Evening star., 1901-05-18

hand We come upoHcevidenceS of Wash
lngton's conviction OF the great impor-
tance of facilitating 5the intercourse with
the west which he ra1pped to accomplish
through the medium of rendering possible
the navigation of the Potomac river to
Wills creek, and thence a connection
across the great intervening mountains by
common roads. as att that time it had not
been ascertained whether not a con-
tinuous canal would bbe practicable. By
this means must the trade which would in
the future grow to 'efiormity on account
of the immense extent of fertile territory,
beyond the Alleghanfes opening an mex
haustible field for Successful enterprise,
and thus assuring to industry certain re-
ward for it's labors. be diverted from Spain,
which at that time held the mouth of the
Mississippi, or from the English, who were
masters of the st. Lawrence Unless Sc
cured to our country by artificial lines of
communication, this trade would never
enrich us, but those whose interests were
Numerically opposed to ours.
The leaders of the day looked with grave
apprehension upon the possibilities OF the
situation, and none more so than Cen
Washington, who, in a letter to Benjamin
Harrison of Virginia, goes on to say: Make
easy for them the way, and then see what
an influx of articles will be poured in upon
us; how amazingly our exports will be In
creased by them, and how amply we shall
be compensated for any trouble or expense
We may encounter to effect it. The
western inhabitants would do their part
once 1t was begun; weak as they are, they
would meet us half way rather than be
driven into the arms Of foreigners, or be
made dependent on them; which would
eventually bring a separation of them to
US, or war between the United States and
one of the other powers 1t would
accomplish the purpose of attracting the
western country, and convince the waVer-
ing inhabitants of disposition to con-
meet ourselves with them, and facilitate
their commerce with u.s.
At Richmond and Annapolis.
Now at last does this great scheme of in
ternal Improvement begin to assume some
practicable form and to shape itself so that
those who were interested in its materfali-
zation could begin to see some fruits of
their labors.
The letter to Gov. Harrison of Virginia,
from which 1 have quoted, was commune
Gated by him to the legislature Of his state
and attracted the attention its Importance
warranted While the members were con-
sidering it, Gen Washington, accompanied
by the Marquis de Lafayette, his old COM
rade in arms during the revolutionary war,
and who was now on visit to this coun-
try, paid a visit to Richmond.
The concurrence of the state of Maryland
with that of Virginia was essential to the
formation of company with the powers
required as the Potomac river within
the limits of that state (Maryland). At
last the interest of his own state had been
aroused and her aid promised for the fur
therance of the company's ends But the
obstacle of the consent Of yet another state
remained to be overcome. ProcraStination
was not a fault or folly of this man, who
had the interests of this scheme so close
at heart, so he struck while the iron was
hot Leaving Richmond, he at once re-
paired to Annapolis, the capital of Mary
land, in whose state house he had SO short
ly before resigned the great stewardship
to which he had been so successfully faith
ful-his commission as commander-in-ch chief
n h0 ,tc do fny To
still accompanied him, and no doubt in
quiet but less effective way assisted his
old chief to secure the legislative assent
which was so necessary to the realization
of his plans.
The citizens of Annapolis were no less
enthusiastic or cordial in their welcome
to these two distinguished men than had
been those of her sister capital; nor was
the legislature of Maryland any the less
willing than that of her neighborng state
to now do everything in it's power to fur
ther their views.
Having been promised the cooperation
of Maryland, Washington returned to
Mount Vernon, and on the following day
addressed a letter to Joseph Jones and
James Madison, esq, who were members
of the Virginia legislature in which he gave
the result of his visit to Annapolis, and ex-
| planned most fully his views in regard to
| the matter in hand He recommends in
| this letter that the legislatures of Virginia
| and Maryland shall appoint deputies, and
that these deputies shall meet in confer
| ence and agree upon the provisions of a
| bill that would receive the favorable assent
| of both states. The recommendation was,
without delay, acted upon by the Virginia
| legislature and they at once appointed Cen
eral Washington, General Gates and Colonel
| Blackburn to proceed to Annapolis and
| there meet in conference with such gen
| tlemen as the Legislature Of Maryland
should appoint. General Washington and
! General Gates at once went to Annapolis
Colonel Blackburn was unwell and unable
| to go. Upon arrival there they made known
| the object of their visit to the legislature,
| which was then in session. The Maryland
| lawmakers looked with considerable favor
| upon their proposition and appointed as
| their conferees the following distinguished
Marylanders: John Carroll Of Carrollton,
| John Cadwallader, Samuel Chase, John De-