, 1861-02-28
A Peace Measure In VIII fch Michlgn:l
IL Intere eRted.


A project has been started in Illinois, fer
compelling peace between the South and Il o
Northwest, At least. in which this State, esl'.:-
cia11y, next to Illinois, has large intere~s.
This project is neither more nor less than tur,.-
ing the trade, if not the writers, Of the 1fissi :
sippi River up stream, and compelling it ~
foW through Illinois and Michigan On lis wa
posed to enlarge the Illinois Canal, ccnnecti1, :,
Chicago with the Mississippi River, through
the Fox River Improvement, so that the lar..-
est class Of steamers plying on the Mississippi
can land their cargoes Of cotton, tobacco, rice
and sugar directly On the W1arves OF c icaec,
without transhipment between Memphis aud
the latter piacc.
The effect Of the successful completion Of
this magnificent project is apparent at q
glance. As New FORK and New England arc
the markets for Southern produce in this
country, it Is safe to say that all the cotton ii
Arkansas, Northern Mississippi and Tennessee,
half the sugar Of Louisiana, the tobacco Of
produce OF Northern Te1aa and the adjacent
territories, would be compelled, By the sup>-
r1or cheapness, speed, Eafety and facility If
this route, to pay tribute to Illinois and Mic1:-
Iran In passing incidentally, too, Wisconsin,
Iowa, Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota would l,e
largely benefited By the tide Of commerce
setting northward. There could be direct
commerce between all the Grand River Val1t ;
and the great Mississippi Valley, with ONLY
one transhipment outside Of this State, ard
our lumber, furniture, iron, copper, esls,
wheat, pork and plaster, could be exchanged
directly for southern gold and southern tobae-
co. rice, sugar or cotton.
lnen, In case Of any future and more fer
midable rebellion, let Louisiana secede, if size
could; and all the States North mud West uf
her would be linked to the loyal Northwest
Mlta chain no less strong and enduring than
5hat o. interest Their prosperity, their very
Lie, Wonld be SO bound up With ours, md ours
with them, thatno possible political differences
could tear us asunder.
To be sure, Chicago would oyergrow lis
present large proportions and overshadow, for
time & at least; ne te3sry elty Of onr own or ad-
and, while it could never hope to orsrtaIe
Chicago, it would greatly increase It's present
proportions, and be second only to its Illinois
rival
The influence upon all that part of Michigan
bordering upon Lake Michigan wonld be in.
mense. Our great Wilderness would become,
as If by magic, the sent Of thriving village e
| each with It's pecuIia manufacturing intcrt st
either in wood or ore, for the prairie State ol
the West would all be tributary to us in these
respects; aud only be our rivals in the south
ern marketa in the matter of provisions.
As amatter Of national concern, the measure
can be made Of almost rs much inheritance as
Was the great Pacific Railroad. We believe
with Senator Seward, that the mateIia1 bordi
OF commerce, EaiIroads, and. more especially
| naVaeaole nvefs and canals, connecting differ
ent secnope, aze more reliable and certain ID
hold the Onion together than Ill the constitu.
tions It is possible for men to write.
Nor would such q national work be without
its 5mportan.es des military purposes A.
forever conserving the government and pre
venting rebellion, It would be vastly more
powerful and effective than the most cost1,
! and Formidable chain Of forts and stronghold!
| It Is possible to construct: We hope th,
I friends of the Measurez will 1lReize the adyan
! tage Of the present time to -push forward thi
| Hfeat scheme