The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-02-18
FEBRUARY 1S, 1859.
Gov. Chase on River and Harbor
Imnrovamenta

Improvements,
The srbjoned communication was sent
TO both branches of the General Assem-
bly,, on Thursday, by Gov. Chase, Il
was accompanied by memorial from tho
Legislature Of the State of New York,
invoking the aid Of Congress in The pro-
lection OF Lake barbors. Governor Chase
goes further, and appeals TO the Legsla-
ture OF Ohio to urge upon the attention
Of Congress the duty OF fulfilling lis sol-
emn pledge that the nayigable waters
leading to the Mississippi and st. Law
renee, should be forever free, without
any tax, impost or duty therefor" The
views expressed by the Governor are as
comprehensive as just, and commend
themselves to every friend Of western
interests SLATE journal.
To the General assembly:
The Governor Of New York, in com.
pliance with the request of the Legislature
Of that State, has transpitted to me, as
Governor of one Of th@States adjacent
to the Lakes, or interested in their COM
merce or navigation, a copy Of memo.
rial addressed by the Canal Board and
Canal Commissioners of New York, with
the sanction of the Legislature, 10 the Goa.
gress OF the United States, asking for tho
improvement of the Lake HarbUrs. One
copy Of these documents having teen re-
ceived, it is sent to the House oil Repre-
sentatves.
The subject Of this application to the
Federal Congress, is one in which the
people Of Ohio have have deep interest,
and l therefore but fulfill plain duty
while submitting TO your consideration the
memorial and resolution by which it is su,.
tanned, in recommending the general OBJ
ject sought TO be obtained to your az"
proval and support.
The arguments by which the claim Of
! New York to be reimbursed the sums exs
pended in the improvement Of the harbors
of Buffalo and Oswego, are as cogent as
The statements by which the importance
Of the great lines of Canal, which receive
a: these points the vast commerce of the
districts bordering upon the lakes, is ex-
hibited, are clear and striking. The same
arguments enforce the duty of the General
Government to improve the harbors in
which the canals of Ohio unite their
waters with those of Lake Erie, and to
provide otherwise as fully and completely
lor the security of commerce upon the
great lakes, as Tor that of commerce upon
the ocean.
In connection with this subject, permit
me TO suggest the expedency or rather
the duty of making an earnes: appeal to
Congress for the tischarge:of Of It's long,
neglected duty in regard to the navigation
Iy,C el,, ~, r L., IT,
settlement of the States North Res OF the
Ohio, was made under a pledge given by
Congress in the Ordinance OF 1897, that
, the nayigabe waters leading to tho Mis-
sissippi and the Saint Lawrence, should
be "forever free. without any tax, i'm
post or duty therefor" How this pledge
has been regarded may be seen in the fact
; that the Central Government, instl ad Of
removing by proper appropriations from
the Federal treasury, the great obstiuc-
! tions to the safe and free navigation Of The
Ohio created by the Falls at Louisville,
, became corporators in joint stock COM
pany, for The construction Of a canal al
that point, by which the navigation of the
river, for a long series of years, has been
SO heavily taxed that the amounts paid in
tolls by citizens engaged in commerce and
navigation, would more than defray the
total cost of the improvements which ough
to have been made without tax, imposs
. or duty - and yet the navigation is not
I free.
t cannot but think that the General
, Assembly will perform an acceptable SER
vice TO the people of the State, by uniting
with the Legislature of New York, in an
urgent appea! 10 the Congress of the
United States, in behalf of the harbors
> OF the lakes, and not only of these. but
of the navigable rivers, which bear the
t commerce of the vast interior to the latter
: and to the Ocean. S. p. CHASE.