The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-18

the common benefit and advantage OF all the
States.
The time has arrived when the West will
no longer consent that her just demands
upon the Federal Government for the pro
lection of her great interests shall be dsre
garded. She is no longer; 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-
tion. From the great living fountain OF her
boundless resources, the nation ia enriched
and sustained, and upon them it's prosperity
and power must always chiefly depend. New.
er denying to any section of the country its
! legitimate weight in the administration of
the government, the West will be resoute
/ 10 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 census, she will demand
7 the Inauguration Of that broad, generous,
: national policy for guarding and promoting
C the enterprise and Industry of the country
e which, while conferring its inestimable ben.
}, efts upon the people of oil the other States,
= will secure to the agricultural and CONNER.
cial interests and development those unob-
} structed and untsx d outlets to the markets
3 OF the world Which their necessities imper-
g ptiveIy require, their value will abundanty
compensate, and the dignity of the West
e demands shall be no longer postponed
e Bri fly, bat in an especial manner, do |
e regard it as my duty, to urge you to invite
j. the immediate atte ntion Of Congress to the
II importance of its granting prompt and ibe-
y raj aid for improving and securing the prac-
q tical freedom Of the navigation at the Falls
l. Of the Ohio River.
e The necessity Of some more extended and
e complete work than the Louisville and Port.
+ land Canal, as now constructed to cheaper
10 and facilitate the conveyance of property
= around the Falls, is recognized by every
le person familiar with the navigation ane
trade o! the Ohio River. Owing to the in
l. suficiency Of the construction OF that work
i and the contracted size OF it's locks it is esti
l. mated that more than one half OF all lht
tonnage Of the Ohio and Mississippi river
ct is prevented from passing through the canal
h. The practical effect is, to destroy the unit,
N OF the Ohio River as great channel o
G. commerce. by dividing it at the Falls, on
m, so making the portion above tributary I
a. the portion below them The consequer
he injustice and heavy pecuniary loss 10 ever
I'm branch OF industry above the falls are to
be obvious to need argument. Nor does an
an other interest, or any other section Of tn
Ike country derive any benefit from these result
OF The serious delay from the obstruction
he the transportation Of the millions Of prof.
of erty that annually pass throug the cana
he with the excessive tolls imposed up,n
h inflict q most grievous and unreasonab
us tax upon the industry ard enterprise ever,
where, that contribute, in any way, in IN
ate king up the com nerce of the Ohio ar
he Mississippi rivers.
ay The subject, therefore, is not Of mere
hIy cal, but Of the highest national import.
- The canal being virtually owned by II
CT United States, although nominally the pro
me erty Of private corporation, prevents al
OF improvement VI it without her consent, al
Fo' renders State legislation powerless for reli'
'ho l cannot but express the hope, that II
important subject may receive the early q
ant favorable attention Of the Legislatures
re- the several States bordering upon the u
on R yer, and OF the other States interested
AXE its navigation, and that they will unite wi
eas- the Legisl ture of this State in urgi
wal prompt and liberal appropriations by Co
ese gress, Tor the construction of such iMpro'
we ments around the Falls, as will be b.
ern adapted to the present end future wants
Western commerce.
the Firmly loyal to the Union OF the S;a
ion -reverencing it as the precious legacy FRI
en-. the Fathers of the epublic-acknowle
600 ing their obligations as sacred to mainti
atpr its integrity, and secure to the people OF I
hr cry section of the Confederacy the blessin
and il was intended to confer, to defend the CO
her stituton W hich is its bond, and to faithful
cen observe all Of its limitations and authoriti
T OF the people of Ohio, accord to the citize
ties of the other States, all the political and
t at cial rights which they claim for the
ess, selves, and as they would promptly and re-
. OF lutely resist any attempt by force, unlaw
> ol combination or otherwise, to disturb the {
ers. ioyment Of their social rights or impe
axe their social securities, so do they deprec
and unreservedy condemn, any movem'
1t or purpose, to invade the rights or to j
the pard the peace Of the citizens Of any oil
in State.
the But the Union is threatened, and the G.
hey sti,ution is assailed in the very citadel OF
, by life-the right Of the majority of the peo
,rt., of the United States to control the COVE
!, O. ment being denied and efforts are not we
ent, ing to defeat the great purpose of the g
hem ernment, to extend and perpetuate
no right of freedom, by degrading the Un
pro. and the Constitution into instruments for
fen pagation Of human slavery.
t OF On the subject OF slavery the people
the this State occupy no equivocal position
iga' They reject the modern dogma, that slav