New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-05
LETTER FROM UNION PRISONER IN
CHARLESTON.
The following letter has been received from one Of
the Union prisoners in Charleston:

Inc following letter Dds Deen received from Que vi
the Union prisoners in Charleston:
CBARIEsToy JAN, Nov. 10 1861.
MY DEAR ARCHIE: have Just recovered from Il
severe attack of fever but am now, thank God az
well as ever. We are in the Jail in this city. We
expect Congress 10 do something for Us this WIN
ter, and wish you would see all the Congressman
YOU know and tell them that we expect them 10 do
something for US. We are very destitute of clothing
an3 money. The men are all plucky, and we would
rather stay here years than LEI up one atom, or
even take the oath for them. We are still for the
Union now, and the Union forever. Write 10 me
as often you can, if you think there IL any pros
pect of NV getting it. Ihave nothing Of any interest
10 write OF, so conclude by sending my waITgest
love to you and Mary, and my mother. God bless
"" ans ALEX. MACARTHUR.
THE JUST CLAIMS OF THE NORTHWEST.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN
| ARNOLD TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
NAVAL prPor AT cmcAGo-FoRTirYISG STRAITS
| OF ACCOMMODATIONS ILLINOIS CANAL.
| WASH SGToS. Nov. 30 lc6l.
| SIR: In pursuance of your request, make some
suggestions in regard TO what deem the just cains
of the Northwest to the consideration of tie Gov
ernment. / urge these claims upon your attention
the more earnestly, and with the greater confidence
of success, because for years past the Nortb-We
|
States controlled tie policy Of the Administration. IN
the interest Of Slavery the most lavish expenditures
were made from the national treasury Oh the South
| atlantic and Gnlf of Mexico. During this lime Inc
granarv of the Union--ttat section which is today
furnishing the immense exports which are gong
abroad to feed The worh-tbis great agricultural
section has been i,ealeeted, Immense appropriations
for defense, Notifications harOC.- cuF'0H'HVuseS'
naval stOres, naval deIots, sbips-owar, &c., have
been lavisbly devoted to sections where commerce
could not by possibility be nourished and stimulated
into healthy activity.
The eefos Of small arms IN the traitor States, the
immense collection Of ordnance, military and
naval stores gathered at Norfolk ard othe: places
have been the vast magazines from which The rebel
lion has drawn is supplies.
| While this condition Of things was in preparation
the North-West has gone forward, and by tie energy
and enterprise inspired by free labor, ha reclaimed
the prairie subdued the forest, and produced the
vast agricultural products which, in value to-day,
greatly exceed the entire foreign commerce Of the
SaioD. Millions are very properly expended annu-
| ally in protecting and fostering the foreign com.
merce Of the nation. The expense TO the national
treasury OF the trace the great lakes Is
merely nominal; few lighthouses, and single
rcUesue cut1er armed 1rdh a Siaete gun
This policy, this injustice has been suffered too
| long. The groUHciGi h0f0ry II tie A0Ttt- Wcst
| terminated rtth the census ~ 1860.
| From henceiorth ask her recognition as tue
I
and generous devotion to the Uuion has been evnced
in placing her all OF men and means at the disposal
OF the Government. she has to-day more than
go 600 men in the field, aud she bias 250OOO more
ready &c respond TO the caH Of the Government.
! SLeNsks no exttavagant expenditures. obe empty
! ask reeoeuiioE-sbe asks that Ter vast commerce.
Which ponis it enormous wealth into Eastern niTts
sball be Recognized one of the great objects Of
governmental considerations. She asAs Earbofs and
facilities for reaching the ,eaboard. She asks for an
! armory BY wlcn her gallant soldiers may he cup
| Piled with arms.
4 line drawn north and south through rittsburg,
will show majority OF the loyal people OF he Union
west Of that line. Yet tits vaht country, furnishing
tuliv ouo-half Of the soldiers III the field, is
tireiy dependent upon Eastern armOries for the
ranuiacnre Of arms. national srnory at Chicago
during the last year would have saved the Govern
ment H. ilions Of money, the lives OF many gallant
men, ana materially shortened the war.
The immediate and pressing necessi'ies OF the
NORTHWEST, ia addition TO the Improvement OF her
harbOrs, are,
i First: A National Armogy and Naval DEPOT.
Second The fertilization o. the Straits OF Max
NAV.
I Third: The enlargement OF the Illinois ard Mich
igan Canal, thereby opening steam navigation he
tween the Lakes and the Mississippi. Lake Mich
gan is great inland sea- it's shores bordered by the
richest agricultural districts of the world. II lss on
its we,iern margin tie great cities OF Chicago md
Milwaukee; dounshing and IaTidiy-groving towns
are rising al along its western bank. The COM
OF the great lakes the vaet depots of and
-four, beef and pork, on the shores Of Lake Mich
| igan, are to-day utterly defenseess. All would be
at tie mercy OF wellarmed Punhoat. These de-
pots, tbis commerce, those fair towns and cities on
Lake Michigan would present attractive prizes TO
any lOstile ieot. And yet all this commerce, and
ali these towns can lie made perfectly secure by for
itifving the Straits Of DGeknaw. Tie boundary
line between the United States and the CaDadas runs
rany miles east OF Michigan. This great lake il
entirely A. small expense II can he made en-.
trey Inaccessible In this grand raven thus secured
our lake marine our fleets would be in suiety Here
they would find abundant supplies, and here should
! be National 0rsaOfy al d 0Tscnni. H0r0i 6cD0f,
therefore, It Chicago would seem to be measure OF
obyi0us prudence.
| Our lake marine exceeds Tat Of the Canadian
province many times multiplied.
| Rohstaudng this superiority, the British Govern
! meut. having a water communication from the 81.
Lawrence through the Weand Canal into the lakes,
and being thHe enabled TO send armed yesseis upon
their waters, should In the absenoe of means Of
nInmg our lake marine, be at theirmercy. But
with naval depot AT Chicago siording the means
of arlnipg steamboats,, tugs, vessels, and pro
peilors, our supremacy would be scared.
Ia view Of taese considerations earnestly re-
quest your viii call the attention of Congress 10 the
importance Ok establishing naval depot at Chicago.
Another great national Improvement beg leave
10 commend to your favorable confederation.
Within twelve miles of Chicago, and 20 an eIeya.
iion above Lake Michigan 60 small, that In high
water Lake Michigan discharges portion of lie
waters that way, and through which boats often
paesed ron Lake Michigan 10 the Illinois River, IL
the portage or summit from which streams, stones
hrcy from each other, fad their outlet, the
hand through the lakes and st. Lawrence to the Al
iau,ic 81 on the other through the Illinois and Mis-
fiseipi 20 the Gulf o. Mexico. More than thirty
wears eeo the National Government undertook 10 nid
III cutting through This portage. canal baa been
existence since 1870 but The est has outgrown it
capacity, and tits year tho canal aud tine thirteen