Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-14
Gov. Chase on River and Harb0r improve
ulents.


GOV. Chase on River and HarbOr Improves
ments.
The srbioined communication was sent to both
branches of the General Assembly, on Thurs
day, by Gov Chase. 1t was accompanied BY
memorial from the Legislature of the State OF
New York, invoking the aid of Congress In the
ppote ,tion of Lake haTbors. Governor Chase
goes further, and appeals to the legislature OF
Ohio to urge upon the attention of Congress
the duty offulflling its solemn pledge that the
navigable waters leading to the Mississippi and
st. Lawrence should be forever free 4" without
any tax, impost or duty therefor" The views
expressed by the Governor are as comPrehen-
sive as Just, and commend themselves to every
friend of western interests Journal
To the General Assembly:
The Governor of New York, in compliance
with the request of the Legislature of that
/ State, has transmitted to me as Governor of one
of the States adjacent to the Lakes or interest
ed in their commerce and navigation, copy OF
a memorial addressed by the Canal Board and
Canal Commissioners of New York, with the
lsanction of the Legislature, to the Congress OF
1.-THE United States, asking for the improvement
lofthe Lake Harbors. One copy only of these
documents having been received, 1t is sent to
the House of Representatives
The subject of this application to the Federal
Congress, is ene in which the people of Ohio
have deep interest, and therefore but fulhh
plain duty while submitting to your consider
alton the memorial and resolutions by which II
lis sustained, in recommending the general OBJ
iect sought to be obtained to your approval ant
, support.
The arguments by which the claim of New
: York to be reimbursed, the sums expended II
the improvement of the harbors OF Buffalo ant
OsweGo are as cogent as the statements By
which the importance of the g;eat lines OF Ca
nal, which receive at these points the vast com
merce of the districts bordering upon the lakes
lis exhibiteI and illustrated. eledr and stI1h
hing. Inc same arguments enforce the duty @
the General Government to improve the harbor
S in which the canals of Ohio unite their water
with those of Lake Erie, and to provide other
wise as fully ard completely for the security o
commerce upon the great lakes as for that
commerce upon the ocean
e In connection with this subject, permit me t
S suggest the expediency or rather the duty 0
:. making an earnest appeal to Congress for tn
: dischsTge of its long neglected duty in respec
to the navigation of the great rivers of the Int
: rior The settlement of the States NorthWes
S ofthe Ohio was made under pledge given b
a CONGRESS in the ordinance of 1877, that tn
navioable waters leading to the Mississippi an
the Saint Lawrence should be ''forever free,
e Dwithout any tax, impost or duty therefor. >
e How this pledge has been regarded may b
# seen in the fact that the General Government
:. instead of removing by proper appropriation
Il from the Federal treasury, the great obstruc
J. itions to the safe and free navigation of tn
If Ohio, created by the Falls at Louisville, becam
corporators in Joint stock company, for tn
construction of canal at that point, by whicl
the navigation of the river for long series Q
St wears has been so heavily taxed that tn
IS amounts paid in tolls by citizens engaged i
/. commerce and navigation, would more than de
It fray the total cost Of the improvements whic
v ouSbt to have been made without ''tax, lmPos
J. or duty;" and yet the navigation is not free.
l. I cannot but think that the General Assem-
It bIv will perform an acceptable service to tn
al people of the State, by uniting with the Legis
Of iature of New York, in an urgent appeal to tn
ID Congress of the United States, in behalf of tn
barbors of the lakes, and not only of these, bu
i of the uayigable rivers, which bear the com
in melce of the vast interior to the latter. and
r the Ocean, . +. OhASE-