Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-01-30

( RESOLVED, That we desire especially 10 call
public attention to the Importance and value of
the trade ofthe great Lakes, as a means Of
commanding the peculiar control over il, which
Pennsylvania has in the harbur Of the Erie the
best it uot the only harbor on the Southern
shores; harbor which Pennsylvania was once
w'se ennngi, to purchase at great cost, which
rival States are now striving to secure, and
which only the citizcns of Eastern Pennsylva.
mia seen. disposed mos, inconsidera,cly 10 un-
value.
Resolved, That we earnestly demonstrate
against that plan of improvement founded, as
we believe, on the mos, mistaken policy, which
proposes to make point within neighhoring
State Chat at Cieveland) the Western ternin.
us Of the Peonsyvana works, aud TO oass by
neglected and condemned onr Lake harbor OF
Erie, leaving to the citizens of Northwestern
Penn 'ylvanid the poor consolation Of desperate
hope that after millions shall be spent to build
up foreign cty,u remnsnt Of generosity msy
do something tor ourselves
Received, That this Convention has no wish
terprse known as The Central Railroad, some
interest io witch has been aroused, hut is con-
tent to utter a word of respectful but earnest
warning against any design, under any pre;ex,
or bv reason of any supposed necessity, TO adopt
a route which precludrs the claims and rights
Of Northwestern rennsy nnd renders
hopeless tho just expectation Of it's citizens.
Resolved, Tha, We will gIady unite with the
friends of the Pennsy lvanla Railroad, in procu.
ring such modification Of their charter as To
enable them tu secc, with entire freedom the
best route between the Eastern and West.
ern counties, with no other limitation or rcs,ric.
ton than fixing it's termination in the Eas, a,
rhiladepha. and in the West on the Ohio and
Lake, thus leaving the wide area of the State,
from the Southern 10 its Northern limit, open
Cor free, disin,erested and impartial explora.
ton.
Resolved, That in proposing this mode Of
friendly CO o2e ration in urging our own claims
on public iavor, this Convention considers il
right 10 define its position precisely with refer
ence to a matter upon which public opinion Is
supposed TO be much divided, and the cxpedi,
ency OF procuring by authority subscriptions of
stock or money by the municipal corporations
OF the State. This Convention and the friends
of the Northern route rely on the legitimate
support of individual contributions, by which
alone, at time when the Commonwealth is
accidentally disabled from rendering aid, pub.
/ lie improvements can or ought to be made.
/ Resolved, That these resolutions, signed by
the aficers of the meeting be camuncuted to
both houses of the Legislature, and be printed
| A motion of the hon Thos Burnside TO prin
the report of the committee, with the resolutions
, 10 be laid before the Convention to morrow, was
4 lost
A motion to reconsider the vote on tine
motion to print and postpone was carried.
On the question TO print and postpone the con-
sideration some discussion arose, and the post
ronement was opposed by Mr.. Higgins, who
/ moved division, of the motion. Upon the di
vision, the motion 10 print was carried Upon
the motion TO postpone, the Hon I Burnside
spoke in favor of the postponement, upon the
ground that it was impossible TO reconsider the
resolutions properly, unless they could be placed
( before the Convention in such manner that they
could be deliberately considered. The motion
TO postpone was lost.
A motion TO take up the resolutions separate.
ly was carried,
The motion TO adopt the frs, was carried.
Upon the second resolution, Mr. Burnside nov.
I ed to strike out the words Ohio River Not n.
greed TO- On motion to adopt,
Genera! Packer, of Lycoming county, address
sed the Convention in regard to the central route
He said i, would run parallel with the Juniata
pass over bridge of a mile in length through a
mountain, another tunnel through a mountain,
would he also required; beside which grades Of
forty FIVE feet TO the mile, ascending and descen.
ding, would be required He wished that the
citizens of Philadelphia should understand facts
The City wished the trade of the West the
seat of the Western trade was upon the Lakes,
and not upon the Ohio. He would show that the
City of Philadel phia could secure the Lake trade
as we'll as that of Pittsburg, by building rail-
road upon the route now proposed at no more
expense than the central route would cost. The
example of New York and Boston in endeavor.
ing 10 secure the Lake trade was adverted TO,
and the attention Of the citizens Of Philadelphia
requested in regard TO that subject. The profits
of roads, by which the Erie trade was carried to
New York, were stated by the speaker. and the
amount shown to exceed the tolls taken upon
the present route to Pittsburg. General P. said
that these statistics proved tina, the trade OF the