Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-31
Nd cnrresnnndent adds.
Defepoo 81 tho Lakes.

The following petition to Congress for
eRlarging the locks Of the New York
canals, for passing mail-clad vessels, head
ed by sx-President Fillmore, and signed by
leading citizens Of Buffalo Of all parties,
was presented on Saturday, BY Mr.. spaul-
ding, in the House Of Representatives, and
duly referred to the Military Committee,
It states briefly but clearly the merits Of
the proposition, which viii probably be
discussed and decided by the House in con-
nectiou with the kindred bill already re-
ported by that Committee, for snlarging
the Illinois Canal to admit the passage Of
similar vessels into the lakes from the
Mississippi:
The undersigned citizens Of Buffalo
earnestly solicit Congress, in addition to
provision made and contemplated for the
defence of the Northern Frontier, to adopt,
without delay, the measures necessary to
secure the enlargement Of the locks Of the
Erie and OswegO Canals, to a size sufficient
to pass vessels adequate to the defence Of
] the HN0ILuGEh 4Hu INOAAn WEotcIAr rAAhCE,
pursuant to the provisions of an Act of
the Legislature of New York, passed April
| "a, 1862 This work accomplished, vessels
more powerful than the Monitor could pass
from New York to Lake Erie and Ontario,
or from the Lakes to New York, or from
either Lake to the other, during the season
of navigation. A
The immense National interest involved
in the Military possession Of these waters
a cost Of time and money. We deem it not
extravagant to assert that, if the proposed
work were accomplished, no attempt would
| be made to Wrest the control of the Great
Lakes from our National Government.-
The equality Of access to them, which was
designed to be secured by our treaty with
Great Britain, has been wholly destroyed
by the construction Of the Canadian Canals:
and we are not permitted to build and
maintain war vessels upon the Lakes
The superiority Of our commercial inter
ests over those Of our neighbOr, but in
creases the danger Of sudden attack, and
Is no defence whatever. We have no i'm
psdiment to offer, If, during the season Of
navigation, feet Of British gun-boats
from the Atlantic shall propose to take pos
session Of the entire chain Of Lakes and
connecting rivers.
A long line Of fourfshing cities and VII
lagos can thus be laid under contribution
or be destroyed, while commerce, exceed
ing in value the foreign trade Of the ma
/ ton, is either suspended or falls prey TO
our ambitious rival. Is it the part Of wis
dom to incur such risks? No other nation
ever manifested such Indifference to its
vital interests or oYerWeening confidence
in the preservation Of pacific relations
with the only power with which ii was IL
able to serious differences. Recent events
have shown how readily, and without no
tice, war clouds may obscure the horizon.
Should we not profit by the lesson and be
prepared for dangers that always are i'm
pending while 50 considerable a portion
Of the continent owns European sWGy.--
The National Government has expended
large sums for the defense Of the Atlantic
and Gulf coasts. The interests of the
North and West are equally entitled to
such protection, and it is respectfully sub
mitted, that by the adoption Of the project
in question, our inland frontier is amply
defended, and commerce Of inestima Bile
value to our Atlantic States and cities Sc
cured from the hostile Interruption.
-.-t,i MILLARD FILLMORE,
s1a HENRY w. ROGERS,
GEORGE R. BABC0CK,
GUY H. GOODRICH,
May 16, 1882. and many others.