Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-07-05

REMARKS q GEN. WILLIAM W. CIRCUIT, OF
BARTON, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TIvrs yny % 1853

iht
REMARKS q CEN. WILLIAM W. CIRCUIT, OF
BARTON, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TyEs, NOV. %, 1865
On the Joint Resolution relating to navi cation and
transportation between the Dominica of Canada
and the United States, to be regulated by treaty
or otherwise; also urgiag upon the general gov
crnment TO secure the construction if possible, of
ship canal connecting Lake Champlain with the
81. Lawrence, aud to offer Canada in exchange
therefor TO enlarge the Cbamplain canal, and
make the use of the two reciprocal.
Mr.. SPEAKER The subject of better ia
cilities 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 Northwestern States.
The work which the resolution will perform,
ii any, il it Is adopted, will he that of call
ing attention to the subject in those States
which maniiestly have an interest in the en-
tcrrriSe. in the hope that such an agitation
and discussion of the matter will follow as to
secure the result aimed at. Intimately con-
nec;ed with this question, and in fact, con-
stituting part OF it, il that of intercommu-
ncation generally with Canada, and the
right to il safe transit by land of the mer-
chandize of each country across the territory
of the other; also the reciprocal right to a
free navigation OF the waters, and recip-
rocal use Of the canals of the two countries.
At glance ii will he seen that this subject
is broad one, involving C. great variety of
into r. -, In Ia 81 l.t1
Canada and the United States.
But. says one, what inducement can we
offer Canada as an equivalent for the ex-
pense Of this canal which is estimated at
about 50 ,00O, 900; not a large sum. to be
sure, in view of the great advantages which
would 1Ow from it, hut still some
thing. The inducement, sir, is ample the
equivalent is ample. 1t is this Let
the government offer to enlarge the Cham
plain canal which connects Lake Champlain
at Whitehall with tide water on the Hud-
son, As proposed by the resolution before US,
in eGse New York will assent, and of this
there can he 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 for Chicago, touching at
the intermediate ports of Albany, White
hall. Burlington, Montreal, 0gdensburg,
Buffalo and Detroit. This is no vision, sir.
1t is every way practicable, and would in
volve, on our part, the charging of only 62
miles of canal from seven iect, its present
depth, to ten feet, and proportionate widen
ing, which would probably cost not exceed
ing Sc 900 600. say. let our Government
make this offer to Canada, and believe she
will not be found dead to her interests. The
merchant of Montreal, and the farmer and
the lumberman Of the Ottawa valley, will at
once see the advantage of being placed in d.
rect water communication with New York,
the best market in the world, to which, by
means of cheap transportation, they could
ship their lumber and breadstuhs and other
merchandise in a Canadian vessel, entering
their cargo at Burlington on the way, for du
ties, which could be much higher than they
now are and yet the shipper would realize
more than now, because of the great ex-
pense of transportation. Not only would
Canada be thus beneftted-which with the
immense tolls such canal would yield
would furnish sufficient inducement for its
construction-but all New England and New
York would rejoice in cheap transportation !;
which would save, according to the estimate
of the Governor in his message, $50, 900 an
nually to Vermont on the article of flour
alone; and in addition to this, the great
Northwest would then have an ample outlet
for the products of her inexhaustible soil.
But while all this is true of those different |
sections which would be sure to Join in the |
enterprise il invited, as the resolution pro-
poses, who can fail to see the incalculable |
advantages which would accrue to Vermont |
through ship communication with the sea-
board and the lakes. Burlington would then |
be in direct water communication with Chi |
cago and New York, and the receiving and |
supplying depot for both, and in herself q |
great mart Of trade. Other ports and cities |
would spring up along LakeC hamplain which |
would receive their share of the trade that |
would as a result there find a centre. Not |
only this, but along the entire west
ern slope Of the Green Mountains the busy
hum of manufacturing industry would be
heard. The banks of every little mountain
stream that now flows unnOticed to the lake,
would be lined with the workshop, the fac
tory and the mill. Then, sir, cotton could |
be shipped without breaking bulk directly
from Charleston or Savannah, and manufac-
tured anywhere along Lake Champlain, and
the manufactured article shipped directly to
the West for the supply of her teeming mil
lions.
The reason, sir, why Vermont has never
been able to engage probably in manufac-
lures, is because of her great distance from
tide water and the great expense attending
the transit by rail- in the first place, of the
raw material into our State, and then the
expense Of shipping the manufactured article
back again to market, all Of which would be
saved by the construction of the Caughna-
waga canal and the enlargement OF the
Champlain canal, As proposed. Vermont
would then no longer be an agricultural
State merely, celebrated, as the gentleman
from St Adams said, for the production OF
butter and cheese. | believe have some
lines heard added to those products, fine
horses and beautiful women. and Mr.. Speak
~, | should hope that the ship canal project
would not interfere with any OF those pro-
luctions, and trust it will not. say, in
tead of being celebrated for those produc-
ions alone, she would become eminent for
Ter manufactures and her commerce. Instead
# being simply an inland State, as she now
:, along two-thiris her entire western limits
would float the commerce of n continent in
Is inward and outward fu1. Vermont
apital would then build sea going vessels on
he shore of Lake Champlain, and with a
argo of Vermont manufactures and products
ould clear for Liverpool or LONDON. Our
state would then be not only the gem of the
but would stretch out her arms
owards the sea and vie with other States for
he supremacy of the deep.
This scheme is indeed a grand one, and
grand results to Vermont 1t is,
vithal, every way practicable, and the real
emand for cheaper and more ample traLs-
'ortation between tide water and the great l
Northwest will, believe, secure its early
and hope the Legislature will
dept the revolution. 1t may be the initial
tep in the accomplishment of this great
Tork. Gentlemen may pronounce it chi ,
lerical They may indulge in incorporate :
arangues and violent phillipics against .
'anada and tie Canadian population, and !
iay affect TO esteem as OF no account the
anadian good will. But, sir, it is unwise.
t is unstatesmanlike. They are our neigh
ors, and we should treat them as such. /.
'esides, AZ already shown. We are more de-
endent upon them for privileges In matters
navigation and transportation than they
re upon us. 1t is through the courtesy of a
ifc transit of wheat across their territory \
hat gentlemen ate biscuit with their tea
ais evening, and will cat rolls for breakfast I
morrow morning. And does this civility
lerit nothing better at our hands than in
Its and vituperatiye epithets?
Gentlemen are not only quite beside them
lives on this subject, but are inconsistent '
18th themselves. One moment they declare $
lc Canadas so poor that they are not worth t
aving, and the next they would have
1thing to 10 with them, thus compelling l
ZEN to ask for annexation. For one, sir, |
link we should let annexation take care OF G
self, and not confuse it with the important =
iestion before us. With some of our ablest -
atcsmen it is u matter of serious doubt
neither we really want Canada at all {; b
neither, with her cheap, birth-proud arts s.
crazy and her poverty stricken masses, she 81
ould not. il annexed, be to US more plague