Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-03-14
A New Outlet for the Commerce of the
Southwest.

southwest.
| The secession movements in the cotton States
seem likely to be disastrous to the interests of
the South and West in more ways than one
Already the nations Of the Old World are put
ting forth every effort to develop new sources
for the supply of cotton, with prospect of
largely increasing the production. And now
the citizens Of the Wost are seeking new outlets
for the productions of the Mississippi Valley
The railroads connecting with that valley are
doing an immense business, one OF the leading
articles transported being cotton, which has
heretofore found market by the way of New
Orleans. But more economical mode of trans.
portaton to the seaboard is contemplated in
the following petition which is in circulation at
Chicago
To The Senate and House of Representatives. Of
the Uni!od States Of Aaqica m Congress, as
se1Jied, The undersi gned, citizens of the United
States, in view Of the virtual closing Of the
mouth Of the Mississippi river, by people in re-
belion against the authority Of the United
States, aud Of the failure by the General GOV
eminent to execute the laws and protect both
public and private property in territory border
! ing ON said river near IFS mouth Of the unre-
strained and unlawful cWclions threatened, if
not actually levied, upon the vas. commerce Of
the said river, and Others tributary TO it Of tie
serious damage to result 10 the domestic com
merce OF 50 large portion Of the country and
in view Of the wisdom Of rendering the territory
bordering on said river and It's tributaries less
! dependent upon lis natural outlet and believ-
ing that the enormous interests centering upon
the said iiyor and its tributaries should be SO
protected that may not at any time be cndan.
gered and disturbed by large bodies of disloyal
and rcbellious men ,whc, by batteries command
ing said river, or by unlawful exacons upon
the commerce thereof may suddenly bring SER
Gus arrangement il not rain, upon SO large
portion Of the business of the country respect.
fully ask that the channel now existing between
the head Of Lake Michigan and the Illinois river
may be enlarged and made nayigable for steam
boats and other vessels doing business upon the
Mississippi and its branches. Your petitioners
respectfully represent chat the construction Of
such a channel is feasible, that the certain sup
ply Of water flowing from Lake Michigan,
would render it navigable al all times, when 9TH
5 er channels are impeded or suspended by drouth
. that its construction would aid 10 regulate and
5 protect the domestic commerce Of the country,
5 which largely exceeds our foreign commerce
0 that it would aid and promote the public de.
J Tense, and the safety Of the country and final
r ly, that j would furnish transportation to the
Of the vast products Of the great valley OF
the Mississippi and lie tributaries as expeditions
and cheap as by the Gulf Of Mexico OF any 9TH
or route. In view, therefore, Of the general i'm
portance Of the improvement, OF its necessity as
demonstrated within the last few weeks, and Of
the large interests involved your petitioners
pray that you will take prompt action looking
to the early execution Of the improvement.
The channel now existing, which is referred
to above, is the Illinois and Michigan Canal, one
VI NV RlCdlCol thNSl iAiSNc VI taC hiuu III bllt
Western States 1t extends from Chicago to
Peru at the head Of steamboat navigation on tie
Illinois river, distance Of LOG miles. This
canal is now completed and navigablc for canal
boats and we presume there would be no great
difficulty in increasing its capacity. The ronto
to the sea board and to Europe by the way of
! Chicago would then be preferable to the long,
circutous and dangerous route by the way of
New Orleans and the Gulf Of Mexico.
The States of Louisiana and Mississippi by
obstructing the free navigation OF tho Mississip-
pi river, will injure only themselves Such OBJ.
structions encourage movements like this, to d.
vert trade from its present course down the river
: into new pathways across tie lakes and rail
! roads direct to the Eastern States which can
result only in the pecuniary benefit of New
England.
o Coal