^> #1^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1^ !■■ 111112 2 Hi US u u lAO L25 i 1.4 - 6" 2.0 1.8 1.6 k ^/ '^ A ,.^ ^•\ \\ ^'v/,q/' the PresuhnWs message anil to idiie/i also tvere n/'et'red 'ons of (he f/reat kihn and )iiorlals OH (his s)ihjee(,' havimj hnroat lakes, to and I i;;ara river, Lake Erie, and th enee westorlv.tl boundary line, running- through tl eyond the fn)ntier settlement irouji-h s, presents a than three ti lousand mdes m extent. kese great lakes and rivers, of more The feeling of good neighborhood, of of mutual good Avill, had b reciprocity of interests, and Hiice. had continued een growing up, and, with slight di.sturb- •since the clo.se of the war of 1812. ' 1 half a century wo have regarded our Canadian neighbv.. a. u,m triends, with M-honi we desired to establish the kin.lest and ors as our intimate busin commercial, and social relations. In tl lines ot railway and water communication between tl combinations and connexions 1 'or nearly good most great le lie east aiid Avcst. . -lavo been established of mutual ad tage. A treatyof recij)rocity has been entered into. Some of great thoroughfares of trade and travel have not avoided the C van- 'r disturb the peaceful relations so happdy heretofore existing, and so important to the growth and development ^ of both countries, we urge defensive measures on the consideration of Congress. The rapid advance in the prosperity of the British i.rovinces, and more especially of the Unit.-d States, since the close of the Avar of 1812, furnishes a striking illustration of the blessings of peace. The pojiulation of the United States in 1815 was 8,G38, 131 ; in 18G0 it was 31,148,571. The States of Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Towa, Minnesota, and Kansas, have been ad- mitted into the Union since that period, and in the following order : Indiana in 1^1^ Illinois in 1^ J^ Missouri in l*^^]; Michigan in ^^Vc Wisconsin in ^'^■*8 Iowa in ^^f^ Minnesota in 1*^"^^ Kansas in 1*^^" The northwestern States to-day have a population of 9,073,055. The northwest has sprung into existence, and developed the pro- ductions of an empire since the close of the war of 1812. It mf V not be improper to take a brief survey of the growth ana present condition of the northwest, and its commerce, to show the value and importance of the interests we are now about to ask the government to defend. Before doingso, however, a brief descnp- tion of the lakes may not be uninteresting. Nearly midland of the North American continent there extends a vast chain of lakes and rivers, three thousand miles in extent, con- nected on the east, by the St. Lawrence, with the Atlantic, and Na- ture has provided that these vast highways of commerce may bo connected by a ship canal across a narrow portage, with the Missis- sippi river and its tributaries on the southwest. Lake Superior is a vast inland sea of 32,000 square mdes, and 2,000 miles of coast, 420 miles long by 160 broad. Lake Michigan, with 22,000 square miles of surface, 1,200 miles of coast, 320 miles long by 82 wide. „ , «^ ., Lake Huron, with 24,000 square miles of surface, 2,000 miles ot coast, 200 miles long by 110 broad. Here we have three great seas of near 80,000 square miles ot sur- face, and 5,000 miles of coast. , t i c^ These bodies of water find an outlet through the river and Lake St, Clair and the magnificent straits of Detroit into Lake Erie, 90 miles from Lake Huron. Lake Erie, 250 miles long and 60 broad, dis- charges its waters down the Falls of Niagara into Lake Ontario, 180 miles long and 60 broad, and thence the waters of these great lakes find their way to the ocean through the St. Lawrence. HAKHOH DEFKXCES OX LAKHS AMt KMVKRS. 3 It is ii vorv rumiirkiible fiict that the portage betweoii these great lakes, and those streams which liiid an nuth't in the Gulf of ^fcxico, is not more than eight to twelve leet above the level of Lake .Mirlii- gan, and witiiin ten mih's of Chicago. The Chicago river, rniniiiig into Lake Michigan, and the l>esj)lane river, finding its w-.^y into the Missisrtijipi through tiie Illinois, are within a stone's throw of each other, and, indeed, in high water, the Desplane linds an outlet into Lake Michigan, so that small boats pass directly from ijake .Michigan into the Desplane. This ])ortagc between Lake Miciiigaii and the navigable \\aters of the Illinois river has been cut through by the Illinois and Michigan canal, and needs but widening and deepening to open a shij) channel from the Mississippi to the lakes, (he most iiu- jnrtant loorl; for cifhcr military or ' \h. *' 1.- '-: r. :• t^ /: c c :'? <- Q /: c c -M — * '■: I- ■^• ';£ = § -T rr .- y . r i- I- <- = .^ y — Tt n — (' t- *- - — — ■■'^ o - -c - = - r "" i" X :•: T s -r -X r: ri o X c. 1 t-4 — ' S X Tl — f- O 2.! ^ c K X X '■■: - o c-. ^ c-. c -s T. n ^. f" — cv ^w ^ (W « ^i o X o X X I g <1> CO t^ O 01 i.t o o o ■^ -»> X t- X \2 — Tl '.-; •>) c o A X o :■^ © M f-^ i.t i-t T. ■M © CO i~ i.t :•; © C. © •rr -T -C o t-» fo © r~ — o CO -. -t" '•'^ ^3 X C CO --I — -" -f X -n — -o CO CO i^ c. ■- ~ I— -J< T-l l.t 0( Z) X -^ t- "O '** X CO X ■* "O i-O © uo -^ X CO CO CO X CO CO © ^ 'TJ CO X CO © X X CO CI X OJ s '''' 6 CO i 'M © ^ X t^ X © f^ I © 1-H 0( — CO -f -T >-0 1 X X X X X X X X Ci »-* © w f <— © C' X OJ C>! -.M !>£--■£ — ^ :5 :/: = .i 5: 5 2 g-i« ■I. '^t-l ^Cf^S— •?^i^l--^^ ^*|^ ''♦'t^: .«(K ^■a mm IIAKIIOK ])KFKNCP:s O.N LAKICS AND IJIVERS. 5 Tiihh: s//oici/i!( Ihv pojiiilatioH of ihv foUowiiiii r'll'iis (uiil l 191 213 112 071 222 102 712 470 4G9 12, 3G, 12, 20.3 403 2()1 17, 3, 21, 20, 29, 77, S.38 034 829 019 OGl 9G3 8G0 I SGO. IG, 81G 48, 204 81, 139 .3, G 1 .3 9,419 43,417 13, 7G8 4.3, 019 4.'3, 2.34 09, 2G3 GO, 780 Tabic xhowipg the true value of tJiv renl vxtate im<1 prrsnnal propirlii (irainllna to the seventh census, 18;30, and the ris^hth 'emus, 18G0, respect i'reli/. State's. lieal and jjcrsonal. Ileal and jK'Vfional. IndiaiiJi 1 8 -jO. S202, G.30, 2G4 l,3(i, 2G.3, 00(i 23,714,038 ISGO. •s;328, 83r>, 371 S71,8(;0, 282 217,3.38,20.5 ;jl :j->7 S9;3 Illiiioi.-* Iowa Kan.xfi.s * Minnesota* r,-> •->9I 11.'! 3Iis.«ouri 137,247,707 .304, 72G, 120 42, 0.3i;, r)9.3 .39, 787, 2.30 •301, 214,398 1 . 1 i)3, 898, 422 273,G71,G68 ■>-,'/ \i\'i ns3 Oliio AYisc'ouriin ^Ii('lii":an 1,12G, 447, r>8.3 3, 9:37, G04, G97 *X<> returns fur 1850. f- 6 II.\I{IW)K DKrr.NC 1> ON KAKKS AMi lilVKUS. Tlif l'olli)\vili!X tiiMf slidus tlir |i..[)Mlatic>ii ainl urea nl' tin- linltli- wc^t in l!<')0 aiTd IsDO. The tal>lf ..f i.ni.ulalioii in 1.^50 is copied iVoiii til.' r..liiiKMi(liiilii of thr I'liitrd States iTiisils of ISfH), pago 40; ll„. tal'l.' nf ai-.'as I'n.iii tlic saiii.' .lociiinoiits, lia}J,'t! .'Kl; tlio tal.lf ot |M.iuilati(in ill IsdO IVoiii census returns: StiUo, l'ii)iul.'ilii>ii in l'ii)iu'iiiliiiii in Ann, ill square Per cent. t>t 1 iN^jn. iNin. miles. iuerease in :i, ;i:59, rm) populutiiiii. I, i>s(), :i:.^0 ;J9, 96 4 18.14 i 9SS, ik; l,:i.->o, .I7i» Xl, 809 3(i.t)3 S.) 1,170 i,7ii,7r>:j r>rj, lo'j 101.03 :i!)7,0.Jl 71i), 112 fM, 2Vi 88.38 :J0.",, :!0l 77-n S73 r,:i, 9:i4 l.^l.OO li):i,.vMJ (i7l,!)48 r;0, 914 ■2r,i.u (J, (177 H;2,()22 ;j4,rj9i ■2rA].-,.c>r, (i8-i. Oil I7;i,:il7 ()7, :iso .12 107, 110 :>s, Sl-2 1 14, 79« 3:1';, 88:2 . .■,. .ur.i, ,v,i.> ;i, 073. or>o S 1:2, 910 07.0 Olii Iiiiliana illiuiiis .Miilii;ian .... Wisenusin .... Iowa ^linuesota ^[issduri Kansas , Neln-.Mska ... 'I'etal..., ;-», J03, r>9r, Increase in 1 years 3, M9, 4<)0 Jt is estimutod that of this increase 1,329,000 is the natural ni- erement; the balance. :2,340,:5!)4, by eini-'ration— the northwest lilliii.u' up with the hardy, industrial classes coiniin^' hither from Europe iind the older States. Poiiulation of the United States in I80O. 23,191,870: m 1800, 31.429.891 — increase, 35. .")2 percent. The increase of the population of the northwest during- the last ten vears has been 07.9 per cent., while the ratio of increase in the whole countrv has been 35. .52. The population of tlie northwest by census of 1800 was 28.85 per cent., or nearly one-third. Of the total increase in the population of the country, 44.07 per cent, was in the northwe.st alone. An increase at the same ratio during the ])resent decade will --ive the northwest in 1870 a population of 15,212.022— an increase of 0,139.507. Massachusetts, the most densely populated of all the States, has 157.8 inhabitants to the square mile. A like densitv of population in the northwest would give us a population of 133. (111. 198. A density of population equal to that of I']ngland (332 per square mile) would give an enumeration of 279,840,120. ^«^-. .i«M^>»>i<».-.<^»' ^Jsm;^ ■*',**i winait^- ii.McitDi; 1)i:fi;\( ivs n,\ i.akks and i.mvkhs. 7 Tlic fnllowiii-' talilf will show -cmiculiiil nf tin- ailviiiici- of the iiortliwcst ill |p(iliticiil power; Electoral voti:. Rcprtsi'iitiitivcH l'o|.iiliii vot I'ur I'lohident in CoiifrrfHi*. Stiitog. 1852. 18U4. iSSl. I 1861, 18S3. 18C0. Ohio Tiiiiian.'i . . ! iliiiois , . . AIiciii;faii . Wiscoii.iiii Iowa .... Missouri. . ]Miiiii(\soiii . Kansas . . . 11 6 r, 4 9 •21 21 10 ' .-(.W, 428 4 1 J, 111 i:; ]| 11 is.'i, i;ji •>',:>, \V\ 1.1 !) l.-j 1;3.>, 107 ;j.{0, (io;t s 4 (> N2, o;jo lo4,74!l s 3 (i (i4,7l2 \r,i, ISO 7 ■■i .> \iy,H\r, 12s, j.n 11 1 !» (\C), ;J87 022, 141 ! l.US!), !)0:i ' 0:2>, 111 1 t 7(J7, 7GI :.';54 \2:i?> .'{, 12«, .'{OS .|,(J(;:.M7() 'J'he popiihu- Vote of 1S52 is e(i|)itMl I'roin tlio census coinpeiidiiim, (1N.")0,) p. 50; that of ISOO, from the census returns. Under tho ohl iipportionment (1850) the nurtliwest had 24.31 {)er cent, of the inenihcrs of the House of Representatives, or a fraction hjss thanone- fourth. Under tlic census of ISIJO she is entithjd to 30.47 per cent., or nearly one-third. At the presidential election of 1S52 the north- west cast 2D.4G per cent, of the po]niJ' vote. In the presidential election of 1800 she cast 30.24 per ceni. o\' the jjopular vote — more tlian one-third. In the electoral college in 1800 the northwest cast 23.14 per cent, of the vote for Tresident and Vice-President. In 1804- she will cast 20.23 per cent, of all the States, if ]iu new State is admitted in the mean time. Tlie followinsj: table shows the standin,i.'of the lonnj States in respect to politit-al power in 18.)2 and 1800 : " 1852. 18G0. Popular vote for President 2,583,018 3,805.040 Electoral votes 205 Under the new census 210 In 1852 the northwest cast 35.08 per cent, of the popular vote for President in the loyal States, and 34.03 per cent, of the electoral vote. In 1800 she cast 44.4 per cent, of the popular vote; and in 1864 will have 40.63 per cent, of the votes of the loyal States in the electoral college. HARIIOR I)I:fi:NCKS on LAKKS and IMVKRS. Cliiciij^'ti liciiij; (.lie (.r the ((.iiiirKTciuI coiitri-s of the iK.rlliwi'st, it i» propi'i- tliiit soino s|iiux' slidiild l.o (levott-d tr> her (•oiiiirierce. The total viilwe i.f imports iit Ciiiciinn in Isf)') SI'lC.OliO.OiM (10 Total value ol' exports from ("hica>:o in Is'^fj lil'i.ft.j.'i^Olil 88 •*40!),(ii;i.(iH(; 54 The value ot' imports into Chicago in iStlO, as per Hoard of Trade loport, was !*f»T,0 stcaiiicrK . l!l() ])r(i])(i]crs. •1 1 harks 70 bi:i}^s .... 813 PC'IlOOMTH. l,:il(i 77 steamers , 'i'l prfipellers 2'i barks.. . . 10 In-i^'s 2\.l Hcliooiiers oGO. I,:il0. 1,570. CANAm.W lldT'ltlMS. A.MKUICAN noTTdMS. CANAOIAN HOl'TOMS. Tiiniuitre 40, :>4(i 7,770 !», (;oo I7;i, .iov ,'i-i:;, i')(i \, v.n •>, !iril ;j, rill;', \i->, 198 o<», o«i;{ '>(i 47, 3.13 57, -no 17, f)r>9 •i 1,505 17^, 5-20 Valimtinii. .'^I,77!t, , SOO 45(i, (SOO 4, 37N, 000 0, ^ll,.->()0 ONO, a(JO I 10, 500 1 Si,, SOO i;m, ()(i(t 7S, 400 778, 300 .•!05, 300 0, s| I, /()() 310,503 :l, 430, 840 3, :250, 300 584, 540 484, :.'50 5, ;>33, 085 11,!tO:j, 105 25, 030 7,289 7,882 3, 815 31,702 1 , 490, ()80 407, 200 r=;40, 480 04, 380 898, 5G0 70, 717 310,503 3, 140,300 11,002, 105 303, 220 15, 138, 495 <■>*£,. 10 JlAliltoU DKFENX'K.S <).\ l^AKKS ANJ) lilVKR.^^. 111.' lullowiiiu- i> t'nuu till' ivpurt ,,r (Ik^ IJnanl of Trade of JJulValo : UXITKD STATKS AMJ CANADIAN' TONNAOK. Slahmrnl „f //„■ liwiKiiiv iif th, norf/nnslmi l,ih;s aiul rirvr St. Linrrnirv a rnmpdnl Jn,m the M,n-ni<' R,^l.sf,r „f thr Boanl „f Lakv Unihricriters fo isill. IS for Dosciiption. No. Tonnage. 1.;. >r.\Ti> Tu.WAiiK. Stc;iiiicr.-i l'ni|H'll(rs Hjirks liH^s : : : : Sfl[ii(iiicrs Slddps 71 ■It TO 7sn 10 Valuo. 10, \2r> , -SI, i9:], ;iO() is, ;{.•{! •io, (3i:{ i; t, oio 34."; 147, .'JOG 407, (JOO 4, 49(i, 800 '), 7o0 Avfiiij^i- No. of Total tons. men. men. 308 410 ^04 34 ao 12 11 10 4 1, lift 3, 640 528 770 7. 800 40 Total «A.\Ai)i.\\ T(i\.\a(;f-; l.I(i(i ;iO|). (i;j-j !), 147, Soo ! 14,(M3 Stc;|iiici-s . . l'rii|Mllcrs . Harks l!ii-s . . . Scluiiiiii rs .Slootis . , Tntal. 70 21 In k; 200 24,;T11 1,74n li, 7S7 4, 2.-,^ ;iO, 88;> .•*n;; 1, n.J, (500 207, SOO ISO, ;300 !)3, r>00 7'>2, 100 (5. 100 •a I 220 377 2()0 lo4 •'>0 2') 20 12 11 10 1 330 ',[..-,[).-, 2, 414, (iOO 1, 000 420 210 170 2, 000 20 3, 732 Total (if Uiiiteil .States and Canadian tonnage: Number of ve. -': ,640 528 770 7 ,800 40 L4 (M.3 1 900 420 2Ui 17(J -. 000 20 Stl'MlU . I'rojM'lh Sail ... Total (AN.AIH.W VKSSKI.S lini.KlM Steam Sail .. Total. I'rcsful ('anadiaii ti)iinaj,'c Vcssils Imildinj;- Total. 3 ■ 1. :il() Slli), 000 22 ^,210 rj74.70O ;i2 21.01!) 047,20."; rri ;;(i, O-V.t i . (J lo. do.'. 'I'otal 'I'otal v. States and Canadian Present United States toimafre Vesstds huildiui;' {)■> 344 410 2f5, 700 040 130. SOI) I.IO Hi.'). ;'iOO ;;i. 4IM) I, soo, 4o-"> 1 . 100 .309, 032 : 0, 447, sr.O rn : 30, o.'»9 ; i , oio, wr, 1,223 ;;io, ■','.)] I 1 1 , OSS. 7.')-'» 33(3 7],r,0.-) 2,414,0(11) S ; ;!, l.')0 I Jli-l, -lOO 74. 9');') 2, 5S0, 100 The i'ollowin^' talde. copied IVoui Colonel Graham's i-e[)()rt, (Senate E.\. Doe. No. H5.;!4tli Congress, 3d sessioii,p. 405.) shows the value of the enumerated articles of rnerehundise and agricultural produce received at and shipped from the various collectiou districts, ami which passed over the St. Clair Hats during the year 185.5: 12 iiAunoii DEFENCES US LAKES AND IMV ERS. TAlJLi:. I'istricts. CJiic'iij'o ^filwiuilii.. ...... 'I'olcd,,* OIcv,.l,m(|+ ....'.''" Krio I'm., (;;:>.:;., I ,„„;;;;i); liiifiald O-WC^'d < •plcusliiir:;' .... I{ic(i\c(l, • -SOI, 771, 717 !is II. ()<;.-,, o07 (IS 'i7(;, 7()4 ;"i() Slii|ij)((l. ■-^ S(i7, 407 10 l!l. .-200 GO 0, D 10 00 *.'i 1 , fi:is, .-,;io <)J :n, 00.-,, !i;j(; ;.-, !',:.' 17. S12 lo lU;. !»;-,o 00 /■(>, 5(iO, 000 00 in,!MO, .-,.1.-, 1(1 i'-i9,2r,7, I GO 81 llJ,9io, .-,1.'; i(i ■i'>l, 107. 70.-, 97 ,J;i il":n;«',!;";'^i;r'^'",^r?^,;^"!^ "-■■■^" "i^^-* ™"...- Ihts i„ 1855, m!;. fVXv^-'i'j '"'''' "'P't^il n„.rest.,l in .^,. Cl.,ir .-.S",:;^ t,7^5r;; '^.r;;; ■:rsx";;n;;; ?Sts -f?^'^^ *-■ for tlK. lollowhig^'l'lls "' " "PP'-opnatH,n ol' tl.o a^ove Hu.ount 1. Tlio animal amount of coramorro -irKl „,,•.... f • • »n"e ,>ussa,,^o ov.r St. Clair 1 t ( m > 10'. iKf '" '■'^"'•'"'>' '^ alK.w.) ' ^' P* *'^''- ■*!"• "ggregate given Srn'Xs.r'"'^'-^'""' "''*'• ^"^ "" «I5-«"0,000 ,. , „ , , ...ipiumts from ( 1 Kit Colonel Graham's report, p. 'IS'- HARliOl't DKFKNCKS l>AKES AM) RIVERS. 1 *■> 2. Tlic importiiiice of iinpniviii^ tlio cliaiinol over the St. Clair lliits as a lU'cchsary uk'nicnt in tlic lailitarv (let'eiice of our national frontier, (pp. 40!), 410.; Col. Graham's Report (:\Iess. anil Dors.. 18')0-'(;0. part .'!.) ■j.ives tiie following- as the ag;j,'regate imports and exports l>i/ lukr nl the several lake ports in 1858: Imports Kxportf $148, 77."). 2 1> iU] 1-J3.875.81:i (!0 Total lake commerce (American) in 1858 •• 272.(Jol.0.".l 2(! lair The following hhows the total commerce (by lake, vcaicl. anil rail- road j of the various hike ports in 1858: i»U>">'t^ $45(j, 149,4^2 id l'^Xl)orts ;j74_ !.-,(; .y.yf, -,4 'J'"t=il 8;{0.30G.363 45 TcJilc of (if)5 05 Racine 0,924,297 15 Milwaukie 41,349,293 90 Sheboygan 1,002,22G 00 Manitowoc (jcjj oijj. ;^(j Michigan City 5,f)G9!829 85 New JJuftalo 588,G09 30 ^f- Joseph 803,054 30 Grand Haven 4,702,34G 4G Toledo G7.1G0.11G 91 Sandusky 54.3G1. 144 10 Cleveland lOG. 100,578 4G I^'"'^' 15.275,955 35 ^>»"kn-k 57,327,845 90 Bullalo 202,019,298 82 Oswego 34.G10,87G G2 Ogdensburg 21.547,450 50 There are several other places included in Colonel Graham's sta- tistics not embraced in tin,, above. Coh)nel Graham's report (p. 128) .states that the losses on the western lakes m 1855 amounted to j<2, 800,000. The report of New York Canal Commissioner Samuel B. Ruggles, Z- 14 JIARMoit r)]:FEN(i:s c.X i^AlvKS AM) RIVERS. m 1N,J cunrnnvd u, by Ca„al ("n.unnssinn..,- Charlrs II. Sh.rrill (^. \. Ass. Dnc. IS.-,!., on ,,aKC- 20.) says tliat in I,S.^3 tl.u western co.n.neree passu,- fl.ruud. tl,,- Erie canal was sl;'.(;.;^l,8 7;!4 o" pa-e 11 tin. same repnrt says. --The pn-imrtion (of fn.vst pnuluets) a ready ...ntnlM.led l,v Tana-Ia an.l the west irf uL- than ine-third : the whole amount ul t „■ pruduets of the forest (ex,.ludin,' urdin.rv. h no wood;ean.n.d on all rh. .anak inelndin^ even the Hanuph in^ and the ratio .s .•onstan.ly and rapidly inereasin^ in lavor of th^ AM'st. On paso 22 otth.s report Mr. Ru-.le, says, ••The west IS amon- us and upo,. ns. in lull vi-or, defyin- all thepowerof party nh ,e,ans however persevenn^^ to shut out the truth that within the e.vt twent^y years the property to he earried throud. this State to ot doHars. it not a much laip-r sum." Colonel (Iraham ui ■ lahe eiiiiimerce exceeds that inipialiliedly is 111 value our foreip'ii coin- Mc assert! merce The Ibllowiu^- extracts from [hnifs Merehaufs Ma^^i.me, eon- •eled to be one oi our most reliable statistical journals of the country, may be interesting : '"".^r •' Westward movement of the centre of poj„dafio>i, commerce, and of hi- dustriat poiver in North America. '•In the rapidly developing greatness of North America, it is in- teresting to look to the future, and speculate on the most probable points ot centralization of its commerce and social power. IncludiiiL- n'iuniK"''^ p"' "i ^°'"'i"^' "'• ''"P«'-t'">t part of its commercial com- mumt\ the Canadas and contiguous provinces, the centre of popula- tion white and black, is ;, little west of Pittsburg, situated at the head of navigation on the Ohio river. The movement of this centre IS north of west, about in the .lirection of Chicago. The centre of productive power cannot be ascertained with uny degree of precision. Weknow It must be a considerable distance east and north of the waid Both in their regular progress will reach Lake Michigan. Is It not then, as certain as anything in the future can be, that the central power of the continent will move to, and become permanent . Ih t^ 7"^ the great lakes? Around these pure waters will g.ithei the densest populations, and on theii borders will grow up the best towns and cities. * * * # % "It can scarcely admit of a doubt that the .lomestic commerce of ^orth America bears a proportion as large as twenty to one of its foreign commerce. -^ '•At the present rate of increase the United States and the Cana- ^i''J •' -ir "■' l"."'" ^''!' ^''"'' ''■'" ''«"t'''" «^'«'- «"^' hundred and twenty mil ions of people. If we suppose one hundred and five mil- ons, and that these s la 1 be distributed so that the Pacific States s^ 1 h.ne ten millions and the Atlantic border twenty-five millions, there AMll he left for the great interior plain seventy millions. These seventy millions will have twenty times as much commercial inter- HAIiHOR DKFEXCKS ON LAKKS AN'L) IflVKKS. 15 course willi ciifli citlicr fis witli all tln' world licsidos. It is olivious. tln'ii, tliiit tlicru imist be Imilt up in llu'ir midst tlic uToat city ot'tlic continent: iind not only sn. Init tliat they will sustain several cities ^•reater than those which can ho snstaineast yinir has, in conse(|nence of the blockade; of the Mississijjpi, Imiii tar jj;reatei' than any jirevious year. The trade and coinnierci' of llie lakes has heeii nu-asured by the njeans of trans[)ortation. Every railway \vas pressed to its utmost capacity, and there was not a siuf^le vessel on the lakes Imt was in service carrying" forward the products of the northwest tn the seaboard. The receipts of papain at Chicago alone amount to the enormous (piantity of r)4,0!).'5.'J10 liusliels. In bSGO the receipts were ;-5(),504. 772 bushels. The increase at Milwaukie and other ports lias lieen in the same ratio. Accurate statistics of the ])resent commerce of the various lake titwns are not at command : but the growth of Buffalo. Rochester, Erie, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Milwaukie, and Chicago, are all in- dexes of the rapid advance of lake commerce and the agriculture of the west, and in the aggregate reach a magnitude which is entitled to the most favorable consideration of Congress. Your committee have given but a very imperfect sketch of the wonderfully rapid growth and present importance of the northwest. It abounds" in all the elements of a great and prosperous country. It has thus far been the great agricultural section, but, with its inex- haustible supi)lies of coal, lumber, and metals, it will ere long become a great manufacturing country. The iron and copper of Lake Supe- rior are attracting the attention of the world. Tiie northwest has grown by the energy and industry of its own hardy, free people, receiving less aid from the federal treasury than any other section. Its harbors, though filled with a connuerce in corar)arison with which that of the now rebel ami latelv petted and favored seaboard section sinks into insignificance, have yet been neglected, because the water on which that commerce floated ivas frciili. Its defences have been abandoned, and have fallen inti) decay. As compared with the south, the northwest has literally received nothing I'rom the luitional treasury. The outh has had navy yards, fortifications, custom-houses, and harbors, costing millions of dollars. There has been expended on the Gulf of ^Mexico and the Florida coasts more millions of dollars than the northern frontier has received thousands. The east, too, has had, and very properlv; fortifications, forts, armories, navy yards, depots, arsenals, and ships. The northwest asks simply justice, but not even that at this time. In the midst of this war she asks only that some of her most important leading and exi)osed points lie for- tified and placed in a condition of defence: that an armory and fbundery be established on the lakes to enable her to have the means of arming lier citizen soldiers, and that navy yards be established so that naval stores may be collected. The committee urge these dei'ouces as not less important to New England and the great middle States of New York and Pennsylvania >i 16 HAKHOH DKKENCES 0\ I.AKI •^ AM) KIVKRS. liiii to the iiort Invest itself. 'J'l way to the Atlaiitir mIoii- tl tl West find tlieii AViivs ruiii!;ii,i;- tlin)ii.,'li tliese .■>,„tes. N(>\v y,,rk, pnssossiiifT the IJu,|s, perhaps tiie most important foiiMCM't it witli the 1 It' vas t f'^-ricuitural pro(hict.> )!' the le ,L;reat canals ami rail- '^"it river, (next to the M tlie N, N lUe '■iver in the Union,) 1 ississippi ■\y York canals, and tl ver lorty millions of doll ii"< expended to ew - or iv the commercial it^ K'"t'iit Inkos, jia "•s. The Hnd son. )roHp-lit into water melropniisof the n;it \'c ma( ion. •-■ the city of f the Illinois and Mi(;l coiiinniiiieati,,n with all the int It has thus I heeii l.roiii^-ht to her ilncts not only of tl those of tl i^'aii canal and the Jl linoi wharves and warehouses tl ic vast territ )00U orior.and I.y means •■^ river there have le i^'riciiltnral pn valleys of the M iiVurative orator of New En^'land ((' •■tnrylyin- around the lakes, hut al '■^**''^si|)pi and Missouri. So that tl wlien he described her as holdi ((.'hoat c) was scarcelv ext the west, wliil asrint 0. with the other, \ ".ii' III one hand the vast sei enice like, -'she wedded tl 10 niva,ii,'ant commerce of ic over Pennsylvania also has, I,v her canaK t city of Philadelphia with tl i'rea am d rail wav; i-itv of tl icse waten protection of our iu)rt Old our national lose great inland se c(»iinec Tl tod h er to the oast as to tl lorn Irontier, are quit supremacy on tl o socu- lese :ake tl u> l>v til 10 west, and it i.s t as 1 extent, i^ governmenl that the sh iiiio that the fact niportaiit, thorefon scarce ly iiif lore hue of the lal< was recognized trust that our friends of tl orior in importance to the Atlant ^■■■^. G,2ry{) miles in est attained its majority ami that 10 east will recognize the fact ic coast. Nvith the cciisi IS of 18G(). 0,11 ''hen asked to vote for del iretl Its provincial history t< iron of the e; We that the 'rminate( now l)(!ariiig to the oc onces to these hikes, that th St will not forc-et. th !■ mo: a br mil oan such yast products, have boon tl 1' ant naval triumphs which ado i"n our history ose waters, 10 scene of r^'r^::i,'l-,-''|'r-"-"''i,„fioi,,"^'',,-,e , \^aukepu> konosha, Ha.M,... Milwaukie, and (Jreon Bay wi , many ..hers nsm^ rapidly int.. in.,u.rtan.'e. The .•..mme.re'oV this lake wdl e.xeeed $200.000, 000 per annnn,. The great grana y of 1 e inion has its .lepots on the l.order ..f this lake. It can he defem ed wl.r ^'^r! rn "1'"''''^:;'' '^'" ^^''"^^ "^' ^f-'l^i""-- ahout three miles wide. Fort.heat.ons at the Stra.ts of Ma.'kinaw elose the opening or nt anee into tins .,e:t .nlan.l sea. When the yast inteJests t^hu seeuied are c.:.nsnlered it is obvious that Lake Miehigan. and all its shores and cities, should be defen.led on the threshold at Ma.-kiiuuv Theimp.M-tanee ..f haying a great inland sea. like Lake Michigan conyerted mto a secure harl,..r. where fleets and navies ma> 1 k. gathered ,n security: where may he collected magazines ..farms and munitions an.l provisions, can s.arcely be exaggerated. Lake Michi- uaii, entirely within our own territory, unapproachable by lan.l. and inaccessible by ^yater by any lore.gn enemy, except through a nar- 10 v strait or entrance, is a p..siti.,n of immen.se importaucer and the policy ot closing up its entrance is too obvious to need illustration. Mackinaw- should be made the (iibraltar of the upper lakes Upon the importance ot- this locality we insert the following extract from a communication of General Totten • T^enstbl,!'' ' T. '^'''"if I' ''T;^''" ^ •■""''^l"'' *^"" '-"^ Mackinaw to be indis- IZ ij ! '' ^^''^ .P/''"^'P'^J watching point of the upper In.l" ^^ I "^''^^^"^^'^ ^^'1 '^"ll to refresh, to communicate with each other, to hnd shelter, to lie in wait. «S:c. ''It IS har.Uy to be supposed that a hostile naval expedition coming out ol Georgian bay would yenture towards the upper lakes, or down Lake Huron, cc^iainli/ not into Lake Michigan, Avhile this point of obseryation and rendezymis is occupied by our superior squadron. The fort here mus be adequate to protect this anchorage, and the defences of the island should be such as to defeat any enterprise designed to wrest It iromu.s by superior force ■' The committee are clear in their judgment tliat, in view of the vast jmportanceot Mackinaw, and the interests there to be defended the .government should take immediate means to close the Straits of Mack- inaw against the entrance of any hostile fleet. Fort Gratiot fullv commands the entrance to Lake Huron, and should be immediately reconstructed and put ,n a condition to control tliis gate to Lake Huron. The lower entrance to the straits or river Detroit from Lake Erie IS already well guarded by Fort Wayne. This should be com- pleted and receive its armament. The report of General Totten in which the committee concur, recommends additional appropriations and defences at Buf alo, to wit : the completion of Fort Porter, on the bluftbetween Buflalo and Black Rock, and the mounting of its arma- ment, lor the protection of the entrance from Lake Erie into Niagara "J'L"' ;}!'l^ ^ '^' construction of a tower an.l shore batteries at the mouth of Buflalo harbor ; also an appropriation for Fort Niagara, the con- ■"mw^ lIAI.MtoR KEFKVCE.S ON LAKEH AND RIVKRS. If^ structioiK.f .Icfensivo works at the inouth cf the (ie,i..s..o rivur tiul he repairs of Fort Ontario at Osuv,., ; .Is,, a,,,,ropriationH for otl e (leons.v. works o„ Lakes Hrio an.l ( )ntario and the river St. Lawre , 'e and lor the eonstrnet.on of Fort Muntf^omery, on Lake Ciia.nr.hdn: ^;:.;;rn;i::;i^.:"' '-'"'' '""^ ^ -■■•^ '-^ ^^-« -'^^-t-- >-' ft will l-e ohserv..]. in re^^ird to Lake Ontario, that we have no aecess to that lake Ironithe upper lakes ,.x<-ept thronph fnrei<:n ter- ntorv; onr snpenor.ty m shippi^^^ therefore, on the" upper lakes, woul 1 be unava.lu,- on Lake Ontario. It is therefore important that Hhould he made for secunn^^ and n.aiutainin- our supren.aev on that on [".k/ h r""'') '•^'^•^>""n^;>'.'' tl'« estahlislunent of a naval depot on Lake Ontario for arms, munitions, and naval stores. The posses- sion of this lake IS of the utmost importanee. These ^-reat arteSs of rade, the Erie canal and New Vnrk Cental railroad, are w t In .1 day s march of nearly the length of Lake Ontario, and for a con- s derable distance within a few miles of its shores. The imp, am e o lake defences to the State of Neu- York has alreadv beer! allXl to. It will not be forgotten that in the war of 1812 her borders were the scene of bloody battles, lluffalo, now the nueen " , f and Lake Champla.n and N. „ river the scene of some of the most stirring events of the wa.. We should j.ursue no aggressiv<. policy; ot, the contrary, cultivat- ng amicable reh.tions with all nations, yet at the sa.ue time we should look carefully to our defences '''Jue\\e vo^^wl'^^f ;"'"'' '"-^^ '"'^'' ■'^^'"^ "">• "'^^'"" "^"Z ^'^^ -^i^l to Ito I -it b ;'";;e«'-"' tempestuous seasons, when it fails to s lou tiiat it has siieltered itself on the verv side from which the stonn may possibly come." And th. President of the Unite States Z^'^:^T" '""';'' "'^'^ '-'--a that some fii^fic;!;;: ami depots of arms aiul munitions, with harbor and navigation Zwrof :'! r"-'-^-> P-t^ "P-n our great rivers and t;^ woi.hl be of ^leat importance to our national defence and preserva^ IL The second proposition, in regard to the defences of the northern frontier, ^v t/>e esfabUshnmt of a national foundenj on ihe JZl^es noiit> of the American lake marine over that of Canada on the upper lakes. Li ISGl the number of American vessels of al de cHp! nority was hM. Our superiority in tonnage was 238,12(3 tons. Our superiority in sailors, 10.911. This sup'rioritv, without arras IS unavailing, and would only invito attack, and tlie iumense m^r^ gunboats. Great Britain has been collect; g -.n abundance of the 20 UMimn DKl'KSVEH ON r.AKKS AND HIVKKs. "Nearly .11 the steam vessels, ami umny «.ilinff v;Hse L 00^1 1" PO.S » a,„l he ,,rf|„„vil t„ ..llkoi- „„d man II,.. vi..,.,.|, ,vl, .1, h^^ oot^r;:r ='.;::j -i;'-;^: ;S-:; -i' .-.xr-,- ^tenien "r n,S !' '"^V""''''''' "^'^^' '^^ *''- ^-n>>"und ^ tin ^ovLiimitnt. tdluunsli the ordnance neeosHary to arm the fortifif, t^onsnou- constructed, or in the process of coLtrnction Th o n-' m.t ee. therefore, earnestly recon.nien.l the imn.e.liate cstabl hm t ^z^r^r''^ ' fr' "^ ^-'^vXrerraft:!;;;.^: ^h;: ;j:^ 3 the g.eat centre of the region to be supplied with arms and f'u il- t^ H lor cheap and rapid distribution are l.noquailcd. Shi. s d ^ W non 01 the \se>t. Ihirteen great trunk railways radiate IVom "her .s gitaieM rai\\a\ centres on the continent. She can obtain hv cl.,..,,, "dZ::;:;^^'*"- ^r^'^^^r- ^'-^'-^ «- andmcS'Jrg^;^ in(>is, plioH." Ac. ' iirinairu'iit mid its siij). * " *' * * * # ^ ^ tovvLs'Tr''!;"';" r;"" "•' "'I^T^'^'" proteoti.,,. or tl.is natur. thl ^~^:>:i::>X:*^^^^^^^ -- 11.0 .omin.ttee ar. ponnitted to ,,,„>fo tl.. i'.llnuin- parairrn,), from a conmiiinication of (Um'ral M,('Mlu„ ■ P-'raKiapli '• ri.e a.-nH„Mlati.n ofordna.,.. matonal in appropriate loraliti.-s iH hi'^hly mipurfaiit, and moasuros for the e.Mtaldi^ nn,„f ' '''.""•; «eS'" r"''-""^ '^" ""'"'"'"* seJvioe of tho Lk:' s 'te- sented as ot priniarv importance. ' lliese measures are of the more importance because of the exist enee ..I treaty stipuhitious between he United Ht^u^l ■,, T r I Bruau^ limiting ar,ned vessels in the laL^ tL" n^^/'l , [.^Id in 181., contains the foUou-in- provisions : ^' "X'tluded "Ihe naval force to Ite maintained upon the Am(>rican l.L-,. • 1„- "All other armed vessels on these lakes shall be forthuifh dis mantled and no other vessels of war shall be bnilt. '''" J' e'ther parley should hereafter be desirous oi annullin- this stinn lation and should give notice to that effect to the otl.e Sl-tv t j Whether this treaty in.'ludes Lake Michigan, which is entirelv !«?ow/, may perhaps admit of doubt. tntiicl) Great Britain has. by means of her Canadian canals facilities for Tl.P 1 1 ^ '" ''^ '"' advantao-o not to be overlooked These aaillj|? vi'MSfls I4J I','.., Um^, 20 r..,.t beam a.Hl K l*^ MIS jiofnri- and inuin- III. brin'. . ;.dvanta^^.s^.n.u,n^' out of the Canadian ranals bri, ^s u> t(, tlu. roMsHl.'ratu.n ul tin- in.purtanco ..f the tnhr,,nnad of tin llhnuis and Muhujm, rami fnr nnHlar,, ,,> pU-i^. vessels of war In. t laki., Gu'at britain a,n acxuinulato -unboatn at her i.loasuro on tin" St. Lawreiur, and by her ranals brin- tluMn int.. Lak.- Krio. We •i ; . p"""'"^'^'* authorized the State ..i' Illinois to open u eanal throu-h the public landn t, eonneet the Illinois river with Lake .ehi.an. I„ 1827 a ,uantity of land was .ranted to the State of riljnois h.r he purpose of aidiiiff in openin- this eanal. I lie work was surveyed and eoinineneed in 18;!G. It lie-nn- at ^ hicagoand runs to La Salle the head of navigation on the Illinois ieeder Ihe Avork was more than half coniplrt-l on this l,asis but owing tu finaneiai diDieulties the ori^-inal plan was postponed, ami was cnipleted m IS-IS on the high ievc-1, and fed bv\l.e Ca L Chica-o, Desplane. Kankakee, and Fox rivers. " ^ """'^^' t' ,?•/ ^ / '^^'■■'■""■'■''I'l" ;"• ""•'^"'•y ''"^^ foni.nereial purp..ses !, tin' ,,rmt ma of the a.jr. J,, dleet, comniereially, it turns the Missis.ii.pi into Lake .Michigan, and makes an outlet for the great lakes at \ew Or- tuo g cat systems ot water communications of our conntrv Tlio g.eat akes an.: the St. Lawrence, and the canals connecting the hikes t the ocean on the east; and the Mississippi and Missouri, u^th V st c^H, 1 ,r"?%"" ^'" r'^ ""^' '"^'^''- '^''''^ communication so va^t tan J,e elfected at small expense, and with , i Ion- delav. It is b« carrying out the plan of Nature. A great river rivalling- the S ^r bv'Il '" nr "" "' "" f '^1^^ ^'"^' ""^ '"^'••''"•^^•'1 1'-om Lal^ Michi: gan, b3 tne Illinois, into the Mississippi. Its banks, its currents its islands and deposits can still be easily traced, and it onlv needs a deepening of lu- nrcsent channel foi^ a few luiles to reopen t nag nificent nver Iron. ' .da- Michigan i o the Mississippi. ' ^ lad this ship c-vi. ]^..c>« open, its cost would have been nea -ly or he exj.cnd.tnres oh ih. .....ippi. The gunboats fc.r thl Missis- sippi expeditions .oukI ..va been rta-lily and cheaply obtained at tt»,aiA*^->'*V^^:~' ►•'■••- «•# 5C?^u- IIARHOR nKFKNCKH (1\ LVKIS AM. RIVERS. 23 nvors, an.l tl... o,|,n- lor ,ho .lefonoo of tin |ak... vo„ „.,., mak • o, " •>«• nnsun- l,o,|. purpose., an ...M-o.sity ,„uv r;.,,uir..; .," I kMoat lak..,san.l 11,,. M>.>HSMppi an.l its tril,utari..s o,, either ... anv- XV ...re, a. ocniHoi, in.sht requiro. Tl... oponinj;' of this canal wonld ion. tl . Athw.tu. j.vcM, tl,.. n...ans ..f ,l..f..n,Ii„;;- tl... lakes an-l riv.-rs ';,!1 I !"''"'" r KV"'', '*"«'»-''^v• t'xpen.lo.l luanv millions.,,. Ikm' 'mf^'"^ "r >'*l""l fi'lvantaKi.s at far l.'ss n.st. :;;?:■:..';:',:,';■;;■,. -" '> "■' • > ..rr,.,„rr';,:^-. . Tl... impn.venR.nt nf tl.o harkirs of tl... f^r.^at lak.'s an.l tl... ui,|..n- mK a,wl .lo.-pen.ng .,f the ..l.annei a..n,Hs tl^ St. Clair Hats re ... ""':.;;;; '"T"'^ ■-I--tan..e, ».,. less for n.ilitary than ...Mnn.o;. .1 .ca>..n>. ^„ gj-ea .•onimercn.l interest in the worl.l has ever Krown so rapi.lly a.i.l with s., little en.-ourag..n,..nt .mi th,. , •,'„(•] . an;;;;;;; the VS. 'rv''^''' '■''"'"""•'•"•, '•'•'' --tr.ie/hj;;;':,"!.! , 1 ll : ., '^■'''■'' " """'■'' "'^^'"""' i" it."^ c;l.a..a,.t,.,.. and Nh.d. b,.t aAvaits the return of pea.-e and pn.speritv of ,i,e c.;n,.t v to receive tie att.'ntion of 0.,n-r..ss. '^ "> M.e L.)nntr\ ..ttn- ;'lT'"l'p* ^'" "l•i'^'^'^Ii•^^i■"^i|•l•i. the c..nu.,itte.. .h.sir.. to call the ina.i, naiai. li, 1,M,1, for the .•..nstrnotion .,f a niilitarv i.ost in ..i- near e valley ..f the '-Re.! River of the N.,rth," ..r so Inn! r ho c ..^ i...^l t 1... .lee,.,e.l necessary by the Secretary .,f War. Tl... Ir nj M.e 01 In.ntier between Hritish N.,rtl. Ameri..a an.l the Stat. Mi ' ne Ota ,s without protection by .ai,. goven.n.ent. while Gn.at ri a , |a.stn., h.rts: ..ne on the n.>rth slmre of Luke Superior (F..rt Wi ban.,) another ,Fort Gary; on the "Red River of the N il abo t fifty miles n.,rtl. of the international line. In view of the ■ L't uid W ."n tins ronti.r will receive the ..arlv attenti,,,. .,f the .^^ll.'I^ETt:: ^'■"^''- '" ''' ■*"'*'^'"^"^ '' ^'- •■-"""^^■- it i^ I'he Kivat interests which your c.niuiittee ask Con-ress t.. pn,t..ct are peculiar lu their position and in their relations ?,> the re nblie The northwest is nM. It has. as its great channels of co„W ii N oa .u, to the ocean, the great rivers St. Lawrence and Miss^ " and the canals and railways connecting the lakes and the ocean It am never onsent to becn.e is.,late.l from either of these gi^tou lets no f.m..gn territory m..f rcr intcrveue between it and the .uoutl, of the Mississippi. Wi,I, ..ne hand it .lasp the e • id '* -f" »? !>- "'cod All of which is respertfiilly siibmittt-d. li^AAC X. ARXOIJ). ' .lAMES M. ASHLEY. .TXO. W. XOELL. CYIIUJ-: ALDKICH. ELIJAH IJABBITT. AV. A. WHEELER. E. G. SPAULDING. February IC, 18G2. ^^- ^- ^^R^^^^^ER. # • >«Mwataaltl