, 1863-06-02

With regard to the first proposition, 1t may
be stated, TINT while tie Naval Committc ad-
nit that it would be an infringement OF the
treaty-stipulations Of 1877 to construct war
vessels on the margin Of the Great Lakes, it
is diaiicnlt to comprehend by what process Of
reasoning 1t becomes no Infringement to cou-
strnct them On an inland sheet of water, df,
rectly communicating with the Lakes, to be
sent down whenever their services shall he
required. We apprel.end that the British
Minister Resident would remoustratc with
the Secretary Of State, long before the first
ing these canals, we are but exercising right
which las been freely conceded TO Great
Britain.
With regard to the second proposition, it
may be stated that, to prepare the materials
Tor constructing two distinct fleets, one for
the upper lakes and one for the lower. to be
put up whenever the necessity may arise, aud
to transport them to these waters from parts
lar remote, would be fir more expensive than
the cost Of opening these lines Of internal
communication and besides, the usefulness
Of these fleets would be restricted solely to
these waters.
A third plan has been proposed, and Tint is
to make use Of the enlarged canals to trausfer
our iron -clads from one system Of naviga,i N
to another and thus ea7e the expen=c Of
maintaining distinct sets Of fleets. The
Naval Committee, through Mr.. F. A. Conkl1u,
New York canal, it is impracticablc. We
deem the testimony Of Ericsson, thu cnncep-
tions Of whose inventive skill have saved lis
from national humiliation, and whose fame
will live through tile ages with undimu,cd
lustre, Of far more importance than any
nittce.
a An fmDregnable war vessel of % feet
wide, and go long, with sflot-prouf turret
carrying gun Of 15,inch calibre, with Il bali
Of $50 pounds, and capable Of destroying any
hostile vessel that can be pus on the l;l:.e;,
will draw, without ammunition, coal or
stores, but e feet inches Of water; and con
se4ucntly, will need only 4 canal Wild: 41d
deep enough to float vessel Of those Giu-n-
eionS, with locks Of sufficient +izr tn pas it'
The cost Of these enlarged co1nnlunic stinns,
according to the estimate Of Engineers Of the
highest capacity and integrity, will not exceed
100000.
1t may be said that fleets adapted to river.
navigation are not adapted to lake-nayigation,
to tlls it may be replied that they ar: well
adapted to the defeLse Of the struts. which
are the most important lines to be guarded.
mirll Porter, not less than GO vessels in the
United States nary capable Of passing the
proposed locks Of the Illinois and Michigan
canal and Others are building Of like capacity.
Your Committee, therefore, are OF the opln-
ion tlat the cheapest and most efItctual meth
cd of lake defense is, not by the establish
ment Ct naval dcpots, or the building Of Heels
on these waters, both Of wlicl, would bc con
strMcd as a violation Of the eaty.esipu]atious
Of 1Si1: nor by the erection OF m extended
system Of land fortifeations; but by opening
tuch line Of internal communication that
:n'-beats may really be passed
Eom one system of navigation to another,
and b. made available f,r defense, alike in
the hArhors ofthe Atlantic, OH the Llkes, and
on The nasigable waters Of the Mississippi.
lf:A Me:s f'ro I,&sin The chain ef con.,ttunica.
tion t4on.Iltkd, AlcouI 1e 72asv4l, 5y an in-
JdIo, Ae1r York, 7nAfoa, PHILADELPHIA, B Iii
,ao*, 4innnftais, NdsAing'on, Norfozk, Rich
mo7ad, Atr1t,7., and E.aufort, npikiuq a dis-
tancc IF 800 milx besides scad,.iuy atressi1le
t4e trAe1t nar;gaIe systtm Of The mississippi and
tie Lakes. II 'rou'd, therefore, become a matter
Krook'ya, I"7sgfH3iS, Uashinytou, or IHladI,
7tid or at Pittsburgh, Cincinnafi, or ST. Lonis;;
TIE mechanical skiN Of c1rfy seciiom Of Nie conn
try eould be called into rtyaisitiou, aHd the arsal
ctdnlAfhd, NTH little "eoniTniencs, DC Transferred
10 tie most distant ,ratcrs.
WAYS AND MEANS OF CONSTRUCTION.
The balance Of this rery able report is de-
voted to the discussion Of the ways and means
Of construction. The bill introduced into
the last Congress proposed, for the eonstrnc-
ton Of the Illinois communication, tile appro.
priation Of tile bonds Of tAe Government to
the extent Of about thirteen and one half mill
ions of dollars, redccmable in twenty years.
and bearing tly per cent. interest per annun,
with the pledge Ut the tolls for the payment
Of accrning interest, and tue ultimate pay
nient Of principal, Of which the traffic would
afford IN ample guaranty. The issue Of these
bonds, thus secured, would subseryc all the
purposes Of a direct taxation, and would
command the confidence Of capitalists at
time, when more than ever before there was
redundant capital seeking Investment. It
would not involve the necessity Of raising
dol1arby taxation.
If it be asked, why docs not the State of ILL.,
inois execute the work, or contide It's exccu-
ton to chartered company; it may bc said
in reply, that the State cannot enter upon the
work without first changing her organic law,
which would require two or three years to
accomplish; and while she Is agreed on the
policy Of surrcnleriug this route to the Gene
raj Government, to be usedas national high
way, it is doubtful whether like unanimity
would prevail with regard to the State taking
such action, even if constitutional impede
ments were not in the way. As to the second
inquiry, the State, through, her Constitutional
Convention, llas indicated her policy, in no
event to surrender this work to chartered
comrany.
As far as relates to the New York portion
Of the enterprise, it may be stated that the
legislature Of that St1te, by an act passed
one tier of locks on the Eric and 0Swcgo Ca
mails, provided the expense thereof was paid
by the United States; in consideration where
Of the Lust named party should have the per.
retnal right Of passage through said canals,
'tfrce from toll, or charge, for lis vessels OF
war, boats, gnnboats, transports, troops, sup
plies, or munitions Of war;
In conclusion, your Committee would state,
that this is an enterprise which, in whatever
| light if is viewed, ought to commend itself to
the favorable consideration OF the country
In its lowest seDsc, as a mere rccuniarv in
yestment, the bonds Of the United States,
| based on the tolls Of the canal, would com.
| mani the confidence Of capitalists. As COM
1nercial scheme. it would enhance the value
Of the public lands, and communicate slim
! ulus to agriculture, which would he felt to
| the tarthest verge Of cultivation. It
| would cheaper the price OF ou1
daily food, and swell to vast
extent our foreign commerce. As nationa1
measure. it would establish, between the East
and the West, closer commercial and political
affiliations. and forge a chain which no con
vulsion could sever; while rs military sys
TEN, it would prove the cheapest mode o.
terrifying long line Of frontier, and Of con
trolling an immense inland navigation. In nc
other way, in the opinion Of the Committee
can Congress SO etftctually, in the language
ofthe Constitution, "rRov'DE FOR THE coW
MON nEFEycEH or Hrpn,ynrE rHE GENET Al