494 [Assembly 



The money expended upon the Lachine and Cornwall canals would 

 be sufficient to render the navigation of the upper and lower rapids 

 of the Mississippi safe and easy; and the money expended upon the 

 Rideau canal, an improvement of inferior importance, would com- 

 plete the canal from Chicago to the head of steamboat navigation 

 on the Illinois river; thereby opening a communication between the 

 great lakes and the Mississippi river; an immense improvement, in 

 the highest degree honorable to the country, and beneficial to every 

 State in the Union, more particularly to those of the South. 



In making appropriations, however, for those great western im- 

 provements, there is danger that Congress may go to excess, as the 

 British Government has undoubtedly done in making theirs. Let the 

 western members of Congress advocate reasonable appropriations for 

 such improvements on our great lakes and rivers as would be deemed 

 constitutional if made on our sea-cosat, and they will meet with a 

 cordial support from the members of the Atlantic states, — and by 

 their joint and harmonious action, the most efficient measures may be 

 adopted for the success of domestic commerce and the promotion of 

 the general welfare. But the harmony necessary for all this will 

 probably be interrupted by the incessant agitation of a deep laid plan, 

 by means of laws for graduating the price of the public lands, or 

 otherwise, to deprive the old states of their proj)er share of the pub- 

 lic domain, of inestimable value, and obtained at the expense of their 

 blood and treasure. 



To correct all this, and to prevent new causes of jealousy between 

 the old and new states, the Chicago Convention seemed highly expe- 

 dient, and will be attended with the most salutary effects. 



This convention should have been free from all party considera- 

 tions; yet such just suspicions were entertained that party views with 

 respect to the next Presidential election prevailed in calling it, that 

 some of the best friends of the avowed objects of the convention 

 stand aloof for the present. And certain circumstances afford some 

 grounds for such suspicions. All the prominent candidates for the 

 Presidency were written to, for the purpose of ^obtaining their opin- 

 ions; somewhat after the manner of the last Baltimore Convention. 

 And facts occurred at the convention, showing distinctly, that party 

 Tiews were entertained by a few who attended; but the designs of a 

 great majority of them were truly patriotic, and such as should com- 

 mand the confidence of all parties, in every section of our country. 



