounted by ship canal! and schooner
clearing from Chicago 10 Liverpool!
The river navigation Of the Great West
is the most wonderful on the globe, and
since the application Of steam power to the
propulsion OF vessels, possesses the essen,
tial qualities Of ocean navigation. Speed,
distance, cheapness, magnitude Of cargoes,
are all there, and without the periIs Of the
sea from storms and enemies. The steam
boat is the ship of the river, and finds in the
Mississippi and its tributaries the amplest
theatre for the diffusion OF its use, and the
display OF its power. Wonderful river!
connecting with seas by the head and by
the mountaineering its arms towards
the Atlantic and the Pacifc--lying in val.
ley, which is valley from the Gulf of Mex.
leo to Hudson's Bay drawing its first wa
ters not from rugged mountains, but from
plateau Of lakes in the centre Of the contin.
ent, and IN communication with the sources
OF thu St. Lawrence and the streams which