Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-01-05
burlington Breakwatcr.

We commend to our readers notice the
pertinent and forcible remarks of Senator
Foor, on introducing bill to make an appro-
priation to complete the Breakwatcr in Bur-
hngton Bay, There is every good reason why
that work should be carried properly through,
and not solitary one against it., of any
weight.
Mr. Foot, in pursuance Of previous notice,
asked and obtained leave to introduce bill
making an appropriation for the continuation
Of the Breakwater in the llarbor Of Burlng-
ton, on Lake Champaign.
| lie said II pove the reference Of the bill
/ to the Committee on Commerce, and will take
! occasion to say to the members who compose
/ that committee, and are here present, that
the appropriation sought by it is the same in
amount as that contained in the River and
llarbor bill of the iast session for this object
which Till fell under the Executive veto.
will take occasion to say further that the APP
preparation sought by this bill is not open to
the constitutional objections raised to some
of the provisions embraced in that river and
harbor bill, and on account of which. doubt
less, that bill failed to receive the Executive
approval The object for which this little
Appropriation is sought, is not merely of q
local and limited character, as for some small
and comparatively unimportant lake or river
exclusively within the limits and jurisdiction
OF single State. On the contrary, it Is one
prominently of national charactcr-it j,
for the protection Of enc of the principal
harbors u7on the great water communication
between the States and the Lower PROVING,
of Canada-thc great thoroug hfarc, indeed
between the cities Of New York and Mon
treal, and width floats a commerce of mt leas
forty millions a year.
This lake, to the extent of 100 miles, lie
between the States Of Vermont and New
, York. and extends some 80 miles into tn
British Province Of Canada
In the possible event Of hostilitics agaiI
arising between our country and that .
, Great Britain, Lake Champlain must ineyta
, bly, again become the theatre of naval con
lllcts between the two countries, as in 1873
( when the gallant McDonough achieved urol
; its waters ono of the prcudest naval triumph
J OF that war. The very position Of the lake
lying upon the borders Of and connecting
| the two counties, as it does, gives it char
T. acter Of peculiar national importance,
s Aside, therefore, from all mere CONNER
e cial considerations, which must be concede
to be OF vast Importance. and having refer
r cnce only to the national defence ana safety
c the same considerations which require tn
II improvement of your harbors upon the sea
. coast, with reference to the safety and ii,
fence OF your Navy, apply with equal fore
to the improvement vi your harUUrs wit
n reference to the safety ana protection of YOU
n naval forces upon this and upon the utht
J. frontier lakes of the country, and give [
these works most emphatically the cnuract,
: of nationality. The government has alread
n expended some so 900 or $50 900 upon tn
V work named in the bill. The work rcm.ir
= in AN unfinished state. The harbur is ms,
cure without the completion OF it. We onl
l. ask the government to complete what it ia
/ already begun, and Of the importanee
which it has already given a practical reco,
l. milton We ask it not for the beneftof son
in local interest-not merely for the benefit of
l. local commerce we ask it for national int
csts, and for the national securiw. If I
n other argument is available, we ask it {,
the same reason, and upon the sane ccnsid,
rations, that we have erected fortifcations
- Rou.e's Point on this lake, near .hc dividir
line between the two governments If al
~ constitutional scruples forbid this appropri
m ton for the peaceful purposes OF cOmmerc
n then let it be done under the power author
10 zing you to prepare for the exigencies
- war.
Vi But without entering upon the discuss,
4. Of the questions involved, | commend the )
$ to the favorable consideration of the Coz
nj mittee on Commerce, who, | believe, hd
already taken in charge applications of
III similar character
y The motion to refer was agreed to-