The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-06-02
The Chicago Convention.

The convention, which assemblies at Chica-
60 to-day, will represent the business interests
of the country more fully and intelligently
than any body of men ever before brought
together. The occasion of the convention is
the defeat of a bill laid before the last Con-
gress, for the construction of ship canal to
connect the Mississippi with the Atlantic,
through the great lakes and the Hudson riv-
er. This bill was introduced as measure of
selfprotection, in view Of the relations then
believed to exist between this country and
Great Britain. Since the ratification Of the
treaty by which each of the two powers was
bound to keep only one small vessel carrying
a single gun on Lake Ontario, and two SINH
lar vessels on the upper lakes, canals have
been constructed at great cost in Canada, adj
hitting vessels Of war from Quebec and Mon
treal to the whole chain of lakes. The great
military advantage thus obtained would be
neutralized by enlarging the Illinois canal SO
as to admit steamers from the Mississippi into
Lake Michigan and by charging the locks on
ironclad gunboats from the Atlantic. This
is what the bill proposes, at an estimated ex-
pense of about Sl7,0O0,OOO.
As war measure this outlay may have
been unnecessary. So at least it seemed to
the Congress, which refused by small major
ity to pass it. But its claims to consideration
were not wholly nor even chiefly military.
The military reasons for its adoption were
made especially prominent in the Congression-
al debates, and they are weighty enough with
out doubt; but even these are subsidiary to
the Importance of opening such an outlet for
the products Of the West. During the last
year the valley Of the Mississippi has been
overrunning with cereals which could only be
brought to market at ruinous expense. OF
the go cents, for example, which we pay for
corn, 81 cents are paid for transportation,
leaving only nine for the producer. The rails
ing ofthe Mississippi blockade and the restora-
tion of Southern trade would relieve the
West somewhat; but a cheap line of commu-
nication between the West and the East would
relieve both sections, furnishing us cheaper
breadstuffs and them cheaper goods. 1t would
be a means not only Of material but of politi-
cal good, linking East to West by new bond
of union.
The members of Congress from New Eng
land did not fail to see the Importance of the
proposed measure and supported it with great
unanimity. 1t was lost, as has been remarked,
by a small majority. On the I'd of March the
call for this convention was issued at Wash
ington, signed by Attorney General Bates, by
81 members of the House of Representatives
and by Is members of the Senate. The re-
Spouse has been very general and for the
most part favorable. Some little opposition
has been manifested at Milwaukee, Cincinna-
ii, and few other places, arising however
from local prejudices or mistaken views of the
. object of the convention.
1t is of course impossible to predict the pre-
else results, which may attend the delibera-
tions of the convention. 1t will be our duty
to record those results. Arrangements have
been made, as heretofore announced, to secure
Especial report of the transactions in conven-
ton for tie Press. We publish the first of
Mr.. Gilman's letters, written en- route, this
morning.