The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-01-20

gress, to adopt such measures, and to mako
such appropriations from tho National
as will bo commemorate with the
removal Of tho Instructions Of tho navi-
CATION Of those great highways, and to tho
needed improvement OF thcso important DO
pots of western commerce.
When VIC consider tho magnitude Of tho
region directly Interested in tho navigation
of these rivcrs, and our western lakos, ON
bracing territorial oItont Of nearly 500, 900 |
square miles--a territorial suporfcios |
creator than the entire extent Of tho orig !
inal thirteen States, comprising eleven States
and two territories, and parts Of threc other
States, with population Of at loast thirteen
millions, and but littlo less than ono-half Of
tho ontiro population OF tho United States
wo may we'll express our umazoment at tho
UNIV iso aud illiberal policy of Congress, so
long and pcrscveringy persisted in, of ro-
f1sing tho necessary aid for disarming Of it's
dangers tho navigation Of thoto rivers, and
| for increasing tho safety of our lake harbOrs.
| And our sense of this injustice is not
little heightened, when VIC consider, that tho
people Of the Statos directly interested in
thoso improvements, have paid largely 10
tho Federal Government for the soil which
they occupy and cultivate, and nro now, by
their consumption OF tho foreign imports
contributing quito, If not fully one-half, of
the annual revenues Of tho government,
while tho national expenditures among them
are comparatively triflng. We make no
complaint because OF the bountiful appro-
priations by Congress for surveys and de-
fences of tho coast, for improvement of har-
bors, the erection of light bousos, and tho
various othor purposes, in aid Of tho Oavi
CATION and commerce Of tho ocean but wc
do complain, that whiIo choorfully sustaining
our full proportion of the exp cnditures for
these purposes, for one branch Of the ma
tional wealth and enterprise, a suitable
portion OF the national treasure is not OK
ponded Tor tho protection Of another branch
our Western commorcc-rivaling in ton
mage tho whole foreign commerce of the
United Statcs,its character equally national,
and its protection equally essential to the
common benefit and advantage Of oil the
States.
Tho timo has arrived whom tho West will
no longer consent that her Just demands
upon the Federal government for tho pro-
lection of her great interests, shall be dis.
regarded. Sho is no longer frontier, and
will not patiently 10 treated as such. She
is tho heart of tho Union--the centre OF it's
population, its production and Its consump-
tion. From tho great living fountain Of
her bOundless resources, tho nation is en-
richcd and sustained, and upon them it's
prosperity and powor must always chiefly
depend. Never denying to any section Of
the country its legitimate weight in tho
administration of tho government, the West
will be resolute in the assertion of her rights.
Conscious of her great political power which
will install her in tho control OF the govern.
ment aftor the coming national census, sho
will demand tho Inauguration of that broad,
generous, national policy, for guarding and
promoting the enterprise and industry Of
the country, which while comforting its in
estimabo benefits upon tho people of all the
other States, will secure to her agricultural
and commercial interests, that develop
ment, and those unobstructed and untaIed
outlets to the markets of tho world, which
their necessities imporatvcy require. their
value will abundantly compensate, and the
dignity of tho West demands shall be no
longer postponed.
} Briefly, but in an especial manner, do
regard it as my duty, to urge you to invite
the immediate attention of Congress, to the
Importance of its granting prompt and lib
eral aid for improving and securing the
practical freedom of tho navigation at thC
Falls of the Ohio River.
f Tho necessity of somc moro extended anC
t complete work than the Louisville anc
: Portland Canal, as now constructed, I,
!, choapen and facilitate tho conveyance o
f property around tho Falls, Is recognized b,
f every person familiar with the navigation
: trado of tho Ohio River. Owing to the in
Q sufficicncy Of tho construction of that work
and the contracted size of its locks, it is Us
timatcd, that moro than ono half of all th
t tonnage of the Ohio and Mississippi river
is prevented from passing through tho canal
Tho practical effect is, to destroy the unit,
of tho Ohio River as n great channel o
commerce, by dividing it at tho Falls, anC
so making tho portion above, a tributary /,
D the portion below them. Tho conseQuen
, injustice and heavy pecuniary loss to ever,
branch Of industry abovo the falls, are tot
obvious to need argument. Nor does on,
other interest, or any Other section of thl
country derive any benefit from these re
sults. The serious delay from the obstruc
ton to tho transportation Of the millions o.
property that annually pass through III,
, canal, with tho excessive tolls imposed upoI
, it, inflict most gricvous and unreasonable
tax upon tho industry and enterprise, cvery.
where, that contribute, in any way in making
up tho commerce OF the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers.
Tho subject, therefore, is not of nero local
but of the highest national import.
Tho canal being virtually owned by the
United States, although nominally the prop
erty of a private corporation, prevents any
improvement of il without her consent, and
renders State legislation powerless for re
lief.
cannot but express the hope, that thi
important subject may receive tho early ant
favorable attention CT the Legislatures o
tho several States bordering upon tho Ohit
River, and Of tho other States interested il
its navigation, and that they will unite will
tho Legislature of this State, in urginI
prompt and liberal appropriations by Con
gross, for the construction of such improve
ments around the Falls, as will be bes
adapted TO the present and future wants o
Western Commerce.
Firmly loyal to the Union of the States
reverencing il as the precious legacy from
: the Fathers of the owledgin
/ their obligations as sacred to maintain il
integrity, and secure to the people of ever,
section of the COnfedoracy the blessings i
/ was intended 10 confer; 10 dofond the Con
r stitution, which is its boDd, and to faithful
: observe oil of its limitations and authorities
tho people of Ohio accord TO the citizens o
the other States, all tho political and socia
} rights which they claim for themselves. al,
{ as thoy would promptly and rosolutely rosis
r any attompt by force, unlawful combination
aN