Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-11-23
THE NAVIGATION OF THE ST. LAWRENCE
raoMl7HE 1osDos TIMES OF ooroBEn 2s.

FRcarTHE LONDON TIMES OF OCTOBER 70.
In yesterdays impression published act Of Con-
gress relating TO the trade of colonies with the United
States and also interesting and important communi
cation froma citizen of the State of Michigan, touching the
extraordinary prohibition upon which England insists with
respect to the navigation of the St. Lawrence The United
States Lagasute has followed the lead Of England n hel
ae liberal commercial policy. The example set in the re-
psa Of restrictions the Importation Of corn and also o
our faInousnavsaion act necessarily pseduce4 an insse
ekHRsa - el6gsnt pshpls q he Uslteds s
In ths ~ which pubshed ono Of the nmediae con-
seQucnOs of that example may be- But the Logsa
ture Of America seeks real and fair reciprocity, and asks
Of TO advance in step further and dexpecs
that shall allow the vast products Of the great lake valley
to nd Aer way to the by means of the waters Of the st.
Lawrence.
What are the which can by possibility be urged
against this proposal There is only vague fear,
indsinct notion Of possible danger should unhap
PLY arise between the two countries. And yet If we look
At this aRced danger Steadily we shall find that the pmis-
sion to this highway, far from being means Of dimin-
ishing strength, will give great advantage, and
prove in fact most important surety for keeping the
suppose establishments of commerce formed all aong
the river st. Lawrence and the shores of Ontario Erie and
Huron if the whole produce Of the fertile regions which
communicate with this great artery by Of their nuer
iser roads, and canals should be every year iransm
ted BY the ST. Lawrence to the if the waters Of the liver
and these inland be covered with the busy vessels
which carry a this produce be blind
not 70 see that the United States will expose unguad
cd Hsnk attack should she be unwse to court
rel with England Commerce here every where, would
in fact be bond Of peace and unon by making war do
pIoabe calamity 10 both belligerens The population on
both shores of This magnificent inland navigation would to
oppose every nctemen to disagreement for ruin to mil
lions would be the consequence of war;
Possessing as we should STILL the mouth of the river, we
should Ia fact be safe against any encroachmen against all
attack In the time provinces would derive nca
cuabie advantage from the trade and Montreal would quick
" prove formidable rival both to New York and New Or
leans The valley Of the ST. Lawrence is, We believe. in
almost every article of produce than the rival OF the
great valley through which the Mississippi flows The eli
mate h indeed SEVERE but it is healthy the agricultural pro-
duce which will be able to supply will be found to exceed
that Of the rival territory In part Of the American Unisn
has there been rapid advance than in the towns
and districts which lie along the borders of Ontario Erie, HUI
covered Of late years the mineral products Of Lake supe
o and may reason to prefer on many accounts
the route which the ST. Lawrence offers for her products to
the sea- that ccutous path which she may possess by the
rivers falling into the Mississippi In short, if we look at this
matter, treating simply commerca question, il Is i'm
possible suggest for not granting what the American
but look at Il politicians weighing
the Of the proposed concession upon the power
and influence Of both nations the advantage s wholly our
de always supposng that desire peace justice, and the
real happiness Of mankind Our only difficulty imagine
argument sgans the adoption of rational proceeding
Looking back to the past history Of the human race
that its earliest advances in science in art and in cv
ration generally, made upon the shores of inland
advantage with the wonderful territories which present
observations REFER The shores of the Mediterranean do not
,qual in fertility those Of Ontario and Erie, Huron and
Michigan. In the most pslmy days Of Ahenian, Carths
.nisn Venetian commerce. could have exhibited nothing
hat could have been compared with the wonderful life,
mercy, sk and almost miraculous advance which these
American inland already manifest There is still
millions Of human beings live with ease and 10 com
ort and opolence All that s required To spread and
Icite life and fresh yigor throughout this fertile land
give immediate and easy communication with the At
anc, and yet England sulky shuts the door, stands like
ury mssf in the wsy Of the eager raveerderiving no
ene6t from her oppositonaI she does being to
eep waste tracts fitted for the happy homes Of countless
cope, and 70 retard the advance Of her provinces
ghle she places herself obstacle n the path of her
american neighboss.
Aleadywe have expended vast in freeing the Davi
alton Of the St Lawrence from physical difficulties Our
anals, formed by English capital the Atlantic with
)ntsho direct and with the waters above Niagara. If
wish this capital to be productive have only to free
navigation from legal shsckes allow the citizens Of the
United States to purchase tho of locks end canals
nd thus TO e ansud energies Of Canadians by
ibns st their very doors the spectacle Of active and
ntersing race turning advantage al the wonderful
capabilities Of the country they nhabt The foolish doc.
Of an old and eee system ought not TO stand in the
ny Of pfoposal which good and good feeling alike
motion. Diplomatic folly ought not to bc allowed 10
the suRrestions rational and truly benefcent