The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-24
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
THURSDAY. JULY 70, 1852.

sAULr ST. MARY's.

The Senate having under consideration irf commit
lee of The whole the bill granting TO the Stale Of Mich
igan the right OF way and donation OF public lands
for the construction OF shpcana around the falls OF
ST. Mary's. in sad State,
Mr. FELCH novel 10 amend by striking out all after
The enacling clause and substituting bill for the con
srocon Of the canal by the government, published
yesterday. 'S. Nf
Mr.. CASS said Mr.. President, desire 10 say a few
words The subject Of this bill and will deain the
Senate but little while, for believe is pretty well
dersood The Senate aware Of the relative position
OF the great lakes OF continents; that they constitute
three plaeaus; the principal one-Lake SupeIiorhaving
an elevation OF six hundred feet above The The
second plateau including Lakes Ene. Huron. and Mchi-
gaRl call them for, though they are not strictly
aevs yet there is pei manen water communication be-
tween them---and Lake Ontario. Between the last and
Lake Erie there is difference OF about three hundred and
nifty feet That Is now overcome BY the Weland canal
work constructed on the British side. by the British
government, by means of which The upper and lower
lakes except Lake Superior, in uncation,
the purpose Of navigation Between the middle pa-
teau and Lake Superior are tails OF about thirty or per-
haps ihirtyh feet including the rapids leaving, how
ever the fall of ST. Mary We desire 10 overcome. by
this communication, the falls OF about thirty feet The
consequence of this want OF communication that be-
tween Lake Superior and Lake Huron there is transit
the land All articles going up aud down must be
unladen. The communication must STOP and different
class OF vessels must be provided Tor the upper lake
II is, as the Senate may well see very great Interrupt
on and very great expense to the navigation that the
business OF the upper and lower lakes have 10 encounter
Here is extent OF water OF nearly fifteen hundred
miles, and coast OF nearly live thousand miles, incul
ing these five great lakes, covering supercie OF nearly
eighty thousand miles one Of the most magnificent re-
ginning to be well acquainted Until lately it sup
posed that the land not worth anything 1t is
ascertaDed that il affords valuable of agricul-
ure besides being Of the richest mineral districts in
the world. | presume all the members OF the Senate
have looked over Whitney & Fosters report From il
they will that the copper and iron are lnexhausibe
treasures, enough 10 supply the whole world Copper ID
found there in native in prodigious szes
known everywhere else and the iron : found in such
Ea~o IaIaat n,l
is enough OF it 10 supply The whole world. The iron
alone a mineral treasure for any country and what
will perhaps surprise gentlemen, bal will be verI
fed by referring 10 that report and many senators know
il also-the iron perhaps richer than any other In the
world ton and halt OF ore giving ton Of bloom
iron. Il is among the richest mineral treasures we have
That region is growing 10 be vastly important The
Uaed States upon il, have ascerlained from the
land office, twenty millions OF OF land, and the
muncation between which and the ocean must be by
Lake Superior They own IN the upper peninsula OF
Michigan millions Of acres of which have been sold
short of two hundred thousand acres and been granted
for school purposes short OF three hundred thousand
acres, leaving within that upper peninsula, the prop
ery OF the United States, among The richest mineral DIS
tricts in The world. nearly ten millions OF acres
Now, Mr.. President, no gentleman here will deny the
expedency, almost the necessity. OF having canal, 10
these advantages for distance Of only three
qustes of miie and fa of only enty. five feet As
any constitutional difficulty, there is whatever.
Every foot OF this proposed canal il to be the public
lands. The United States have nothing 10 do but dig
the canal through their land, without asking the
permission OF anybody-witboui interfering with or in.
enupng the State government in any respecI whae
and the work is done. Now, sir, TO improving the
value OF our swn lands, there in the world,
owning the district and owning the region above, but
would consider good speculation to conslruca work OF
this nature with view 10 enhance the value OF his
properly. But there other and still important
considerations which should influence this matter
In military point of view, there can be nothing more
important for this country, looking 10 the future Than
the construction OF such canal In the event OF diff
fcuy with Great Britain the first thing we should have
10 do would be 10 construct military marine upon the
three middle lakes, and another upon Lake Superior
You cannot carry your marine from one lake into
another but il this canal were constructed, the marine
which you have upon the middle lakes would
the purpose upon all II felt during the Ore
gon difficulty At the time we feared a rupture with
England, Mr. Polk's administration 10 my own knowl-
edge the point OF proposing to Congress TO con
slruct the canal with this view and only prevented
iron taking hat measure by an amcable adjustment OF
the difficulties then pending with the British government
rendering the work unnecessary.
The Senate will perceive at once the bearing OF this
subject upon our military operations hereafter. Lake
Superior is too important TO be neglected IL Will be as
important in few years the coast oil any other lake
and the difficulties with England which may come-as
difficulties may between all countries, and which
prudent ought 10 foresee-wll compel us to build
marine there one single ship OF which would build the
canal which we now ask, and enable transport the
marine up and down, backwards and forwards, may
be wanted on the middle or upper lakes. As a mere
of military pecautoD, therefore, II is worth
more than all IL will cost You must have military
marine there also--you must have the whole expense
all the lakes, when one would answer equally for
AS an important matter of commerce. matter OF ex
pediency connected with the navigation and business OF
the country, lew be more important There
are lew gentlemen who are aware OF the importance OF
the navigation on The lakes. Our commerce is
less than $500 100000 upon them. and navigation
very little, II any, less than 100000 tons However
startling these amounts may be- yet the tables submitted
the Senate will show the fact There is OF
commerce well worth the fostering care OF the govern
ment, far we exercise il within our consltu.
tional limits.
lew years ago the State OF Michigan passed law
made the necessary arrangements and going OF
itself to buiId this canal; but II prevented, very
fooshly very unwisey, without any just motive. my
opinion. BY the general government. IRON doing IT, am
now authorized 10 say that you will give permission 10
company of individuals 10 make that canal through
your land they will do II without asking cent from the
government Bu, this the government does not want
The State government does not want II The country
upon the upper lakes does not want They do not want
TO pay the heavy tolls necessary II u Is held as matter
OF profit in the hands Of individuals sun further let
tell you that ascertain from The last paner received
om Lake Superior that party are now on the opposite
side of The Ssult by order OF the Canadian government,
with view the construction OF that canal. as they
have constructed the Weland canal around the Falls OF
Niagara. That would not answer our purpose at all
what we want is canal OF our own within our owe
territory to the necessary purposes required both
~ peace and IN The President OF the United States
IN bs message think Of the session before the last on
review OF the whole subject, expressly recommended his
measure 70 The consideration and favorable actlon OF
Congress lie had seen its important bearing upon lhe
upper country, with view not only TO their interests
but TO The interests Of the whole United States. and
he recommended TO Congress TO pass law with that