The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-06-10
Ship Cnnal Convention.

Ship Canal Convention.
The ship canal convention concerning
which so much has been said and writer
for the last six weeks, convened in Chicago
on Tuesday, thu Cd inst. A permanent
organization was effected in the afternoon
by the election of Hon. Hannibal Hamlin
President, with a Vice President and Sccre
tary from each Of the states of the Union
represented in the convention. The Vice.
President selected from this state was
Ebenczer Cook, and the Secretary, j. w.
Van Crman Of this city.
After the preliminary work Of the con.
vention had been adjusted, the impractica.
bility Of harmonizing the views Of the con.
vention became at once apparent. The
Wisconsin folks wanted the enlargement OF
the Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement;
the southern Iowa delegates desired the
Improvement Of the Des Moines river; the
Minnesota men asked for the building of
three railway lines to the Pacific; the Ohio
representatives urged the importance of a
ship canal around Niagara falls; and to cap
the climax, New Yorker, by way of bur.
lesque, recommended the building of a
canal to Cayuga Lake, that our gunboats
might, If desired, have a safe retreat in the
heart of the country! Notwithstanding
this, the committee on resolutions reported
the following which were duly adopted:
Resolced, That VIC regard the enlargement
of Canals between the Mississippi River
and the Atlantic, with Canals duly con.
Meeting the Lakes, as Of great military and
commercial Importance we believe such
enlargement, with dimensions sufficient to
pass gunboats from the Mississippi to Lake
Michigan, and from the Atlantic to and
from the great Lakes, will furnish the
cheapest and most expeditions means of
protecting the Northern frontier, and at the
same time will promote tho rapid devel-
opmcnt and permanent union of our whole
country.
Resolsea, That these works are demand
ed alike by military prudence, political wis
dom, and the necessities of commerce; such
works will be not only national but CONT
mental, and their early accomplishment is
required by every principle of sound politi-
cal economy.
Resolred. That such national highway
between the Mississippi and the Lakes, as
far as practicable, should be FREE, without
tolls or restrictions, and we should depre-
cate the placing this great national thor
oughfare in the hands of any private cor
poration or State. The work should be
accomplished by national credit, and as
soon as the cost is reimbursed TO the Nation
al Treasury, should be as free as the Lakes
to tho commerce of tho world
After the resolutions had been unani
mously adopted, Mr.. Ruggles, of N. Y,
reported the following which was likewise
approved by the convention:
Resolped, That an Executive Committee,
OF one from each State, be apr onted by
the President of the Convention, to prepare
memorial to the President and the Con-
gress of the United States, presenting the
views of this Convention, and urging the
passage of the laws necessary to carry them
into full effect, with power to open such
correspondence as may be cxpedient, and
in their discretion to call any further Con.
ventions. Five of the members of said
Committee, at any meeting, duly notitieH
by the Chairman shall constitute
quorum.
In few moment after this, after unim-
portant business, the convention adjourned
sine die.