Vincennes Gazette, Volume 13, Number 41, Vincennes, Knox County, 16 March 1844 — Page 2

V J

't . ."5-. W " SH'IIIA . M V1H H Iii. 1811. Y7:sij Principles . "The tci'l "ft'' Xution v.n ,y the n il dXi: i.LV: -:: Presidential term, a fru'i ' iov -mux '.'. an! Pr )( ;l 01 C !'l SU'iio ii'oi'Crim ..ill Huiik, iUHCC IO' tH iff .tf (fa institution vapobie of guard ui: the People's trem-urc and a ! ',: .'...'"'.:. .e;; . r ,nr-:n)ni- nt, (tin! he Jh-rontinitiincc f tt'1 sinc-'uns, and For President in 1044 II i: A 11 V V 2. A V , or k::. if. k . Senatorial Electors. HENMiV . I.ANib of b-!iti:oi;i. rv Co. J OS i: Pi l C MAll-SllAliL, of Jtll';:oii. District Electors, if. John A. Hieekeuridge, of NVarric'.c ; James Collins, of Fi yd ; Jo!;u A. .Matson. of Franklin ; Saimnd W. I'arker, of Fayette ; O' Neai, of .Marion ; George C Dunn, of 1 ..vvrence : ll:e!iard W. Thomp -..ei. of Vio: A. J,. Holmes. ()f Car:-.!!.

Is: Di ' I ' :? 1 " jth (vdi " -th " S iti " Hth " KHh

Horace V. Pu!d'.e, of Cass i L. Ci. Thompson, of Allen ; W'f are ailiioriz'-d j announce Daniel C. MeClure ps catididafj for Representative at the en iin; Auguit cleeUon. Wrf are autborlwd t fcinounre Mr. Tl.oina W. WiUnm- as fn li-lt' fji 'aorili at tho ap proaching A'.nrut v!cct;-n. We ar; anih. 1Z announce Arc'iila'.e for Asoca'a bald imp-on as a Judge, at the coining Au;r ist tdeclion. We aie authorized i) announce lsa.n ,Ma :n a candidate fir Sher'ff, at the ap proachinir Aug 1st elect:',-n. We are authori.ed to announce Joan Mini son as a candid e,e f.r SherilV, at the Auiit election, tnuing. r-jy Tlie Vaba!i is bo-aning high, and still riiic;.r. We learn that the rist ia very consul. -rable tU Lafay cue and Ttrre IFaute. To Cor :'ont ..m -" Mi Qi fkid j" shall have a place nc:-;t week. A F:.l M U on liK. nn ! scud 1)0 alien '.en to s.n. yVa-..'6- .'"di cute J to Phih" &ln )0 inii.'iiMieu, , ,i;. u., '!' vo 1 cn t iKO us genu meut i'ov, iji Sis We hope out- ?-".ids m t'ne country w .,t Tor to t : u'Un.i'i mce'iiais reconiU . I 1 i' 1 mended by the v. t:ntratl (,' ommitL e, U held on Saturday next, for Hie purpo spodin t delegates to the mass meetm of to be he! 1 on Monday week n xt. If the peopl ; wish now to put a s'op t ) ail political managing an i ?c!:eming demaifogues. let lliom turn cut in ihrir m''g!;t are! say who they will iiave for th-ir can lidates : they have but to make dr ir wi-hes kn jwti, ami if they rre tree to them soh e. they will be oceompli-lu h Wo underhand ihit lii ' lih-.l of Kev. Mr. Weinzifcoiitii, Roman Catholic Fncr-t. whir!; took place last week at Princeton, resulted hi his Condemnation fir live years ti narc est dun iae ! UP. r, thai u..v!ng men ou; :.IlI -r the statute. This strikes vis as a singular verdict, s. nee, it guilty at all, ilia circumstances of aggravation uric sinTieient to require the so vr test punishment of ihe law, viz : 21 years. Wr.srLRS Armory. We are informed that there exists at this t..r? quite a strife between Natchez an.: Men phis, 1:1 regard to the location of the Western Armory and Dock Yard. Inconsequence of the more immediate contiguity of Motnphis to the majority of the wcs-iem stales, added to tho healthful situation of the place, while at Xatcl.cz ati epidemic in all its horrors and ravages, ii 1 11 annual vsitant. we arc constrained to say that M-nnphis is decidedly the better point. TleshLs (he right sort of people live there. e We have received the first and second numbers of the Whig lWl. published ct lud.a.vapohs by S. V. U- Noel , an 1 edited by Theodore J. Darnell. As we pre. dieted ii shoots well, and M every crack Le: 0 comee. libs a real Coon rifle.

Oar readers will see in another column, tho Report of the Committee in Congress on the subject of the- improvt in-'ht o! the Wabash river. Il will be road wilh interest bv a!!.

( i.r dt.-st thanks are (.iuo lo Col. M Mabon, editor of the Memphis inquirer, l. n the. try a' !: in.i'm'.T in which he has contribute ! his a I 1 i.i behalf of tho impr.nemeul of the Wubusli river, an I to Mr. bunion, of Memphis for the splendid speecn winch ma le in favor of the improvonient of the Westc-rn river?, and of die V abash in particular. We word! also tender our thanks to John W. Cru.krit, Esq.. of New Orleans, for :is masterly ed'irt in support of tue in. as v. II as Col. .Me M i, Ir. "! n-a-o t. . -e .V a o ... . i , i 1 i . jii : a Whl g meetoe r bet 01 at 1 Arrad.e. hear one cf u1. lot H. S. Frvn'.iss, of" Mississippi. II ivp: 'J000 people in attention for two 10 1 rs . There have been at least 'J()00 Itl-.-gates here from the different Parishes i Lnuisiana, a-"sc moled liere to rreel ilci rv Ci iv, celebrate die Cd. the birth ' of Wsshitigton, and select Electors ;r the !S,;t. The town is in a perfect tummt, ano the enthiisiam in favor ot I larrv of :!. Vet is all powerful. IJeHare rcely o'Tcr I that Mr. Clay will have 'he rire.-t ii.apunr vot I 1 ii ti 1 - e V. I i. - : 1 VM i It" nit of tho Fnited iatop." W e. the und-Tsigneil, l.he Knox count v Whij Central Committee, impressed witii tue. importance 01 a favorable result in our Aug 1st el -cti ns, b th in reference to our county an t Main ait urs and its b innr upon the :vt Fre-idtnual election, and be! ie that such a result can be ensured only by unity in the party, herebv, in pursuance of the authority invested in us at our institution, call upon the citizens of Knox to assemble in Convention, ?i Yincennes on the FOUKTIl .MONDAY in March next, t- ad tpt such rneasur"3 as may be deem-'d expedient f r the further org'irn.aiii- n of ue co.intv. and to ma." M ..... ." i .1 na ot'i' .s -;r nr . e;o a; m s 1. r me Humir' t 1 . . . . . ....... fall elections. Th ; - ' Ymvemieii is cin -d lered iiidi-penahl ? f or the purpose deciding up-'ii the claim- of ihe nunierou can Ji ;at vs lor ' :e, and by making j i iie 1 hi s iioiii! nations to cotici ntrate the Whl e: I u ote, and save tho party from division a'u -:oii!. (juent fear. The ;dan for a Con tioiou ' nfS iiiCis v, !t!i ii, ,,, ; . : :, eral .10; n is, that each township shah j

uo; i a meeting on me Mruruay previous a i.-jueou o the m easure at a time so very to the County Convention, to express a unprot ici ,us as the prsmit. Lot, ht us preference C-tueen tb.e candidates, and!sup;v.s" tliat the rleu" is a iui one that

then to asset. ibie on die above day in ma-s Convention, each individual pn.-sent to consniere I : a ue.egute irom ins town-hip. .1 . - io uuuu lei iiiu noiiiiiiets eaen low iisn oi i er uie nonunees eaeli tounwill vote separately and aecordiing to its rc-lativo poii. It is thotigiit that this oMn w iu ec ire io ariou eanuMats a i.-.ir preseiitatiem of their claims bef-re the Con . ClitlOil and Prevt.-llt TlllV n.!v;i!ll-c" being t:.k- n bv iulriguc and management, - . e tnui.-; toe i. ee-.itv tor a Con v e;-1 turn nr.! st b-

. 1 man 1. bun lore uas iti? geon oi to. j tiartv at s r.t; 1 e. -e m getting up tawnii ip meetnigs, ami io in luce sneu a g Miral alter. . 1 . . . . . a nee on me e onvention as n gtve I us Hi- , ions w ( 1 1. guitv. e !ne th" ( . 1 to or-at o;;r ooj 'tis if w ; ere but unit a A i We '.'.'alit IS Oarin i',v it:,l ; ati uini ?: mooig ween ir : ves, ai-.u c we trust e vt rv W hi iig in die ciuiitv will bo I found ituolv to lem ins host r j ;tS 1:1 a plan calci.ilat ta! t j sceur1 1 unity, con :ord, ; -.l.d MICCOSS U I). S. R , nncr, Abm. mlih, l b is. P. -hep, IL !). W . . ler, :;aml. Umlsen, II. Ftmut'eroy, he;. !). II a v, (J. W. Wilkerson, v. t. s-ott, J as. I lenderson. For the V iiua'Diics (Jazottc. Yi:;c.:..i:s Lp., Ma:;cti 1(5, 18M. My d ' ar GitcMi-ec;, since my re-h dence among our cie mo-k 1 l;ret!iren I have scarce drawn a breath fr-r e from the taint of party strife and p 1 v ltuper.iuon. I wi - 1 you woi ceert your nid.inice witn i:.e councu, and pr. cure me a rtdease fiom this iiitoh rable mis don. I eoen learn nothing here that will at all add to the domestic happiness of our nation. Thh people, to whom we have ever been taught to ir ok rs patrons of generosity and braver",, are continually engaged in a petty warfare am-mg themsehes. Tiie nation is now divi led into two distinct parties; the one (from what I have been able to gain of their history) composed of, what is here called, the producing class ami the traders,- they are generally an honest, upright, industrious people; and, I am told, have proved themselves very good warriors on several eeeasu ns when the nation has been invaded by hostile tribes, the other is composed of a faction of discontented chiefs who have been disappointed in finding that their people do not th;nk them quit 1 as great men as thev have been accustomed to think themselves ,- each of these su perannated beings has succeeded, by promises which he never infetnls to fulfil, in drawing around him a siSt ' band of retainers, and although ncither cf them can ever hope to be made 1 head Chief of the nation, yet, to preserve

nr.!: bo apparent t) every sensible she ma'te by tfie operation ? I doubt!1110 xvlilC ,CI1-Ul 01 1, and we hope that the plan nbove i whether nil her possessions, if sold at the !can;i1, fru:'1 -Waum -aiitted wi!i he approved of. We :!e?te- nv :,t extravagant price, would buy these j 511 lff' earnestly rail upon every man v, ho three d-Toes of almost uninhabitable ter- 1 ho expense of t! th? geod of ih i party at h-ut, to ue'ritory. And, she c,u!d inrft no more, ca!Kl1 teen m'?

an unbursled a!)domen, thev must uoeus

irive vent to t heir bile, which tlity do lif e rlv ma, MfTs bv standing in A.ra n! ... 'l;.,, .fv-,rl so many suny ifieir kennel Uoora an i -snarhu" at eve Z3 thing dme by their more peaceable n-?'irh bors. iiie lirat of thes parte s, in c;g!chearted !i..iiesty, have chosen the best man.' in their ranks to be ihe Nation' Gr?nd: Captain tr a speeifi al time from !ds! I'.istory. I am inclined to think that lie. u ou Id h, eon vents the office very o S Tee, m?liiave iletenr.ined to oppose the 1 appointment, but not being ah. a to doc ice among themselves which is the leat oh-

noxious to his fellows :b-v have, acv--1 1 hut, in early times, before mo conrently, entered into a kind of treaty -f Wl of tho miIl,ar' lW3ts of ,,,e norlh; amitv, stio-ilatin r that neither shall nrriV r , wertern territory, the vast nnpoi tance of ' n I ' .1 . l C I. .... .. " . .... I O...

has c aims for t k? nrproit t,, rpt lint .ot rn .r-r,. concert at Mr. (.'lav, the ! ader of the';ml common enemy. As a specimen of the fruits of this implied Imrgaiu, I will give you the dimensions of a bone of dl-n tin: a hic!i th( y are chewing over among tin. o,celve?, and up"u which they dine with uKieh gu?t as if it were n go" 1 bulFaio tonir ie of consistency and reason. A. member of ihe crcat Council, a short i - o ooi uii ,.o .;; tun since, in th e couise o his tal s? i that Mr. Clay, when occupying a subchi Jl'tainsliip, some win ers ago, said in a let er he wrote to a runner seer, to Crl.t 1'rOaiii, iieit that pow-r ha i -no eoir title to any portion of the norlh west ec-t," j i Oregon territory) ' And then, says i'f o Mr. Wrangler, in the same letter, al er making ibis honest avowal, this same So retary instructs this same minister to trade off three degrees of what is pro'.iaHly the ino't sterile and worthless country in lac North American continent. That :Vr. Clay di 1 all ihis is beyond question : y t, in lo '".iking back a few winters further we find that another worthy old chief, wh.m occupying the same station, had made precisely the same offer. X"W, coull .Mr. (-lay maintain the dignity of bis tmvcinment and make any othr proposition m re disadvantageous to the overmof nt with which ho was treating than the cue made by his predecessor? Suppose we sell to thec people n certain quantity of land to-day, to night a party of Sioux pounce down upon us and kill all the ' "Kiefs who had signed die treaty, to-morrow a new council is organized, and il refuses lo give up ail the lands sold, wha' would this trood people think of us .' Why thev would call us treaehoi v.is louts, and hack o;ir scalp locks with their broad" swords Again, this dissenter from rectitude propos-d that the council should! instruct the principal Chief of the tribe to take the necessary stems for driving a f;w F.nrdishmen from (. reon who hav spI(led there for th-? purpose of trailing with our retl brethren ol mat quarter tor tueir furs.p, clave, Itri' s. fi-h, & .'..and die w hole conw no lini a 111 nity of stripe, denice their honest opp m.'mts as b ire on j. .nd as beitig paid by Orat 1'ritain, m I. to o'-ro-- t;iis measure let, ih.o V ,'r.u!d di,e-r.s ihe substernal rn- . !.,- tUn I..-.M..--I ,.-.,, n.-,n,. .,ol 1 o reas wfv t ie no-nesi ni ' ii oppose in Lnghan actual. y does pay a maor'ty of the pee.ple of the f "nit'-d States for their to 'ceure this s ipof "If " ' 1 e- cin t rv she a I.-) ,'ore-j tins maioritv to de!t lr. ( day ; she then must pay Messrs. Ilhek-f.ot. Flat head. Sink", oc Co.. a coo. r. .nn vnt-o lor i a ci r r :-. ons u -on -in i c nniry fend tiie y doubtless think a's mudi nf nod wor.1.1 nsk ns nmcb for thoir Ti t 1 v f leered as wp would for our fertile nrai rirs . ' and to w-rin forests) ; how much would ' 'ter nl this ex nen liture of gold, because, i Mr. 1:1 tue corresMoii' ,.,.r.rr,A y 1: 1 .. Kill 1 to a i we. announce 1 the iroo. .sition t!if,n riade as the utimaHan of ids govrrnment. 'an.l that none other more advantageous to (1 Rriloin .'.! !.-. rn'r-rl "mp.I be rnterfained or reronsi leration from the American people ow, niv dear fircK oicon ran vo'i 1 leave a r'eo - wonurr mnt 1 stum. win t t T I t 1 1 pV in whos every element I Cn ta?ei .0, im" but i -iPltcilv. ati who oo c upon i . . , . , 1 th- ! e7t ,.f their Chiefs with die ferocity of n,ml,Pr5 n.l .n, v,'v tn.lv tbpir :r a,',. "d.rte-, UI-MlU.llllil .n II IIH V H li',; v lH .1 uuau ron 'Xio 1 0:1 1

,e l-rol, .vnnlib-.-unn )lmnniinn?l'ntllilll anu an mcalCUiauu

1 OMOI1 VW . . 0 i ILf.cAun. The Carrolton (Ohio) 1'ro-s, i r) rj, :i(T nf t , pbroke 01, t of the Carro'ton dail, on Wednesday, the 1 1th insi.. describes them as Udowsf 'One named Sitnurl or Thomas Ilrown, about 5 feet 4 inehea high, dressed in a new black velvet nam ly coal, and wore a black Pussia hat, short b! ck hair, pa!" in the fac", about 'Jo years of age and is a tailor by trade. 4 The other passes himself off by die name of John Smith, find last summer, passed by the name of John Watson his real name is Stephen Moreland. lie was raised in Columbiana county, and for tb.e hast year or two resorted about the Ohio river, between Steubenvilie and Liverpool, and a part of his time about Cleveland. He is "Jo or o ) years old, about 5 feet 1! inches high, heavy built, full in the face, very fail eyes, sandy beard, rather dark hrdr, had on when he left a black Russia hat half worn, a black dandy coat about half worn, dark sattinet pantaloons. The above reward will be jgiven for the apprehension of them, or Sjt'y) for Smith alias Moreland, and So ) for Hrown, cither there or lodced in any Jnil so that the Sheriff of Carroll can get them. The mud-putter man at Washington, with a desperate effort, cries "your devil's :ot no tale!"

IMPROVEMENT of the WABASH.

r ebiiuarv JB, 1-.41 Mr. Ficxtfx, from the Commute on lloU C H II a ! 5, m 3,1 C t h e fulIOWKiFebruary 28, 14 i. and The Committee on Uoads and Canals, to whofi rrrre referred sundry mnii irialx j frot'i different s:ctions of the l iuon, axf.'in for a grant of certain imsoot land in Indiana and Illinois for the. cm:i Ltion of the nat ionul th'i niihfarc connecting Lake JJie iriti the O'iio,by the improvement of the ?utviv :!ir, of the Wabash 7iYr, report : inorouinitare uemoeu ui iroxes aoa loo Ohio, by the way oi the v abash and the '- .... . . Miami of tho Lakes, and the great facility with which it could be constructed, forcibly impressed the minds of tiie early French traders. As the country brcamo imre inhabited, the necessity, for military and commercial purpose?, of having that thoroughfare opened, was seen an I felt, not only by the inhabitants of that section of the country, but by the people and their representatives from many portions of the Union, as evinced bv legislative action v. eo Hut subject in (see V . S Laws, vol. ) an act of Congress was p s--fd ''au thorizing the State of Indiana to open a canal through tli e public lands, to connect the navigation of ihe rivers WabaMi and Miami ef Lake Erie.'' This act reserved ninety feet of land on each si le of said eaeal from sale on the part of the United Sir.tes, for ever, for a canal," Szv., and provided " that said canal, when completed, shall be and for ever remain a public highway for the use of the Government of ihe United Stales, free from any toll or charge whatever lor any property of the United States, or persons in iheir service on pub lie business, passing through the seme." This act was foil nved by another, of March U, !S'i7, (see U. S. Laws, vol. 7. page 5S5,) by which there was granted to the State of Indiana, for the purpose of ai ling said State in 'opening a canal to unile. at navigable points, ihe waters of the liver V. abash with those of Lake Frio,' a quantity of land equal lo one-half of five sections in width on each side of said canal, and reserving each alternate section to ihe I nitcd States having the same proviso as the act of 1 "Jl; showing plainly the intention of Congress to have constructed a national thoroughfare from die lakes tt) the Ohio, bv the way ef the Wabash. Two other acts were pr.s-ed by Congress one approved May '2d, iHtJO, the oliier June .. lMl granting ian ii to make up for doe thai had been previously disposed of by the United Stales out of the first grant, and transferring to the State ol Ohio those Iviri.T iihia her borders. TilJ Stal0 of Ohio and Indian - l diese grmis for die said purpos accept ed these grmis for the said purpose. The canal has been completed by those States, either out of the proceeds of said lands, or money borrowed upon their bein"" pledged for the i iyinent, from Matimee bay to Lafavette. i'a distance of miles.) and i is now "U',cesl'ul!y navig;-oed from that point to tiie ko. Subsequently, a fur ther selection of lands was made, under :ea-tof March "J. ly7, to exUnd the ' eam-d down the Wabasii to Torre-Haute : C C j i 1 J r 0 s I i ci was confirmed by act of 1811. Said extension of the i ca!!" ' is 'nv URd'-'r coi-tr!c. a" 1 1,1 ceur-e '..r .. .. 'I' ii. i : 01 L' '"f 1 ei re-1 1 an te , m a K t n g j j . Lin. i . 1 I'll, i i. i j 1 . 1 ' 1 t ( 1 w , v i!"..M. ;l : I 1 1 i .1 1 u canal, from alaum ee bay, three hundred ie construction of this .is been more than s ! ,)00.t. )t, and the great object of the lleueral (lovern tneni not vet Leen fullv accomi shed, thorTiiere is, as vet. no nninterrupted oughfareby this route from XewYork and other eastern cities to N;w Orleans. ri . e. v., , !.!,.,., ..:.,, u"!llllU1"115 o- i..v iuuu hXtnl or 1:10 rin. nation of the canal, (it being about 250 miles from that point to p'10' mouth,) that prevent ihe navigation of i a'jcis'' river Iiear eight months in - j:roaiiv impair wiu uuiiiy 01 o .. 1 .1 .1.- ..:!:... r M he .vol. :i 1 rioron c i f :i rf In O.p norm p . " . " ' j of tllC Lluon an l i:s General Government, annual loss, too, occasioned by these : obstructions, to tho people of the States of j 1 I i I amount. To form a just conception of this, it is necessary to consider the vast ; extent and amount of the commerce upon i los river am! its tributaries, ailu die mmculties to which it is subjected. The Wabash, with its tributaries, furnishes, during the spring freshets a navigation, either by steam or flat-boats, of more than '-i.e'iO miles. Ain-uig these tributaries are, in Indiana, the White rivers, and their numerous tributaries, the Patoka, Fiusserou, Sugar, Kaccoon, Tippecanoe, and Fed; and, in Illinois, the Little Wabash, IJonpas?, Embarras, and tho Vermillion. Outof this great natural .channel cf trade and its tributaries, pass to market more than one-half of the surplu products of Indiana, and one-fourth of the i surplus proJueH of Illinois. Some conception may be formed of tho vast amount of these surplus products by reference to the census tables of 1810, after making a reasonable deduction for homo consumption. I5y a reasonable estimate made of those returns, ihe products uf Indiana, of that year, exceed $ ?2.Gd0.000, and the products of Illinois exceeded 8-5.000." 00'd. The great staples of these States consists principally of com, wheat, pork and beef. The desideratum with farmeris to barter these articles for the necessary comforts and luxuries of life upon the best terms. To effect this object, it is absolutely necessary that a choice of markets should be afforded at all seasons uf the year.

At present, "the producers of this great valley are compelled to avail themselves of the spring floods to transport their surplus products to New Orleans, and other cities and towns of the south. This rise of water in the Wabash, and all its tribu-

taries, occurs at the same time, though at an uncertain period generally happening some time in the months of March or April. From tho uncertainty of its continuance, there is an eagre rush to market. Thousands of flat-boats are seen upon the Wabash, Ohio, and .Mississippi rivers, freighted with tho great staples of this valley, passing one after another in rapid succession, to ihe great southern mart. The consequence is, that, in a short time, die market becomes overstocked and glutted ; produce fails to a nominal price; and the fruits of the toil and labor of the farmer become an easy j,rey to a band of heartless sharpers and speculators, who are constantly watching for their victim. Tiie necessary preparations for a new crop, iiis engagements at home, and the fear of the sickly season, prevent ins waiting in the hope of driving a more profitable bargain ; he is compelled to sell his cargo at ruinous sacrifices. Under these iroumslancrs, in the years ISil and 112 good bacon was sacrificed (not sold) at one. two and te.ree cents per pound, in die sou tneni market. In many instances it would have been better for the owner that the boat and cargo sIk-uH have bet n devoured by the flames before leaving die landing, as the whole when sold, would not pay ihe expenses of transportation. Such ruinous sacrifices would not occur if the fVmers of the Wabash were enallod at all seasons of the year to transport their produce through this thoroughfare, (already completed to Lafayette,) directly to New York, poston, and other northern and eastern cities, or lo the south, at their option. Already die trade between the northern and eastern cities, is beginning to assume very considerable importance, and die result is mutually beneficial lo all concerned. A reciprocity must exist in the trade between different sections of the Union, as well a.s between nations ; otherwise, there would not be a proper equilibrium of the precious metals preserved as a circulating medium, or standard of value. Indiana and Illinois can purchase of X'ew ork. Poston, Philadelphia and Baltimore iheir merchandise, provided they will receive, in exchange or purchase, their great staples, corn, wheat, beef and p uk. Superadd to the 'resent vast f,ciiiiies of internal commerce between the Stales, by railroads, rivers, lakes and canals, the proposed improvement of the Wabash, and it will make every town on its banks a depot for produce for shipment, and for goo Js to be furnished through the country merchants to 'die people. The farmers, in this way, will not only have a choice of markets, but 'hat which is much more important a choice in die time of ghng to market. Corn, wheat, pork and beef, placed in warehouses at tho most convenient points upon the river, might be shipl -it .i i pen at any period Del ween l!ie months ot February and December at the option of the owner, and to that market to which the best prices might invite. Under all the circumstances, it is not an unreasonable calculation that the annual loss to the people of this valley, any average season, on account of a lack of facilities of trade, con trasted with what their condition w if the contemplated improvement wer: made, would approximate m amount to the expense of making the improvement. Though the losses of the people of thisi great and fertile valley, comprising so large a portion of Indiana and Illinois, are so immense, on account of the want of commercial facilities, which might well engage the attention of Congress; Vet the committee conceive tlut there are still more weighty considerations, touching the interest of die people of a large portion of ihe Union, and cf the Government itself, that imperatively demand the action of Congress upon this subject. The widely -extended frontier on the north will be always, in case of war. very much exposed to hostile invasion. To the lack of facilities for the transportation of troops and munitions of war, are to be attributed most of the disasters attending the campaigns of the northwestern army during the last war. How much of pecuniary loss, and how great a sacrifice of the lives ol tb.e bravest and best of the land, might have been prevented if these facilities had then existpd ! The great importance of this improvement to the commercial interests of dais Union is too obvious to admit of argument. Its importance is known and felt in most of the commercial points from New Orleans to New York and Poston, as evidenced by memorials from those (daces. It is an aimo't indispensible link in connecting the natural and artificial channels of social and commercial intercourse by one of the most direct and safest routes thus furnishing en uninterrupted inland navigation, extending from New Orleans to New York, from the Culf of Mexico to the St. Lawrence. It would open the rich stores of the great valley of the Wabash, equally, if not more productive in die great necessaries of life, than any other region of the same extent in the world, to a northern and southern market. In time of war, when die coastinc trade is attended' with so much danger, the cotlon and other great staples of the south can find their way through this channel to the northern manufacturers and consumers, in perfect 6afety, and with but little expense. ' Put the committee believe the General Government would be justified in taking upon itself tho entire expense of (he construction of this thoroughfare, ou account of the military advantages it idonc would

furnish. The committee feel more the importance of this improver.!-nl, as there is in contemplation (and doubtless there will be established, in a short period) a naval depot and armory upon the .Mississippi and Ohio. The completion of this tho. oughfare would render these nation?.! works doubly important, as it would enable the Government to transfer its arms and munitions of war not only from their establishment to the Gulf of Mexico, but through this national highway to the lakes, free from all charge, to any point where the public service may require; also,?;ileriafs, iron and coal both found up the Wabash can be, through this channel, supplied on tho lowest terms to those nationa! works. The nation should be more energetic upon this subject, as tho Pritish Government is every year extending its facilities in the Canada?. Py tho WellanG and New Liverpool canals, the whole British army in North America could bj concentratcd upon anypoint throughout die extensive coasts of the northern lakes, in u few days. It is not to be disguised, tha;? bv the means of these two ship canals, the St. Lawrence and the lake. Great Britain not only possesses the key to the commerce of dia northern lakes in tims of peace, but also has the power, by n judicious disposition of her vessels of war, to barrass the citizens of every Scare -f-sv Miores are washed by these wrters. Why shoulduho General Government hesitate to complete this great thoroughfare, when its national importance is go obvious and when it can be done without embarrassing the treasury, and, at die same time, confer such great benefits upon the people ? The committee submit, whether that is not the most practical and tisr-frd fortification for the Government to erect, which would enable die most speedy concentration of the greatest force atanv given point, and which at all times would furnish a channel of trade, be a source of national wealth, and a strong bond of union between the States. The committee believe this improvement would serve better to accomplish these desirable objects, than any other in contemplation, requiring no greater expenditure. There is another point of view the committee cannot ferbear presenting. The rapid improvement of j repelling boats by steam induces the committeo to believe that the day is not far distant when this thoroughfare wnphi be profitably and advantageously used for tiie Iran-portation of the mails. The committee are tho more confirmed in this belief, from the fact of those conversant upon the subject having it already in contemplation lo use. more constantly the rivers and lakei f.v; this branch of the public service. As to the practicability of the improve' merit, the committee would state, that, from the repeated surveys, and die recent eminently successful experiments in the river navigation by slack water, and otbeiwise, thev think u'l doeV. upon ihe sub iect should be; removed ; that great advances have been made in river improvements in the last few years, and that there are different grades of river improvement, varying very materially in the expenseand the extent of their usefulness. Under an act of Congress, in 162S, Captain J. L. Smith, one of the United States engineers, made a survey of said river, from it"? mouth to the mouth of Fel river, ."00 miPs, for, at least, of the obstructions in it.) and estimated that the sum of $u.",i;,.M "') would give at low water, below Vincenns. 'g.' feet water; and l , ami ultimately '2 feet water r "wove, to the mouth of the Eel. A further survey was made.

under a joint commission of Indiana and Illinois, in 1&3I, to meet a limited appropriation, which, it wai calculated, would give steamboat navigation ten months indie year, from the month to tho point where the concurrent jurisdiction of said States cea-:cs, which is within about ten miles of the termination of the canal a report of which survey is contained in Executive Documents. 2.1 volume, No. 70, 2d session 21?d Congress. A further surrey was made under a joint commission of sard' States in pursuance of concurrent acts of the Legislatures of said States of 1 8 ?' ; under which surveys, contracts were let for the improvement by slackwaterof the main obstructions in the river ; but, for lack of means on the part of said States,, nothing was done by the contractors. The committee, from these surveys,, the present most approved plan of river improvement, and the great importanceof this thorcuahfnre, believt; thai Congress would be justified in making the appropriation in the way it is a-ked, to theamount reported in the bill. This, thccommittee believe, would furnish an ampie fund, not only lo give steamboat navigation the year round, but would enable said States to construct the improvement in the most substantial manner. It appears, from the legislative action of said States of Indiana and Illinois, that they have given this great public work at all times a preference over all others, and considered its prosecution of the most urgent necessity. In 1830, when these States embarked in the most extravagant systems of internal improvement, the Wabash alone was placed in the first class. From a series of untoward events, it appears that, before any thing was effectively done towards the improvement of the river, the funds- were exhausted, upon other works, and the credit of both States had failed. Under this state of things, the said States, by joint resolutions of their respective Legislatures, have repeatedly applied for aid from the General Government, as thpy had done sundry times prior to l?3rt, to enable them to complete this reat national thoroughfare by the improvement of the navigation of the Wabash river. As'the improvement of the river may

G