GOVERNOR Clinton's visit. 27:1 



perity of our people, have induced us to detail circumstances, 

 otherwise not worthy of a place in our work. Our citizens were 

 apprehensive, that is many of them, that the state was not 

 able to make our canals, without involving us in a debt, which 

 would forever oppress us. To all such persons, Mr. Clinton, 

 stated, that the money could be borrowed for six per cent inter- 

 est, or even less, on a credit, until the canals would pay for 

 themselves. 



He farther stated it as his opinion, "that when our canals were 

 made, even if they had cost five millions of dollars, they would 

 be worth three times that sumj that the increased price of our 

 productions, in twenty years would be worth five millions of 

 dollars; that the money saved on the transportation of goods, 

 to our people, during the same period, would be five millions 

 of dollars, and that the canals would finally by their tolls, re- 

 fund their entire cost, principal and interest.^' These state- 

 ments, coming from such a source, satisfied the minds of thous- 

 ands, who were doubtless opposed originally, to our canals. 

 And there were many who lived quite distant from the canal 

 routes, and felt fearful, that they would be called on to pay 

 heavy taxes for what would never benefit themselves. To such 

 he said, "that the general prosperity would reach them, and that 

 the contemplated canals would make others, in almost endless 

 progression. That our canals would be bonds of union, bind- 

 ing the states together." And he called on all our people, "to 

 elevate their views, to that period, when Ohio, from her very 

 position, in the nation; from her soil, more fertile than any 

 other; from her mild and genial climate; and finally, from our 

 very constitution, which forever excludes slavery, and the enter* 

 prise and energy of our people, such as no other people ever 

 possessed;" from these considerations he ai-gued and convincedj 

 our whole people, that our canals should then be prosecuted to 

 completion. 



DeWitt Clinton, in his person, was large and robust, and^ 

 take him all in all, was the best looking man, that this nation 

 ever produced. For our people to behold such a man, standing 

 before them; a man, who in despite of a constant oppogition to 



