p. 2

2

Territories bordering on the upper lakes, and which passed west by way of Buffalo, was equal to 992,890 barrels of flour. In the year 1848, the exports by the same route of the same articles were equal to 3,800,530 barrels of flour. The imports into the port ow Oswego of wheat and flour during the same years, will show to some extent the business of the Welland Canal; as the principal part of those imports come from the Western States by that route. In 1845, the imports into Oswego, of wheat and flour were equal to 400,044 barrels of flour, and in 1847, to 873,293 barrels of flour, besides a large amount which came by the same route to the mills at Rochester.

This enterprise will open a continuous navigation between the six collection districts on Lake Ontario and the river St. Lawrence, and the eight collection districts on Lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan: it would withdraw the transit of American produce and merchandise from the Welland Canal, which would thereby eventually sink into disuse. The Territory, that would be sensibly benefitted by the proposed plan, would be, principally, New York, Ohio, Michigan, a portion of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Illinois Canal, uniting the waters of Lake Michigan and the rivers Illinois and Mississippi, which will be opened for navigation in a few months, will very much enlarge the sphere of the usefulness of this great improvement; and will open a new era in the destinies of the South-Western States of this confederacy. The length of the Lake coast, which would be connected for mercantile purposes by this improvement, exceeds the whole extent of the Atlantic coast from Passamaquoddy Bay to the mouth of the Rio Grande, by about 1500 miles.

Although it would exercise a favorable influence upon the internal wealth and condition of several millions of people; - yet its necessity arises directly from the external situation of the country. When we consider the work, in connection with the common defence of the Union, it assumes a character peculiarly National. In the incidents of our last war with Great Britain, we may find the most conclusive reasons in favor of a water communication between Lakes Ontario and Erie. An avenue, of suitable capacity for the passage of ships of war, would create one of the most perfect safeguards for the protection of our frontier. Our naval forces on the Lakes would be enabled to act in concert; to relieve each other; and the protection of our frontier. Our naval forces on the Lakes would be enabled to act in concert; to relieve each other; and the protection of the frontier would require a much smaller force than must otherwise be necessary. Supplies and munitions of war would be transported to distant points, with increased celerity and safety. As a proof that your memorialists are not singular in these views, it may be well to allude to the acts of our Canadian neighbors. The Welland Canal was constructed by private individuals under an act of incorporation, granted upon highly favorable terms by the government. Large gratuities were given and loans were advanced by the colonial authorities for the consturction of the work. Under the guidance of individual interests, it is natural that the affairs of a company should be conducted more with reference to private benefit than the general good. The Britishgovernment therefore extinguished the interests of the stockholders, in order to give it a more perfect and durable character, and the chief reason, assigned for this arrangement, was, the importance of the communication between the lakes, in case of future hostilities between the Canadas and the American government. If the Welland Canal, in this light, is important to the governmentof the Canadas, it cannot be less essential to the American frontier, that a similar channel should be opened within our own Territory. The report of the Engineer Department shows conclusively the practicability of the proposed communication, at an expense moderate in comparison with the magnitude of the object in view.

In soliciting, to this subject, the earnest attention of the Representatives of the Nation, your memorialists act under a deep sense of the importance of the measure which it is proposed to accomplish. They conceive moreover, that it comes strictly within the scope and jurisdiction of the general government, - the Legislature of the State of New York having by resolution, given their consent to its construction. It is a work, one of the great purposes of which will be "to provide for the common defence" of the country. It will also be one of those enduring monuments of the prosperity and enterprize of a free people, which render governments immortal in memory, if not in duration. Public improvementsof this character, including benefits which are widely spread over the face of a vast extent of country, tend to draw the States together in a more indissoluble bond of Union.

By a joint resolution passed at its last session the State of Michigan has attracted the attention of Congress to this subject. Your memorialists therefore pray that your Honorable body will cause to be passed a joint resolution of instruction to your Senators and a request to your Representatives in Congress to use all honorable means to obtain appropriations of money from the general government to accomplish the objects as expressed by your memorialists.

And your memorialists, as in duty bound will ever pray

Calvin Hotchkiss
Rufus Spalding
Van Epps Hotchkiss
S.B. Piper
Henry Hotchkiss
Franklin Spalding
Seymour Scovill
Lothup Cook
Amos Tryon
P.P. Barton
P.C.H. Brotherson
Ashael Lyon
Leander Scovill