Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-05-21
The Canal Convention At Dubuone.
The Canal Convention Of Northwestern
States held at Dubuque on the 9th, adopted

The Canal Convention at Dubuqne.
The Canal Convention of Northwestern
States held at Dubuque on the eth, adopted
the following resolutions:
WhereGs, The exposed aud defenceless condition
Of our lake frontier and the vast and rapidly in
creasing inland navigation and commerce Of the
lakes, embracing, "a 1t does nearly one-haf Of the
Of the nation, also the peculiar and somevhat
precerious condition of our foreign relations WITH
some Of the European powers, must lmperatveIy
demand that the general government shall take
immediate measures so TO improve the great water
communication between the East and the West as
shall enable It in all cases OF emergency, TO trans
port any part Of the country naval and military
stores and munitions of war with the least posi-
BILE 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, mineral, and commercial re-
sources OF the Northwest, and more especially OF
the upper Mississippi Valley require ana 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:
Resolped That Will we would not object to see
the construction of a ship canal from La Sale to
the Mississippi river if cheap and practieable,-n
not so, canal Terminating at the mouth of the
Illinois rVer,-our duty TO the great bread produ-
cling States of the Northwest will demand that we
persistently urge upon Congress- an appropriation
"
srs improvements as being m sc eminently cheap
aud practicable, necessary for military purposes,
aud TO alferd facilities for cheap transportation Of
the products of the Northwest to an Atlantic and
European market
ResOiued, That the Improvement of the upper
and lower rapids of the lower Mississippi by canal
is a proper counterpart and complement of a canal
the lakes, is necessary to give full value to the
latter work, and is imperatively demanded by the
highest considerations OF public policy and for the
good of the whole nation.
ResOIved, That this convention would most
spectfnlly, but earnestly recommend to the people
of the whole country, and more especially of the
Upper Mississippi Valley, that they adopt the
foregoing system of improvements a national
policy, and insist on all occasions that their mem
bers in Congress shall receive and adopt It their
programme upon which to base all their actions on
he subject Of internal improvements Of national
ReSOIUed, That while, at the present crisis in our
national history, we would approve and urge the
most rigid economy in the administration of pub
lie affairs, both matter of wisdom in the State
an OF justice TO the over-burdened taxpayers,
would nevertheless recommend for the measure
above named a liberal appropriation from the pub
lie treasury, believing that berality in this direc
ton Is true economy, that the food-producers of
the nation its most efficient and essential army,
and that strength and encouragement to them, in
crease in the area of cultivation and invitation to
foreign emigration and settlement to take the place
of the noble men who, from sense of public du-
ty, have gone to the call of the State, the
est means to strengthen the national arm and pro-
cure national success.
ReSelUed, That this convention would further re-
the candidates for Office and Others advising the
people on national questions should also discuss
these questions paramount in Importance to the
whole country.
ResOlued, 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 a national character and impor-
lance, they should, at the time make it an 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
Gel of such public works.
ResOlred, That copy of this report, preambles
and resolutions signed by the President and Seere-
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.
Resolred, 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 cut the objects and
purposes of this convention.
On motion of r. SCHOrTLER, of Green Bay,
the following resolution was adopted:
ResOlUed, 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 Washington, to act in con-
from Congress for The survey of the Fox and Wis
consin rivers, with the view of making il ship
nal, said survey to be made under instructions of
| the Seer etary 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 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. X.
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. Brisbois,
Prairie du Chen; NJ, NJ. Davis, Appleton,
Wis; L. A. Thomas, Dubuque; J. d. Inger
soil, st. Paul