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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent Ir m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 .>«• -■-I:^- 1* ' .« ^ lh^,j7) C i-^"^' ■^T- >•'>■> "A V' m- LETTER TO LORD DURHAM, AS 10 THE CANADAS AND THE UNITED STATES. IstJcNR, 1B38. ':^:S ''■■ i i" MM— jAib^^— — i— L,-^ "*" "Iffey"- ■■■■ ■■*"- /•.'« „-.wt*iff>.(^"ir t'4«iW-'- His," " ,--\ - ?«"* ^ f\ >-*'* •■'•'■' '< O fmmm "km- t ^fm ■(I-:" .y ' ■> ^ ,rl ^' ''■■ 51!''!-" .. -' J/: f, ■ i ■>■■• ■-'•:/■ ■V - ,1 f ..' ;y ■| mm. 1% >4 7: /i/^^ic^e^o A r.ETTER THE RIGHT HONOR EARL OF DURHAM, K. G. B. I.OIU) moil I'OMMISSIONKIl AND OOVERNOU IN CIUEP OF HER majesty's NOIiTII AMERICAN POSSESSIONS, &c, &v, &u. CALLING HIS L()RnSlIll''d ATTENTIO.V TO THE AnVASTAQEB TO RB DBHIVBD DV ALLOWING A FREE TRANSIT OF MERCHANDISE TIIBODOH CANADA TO •rriE STATK OP MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN TERRITORY; AS A MEANg OP PHESEHVING OUR FBIENDLY Ki:[-ATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES. WITH OBSERVATIONS AS TO THE RIVEK ST. LAWRENCC, FOn EXTENDING TIIK COMMERCE OP THE EMPIRE AND E>'ltICHINU THE CANADAS. By JAMES BUCHANAN, Esq. IIF.R MAJF.STV's CONSUI, FOK THE ST*TE OF NEW- YORK. 1838. w ■• is. M "'"*^**''ijr^l^ ""^KSSSPI^^^ ■ r ^^. ^'^\^^ f'^-lJ b55 *^ i^ To THE Right H^NonABLE THE EARL OF DURHAM, &e. Ae. &c. i^ ,. My Lord ; Oar gracious Queen having selected your Lordship, to restore peace and prosperity to the North American pos- sessions of her Majesty, as a subject and aged servant of her Majesty, I beg leave to submit the following pages to your Lordship's consideration. Deeply interested in the prosperity of the Canadas, con- vinced that those provinces must in time contain a great and powerful people, having adopted them as the country of my family, and my children and grand-children now residing in both provinces, all my interests are connected with the success of your Lordship's important mission. Moreover, I feel, as I trust every loyal subject will feel, a deep anxiety that, in all comparisons between subjection to the British Crown and any other form of government, the blessings to be found under the JEgis of the British Constitution will eventually afford that protection, stability, and permanency, which no other form of government ever yet excelled it in producing. That eiTors may be committed, that measures not exactly suitable to the present otate of the community may have been adopted, or that r'aims of the governed may have arisen and do exist, such are to be borne with, and alone constitutionally remedied by Parliamnnt ; but that such remedy is not to be- afforded, nor such relief to be experienced for the removal of any measure of a truly injurious tendency, the be ' evidence that can be offered in refutation is the fact of your Lordship's mission. That those who contend there are no causes of complaint, as well as those who allege that all the measures of those who rule, are such as no loyal subject should bear, are not to be re- ferred to, is very evident, from the violencj, the prejudice, and the injustice with Vt hich they assnil each other ; a violence \\ which, if countenanced on either side, must preclude the hope that your Lordship's mission should succeed to thr degree which it is my earnest prayer should be the issue. I regret that even threats are held out, that if your Lordship do not pursue the course which one party, laying claim to all the loyalty, de- mand, they will redress themselves. This is doubtless con- trary to the course which our gracious Queen would approve, a;id, from all that we know of your Lordship, such as you will not countenance. Bat, my Lord, without taking part with any who stand op- posed to each other in the provinces, and without regard to the violence of party feelings, in which I am iiappily nowise merged, I would respectfully call your Lordship's attention to objects which all who regard the pros[)erity of the provinces and are devoted to the British connexion will, I iiope, be united in promoting, — namely, the improvement of those natural ad- vantages which the Canadas possess, which stand unrivalled, which no other portions of this vast continent, nor any other country have so fully within their reach. My attention was early called to the subject irom having had the honor of being placed in this city to guard the com- mercial interests of our country. For twenty years I have not ceased to point out, and advocate the important results to Bri- tish commerce, to be derived from cultivating the resources of the St. Lawrence. Two years ago I set forth my views in a pamphlet, and, at the same time, I had the honor to address a letter to Sir Francis Bond Head, bearing on internal improve- ment, who warmly v tered into the sugf,estions which I took the liberty to submit. As many important subjects have, since and lately, arisen, I feel that I cannot more efiectually fulfil my public duties, as one of the guardians of British commerce, than by laying before your Lordship those views, adapted to the present change of circumstances ; on the other hand, as a laud proprietor in both provinces, and having children settles there, I feel that I cannot better serve the interests of those provirces, nor render a more acceptable offering to your Lord- ship than in presenting those objects thus early. It would be a vain affectation did I not avow that I have be- fore me other objects than such as merely relate to the im- ■' <^.T 'S provement of the provinces, and the prosperity of British com- merce, though they are intimately connected with my higher motives. My Lord, my loyalty and devotion to my Sovereign are not of yesterday, they form not a mere sunshine display. I passed through the Irish rebellion of 1798, I hope with ad- vantage io my country, honor to myself, and unflinching loy- alty ; theref'^' -■ I feel indifferent to the censure of those whe regard hostility to the United States as a proof of devotion to our gracious Queen, as well as those who condemn mc for my clemency to the Rebels, in being opposed to making political martyrs by sanguinary punishment, when the supremacy of the law is established. I have ever borne my testimony against the course pursued all along the frontier, as unjust, un- generous, and disgraceful to every citizen who took part in it ; yet I have felt it due to General Scott, his Excellency Gov- ernor Marcy of this state, and others, to bear my testimony to their honorable, energetic, and efficient efforts, in repressing the disgraceful and misdirected efforts of the border citizens in affording aid, protection, 'and assistance, in a most foul and unprovoked rebellion, against their unoffending neighbors. a time of profound peace. Those who know any thing of the evil bearing of universal suffrage, will alone be able to do jus- tice to those distinguished individuals, unsupported, as they were, without law, or troops of the United States Army, to meet the crisis. But, I pray your Lordship to pardon this di- gression. In addition to the motives and obiocts alreadv enumerated, I have a most earnest desire to preserve our friendly relations with the United States. I do not say that the latter are defi- cient in a nice delicacy of honor, yet I wish to draw them by the cords of profit, of gain, and privileges. Most other coun- tries and people have a class of statesmen who think for them, who keep— to use a sailor's phrase — " a good look-out ;" but having lived now twenty -two years among the citizens of this great commercial emporium, among whom I have many cher» ished friendships, and by whom myself and family have uni- formly been treated with marked kindness, I have abundant reason to be convinced that the whole community look out for themselves and for their government also; and such is their in- mm s 6 timate intercourse, that not an idea floats in the mind of any citizen but it is wafted by .the next post to government, and if no notice be taken of it there, still the world will hear of it. As an evidence of this, [ beg leave my Lord to set forth six texts, circulated during the late rebellion in Canada, intelligible to the whole community without any elaborate discussion ; and, my Lord, let us not be deceived ; their importance will not be lost sight of, unless British interests are lost sight of. They are as follows, viz : *' Canadian Independence. As Americans we cannot shut our eyes to what we are to gain by the independence of the Canadas, even while we urge upon the government its duty of strict neutrality. " 1. An eternal fence from European attack in the rear and flank of Maine, New-Hampshire, Vermont, New- York, Penn- sylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconshi. " 2. A settlement, without trouble of the north eastern boun- dary question. " 3. The free navigation of the St. Lawrence, (almost as im- portant to the Northern States, as the Mississippi is to the Southern and Western.) and then the iVee navigation of the St. Johns, is of the highest importance to Maine. " 4:. The Fisheries, — free and equal privileges in them ; a strengthening of our marine, and the crippling of the British marine. " 5. The end of the British monopoly of the fur trade, and the settlement of many disputes we must sooner or later have about this trade in the Missouri Territory, on the Columbia river ; for with the loss of the Canadas, British empire is lost in America. "6. The addition of thousands of miles of a new interior to the city of New- York; the union by canal of New- York har- bor with the St. Lawrence river; oar own city, our own wharves, our own ships, our own merchants, our own labor- ers, made the channels and the agents of all the trade of the immensr British possessions, in the interior of North America. " These, it strikes us, are great questions, which no Ameri- can can close his eyes to." IS'ew-York Express, (news- paper.) -r^ a 4 Let no British subject treat this as visionary : there is I nnay lay universally cherished in the hearts of the citizens of the United States, supremacy, ascendency, conquest, complete do- minion from sea to sea. Universal suffrage, and democracy, admit not of a superior, are the worst species of tyranny, and therein is alone beheld the weakness of the United States, their sure and certain overthrow ; and such is the avowed convic- tion of not a few of the most distinguished citizens. But, apart from systems of government, an opportunity is at present afforded of exhibiting the blessings of a monarchi- cal government, and it will mark your Lordship's mission with a stamp, that will endu re as long as the English name is known either for praise or regret. In the following pages I have set forth the efforts which the citizens of the several states are making, to draw the trade of the vast territory of the West and Lakes to their quarter. My aim and object has been, to lead that trade by the natural outlet, the St. Lawrence, the advan- tages of which I am solicitous to lay before your Lordship, so that by causing Upper Canada to contribute to the accommo- dation of the growing population in the quarters referred to, such will in turn become profitable to Canada. With the most perfect confidence I venture to state, that no portion of her Majesty's dominions affords such important advantages, not only in its political bearing to the empire but to the inhabitants, as well as to those also who shall embark their capital in the public works and rail roads, by which the immense traffic is to be carried on. But in a political point of view I am truly de- sirous that the citizens of Pennsylvania adjoining Lake Erie, those of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, the vast territory of Wisconsin, and part of the state of New-York, should all feel the value and importance of a free transit to and across the province to New-York and Boston, and by the St. Lawrence to the Atlantic, so that their interests should be connected with that route ; from which a continued peace between England and the United States would most certainly be preserved. My most anxious wish has been, that not only every facility but every reasonable advantage should be freely granted to those citizens, so as to connect their interests with the preservation of peace and amity with England ; foi , so long as the latter Ilold t;. 8 Quebec, the privilege of the river navigation will depend on peace with her : wherefore I rejoice that the truest policy of England accords with fostering both the prosperity of Canada and the interest of the citizens in the states referred to. My Lord, the completion of the Ship Canal, now in operation on the St. Lawrence, and the rail-roads in Upper Canada, will not cost the upholding five thousand British troops in Canada, with these means of preserving the loyalty, promoting the prosperity and peace of the provinces, and securing the friend- ship of the citizens, your Lordship will effect what the whole armed force of England, without thus interesting the people could not accomplish. My Lord, it is much to be deprecated, that Upper Canada, with her vast capabilities, should sink so low in comparison with the adjoining states. Let the cause be fairly investigated ; let it not be charged to her Majesty, nor to the people. The Queen has not more devoted, loyal, and highly valuable subjects than Upper Canada furnishes ; but, my Lord, we must not deceive ourselves, the present genera- tion are fresh from the United Kingdom, they have ties for which their children will not possess the same veneration, there* fore British rule, British laws and institutions, must not be al- lowed to lose in the scale of comparison ; contrasted with the adjacent states, a dominant church, whatever men may tnink or say, will not be endured on this side of the Atlantic ; grant lands, as Sir Francis Head proposed, to all, draw all around the throne, so that all may defend it. Let Canada exhibit not only toleration, but a liberal support to all Christian ministers, as there cannot be any real national prosperity but what is based upon the pure principles of unadulterated Christianity. With this free expression of my sentiments, openly and fully ex- posed, I now proceed to submit to your Lordship the sub- stance of my former pamphlet on the subject, with such alte- rations as circumstances demand. , That I may not estimate too highly the capabilities Canada possesses, I prefer submitting the estimate in which our ad- vantages are held by our neighbors. ■c anT- . - a r ir.-— REASONS, &c. Extracts from Resolutions and various publications in relation to tlie rajiidly rising Commerce of the West. " Looking at the St. Lawrence, — that river was not made to accommodate the cities and villages on its border, but the river is the mother which has produced those cities and villages, — it has produced all the commerce which floats on its surface, the most powerful steam-boats that ever were employed. Looking at the Western lakes and at the fertile territory of which they arc the centre, we may safely predict, that these lakes are to become the scenes of a mightier inland commerce than the world ever before witnessed." — Lower Canada paper, " That in view of the unparalleled increase in the population and productions of the Western states and territories, and par- ticularly in view of the spirited and wisely directed efforts making in our sister states* and the Canadian provinces, to draw the trade of the Western country from its accustomed route (the Erie Canal) to new channels leading to the sea-ports of other states, it is indispensably necessary to prevent a com- petition with the canals and rail-ways of the Canadas, Pennsyl- vania, and Maryland, which would prove highly injurious to the city of New-York." — New-York paper. " It is truly said, that from the stupendous increase in the resources of the Western states, other channels of a more ample and perfect kind will be needed." — Ohio Sentinel. ♦' Owing to the rapid increase of the Western states in wealth and power, other channels of commerce must be resorted to." Ind. Journal. " The truth is, we have not fully appreciated the future growth of the great interior of our country. On the West and [■ ' Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. ? '» ll m 10 North-west WG have tho valleys of the Mississippi and St. Law- rence, which fvre unrivalled in extent and fertility of soil, offer- ing all the inducements of a healthful and temperate climate, free government, and among the most valued privileges, no dominant church, nor exclusive claim to olhce or favor, by reason of a particular creed." — New-York paper. " The combined cost of enlarging the Erie Canal and a Ship Canal from Oswego to Albany, will not vary much from, twent}' millions of dollars. — Appeal to the Representatives of New-York. These are a few of the many extracts I might adduce in re- lation to the views universally held as to the importance of the growing commerce of the West I have not set forth any extracts from the papers of Pennsylvania and Maryland, nor from those of Illinois and New-Orleans, yet sufficient is pre- sented to rouse all who are interested in the prosperity of Canada and the promotion of British interests, to give imme- diate and serious consideration to the subject. The two mighty rivers which embrace and fertilize the territories to which I wish to draw attention, may be regarded as two great leading arteries sustaining and diffusing life and prosperity to and amoni^ all the lands adjoining the lakes, rivers, and streams tributar\ to the formation of those mighty absorbing arteries. But it is admitted that the St. Lawrence, from its more im- mediate connexion with the great lakes, or, as they are called, inland seas, embraces a more extended and extending popula- tion, whose energies have no example in former times, and which arc mainly promoted by the spirit of enturprizc called forth by the genius of that truly great man, Do Witt Clinton, whose name is now inscribed on not only the public works, but on the hearts of every patriotic citizen of the state of New- York, whose comprehensive mind looked forward to the mighty resources of the West, and who, with the improvement of his native state, infused life, vigor, and a spirit of improvement into the surrounding states. Around these inland seas, a cluster of five great states is rapidly rising. Tho territory which they comprise, and which is to become tributary to the canal, embraces that great area extending from the lakes on the North to the Ohio, on the South, II and from the Western confines of this state to the Upper Mis- sissippi, and containing 280,000 square miles. To measure its extent by well known objects, it is fifteen times as large as the state of New-York, West of the county of Oneida, — nearly twice as large as the kingdom of France, and about six times as extensive as the whole of England. It contains 180 millions of arable land, a large proportion of which is of surpassing fertility. The productive power of this region, and its capability of supplying tonnage for export, are greatly strengthened by the facilities which it enjoys for cheap and easy transportation. In this respect, no country on the face of the globe enjoys greater natural advantages, for it is nearly encircled by navi- gable waters, and its broad area is intersected, in numerous directions, by streams furnishing ample means of conveyance, while unusual facilities for the construction of canals and other artificial channels of communication are afforded by the level and uniform character of its surface. These being its geographical advantages, it needs only the requisite population to experience the full developement of its original resources. Its progress in this respect has been truly surprising. In 1816, Ohio was the only organized state go- vernment within its limits. In that year, Indiana, having ob- tained the requisite number of sixty thousand inhabitants, en- tered the union and took its place by the side of Ohio. Illinois and Michigan were then distant and feeble territories, with a few settlers thinly scattered over their broad surface, — while Wisconsin, unknown even by name, was an undistinguished portion of the great North-western Territory. In the brief period of twenty-ono years such has been the influx of popu- lation into this great district, that Ohio, the eldest member in this brotherhood of nations, now numbers 1,400,000 inhabitants, Indiana upwards of 600,000, Illinois and Michigan (both of which have organized their governments and come into the union) 700,000 — while West of Lake Michigan not only is Wisconsin rapidly rising, but even beyond the Upper Missis- sippi 30,000 citizens have already laid the foundation of yet another state. Such is the onward march of this population, that the amount of ita annual increase alone exceeds in num- I 12 ber the white inhabitants of ten of the states of the union. The population already embraced within the district in ques* tion falls little short of three millions, and if the same rate of progress shall be maintained for the twelve years next to come, 6y the year 1856 it will probably exceed six millions. This group of inland states has two outlets for its trade to the ocean ; one by the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, the other through Lake Erie and the navigable communications of this state, to the Atlantic. Whether it be attributable to simi- larity of origin, or laws, or habits, or to ties of consanguinity, or superior salubrity of climate, this people evidently prefer the market on the Atlantic ; and they are making prodigious eiTorts to reach it. Three great canals, one of them longer than the Erie Canal, and embracing in their aggregate length about one thousand miles, are to connect the Ohio with Lake Erie, while another deep and capacious channel, excavated for nearly thirty miles through solid rock, unites Lake Michigan with the navigable waters of the Illinois. In addition to these broad avenues of trade, they arc also constructing lines of rail- road, not less than fifteen hundred miles in extent, in order to reach with more ease and speed the lakes, through which they seek a conveyance to the sea-board. The undaunted resolu- tion of this energetic race of men, is strikingly evinced by the fact, that the cost of the great works which they have thus un- dertaken, (and most of which arc in actual progress) will ex- ceed forty-eight millions of dollars, a sum far exceeding all that New-York, with two millions of inhabitants, and two hundred years of accumulated wealth, has ever attempted. The circumstance moreover is particularly iinijortant, that the public works of each of these great communiiics are arranged on a harmonious plan, each having a main line supported and enriched by lateral and tributary branches, thereby bringing the industry of their whole people into prompt and profitable action, while the systems themselves are again united on a grander scale in a series of systen)s comprising an aggregate length of more than two thousand five hundred miles, with Lake Erie as its common centre. The various portions of this vast work are now in a train of rapid construction. Indiana alone has six thousand men in ■ wiiirT mrr^ft, \1 J 13 her employ, and Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan, arc making cor- respondent cfTorts : so that it may bo confidently predicted that within seven years from this time, the whole inland trade of that broad region around the lakes will crowd the entrance of the Erie Oanal, on its way to the Atlantic. Now, in connexion with the foregoing, as it will directly lead to the conclusions which I am anxious to educe, I shall quote a passage from the shrewd and intelligent report of Mr. E. Johnson, Chief Engineer of the " Niagara and Detroit Rail- Road Company," made last year to the President and Direc- tors of that Company. His views on the subject are clear, and his observations are luminous : and it is no small satisfac- tion to me to have the weight of such opinions in corroboration of my own. " The shrewd, watchful and active inhabitants of the United States, adjacent to your province, or at least within the reach of the attraction of your road, are projecting improvements in all directions, and are thriving and multiplying rapidly, under the burdens of an out-lay for roads and canals, beyond all former precedent. In past times the world has never witness- ed such facilities of intercourse as now every where awaits the use of man. This is partly the ellcct, and partly the cause of a universal activity, so animated as almost to make nations giddy. " The spirit of these improvements has been most effica- ciously developed in New- York, which has already opened very easy channels of intercourse from all her most important positions to your borders. In her train, New-England on the East, and Pennsylvania and Ohio on the South, have followed with energetic emulation. And the new states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, with the territory of Wisconsin, all in- creasing as by enchantment, are pursuing a policy which can- not fail to connect the South-west and West with your pro- vincial improvements by numerous and profitable reciproca- tions of business and intercourse. " If we explore a little more minutely the nearest sections of this vast field of republican enterprizc, we see rail-roads projected, and some of them in the course of construction, from the principal points of business lying L'^twcon Sandusky Bay 1 ^ 14 Brid the outlet of Lake Huron, across the states of Ohio and Michigan, to the interior and lake of that name, and connected with similar projects, some of which extend to the mouth of Mississippi, and others to the far West. It is true, these ave- nues will not all, as a matter of necessity, send the throngs with which they will in future be peopled, to pass along the Southern part of your province. But with reasonable efforts, and judicious arrangements, an invitation may be extended to them which will infallibly call many of them into that course which should come under the observation of the engineer, in the pi ns and suggestions he has to oifer. Extensive business from all the regions Westerly and South-westerly from you will always be maintained with New-Kngland, and the city of New- York, the great metropolis of the union. Your road will most conveniently favor much of the travel growing out of this business, at all limes, after it shall be completed. During portions of every year it will favor mure of it. It will be shorter and cheaper than any road which can be constructed through Ohio, to the roads leading to New- York or further East. It is now ascertained by exp.^riencc, that locomotives may be well employed in the winter on rail-roads, notwith- standing the severe frosts and dcop snows of that season. This will call for extended use of your road, while navigation is impracticable." I need not state to those who observe the energetic efforts of the citizens of the United States, that if New- York, Pennsyl- vania, or aiiy of the other states of the Union, possessed even a portion of the natural advantages which the Canadas enjoy, those vast pn)jccts in which they are severally engaged at such an immense expense would never have been entered upon ; all their efforts would be directed to draw as it were, the At- lantic near to the vast territory referred to; because, however we may value a home market, the sea-board for all great operitions must ' e looked to. Speaking of drawing the At- lantic near to the Rocky Mountains may be deemed the lan- guage of fancy, but measures may be adopted, by which those two points may be reached in as many hours as days were required heretofore. Surely such may be regarded as draw- ing them nearer. Two objects demand immediate attention, 15 tho first to afford fncilitios for tho transport of passengers and light mcn;lmn(li/.e by way of Hamilton to the lliver St. Clair ; the other for the transport of heavier merchandise and passen- gers from Toronto to Lake Huron. These can be effected by rail-roads, and tho improvement ot the natural channels of communication. I shall briefly show the various routes in re- lation to the shores of Lake Superior and Michigan : as to Lakes Erie» Huion, and Ontario, no question can well arise about them, yet their relative connexion with the Atlantic shall bo set forth, and will bo judged of fairly in tho estimate of all who may investigate tho subject with their vision unclouded by private interests. Lake Ontario stands nearest the ocean, in the most direct line from the '* far West," whether proceecMng to New-York or Quebec. New- York stands in the monl direct line from liake Erie, yet the Erie Canal is three hundred and sixty-nine miles from Albany, and upon an average is closed by frost nearly five months in the year, and the navigation from the North-east point of Lake Michigan snd South part of Lake Superior by the Uiver St. Clair, through Lake Erie, and bythe proposed Ship Canal round the Falls of Niagara, is also closed the same period ; the extent in length is above eleven hundred miles to the port of Oswego, from 'vhence a Ship Canal is also proposed, so as to reach New -York by way of Albany. A rail-road is now in progress from Lake Erie to New- York ; the distance will be about three hundred miles, the estimated ex- pense is ten million dollars. The Ohio and Cleveland Canal, which aims at drawing the trade of the far West to Cincinnati and Ncw-Orleaus, is, by tho map, three hundred miles, and, from the frost, is shut a considerable portion of the year ; the Canal from Lake Eric to the Susquehanna, to reach Baltimore, and to the Delaware to reach Philadelphia, are all truly im- portant to those states, but are not calculated to embrace the trade under consideration, all of which are also subject to be closed by the winter frosts, a considerable portion of the year. A Canal from Chicago is likewise in operation, which has in view to bear their products to New-Orieans as an outlet : this canal is closed by frost. Thus I have brought forward the 'Channels opened and in progress in the adjoining {ftates, to draw h 16 to the ocean tl:at commerce which naturally should be borne by the wat 3is of the St Lawrence. The next consideration is, who t are the facilities afforded by the St. Lawrence, and how are the facilities to be rendered available to promote the interest of the Canadas ? Before I proceed, I shall again draw attention to the view held by our enterprizing neighbors. In a memorial presented to the legis- lature of New-'Xork, in the session of 1835, in reference to the trade under consideration, uie petitioners set forth : " We will not undertake to point out the great improvements in the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and those contemplated in Vir- ginia ; these are well known ; but to the magnificent project of tho British Canadian Provinces, in part executed, for the con- struction of a ship navigation from Lake Ontario to the ocean, and to the probable effects of those improvements upon the future commercial prosperity of the state." And again : " The extraordinaiy efforts now making in the Canadas for the im- provement of the great natural navigable facilities existing withm those provinces, furnish abundant evidence of the ability to r«ap the great harvest of the Western trade, unless promptly counteracted by corresponding energy on tho part of our state." The same memorialists observe that there are thr j general outlets ; one by New-Orleans, one by New- York by way of Canada and the Hudson, and such rail-road •. as may be auxi- liary thereto, and the third by Montreal and Quebec. As to the first, the insalubrity of ilie climate is an insupera- ble objection to a regulai trade ; it is one of those natural im- pediments which there is no way of countervailing. Peiaisyl' vania is doing much, but the elevated region she is compelled to intersect is a great obstacle to her efforts. Thus, between Montreal and New- York, more equal competition ..d) ensue, for the trade of the upper country. The cheapness of trans- portation from Lake Ontario to the Montreal is a decided ad- vantage, and one not easily if at ^,11 to be counteracted. We may set down as certain to Montreal, the trade of the country adjacent to Lake Erie ; and to this may bi added one half the trade of Ohio, Illinois and Michigan. The same ^jetitionars set forth — " We will not enlarge upon the extraordinary growth 17 of Upper Canada during the last five years, or upon its great natural advantages of soil and climate, (eciualling the most fertile of the Western countries,) nor upon its great natural resources : these considerations lead to the contemplation how the expanding trade of the West may be drawn to New-York, and not pass through the Canadas by those facilities which nature has furnished, and which must follow the improvement of ihe navigation of the St. Lawrence, whereby the Western trade may be lost to us beyond the jwssihility oj recovery." I have thus added the opinions expressed by editors of pub- lic journals in different states, and the views of such widely extended interests in the United States, as the best testimony in favor of the importance of the measures I have long ad- vocated. Asa proof that such opinions are not vaguely put forth, all those states named, expended, and are expending, millions to draw a portion of that trade which naturally be- longs to liiC Canadas ; and it is ardently to be hoped that the people of both provinces, laying aside all political differences, will without delay unite to press forward the improvement of the St. Lawrence now in progress by the liberality of the Par- liament of the Upper Provi'^ce, so that a free outlet to the At- lantic may be afforded from Ontario to Quebec ; and let it be kept in view, that Avhen channels are once opened, and trade drawn by them, it becomes truly difficult to turn it into a new channel, so that if Canada is to be enriched, the works referred to m'jtst be put in such a train as lo be completed by the year 1840 at fai'thest ; otherwise, the various channels now in pro- gress, if once established, will cause ihe great advantages to be lost. As some may be unacquainted with the magnitude of the works now in progress by the people of the Upper Pro- vince, I give below extracts from a letter* with which I have * CoRN'VALL, 28th July, 1836. My Dear Sir- Tim caiiul now in proi:;rcss bctvvorn tliis placn antl tho head of the Long Saut Rapid hns lu'un uiidortakpii W'th a view of forming an uninterrupted commu- nication with the ocean fioin Lake 0:itarioand the upper hd^es. The canal is ono hundred feet wide at tho bottom, and at the surface of tlic water, which will be ten feet deep, it will be ono hundred and fifty feet wide. The locks, which are of cut stone, arc broad ; they will have nine feet of fiily-fivc feet water on the mitre sill, 1r 18 been favored by Captain Phill potts, under whose able super- intendenco the work is now being completed; it will be ap- parent that this canal is upon a truly magnificent scale, opening out a channel for those advantages which are to be derived from the trade of the West. A great outcry is, and has been raised (I regret to say justly) against the Parliament of Lower Canada, that they have not been moved by the pa- triotic example of the Upper Province to follow up the im- provement. I believe all that has yet been done by the Lower Province, is a grant of 500/. to make surveys, but what have been the results I have not heard, and I deeply regret that the commercial community has devoted very little attention to the subject compared with their zeal as to other matters of much less importance. I am aware that each party casts the blame upon the other; but I am yet ignorant if all that could be done has been attempted ; indeed, I am not aware of any act which could entail more deserved censure, and justify very strong measures against ihc Canadian party now in power, than their refusing aid in opening a communication to corres- pond with what is now being carried into effect in the Upper I 'i ill and they will adiiiit vessels of one hundred and seventy-five feet in length. The length of this canal is eleven miles and a half, in which distance there arc six locks, descending in all furty-eight feet. The original eHtiniate for this work was 195,000i. with the addition of ten per cent, for contingencies and the expense of superintendence, exclusive of the cost of damage to projierty, &c. The amount granted for tiie improvement of this navigation generally, is 350,000/. of which >^uin 16G,000Z. have been expended to this date, includitig 1"J,700/. which have been p-xid for damage to property. The parts of the St. Lawrence in Lower Canada whir h require improvement, are between Cotean de Lac and the Cascades ; a survey of which has been taken, I believe, by order of the House of Assembly of that province ; also the enlarge- ment of the canal between Lachine and Montreal, and probably some improve- ments in Lake St. Francis, for the curvey of which 500/. was granted by the legis- lature during their last session. Commissioners having been appointed for the pur- pose of deciding on the best mode of carryin.; on this work ; and it is Imped that during the next session of the legislature of that province a suiliucnt sum will lie voted to campleto it without further delay. 1 reniinn, dear sir. Very faithfully yours, George Phillpotts. 19 Province. The obstructions imposed on the intercourse be- tween Upper Canada and the sea by Lower Canada, if sepa- rate states, would lead to war, and the impositionof a tax upon Brit'jh subjects coming to the Upper Province by way of Quebec, is an act which has been sanctioned upon grounds truly incomprehensible. But I proceed to consider the follow- ing measures as essential for rendering the St. Lawrence tribu- tary to all the advantages adverted to, in respect to the vast and increasing trade of the West. The first is the carrying of ship navigation from the Coteau du Lac to Montreal, and that too so as to be ready to receive the vessels which are to pass through that part of the River St. Lawrence, from the canal from the Galoppes to Cornwall, (de- scribed in a note, page 17.) The second is the making of a rail- road from Toronto to that part of Lake Huron adapted to, and most convenient for the trade of Michigan ; third, the making a rail-way from Hamilton to the River St. Clair, wiiere such would be most suitable for the people not only of Michigan but of the Wisconsin tonitory ; and fourth, the passing of an act of the Imperial Parliament, allowing merchandise to pass free of diUles through the province of Canada, under such limitations ''s i' usual where transit is allowed, or by making Toronto and o. jt! places free ports, so that merchandise could be ware- i; " sted and exported out of the province free of duties. Having in my address to his Excellency Sir Francis Head, gone so fully into the subject of rail-ways, and pointed out the facilities of raising the funds for their formation, I would only advert to the sulvject at present as connected with free transit, It is to be observed, that a lino of rail-road from Tr onto to Lake Huron, would not, as I am informed, exceed seventy-six miles, and could be passed in six hours ; while the distance by the River Si. Clair, Lake Eric, and to Lake Ontario, is fully equal to seven hundred miles, and would by steam-boats, &c. occupy three days, with a like number of transshipments or removals, and by the ordinary ship conveyance would occupy as many days, as it would re(}uire hours by the rail-road to Toronto. From Toronto by steam to Oswego, twelve hours, what route can compare with the ore under consideration ? i; m t.i' i;g 20 or what can hold out such advantogcs for communication with New- York, Boston, &c., but abovu all with the Atlantic, by Quebec? Who does not perceive, that the vast supplies of hardware, crockery, cutlery, and British manfactuie, would pass direct from England to the Western merchants by the St. Lavrence, w^'An all the supplies they draw from New- York would by w; y C 5wego, pass on to Lake Huron by Toronto or Hamilton d, unless improvement be followed up in Canada, will not the statement in the report to the direc- tors of the Oswego and Utica Hail- road be realized? The following extract from that report, is worthy of consideration. " An inspection of the map of the North-west portion of New York, the neighboring province of Upper Canada, and the North-western states and territories, will indicate the impor- tance of this line of communication. The Oswego and Utica Rail-road forms an important link in the great chain of rail- way and stcam-boat communication, from the Atlantic to the lakes, and to the states and territories West ; much of the trade and travel of Upper Canada will be tributary to it, em- bracing the wide, iertile, and populous region of country border- ing upon the upper part of the St. Lawrence and the great lakes, extending over a distance of more than (ivo hundred miles. The business intercourse between Upper Canada and the state and city of Xew-York, alieady great, is steadily increas- ing with the advance in population and internal impntvements. Numerous steam-boats and other craft arc daily plying from the harbor of Oswego, to every important place upon the shores of the Ontario. Individual enterprize, strengthened by the aid of the pro- vincial and parent governments, has recently placed the im- provements of the province upon a prosperous footing, and she is now advancing in the construction of rail-roads, M'Adamised roads, and navigable communications ; all tending to develope her resources, and increase her trade with her neighbors. It has been remarked by the provincial press in reference to improvements in New- York, that " the next step will be to continue the rail-road from Utica to Oswego. Then the tra- veller, or the mail-bag, will be enabled to reach us by means of American capital, industry, and enterprize, from New- York, h steamers and rail-road cars in thirty hours. " Every day will lendi'j- Ujiji'T Canada more and morn dependent on, and cornmcrcialhj connected with the state, and city of New-York" "A furiiicr and important ccuse which will doubtless soon operate to greatly increase the travel and commercial inter- change between the provinces and this state, will be experienc- ed in the passage of the contemplated law of congress, (favor- ably consideied and reported upon by the late United States comptroller,) extending the drawback system, to the transit of goods through our country under bonds. " This measure from its reciprocal advantage to the province, and to this state, has been earnestly petitioned for by each, as well as by other states ; and its sanction by Congress, it is but reasonable to believe, will not long be delayed. This is indeed a subject of growitig interest, in reference to our internal trade, and the (juestion may well be asked, why should not the bene- fits attendant on the drawback system, be as freely extended to the Western states, and to our merchants on the borders of our inland scaS; as to their favored brethren upon the Atlantic coast." The triumph of steam navigation, by the arrivals at New- York, on the 23d April, 1838, opens up a practical result, such as was never belbre contemplated, of passing from London to the Mississippi, by way of New-Y^'ork and the Falls of Niagara, as follows, upon the completion of the works now in progress, or under survey, viz: — When the chain of communication shall be cotTipleted to Detroit and to Huron, by the construc- tion of the rail- way across the Canada Peninsula from the head of Lake Ontario— together with the two lines of road across the state of Michigan, the one from Detroit, by the valley of the St. Josephs ; and another from Huron or Fort Gratiot, by Grand River, in the direction of Milwauky ; we shall then have the following scale of rates and distances ;* ♦ A central ami direct line of rail-roiid lioin Ditroit, via Kalamazoo, to Lake Michigan, is also in progress. 22 London to Bristol, and embark on board the Great Western, From Bristol to New-York, and landing, 1 day. 14 " 15 From N.Y. to Albany, 150 miles, night boat, lOg hours. Albany to Oswego, 168 " day, r. road, 10 •* °^":tu.a ■"""!>«» " -«»"•<«"• " " Hamilton to Detroit, 192 " day,r. road, 11 " Or to Huron, 136 " Detroit to Chicago, 250 " day Anight ) .„. „ Or Huron to " " r. r. & st'm, \ ^ 63 18 2 To Chicago, .... Days, By Huron to Milwauky, and thence to \ Galena on the Mississippi, by rail- f road and steam navigation, 400 miles, \ say Days, 20 The rail-road to Buffalo will enable a person to reach the Falls of Niagara from New- York, in forty hours. Thus, from London to the Falls of Niagara, seventeen days, and the return voyage from New- York to London, twelve days. And would you allow the citizens of the United States to pass their merchandise across the peninsula from Toronto to Lake Huron free of duties ? Certainly ! and that too without reference to any act of reciprocity on their part, deeming it sound policy to pursue that course which is beneficial for the province, and not preclude it from great advantages, because others may not be disposed to pursue a corresponding policy towards us. The policy of drawing commerce by our rivers, rail-ways, and by our vessels and boats, is solely with a view to render the facilities which the province affords profitable to its inhabitants, and that too without reference to the policy of others. 1 should hope the day is come, that those measures which will draw out the vast resources of the country may be adopted without talking of reciprocity, so that the unrivalled, and but little known great advantages of the Canadas may be "ti ay. 9'i called forth. I venture to presume earnestly to recommend the measure of a free transit as one of commercial policy, as well as of political expediency and sound wisdom. If by this channel the products of England can reach the far West, by a shorter route, unclogged with duties, will not a fair portion, if not the chief of the carrying trade, and particularly all the heavy and bulky articles, be carried by our ships to Quebec, Montreal, and on to Lake Huron, and shall not we draw upon an average four pounds a ton, and derive from each individual passing from Quebec, a like sum, independent of the freight from England ; and by the rail- way, would not each passenger leave a pound at least, in the province. Surely, to turn away such advantages — to shut out such a certain source of incalculable gain to the province, upon the plea of reciprocity, would manifest an intellectual lethargy, a degree of indifference truly to be deplored, and not to be ex- pected from a people goaded to exertion by a surrounding energy and prosperous enterprize unexampled. I am grieved U) find that such is the baneful influence of political strife, that one party cannot bear to see a measure conferring prosperity on the province, emanate from, or that such should be strenu- ously supported by the other — yet each party professes to be governed by liberal principles, and these in accordance with a regard for the rights of, and tenderness for the opinions of others. O that I could but persuade my fellow-subjects, who talk about their anxiety for the prosperity of the province, to unite in the support of those measures which they, and all others admit, must produce certain prosperity. I call upon all who are jealous of their loyalty, of their love for the British Constitution — for British connexion — and I call upon all who wish to cherish a kindly intercourse with our neighbors, to lay aside eveiy feeling but that of rendering Canada the great high- way from the shores of the Mississippi, and the Rocky Mountains, not only to the Atlantic by Quebec, but to New- York, the commerce of which city is mainly attributed to those internal channels of communication which have been made at a great expense. I deliberately state that such prosperity has been the fruit of their enterprize and energy, and hence capi- tal has flowed in from other countries entrusted to their ma- I ill 24 nagemeiit, I may venture to say ;iiat one-third of the capital wliicli has set afloat the great enttM-prize in the states of the union, including also the Bank of the United States, has been furnished by British capital ; and were similar energy exhibited in Canada, and the baneful consequences aiising fi'om limiting the rate of interest done away, surely Canada would be pre- ferred, as a more stable security, as happily exempt from the certain ruinous consequences of universal sullVage, and voting by ballot. Before 1 conclude 1 would earnestly press the following con- sideration on the attention of the proprietors of property in Monti eal and Quebec, who, it is believed, do not appreciate the advantage within their reach. There are but three main out- lets to the ocean for the Western trade : one is chiefly by artificial means, viz : New- York ; the other two by natural channels, viz : New-Orleans and Quebec ; the power of steam can be rendered all important to the two latter, and only par- tially so to New- York, — sec to what an unexampled value the houses, building lots, and lands, in and near New- York and New-Orleans, have attained — and to wliat may such rise be justly attributed? has not such risen with the increased facilities afforded to commerce, in drawing in to those ports ? And will not the same results assuredly arise to Montreal ? I feel a deep conviction that the proprietors of the property at Montreal and Quebec, would be not only great, but immediate gainers^ did they even at their own cost, complete that line of naviga- tion, now being executed by the Upper Province, to the Coteau du Lac, from whence I have understood but about twelve or fourteen miles of canalincr would l)e necessary from the Coteau to Lake Louis ; and I have been informed the adaptation of the grounds through the Scignory of Bcauharnois is truly fa- vorable for a canal. I submit these observations to the Seig- nors of Montreal and Quebec, with the further observation that the promotion of the internal improvement mentioned, should stand separate from those political questions, which are deemed as embarrassing principles. I disclaim all interference in one way [or another with the distractions which unhappily prevail, having alone in view the pressing forward the true interest .lud prosperity of the province, by opening a way for an extended ipital the been bited litiiig pre- Ihe .ting 25 commerce whicli bids lair to enrich the Canadas beyond the most sanguine anticipations. All who look upon the map will perceive chains ul" lakes, available as channels of communication. Among the most prominent of these, are from the head of the Bay of Quinte by the Trent to Georgian Bay ; next, connecting the Ottawa and Lake Huron. I omitted in my letter to the Lieut. Gover- nor, to observe that a rail-way from Hamilton to Queenston, by the head of the lake, so as to lueot the line to New- York, will be all essential to carry the traveller during the season that the navigation closes. The overcoming the obstruction of the St. Ann Rapids on the Ottawa, is truly creditable to the enter[)riz- ing person who hasetVectod it, as thereby defeating a monopoly of the canaling trade by the Rideau Canal, and were the ob- structions to steamboats,arising from the lowness of the bridges over the canal, from Point Fortune to Granville removed, the importance of that great work would be justly estimated, it is respectfully urged upon those who have the power to investi- gate the state of those bridges, particularly the stotie bridge in Granville.