Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-12-09
Remarks of Mr.. Grout, Of Barton,
In TILE HnusE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

and transportation between the DOMINION OF
Canada and the United States, to be regulated
by treaty or otherwise also urging upon
the general government 10 secure the oonstruc-
ton, If possible, Of a ship canal connecting
lake Champlain with the st. Lawrence, and
TO offer Canada in exchange therefor TO en-
lage the Champlain canal, and make the use Of
the two reciprocal.
Mn SPEAKER The subject Of better facilities
for the transportation East of the constantly and
rapidly Increasing commerce Of the West, TO
which the Governor called our attention in his
late able message, is one which, because OF its
importance. merits our careful consideration
and If we can say or do anything which will tend
to bring about the desired result we shall have
performed n valuable service, not only 10 YER
mont, but TO all the Eastern and Northwestern,
States The work which the resolution will per-
form, fany, if il Is adopted, will be that of cali
ing attention to the subject in those States which
manfestly have an interest in the enterprise, in
the hope that such an agitation and discussion Of
the matter will follow as to secure the result
aimed at. Intimately connected with this ques-
ton, md in fact, constituting part of 10, is
that of INSTRUMENTATION generally with Cana
dn and the right to safe trunsit by land Of the
merchandise Of each country across the territory
Of the other also the reciprocal right TO a free
navigation OF the waters, and reciprocal use OF
the canals of the two countries At glance it
will be seen that this subject is broad one, in
yolving great variety of interests important ~
the people of both Canada and the United States.
All the merchandise which comes from Chicago
and points West to Vermont and other New Eng
land States and all which passes through the
Oswego canal to Albany, has on its way 10 lake
Ontario to pass through the Wellnnd canal, a
/ public work Of Canada, connecting Lake Erie
and Lake Ontario. As understand It, Ameri-
can bottoms have had no right to pass through that
canal since the termination Of the late reciprocity
treaty but they have done 50 constantly since
. fhaf fip.a tho finuaiIupa heinz ulnl | an
10 receive the tolls for such use besides obey
desire the privilege of navigating the waters u
Lake Michigan which lie wholly within the ter
ritory Of the United States.
Ever since the construction of the Grand rrunk
Railroad to Portland, merchandise from New
Brunswick, NOVA Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince
Edwards Island and England, has been allowed
to pass over our territory from Portland and other
seaports to Canada under certain Treasury regu-
ntions in accordance with certain acts Of Con-
gress And the sfme courtesy has been extended
hy Canada to our commerce from the West over
the Grand Trunk Railway from Port Huron to
Portland, and over the Great Western from De
troit to Buffalo.
! There is also some question concerning the
right Of our lumbermen in Maine 10 the use Of
the st. Johns river in passing through New
Brunswick. which bv the late reciprocity treaty
was guaranteed. But since the abrogation Of
that treaty in 1854. the exercise Of these mutual
privileges is not, as | can learn, Of right but is
INDUCED because of mutual necessity, and rests
solely for its continuance upon the pleasant but
uncertain and tickle law of mutual good will and
international comfy.
Now all these matters are the proper subject Of
a convention between the two powers aud Of
treaty arrangement ; and it seems TO me, sir, I'M
wise 10 longer leave privileges 10 important 10
both countries to the mere within or VARYING
caprice Of changing administrations and govern
ments.
As the matter now stands Canada can any day
say 10 Uncle sam, not another spoonful OF grain
shall pass Eastward over our territory; not an
other American vessel shall pass through the
Welland canal thus placing practical embargo
upon the immense shipment Of breadstu1s which
now come by way of Lake Ontario for the supply
Of all New England, and which we could not be
deprived Of, il for only one month, without per-
feet panic in our markets, and great distress
among our people. You and |, sir, would he made
TO understand the full meaning of this embargo
when we bought our next barrel of -four after it.
And we should understand its fuller meaning
when we could no longer find any flour to buy.
But says one, Canada will never do this
Granted, il YOU please, that it is not probable she
will that the inducement of tolls through her
canals and of freights over her Railroads. will
tend to make her willing to serve u while she
serves herself. 1t is nevertheless possible 1t is
clearly her right to do it and that is sufficient
reason for giving attention 20 the matter.
Our Government should either secure by treaty
the right to the use of the Welland canal OF
should construct ship canal on the American
side around Niagara Falls. Ii would be well Ia
do both, and then in case of trouble with Canada
we should still have outlet left Eastward atros.
our own territory. This view of the question
however, only goes to the extent Of securing and
guaranteeing our present facilities for transpor
tation. But the resolution contempates Improved
facilities which can be secured by the construe
ton of the ship canal mentioned by the Governor
in his message, and by him fully described
And here ! wish to say that the view of thi.
subject, as taken by the Governor, is broad anC
statesmanlike. 1t is not the enterprise of the
Governor alone, but it is also advocated by Other
men, high in official position in both Canada anC
the United States. wish also to say in behal
Of the Governor, and in his vindicaton from Tn,
false position in which some have sought to plae,
him, that it is no part of his plan TO oiler reel
procity in trade for this canal And ! am author
lied to say for him on the floor of this House tina
he intended no such thing in his message : ais,
that he is well satisfied with the resolution al
ready adopted by the House, which pronounce,
against any kind OF treaty regulating trad,
with Canada Now while all this is true, he vel
feels ii Vermont can secure the cheap water com
muncation with the West which this cana
, would afford, it will indeed be n grand thing fo
the State. And, sir, in this the Governor is alto
gether right
But, says one, what inducement can we oiIei
2 Canada as an equivalent for the expense of th
canal, which is estimated at about SO 900 900
not a large sum, to be sure, in view of the grea
advantages which would flow from it, bu
still something. The inducement, sir, is ample
the equivalent is ample. il is this Let tn,
Government offer to enlarge the Champlain canal
which connects Lake Champlain at Whitehall
with tide water on the Hudson as proposed b,
the resolution before us, in case New York will
consent and of this there can be no doubt ant
then, sir, with few thousand dollars expended il
II Al H. -
OF seven or eight hundred tons burthen coulC
clear at New York for Chicago. touching Mt tn,
intermediate ports Of Albany, Whitehall, Burling
ton, Montreal, Ogdensburgh Buffalo and De
trot. This is no mere vision, sir. 1t is every
, way practicable, and would involve, on our part
Y the charging of only sixty-two miles of cana
from seven feet, its present DEPTH to ten feet ant
, a proportionate widening, which would probabl,
cost not exceeding S3,000,00 | say, let oul
Government make this offer to Canada, and be
lieye she will not be found dead 10 her interests
The merchant of Montreal and the farmer anC
lumberman OF the Ottawa valley, will at once Sc,
the advantage of being placed in direct wate
communication with New York, the best marke
= in the world, to which, by means of cheap trans
n portation they could ship their lumber and bread
stulls and other merchandise in a Canadian YES
sci, entering their cargo at Burlington on the way
0 for duties, which could be much higher than the'
Y now are, and yet the shipper would realize more
q than now, because of the great expense Of trans
portation. Not only would Canada be thus ben
u efitted-which with the immense tolls such {
canal would yield, would furnish sufficient induce
Y ment for its construction-but all New EnglanC
and New York would rejoice in cheap transpor
. tation which would save, according to the est
= mate of the Governor in his message, S50NOO an
o nually 10 Vermont on the article Of -four alone
and in addition to this the great Northwest would
then have an ample outlet for the products Other
inexhaustbe soil.
g But while all this is true of these different soc
3 tons which would be sure TO join in the enter
prise If invited, the resolution proposes, wht
can fail to see the incalculable advantages which
G would accrue TO Vermont through ship commune
z cation with the seaboard and the lakes Bur.
lington would then be in direct water communion
! ion with Chicago and New York, and the receiy.
: ing and supplying depot for both, and in her
] self great mart OF trade. Other ports and
G cities would spring up along Lake Champlain
which would receive their share of the trade that
waulI a H,,l NJ 4