Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-01-13


and make such appropriations from the Ma
tional Treasury, ms will be commensurate to
the removal Of tho distractions TO the navi-
cation Of these great highways, and to the
needed improvement Of these important de-
pots, Of western commerce.
When VIC consider the magnitude Of the
region directly interested in the navigation
of these rivers, and our western lakes, EN-
bracing territorial extent of nearly 500,-
600 square miles--a territorial superfcies
greater than tho entire extent Of the origin
al thirteen States, comprising eleven States
and two Territories, and parts of three 9TH
or States, with a population Of at least
thirteen millions, and but little less than
one-half of the entire population of the Uni
ted States-we may well express our
amazement at the unwise and illiberal pol
icy of Congress, so long and perseveringly
persisted in, of refusing the necessary aid
for disarming of its dangers the navigation
of these rivers, and for increasing the safety
of our Lake harbors.
And our sense of this injustice is not a
little heightened, when we consider that
the people of the States directly interested
in the Improvements, have paid largely tc
the Federal Government for the soil which
they occupy and cultivate, and are now, by
their consumption Of the foreign imports
contributing quite, il not fully one-half, oi
the annual revenues of the Government
while the national expenditures among
them are comparatively trifling. We make
no complaint because of the bountiful ap.
preparations by Congress for surveys and
defences of the coast, for the improvement
of harbors, the erection of lighthouses, and
the various other purposes of the navigation
and commerce of the ocean; but we do com.
plain, that while cheerfulv sustaining our
full proportion Of the expenditures for these
purposes, for the benefit of one branch oi
the national wealth and enterprise, suita.
ble portion of the national treasure is not
expended for the protection of another
branch--our Western ommerce-rivalinp
in tonnage the whole foreign commerce Of
the United States, its character equally ma
tional, and its protection equally essential
to the common benefit and advantage of all
the States.
The time has arrived when the West will
no longer consent that her just demands up
on the Federal Government for the protec-
ton Of her great interests shall be disre-
garded. She is no longer a frontier, and
will no longer be treated as such. She is
the heart Of the Union, the center of its
population, its production, and its consump-
ton. From the great living fountain Of
her boundless resources, the nation is en-
riched and sustained, and upon them its
prosperity and power must always chiefly
depend. Never denying to any section OF
the country, its legitimate weight in the ad-
ministration of the government, the West
will be resolute in the assertion of her right.
Conscious of her great political power,
which will install her in the control of the
government, after the coming national CEN
sus, she will demand the Inauguration of
that broad, generous, national policy for
guarding and promoting the enterprise and
industry of the country, which, while con-
ferring its inestimable benefits upon the
people of oil the other States, will secure
to the agricultural and commercial interests
and development those unobstructed and
untaxed outlets to the markets of the world
which their necessities imperatively require,
their value willabundantly compensate, and
the dignity of the West demands shall be
no longer postponed.
Briefly, but in an especial manner, do l
rgard it as my duty, to urge you to invite
the immediate attention of Congress, to
the Importance of its granting prompt and
liberal aid for improving and securing the
the practical freedom of the navigation at
the Falls of the Ohio River.
The necessity of some more extended
and complete work than the Louisville and
Portland Canal as now constructed to
cheaper and facilitate the conveyance of
property around tho Falls, is recognized by
every person familiar with the navigation
and trade of the Ohio River. Owing to
the insuficiency of the construction Of that
work, and the contracted size of its locks, It
is estimated that more than one half of all
the tonnage of the Ohio and Mississippi riy-
is prevented from passing through the canal.
The practical effect is, to destroy the unity
Of the Ohio River as a great channel of
commerce, by dividing it at the Falls, and
so making the portion above tributary to
the portion below them. The consequent
injustice and heavy pecuniary loss to every
branch of industry above the falls arc too
obvious to need argument. Nor does any
other interest, or any other section of the
country derive any benefit from these re-
suits. The serious delay from the obstuc-
tion to the transportation of the millions Of
property that annually pass through the ca
nal, with the excessive tolls imposed upon
it, inhict most grievous and unreasonable
tax upon the industry and enterprise every
where, that contribute, in any way, in ma
king up the commerce of the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers.
The subject, therefore, is not of mere To-
cal, but of the highest national import.
The canal being virtually owned by tho
United States, although nominaly the pro-
perty Of private corporation, prevents any
improvement of it without her consent and
renders State legislation powerless forrelief.
l cannot but express the hope, that this
important subject may receive the early and
favorable attention Of the Legislatures Of the
several States bordering upon the Ohio Ri
yer, and ofthe other States interested in its
navigation, and that they will unite with
the Legislature Of this State in urging