Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-05-19
The Canal Convention at Dubnane.

= NtdbeS ueIu aI DuOulue OH tHe OIL, duOpJeu
the following resolutions:
Whereas, The exposed and defenceless condition
of our lake frontier and the vast and rapidly in
creasing inland navigation and commerce Of the
lakes, embracing, as it does nearly one-haf OF the
entire tonnage and value of the commercial wealth
/ OF the nation also the peculiar and somewhat
precarious condition OF our foreign relations with
some Of the European powers, must imperativey
demand that the general government shall take
INN edlete measures so TO improve the great water
communication between the East and the West
shall enable it in all of emergency, to trans
port to aoy part Of the country naval and military
stores and munitions of with the least posi-
bic amount of delay, and also to send its gunboats
and other ships of war to any part of the country
wherever they may be needed in prosecuting naval
/ and military operations; and
Whereas, The rapidly increasing development of
the vast agricultural, mia eral, and commercial
sources OF the Northwest, and more especially of
the upper Mississippi Valley require nd demand
the opening up at the earliest possible period, ola
water communication between the eastern seaboard
and the Mississippi river by the nearest, cheapest,
most expeditions and most practicable route;
therefore
Resolved, That, Will. We would not object to see
the construction of a ship canal from La Sale to
the Mississippi river if cheap and practicable,-if
not so, canal terminal ing at the mouth of the
liHnois river,-our duty to the great bread produ-
cling States of the Northwest will demand that we
perSistently urge upon Congress an appropriation
tor the enar- emeut of the Fox and Wisconsin riv-
erS lmprov ements as being M st eminently cheap
aua practicable, necessary for military purposes,
an" TO aterd facilities for cheap transportation of
the products of the Northwest to Atlantic and
European market.
RcSoiced. That the improv ement of the upper
and lower rapids of the lower Mississippi by canal
is proper counterpart and complement of a canal
TO the lakes, is necessary to give full value to the
latter work, and is imp eratively demanded by the
highest consld erations of public policy and for the
good OF the whole nation.
ReSOiUed, That this convention would most re-
specttuly, but earnestly, recommend to the people
OF the whole country, and more especially Of the
| Upper Mississippi Valley, that they adopt the
| of INN aO1aD re
policy, and insist all occasions that tt cir mem
bers in Congress shall receive and adopt IL as their
programme upon which to base all their actions on
the subject of internal improvements of a national
character.
RcS0tred, That while, the present crisis in our
national history, would approve and urge the
most rigid economy in the administration of nub-
hc affairs, both as matter of wisdom in the State
an OF justice to the oyer-burdened taxpayers We
would nevertheless recommend for the measure
above named liberal appropriation from the NH
lie treasury, believing that berality in this direc-
ton is true economy, that the food producers of
the nation are its most efficient and essential army
and that strength and encouragement to them in
crease in the OF cultivation and in ytation to
foreign emigration and settlement to take the place
of the noble men who, from a sense of public du-
ty, have gone to the call of the State, are the sur
est means to strengthen the national arm and pro-
cure national success.
ReSeiUed That this convention would further re-
commend that hereafter in all election canyasses,
the candidates for office and oehers advising the
people on national questions should also discuss
these questions paramount in Importance to the
whole country.
EeSOIUed That this convention would respect
fully, but earnestly urge upon people of the whole
Mississippi Valley that they should exact from
their Senators and Representatives in Congress an
unconditional pledge that whilst they will adopt
wise and liberal policy towards all works of internal
Improvement of national character and impor-
lance, they should, at the time make it in
dispensable condition of their support of such
measures that the construction OF the proposed
ship canal to the lakes and the canal to the lakes
and the canal around the upper and lower rapid of
the Mississippi River shall be made part and par
eel of such public works.
Resolved, That a copy OF this report, preambies
and resolutions, signed by the President and Secre
tary OF this convention, be sent to each member
OF Congress, with an urgent request that he give
to these great national measures his cordial an ear
nest support.
ReSOlCcd, That there be appointed an Executive
Committee OF nine, three of whom shall reside in
Dubuque, whose duty it shall be to take measures
to have the proceedings of this convention laid be-
fore Congress at the earliest practical period, and
that said committee shall adopt all such measures
as may be necessary to carry out the objects ana
purposes of this convention.
On motion of r. SCHoTTLER, Of Green Bay,
the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the committee be instructed to
request the Senators and members of the House of
Representatives from the States of Iowa, Mime
sofa and Wisconsin, at Washing ton, to act in con-
| cert with each other to obtain an appropriation
from Congress for The survey of the Fox and Wis
consin rivers, with TIL, view of making it ship
the Secretary of War and Secretary Of the Navy.
1t was moved and carried that an Execu-
| tive committee of nine be appointed, whose
duty it shall be to draw up a memorial to
Congress, setting forth the facts in the case
and urging action in behalf of the proposed
route.
The executive Committee was instructed to
issue pamphlet, to include the proceedings
OF the convention, the memorial to Congress,
and such report as the committee may deem
proper.
The President then announced the Finance
Committee as follows: B. B. Richards, J. K.
Graves, L. A Thomas, D. Leffingwell
The Executive Committee was announced
as follows: w. J. Gilchrist, McGrcgor; B.
B. Richards, Dubuque; G. W, Jones, Du-
buque; Plat Smith, Dubuque Chas. D. Rob
inson, Green Bay, Wis; B. NJ Brsbois,
Prairie du CHEN; M, NJ. Davis, Appleton,
Wis; l.. A. Thomas, Dubuque j. D. Inger-
soil, st. Paul.