The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-12

Times, referring to the navigation OF the St.
Lawrence, says:
"The opening of the ST. Lawrence has, ever
since the peace of Client, been urged upon the
British government by that Of the United States as
measure of justice and policy. 1t formed one of
the principal subjects of Mr.. Galatians mission in
1926, when protocols exchanged between that
gentleman and Mr.. Husksson ON the subject, but
without effect even under the administration OF
that liberal statesman At the present time, how
ever, when the abolition Of commercial restrictions
is become the basis OF the policy of this country,
when we look for the progress of our own wealth
and activity by the concurrent progress of the
wealth and activity of our customers and COMPETE
tors, and even when our colonial trade is open to
all nations, the ground of former refusal is
swept away The St. Lawrence forms the boun-
Diary line of the territories of Britain and of the
United States in nearly half its prodgious course.
II connects the vast chain of the lake inland
of the North American continent; it is, in fact,
the highway of the north Beyond all doubt, to
open that highway to the navigation of the United
States, under certain conditions and tolls, is to
confer equal benefit on the Canadian subjects of
the British crown and on their neghbors; but we
may justly require that if this concession be made
it will be made in liberal spirit, the markets of
the United States be opened to Canadian produce.
We trust that condition will be accepted, and VIC
have doubt these changes will powerfully con-
tribute to promote the prosperity of Canada and,
with returning prosperity, to strengthen its loyalty
to the British crown"
The Government of the United States has
always contended that il had a fair claim I'M
der the laws of nations, to the free navigation
of the St. Lawrence; but for the last twenty
years-indeed, ever since the Erie canal came
into successful use-our Government has not
shown any great urgency in pressing the claim.
Ii the great canal, opening an outlet for the
vast productive region bordering upon the
lakes, had never been constructed if there
had been insuperable obstacles in the way
of its construction in such case the right
OF navigation on the ST. Lawrence, since that
river would have furnished the only means
of access TO the ocean for the whole lake coun-
try, would have been so essential to the States
right would have been peremptorily insisted
upon. The growth of population, and of pro
duction throughout western New York, north
ern Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and all
that fertile country stretching on towards Lake
Superior, would have required before now the
free use of the channel of the St. Lawrence, if
no other avenue of communication with the At
lantic could have been opened.
The necessary facilities of transit between
the lakes and the ocean have been 50 well fur
nished by the Erie canal-facilities which will
be still further improved by the enlargement of
that great work now going forward to compile
ton-that no serious inconvenience, we believe,
has been complained of by our people on the
lakes on account of the exclusive possession by
the British Government of the right TO navigate
the ST. Lawrence. New York is much bet
ter market than Quebec, and possesses many
more advantages as seaport at all seasons.
The main advantage which has been claimed
for the use of the 81. Lawrence, in connexion
with the Canadian canal Improvements, is that
vessels taking in cargoes at any of our lake
ports might go 10 sea and return without the
necessity Of transhipments, and that thus di-
rect trade might be established between the
lake country and the ports of Europe The
following statement from the Buffalo CONNER
ciaI advertiser, a highly respectable journal and
likely to be well acquainted with the facts in
the case, is pertinent to this point;
"Thc largest class of vessels upon the lakes, if
they can descend the rapids of the St. Lawrence,
(Which VIC doubt, but will not deny, } cannot ascend
them, nor pass the locks around them, so that, at
best, while they might get to, they could never re-
turn from, the Atlantic. Small propellers and sail
vessels, by using the Canadian canals, might dc.
sccnd and ascend, but how could commerce with
Europe, or India, or South America, be profitable
in thcm' Does Canada now get her tea and the
products of the Indies, whether East or West,
through the st. Lawrence, or by New York,
through the Hudson river, the Erie canal, and
lakes,
at is true that small vessels may axe long voy.
ages, for we remember hearing that, at an carly
day. Albany sloop went TO China and came
back, but doubt whether the venture was a mo.
ncy making one, unless she took out full cargo of
ginseng, and brought back much silver as she
could carry. We have not heard that this great
highway has been made available for ocean com
merce by our Canadian neighbors, and we do them
great injustice when we deny them commercial
shrewdncss or lively enterprise. We believe that
Toronto does not trade direct with England or Cal.
cutta, and we have not seen announced as yet the
arrival at Port Sarnia, or Penetanquisbine, either
Of three-decker or n brigantne from Liverpool or
Havre. III our lakes should be ovcrstocke with
vessels, the St. Lawrence may prove a convenient
channel through which we get rid of some small
fry by sending them for sale our scaboard 70 be
used there upon bays and rivers; but il will
require more promising calculation than can
frame at present 10 justify citizens in cngsg-
ing in the business Of building coasters for the At
lantic.
"a glance at the map, one would think, would
suffice TO dispcl all hope Of making the st. Law
renee extremely useful to our commerce. We may
put down Lake Eric as in latitude 42o, Lake Onta-
rio in 4lo Quebec in 40, and the gulf in 49o Here
then have a difference Of from five to seven de-
grces OF latitude to overcome in proposed mi
gratons, TO say nothing Of the distance before VIC
reach point Of departure. Then If we wish to
trade with "Ormus and with Ind" we must creep
along the foggy gulf and IL VIC would reach Maine,
and pick up business along the coast Of the United
states, we must circumnavigate New Brunswick
and Nova Scotia. In that case, too, we must form
new commercial connexions, and each schooner
must turn polygamist and have two husbands at