Year: 1868

canal mentioned by the governor in
his message, and by him fully describ-
ed.


And here wish to say that in view
of this subject, as taken by the gov
ernor, is broad and statesmanlike. 1t
is not the enterprise of the governor
alone, but it is also advocated by 9th
er men, high in official position in
both Canada and the United States.
| wish also to say in behalf of the gov
ernor, and in his vindication from the
false position in which some have
sought to place him, that it is no part
of his plan to offer reciprocity in trade
for this canal. And I am authorized
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 already
adopted by the house, which pronoun-
ces against any kind of treaty regu-
lating trade with Canada. Now while
all this is true, he yet feels, if Yer
mont can secure the cheap water COM
munication with the west which this
canal would afford, it will indeed be
grand thing for the state And, sir,
In this the governor is altogether right


But says one, what inducement can
we offer Canada as an equivalent for
the expense of this canal, which is
estimated at about $3,000,OO0; not a
large sum, to be sure, in view of the
great advantages which would flow
from it, but still something. The in
ducement, sir, is ample; the equiva-
lent is ample. 1t is this: Let the
government offer to enlarge the Cham
plain canal, which connects Lake
Champlain a t Whitehall with tide
water on the Hudson, as proposed by
the resolution before US, in case New
York will consent, and of this there
can be no doubt; and then, sir, with a
few thousand dollars expended in
deepening the outlet of Lake Cham
plain, steamer of seven or eight hun.
dred tons burthen could clear at New
York for Chicago, touching at the in
termediate ports of Albany, Whitehall,
Burlington, Montreal, Ogdensburgh
and Detroit. This is no mere vision,
sir. 1t is every way practicable, and
would involve, on our part, the en-
iarging of only sixty-two miles of ca
nal, from seven feet, its present depth,
to ten feet, and proportionate wide
ming, which would probably cost not
exceeding $3,000,000. l 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 lum-
0ermen of the Ottawa valley. will at
once see the advantage of being placed
in direct water communication with
New York, the best market in the
to which, by means of cheap trans
pOrtation, they could ship their lum.
ber and breadstuffS and other mer.
ChandiSe in a Canadian vessel. en-.
tering their cargo at Burlington on
the way for duties, which could be
much higher than they now are, and
yet the shipper would realize more
than now, because Of the great expense
of transportation. Not only would
Canada be thus benefited - which
with the immense tolls such a canal
would yield, would. furnish sufficient
inducement for its cOnstruction-but
all New England and New York would
reJoicel IN cheap transportation which
would save, according to the estimate
of the governor in his message, $50
900 annually to Vermont on the ar
ticle of -four 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 these
different sections which would be sure
to join the enterprise if invited, as the
resolution proposes, 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 communica.
tion with Chicago and New York, land
the receiving and supplying depot for
both, and in herself a great mart of
trade. Other ports and cities would
spring up along Lake Champlain which
would receive their share of the trade
that would as a result there find a cen.
ter. Not only this, but along The en-.
tire western slope of the Green Noun
tains the busy hum OF manufacturing
industry would be heard. The banks
of every little mountain stream that
now flows unvexed 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 Sa.
vannah, and manufactured anywhere
along Lake Champlain, and the man.
ufactured article shipped directly to
the west for the supply other teeming
millions.


The reason, sir, why Vermont has
never been able to engage proftably
in manufactures, is because of her
great distance from tide water and
the great expense attending the tran.
sit by rail, in the first place, of the
raw material into our State, and ther
the expense OF shipping the manutact
ured article back again to market
all of which would be saved by the
construction of the Caughnawaga ca
nal and the enlargement of the Cham
plain canal, as proposed. Vermont
would then no longer be an agricul