252 HISTORY OF OHIO. 



and roads, passing through our coal aud iron regions, would 

 render those mines very valuable, then almost useless. That 

 our rich soil and its productions, would, by means of these 

 improvements, render us wealthy, enterprising and prosper- 

 ous." Having originally advocated our admission into the 

 Union; having been our warm friend, always, even in our 

 darkest days, gave him peculiar claims to our confidence. He 

 stood before the nation, as the principal supporter of Internal 

 Improvements. He was their earliest advocate, whose success- 

 ful career, drew all eyes towards him. 



Assailed at home, by a combination of little men, who envi- 

 ed his greatness, he nevertheless, moved forward in his course, 

 with giant strides, conquering all opposition until he had uni- 

 ted the western lakes, with the Atlantic ocean. The people 

 of Ohio saw, with wonder and admiration, the progress of 

 what, was truly considered, at that day, a stupendous work. 

 The completion, of the " Clinton canal," (as all, but New 

 Yorkers, will forever call it,) dispelled all doubts, about the 

 practicability of connecting Lake Erie with the Ohio river. 

 The great question was solved. In effect, it was doxe. 



Before this time, Ohio always professed to believe, in the 

 practicability of the New York canal. When Clinton and his 

 early associates, in the winter of 1812, perhaps, applied to 

 the states, for aid in making tho great New York canal, Ohio, 

 even then, answered, " that she believed in the practicability 

 of making such a canal, and that New York, and her Clinton 

 could effect it; but, that Ohio, had no money to spare, yet 

 she would cheerfully do all she could in aid of that project, 

 in congress, by her votes and influence." To all the appli- 

 cations of New York, to congress; to the several states, and 

 territories, on this subject, only one, truly friendly answer was 

 returned to them; and, with pride and pleasure we record it; 

 that answer was given by the General Assembly of Ohio. 



Governor Clinton, never forgot that answer, nor did his 

 friends in New York forget it. From that time to this, Clin- 

 ton''s friends, in congress, from New York, have, generally, 

 been friendly to us, whereas, his enemies of that stato, have, 



