New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-24

But other American seaports long disputed the
palm with New-York. Goods were formerly shipped
to Charleston, s. c., for New-York Newport once
surpassed her in the amount of her shppinR Nor
folk long cherished dreams Of commercial ascend
ency which she is just reyiving; while the sudden
upspringing Of Baltimore, consequent on the rapid
settlement of western Virginia and eastern Ohio
and her natural excellence of position the point
at which the of the Atlantic approached
most nearly the valley of the Ohio render it proba
BILE that, in the absence of artificial channels for
transportation she would have risen to the primary
among American cities.
But even before we had emerged from Colonial
dependence, agitation for an artificial waterway
between the seaboard and the West had commenced
Indeed rude yet practicable paSsage-way for boats
between the Mohawk aud Wood Creek, and thus be-
tween Schenectady and Lake Ontario. is said to have
been actually effected early l76s in which year
Gov. Sir Henry Moore recommended to the Co
lonial Assembly of New-York a canal around
the rapids in the Mohawk now known
as Little Falls. Before the Revolution. George
Washington in Virginia and Christopher COLES of
this City had severally pondered and agitated the
means of opening water communication from the
seaboard to the West and hardly had peace crowned
the struggle of our fathers for Independence when
Mr.. COLES, in successive memorials to our State
Legislature, and Gen. Washington, tnow likewise a
private oitizen were actvelyat work. ask special
attention to Washngton's own simple account > of
his action in the premises and the views which
prompted il:
Ihave lately (says he) made a tour through the
Lakes George and Champlain as far as Crown Point;
then, returning TO Schenectady, proceeded up the
Mohawk River 10 Fort Schuyler, crossed over 10
Wood Creek, which empties into the Oneida Lake
and affords the water communication with Lake On
tario; then trayersed the country to the head Of
branch az he Su md
the Lake Osego, and the portage between that lake
aud the Mohawk River mt Canaj0haTie. Prompted
by these actual observations could not hep taking
more contemplatye and extensive view of the vast
inland navigation of the United States and could
not but be struck with the immense diffusion and
Importance OF II, and with the goodness of that
Providence who has dealt His faVors 10 us with so
profuse hand U0aid 70 God zee may hare lCiSdOm
enough to IMPROVE them"
Washington, it is clear, was not Free Trader
He did not believe, with DIR. Ray that the sole
legitimate end of Government is to maintain law
and order" and that to tax for any other purpose
is to outrage the right of each citizen of a free
country 10 have and to hold the fruit of his own
labor at the control of his own wilp After taking
in the Autumn of that year, another tour up the
Potomac and so far westward as Pittsburgh examin.
ing the natural facilities for cutting Canal by that
route TO connect the waters of the Atlantic with
those of the Ohio, he wrote TO Gov Harrison of Vr
ginia, urging the Importance Of early and decided
steps to achieve such communication. He sought
to interest Maryland also in the work. and urged
the moral certainty that New-York and Pennsvl-
vania would soon strike ont vigorously 10 secure
each for herself control of the trade of the RAPIDLY
growing West; adding, with characteristic breadth
of vision:
am not for discOuragng the exertions of anv
State TO draw the commerce of the Western conntry
TO ITS seaports, The more communications we omen
70 H. the closer we find that rising world for indeed
II may be so called 10 our interests and the greater
strength We shall secure by it. Those To whom
are eise enjoy the greatest share of the trade All
would be understood to mean, therefore, is, that the
gifts of Providence may not be neglected"
Will any say that Washington expected private
in our then infante and impoverished
condition, to furnish tho means and take the risk Of
cutting canals then scarcely known out of Chipal
through tho wooded mountains which separated the
settled portions OF our board States from the
lakes and navigabe rivers of the North and West ,
Hear how he urges on Gov. Harrison the grave poti
cal reasons for efeoting such communications:
al need not remark TO you Sir, that the TANKS and
rear OF the United States are possessed by other
formidable Ones too--[Great Britain
and Spainl, nor need press the necessity of annv
ing the cement OF interest TO bind all parts Of the
Union together by indlssoluble bonds-especalv Of
binding that part Of ii which lies immediately west
II us to the Middle States" "'''
Mr.. COLES again pettioned our Legislature on |
July - 1862
,sGoJcopsdA s'Commerc. Edited by Smith Honan.g H.D.,
Brothers: l598 'LetsS ~ tho Marquis Of ChasteuK 1884