Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-21
Nnrlrnrion Of ths nrls.ls.sppl.


The Importance Of the Mississippi river as
commercial thorOughiare has long been
plovsrbial with the people Of the United
States, the power conferred by its undisturb-
ed possession having been the chief consid-
Grafton in inducing our government topur-
chase the territory contiguous to its mouth
The many railroad lines constructed within
the past few years have tended in a great de-
gree 10 lessen the value OF internal water
routes but stil the control Of the "Father Of
Rivers IS something which the American
peopie-especiaIly those of the Eorthwsss-
would not surrender without a desperate
struggle. The recent action Of the Gulf
States indicates that the Southern ehiyalry
are emboldened in their rebellion by belief
that they hold the key to this important ma
tional roadway. They assume that the
Northwestern States are dependent upon
them for the privilege Of navigating the
.OEer Mississippi, and this assumption, un-
founded Is it is, makes them arrogant and
dietatorial. IT, therefore, it were practicable,
it would be well to remove from the rebels
this fancied source Of power. This it has
been demonstrated, is eminendy practicable
and easy Of attainmen. For years the people
Of Illinois have been agitating a plan for
la connecting the waters Of Lake Michigan
with those Of the Illinois river. They
are at present connected by a canal of
ordinary dimensions, which could readily
be enlarged so as TO be navigable by the
iargest river steamers. The illinois flows
through the richest agricultural portion Of
the State, empfying into the Mississippi a
.shortdistancs above the mouth Of the NissOu-
ri. Hitherto the friends Of this enterprise
have depended upon private capital for the
consummation Of the work. Now they seek
t. enlist the cid of the Federal Government.
Petitions aTs being extensively circulated and
numsrously signed along the route and viii
be soon forwarded for circulation in the East
err cilies. asking Congress, in view Of the
late, present and prospective distractions Of
the Mississippi river by armed forces Of the
seeding States, to make instant provision
for the purchase and speedy enlargement Of
the Illinois & Michigan Canal
On this subject, the Chicago Tribune seyE
aThs vast and increasing commerce Of the
Northwest must have a cheap and
easy outlet to the seabOard; and if
The way BY New Orleans is blocked
10 by the readiness and folly Of louisiana,
tie enlargement Of that canal is anational NO
cessity which no Administration would dare
10 overlook; and when that enlargement is
once completed the uses Of the Mississippi for
the purposes Of navigation would be at an
end; because, whatever might happen in the
political world, goods could be transported
from Memphis 70 New York or Boston much
cheaper, Quicker and more safely than by the
old channel and though having impOverish-
ed themselves By the secession folly, the
States near the mouth Of the Mississippi
might return to the Union, like the prOdigal
son % bis father, they never could regain the
trade which the scheme now in contempla-
ton would snatch from their hands"
This route wsuld save at least fifteen hum
drsd miles in distance between the mouth of
the Ohio and Liverpool, thereby commanding
tie msjor portion Of the commerce now pass
ing through the Calf Of Mexico.