Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-02-19


On the Joint Resolution, relating onayigstion and
transportation between the Dominion OF Can
ada and the United States, to be regulated by
, treaty or otherwise also urging upon the gen
eral government to secure the construction, II
possible, of a ship canal connecting Lake
/ Champlain with the st. Lawrence, and to offer
Canada in exchange therefor to enlarge the
Champlan canal, and make the use of the two
reciprocal
Nh. SPEAKER The subject of better facili-
ties 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 valuable service, not only to
Vermont, but to all the Eastern and Northwest
tern States Intimately connected with this ques-
ton, and in fact constituting part Of il, is that
Of INSTRUMENTATION generally with Canada,
and the right to a safe transit by land Of the
merchandise of each country across the territory
Of the other also the reciprocal right to free
navigation of the waters, and q reciprocal use
of the canals of the two countries. AT glance it
will be seen that this subject is broad one, in
yolving a great variety of interests important
to the people of both Canada and the United
States
All the merchandise which comes from Chca-
90 and points West of Vermont and other New
England States, and all that passes through the
OswegO canal to Albany, has on its way to Lake
Ontario to pass through the Welland canal,
public work in 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 re-
ciprocity treaty; but they have done so con-
stantly since that time, the Canadians being
glad, suppose, to receive the tolls for such use
besides they desire the privilege of navigating
the waters of Lake Michigan which lie wholly
within the territory of the United States.
Ever since-the construction Of the Grand
Trunk Railroad to Portland, merchandise from
/ New Brunswick, Novia Scotia, Newfoundland
Prince Edwards Island and England, has been
allowed to pass our territory from Portland
and other seapOrts to Canada under certain Urea
sury regulations-in accordance with certain acts
of Congress. And the same courtesy has been
/ extended by Canada to our commerce from the
! West over the Grand Trunk Railway from Port
/ Huron to Portland, and over the Great Western
/ from Detroit to Buffalo.
/ There is also some question concerning the
right Of our lumbermen in Maine to the use of
the St. Johns river in passing through New
brunswick, which by the late reciprocity treaty
was guaranteed. But since the abrogation Of
that treaty in 1864, the exercise of these mutual
privileged because of mutual necessity, and rests
solely for its constituance 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 and of
treaty arrangement (; and it seems to me, sir,
unwise to longer leave privileges so important TO
both counties to the mere within or varying Ca
price Of changing administrations and govern
ments. As the matter now stands Canada can
any day say to Uncle Sam, not another spoonful
of grain shall pass Eastward over our territory;
not another American vessel shall pass through
the Welland canal thus placing practical en-
barge upon the immense shipment Of breadstuffs
which now come by way of Lake Ontario for the
supply of all New England, and which we could
not be deprived of, if for only one month, with
out perfect 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
-four to buy.
And here | wish to say that the view Of this
subject, as taken by the Governor, is broad and
statesmanlike II is not the enterprise OF the
Governor alone, but it is also advocated by other
men. high in official position in both Canada and
the United States. | wish also to say in behalf
Of the Governor, and in his yindication from the
false position in which some have sought to place
him, that it is no part of his plan to offer reci-
procity in trade for this canal And am author
lied to say for him on the floor Of this House that
he intended no such thing in his message also .
that he is well satisfied with the resolution al
ready adopted by the House, which pronounces .
against any kind of a treaty regulating trade
with Canada. Now while all this is true, he vet
feels, if Vermont can secure the cheap water
communication with the West which this canal
would afford, it will indeed be grand thing for
the State. And, sir, in this the Governor is al
together right.
But, says one, what inducement can we offer
Canada as an equivalent for the expenses Of this
canal, which is estimated at about So, 900, 600;
not ltrgt sum, to be sure, in view Of the great
advantages which would flow from it. but still
something. The inducement, sir, is ample the
equivalent is ample 1t is this Let the Gov
eminent offer to enlarge the Champlain canal,
which connects Lake Champain at Whitehall
with tide water on the Hudson, as proposed by the
resolution before Us, in case New York will con-
sent, and Of this there can be no doubt and
then, sir with a few thousand dollars expended
in deepening the outlet Of Lake Champlain,
steamer Of seven or eight hundred tons burthen
could clear at New York tor Chicago. touching
At the intermediate ports of Albany, Whitehall,
Burlington. Montreal, Ogdensburgh, Buffalo and
Detroit This Is no mere vision, sir. IL Is every
way practicable, and would involve, on our part,
the charging Of only sixty-two miles Of canal
from seven feet, its present depth, to ten feet,
and proportionate widening, which would prob
ably cost not exceeding $4,000, 900. l say, let {
our Government make this offer to Canada, and
believe she will not be found dead to her inter .
asts. The merchant Of Montreal and the farmer
1trrrsf e fba val Will
lnce see the advantage Of being placed in direct
water communication with New York. the best
market in the world, to which, by means Of cheap q
they could ship their lumber and
lreadstuffs and other merchandise in a Canadian ,
iessel, entering their cargo at Burlington the
way for duties, which could be much higher than
hey now are, and yet the shipper would realize
more than now, because Of the great expense Of
transportation. Not only would Canada be thus
,eneftted-which with the immense tolls such 4
anal would yield, would furnish sufficient in
lucement for its construction-but all New
England and New York would rejoice in cheap
transportation which would save, according to
he estimate Of the Governor in his message,
, $4,000 annually to Vermont on the article of
Jour alone; and in addition to this the great
Northwest would then have an ample outlet for :
he products Of her inexhaustible soil 7
But while all this is true Of these different :
ections which would be sure to Join in the en- :,
erprise if invited, the resolution proposes,
Who can fail to see the incalculable advantages =
which would accrue to Vermont through ship
with the seaboard and the lakes. !,
burlington would then be in direct water COM :,
with Chicago and New York, and =
be receiving and supplying depot for both, and =
n herself a great mart Of trade Other ports !,
md cities would spring up along Lake Cham :
lain which would receive their share Of the :,
rade that would as a result there find a centre u
Iot only this, but along the entire Western slope
f the Green Mountains the busy hum Of man a
featuring industry would be heard. The banks n
f every little mountain stream that now flows y
invoked to the lake, would be lined with the u
Torkshop, the factory and the mill. Then, sir, =
otton could be shipped without breaking bulk :,
irectly from Charleston on Savannah, and man y
featured anywhere along Lake Champlain, and y
he manufactured article shipped directly to the y
Vest for the supply of her teeming millions -
Vermont would then no longer be an agricul- y
nral State merely, celebrated, as the gentleman :
rom St Adams said, for the production Of butter -
nd cheese,-l believe | have sometimes /,
card added TO those products, fine horses and n
eautiful women, and, Mr.. Speaker, should ~
ope that the ship canal project would not in -
erfere with any of these productions, especially -
be latter-l say, instead Of being celebrated for -
lese productions alone, she would become emf !,
ent for her manufactures and her commerce. =
instead of being simply an inland State, as she -
ow is, along two-thirds her entire Western -
mits would float the commerce of continent '"
its inward and outward fiux. Vermont capt. HI
Il would then build sea going vessels on the
iore Of Lake Champlain, and with cargo of I'll
ermont manufactures and products, could
ear for Liverpool or London Our State would
len be not only the gem of the mountains, but
ould stretch out her arms toward the sea and III
lie with other States for the supremacy of the
eep
This scheme is indeed grand one and prom wi
es grand results to Vermont 1t is, withal, VI
very way practicable, and the real demand for
reaper and more ample transportation between
de water and the great Northwest will, be- II,
eve, secure its early realizatons ;Gentlemen may "a
ronounce il chimerical They NAV indulge in -