The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-03

80 T- slsa - a. -
souIv ledso of rocks the river at s. Marys the
PROPAGATION = to the canal around it's That will an
swcs tbs spsspsas, r4ahAt saasl 30 aAssa enough
wheeler ws hss4 sail .ssssslA az NsaR xsAssss The
making the work. cap RvqSl psSp The
Sc "a s iEsS ss "a Az sas'ss. *
s ssss s.ss ii ne % m he
era depOsca upon Lake Superior, being immense
g09 Of native copper ore, viii doubt render this canal
NGy valuable 40 the whole United States. well TO
thAAate M Michigan. i donot think should meas.
giant which weare to make by the proceeds that
1AtNAe derived Ss0m the sale Of the public lands but
higher AID more remote considerations should
plnQ the consideration OF 1.-THE settlement OF the
ny ~ ue 10 be derived from the country when
~Ssiesecupied by wealthy industrial population. which
far more advantage TO the treasury Of the Uni
~ States than that derived from the sale of the lands
ilhis il now perhaps the most exposed point upon our
frontier border upon Canada running up to that portion
Of conntry which, being unsettled, would furnish the
ain, upon the frontier OF North Canada and our principal
positions upon the mississippi, which of much value
70 the country is . flat country, with light porages,
and for that reason we should have the of throw
ing the two forces into one rapidly any time may be
required for proper defence should myself prefer the
thorough cut, IN order that may reduce the level of
Lake Superior, and drain that immense region OF country
now upon Pigeon river and Rainy lake, which think
ofdcars above the cost Of the canal thus made. Leav
ng Inst point out OF consideration, merely wish to state
thnts toe the purpose OF national defence aOne should
vot tor this canal and for the money necessary to build
H. In that view together with the other, that the
haneement OF the value OF the public lands will be ct
fsctsd BY it, shall cheerfully vote for the BILL il the
grant 10 restricted to the country affected by it, As now
stands, the land 10 be selected anywhere in Michigan
Hit !. confined to Lake Superior or that land district,
should cheerully vote for it. make the suggestion to
MIR. SMITH Mr.. President / am decidedly in favor
Of this grant. regard the proposed work as truly ma
t0na My opinion Is that ought to be undertaken and
prosecuted by the general government But there
very little prospect OF that the next best thing that
be done. in favor Of encouraging the State OF Michi
gan TO undertake and to complete this most important
work Il 10 not, Mr. President work that to be entered
into and prosecuted and contaminated for the benefit OF
the people OF the State OF Michigan II so happens Mr.
President that the location of this canal within the Dor
ders Of that State; but the people of Michigan no
mora interested in the subject than the people OF the
several other States bordering upon northern lakes
There no less than States besides the State of
Michiganthe States Of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York-which have ports
upon those northern lakes and the shipping of every
Of them will have occasion TO resort to this canal for the
purpose Of taking advantage Of the which may
apTing up on Lake Superior believe that the port OF
Buffalo will derive more benefit from the completion of
this work than the whole OF the State of Michigan taken
together aside from the benefit Of the people that may
sss in the upper peninsula of that State in
OF opening this navigation.
utn addition to this, most fully in the sugges
ton made by my honorable friend from Mississippi, Mr.
vu, that this il work of the very highest importance
II military point OF view. ! would not only build
n for the purpose 6 the defence Of the country around
d,
anil around the falls Of Niagara river for the very same
reason for in the event OF between and Great
BssAn, the British government would derive immense
tween Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and it would be
cesay Tor US to maintain nearly double the orcethat
force equal each lake to theirs upon bohto have
military marine equal upon each TO that which Great
Britain could have upon both lakes taken together By
OF that canal she her entire force
either lake the other This should be upderta
ken exactly upon the principles upon which would
build fort upon any portion OF frontier n addition
tothis, think this Improvement hardly deserves TO be
called canal. 1t is improvement upon the river
You construct it upon the banks OF the and
then Il becomes mere improvement OF the river. We
make appropriations every year 10 improve our rivers,
and particularly to improve the Mississippi and Ohio
nyefs
a Many years ago the United States invested very
considerable amount Of stock the Louisville canal
mistake not in order to have canal around the falls
in the Ohio river consider this river Improvement
We have nothing to do with the policy OF constructing
long line OF canal State for the benefit of the
people of the State and for the benefit of several
Stasss this particular For military reasons,
ALSO there are considerations OF the highest Importance
my humble Judgment; and II could lay aside this
b, and could make appropriation OF hall million or
million OF dollars for the OF this canal by the
government OF the United States think II would be alto
altogether better TO do IL but have not made any
appropriation OF that character recently, and probably
shall not during the present session OF Congress- the
very next best Thing TO be DONE in favor OF
couiayng the Stale OF Michigan in the undertaking OF
the work. II is work not merely for the benefit OF
il MOI Of the whole OF the States of the Union. ] am
II all concerned that New England will not derive all
the benefit which her people can desire from the con-
summation OF such work this IN the promotion OF the
general prosperity OF the country supported the old
policy OF the distribution OF the avas OF the public lands
among the different States, ADD wish IT could be en-
ssrtainsd now. But il is by gone policy, and no man
supposes that be carried through the Two houses OF
Congress n the present day What remains to be DONE
therefore, in my judgment il not 10 give away the public
lands TO individuals, proposed BY sonei am not IN
favor Of that-bui to appropriate them Tor every purpose
oil interna improvements care not what II is-ether
railroad canal The Improvement OF rivers. lakes,
and harbors For every such proposition shall always
1--WE my There has been proposition submitted
70 this Senate which deem TO be OF anything like the
importance oil this before II will in
crease line OF communication by water, as stated BY
the honorable senator from Michigan, something like
900 niss. and thereby extend an accommodation TO a
military work. and improve the resources oil the country
will not into any miserable calculations whether
ny State will will be benefited TO the extent that
the State OF Mchganis TO be benefited by this work.
do not suppose New England will derive all the benefits
which those States bordering upon the lakes will derye
bet psovaon will be made for the defence OF the country
- work that ought to nave been undertaken long
sincs.
Ny friend from Massachusetts says will not increase
in his Judgment, the value of the public lands think
il will. But that Is not consideration which de-
nfs TO dwell. Suffice ], to say that IL WILL in my opin-
loo, have The effect to bring up the value Of the public
u Is an You cannot ge, penny for them now !;
bat u this canal is opened they viii be bought up and
there will Be poured upon the southern shore OF Lake SUI
pegiox IN immense population. In addition to the six
States have mentioned deriving more immediate ben
eft from this work, there will he the Territory OF Mime