been greater in Illinois than in any State in the Union,* and are now rapidly progressing. Sales upon easy terms, liberal donations, and a cession of the inferior lands to the State for beneficial and meritorious objects, will accomplish, it is hoped, a transfer of the remaining lands in a reasonable time, from hands that are not fit to hold them, to hands that are. 'Tis not the paltry sum of one dollar and a quarter per acre, paid into the treasury, but the use of these lands, reduced to private property, occupied by independent yeomanry, improved and improving, that gives them all their value. When General Hamilton was secretary of the treasury, during the administration of President Washington, he was charged with treachery, and threatened with impeachment for the opinions he gave in relation' to the public lands. His predictions, however, have been verified. No one, it is believed, anticipates at the present time a large accession to the public revenue from thence. Whether that amount, though small, shall hereafter be distributed among the States, or become a part of the public revenue, are questions for the politician and statesman, and not for the historian. Small amounts in other countries have corrupted the public mind, degraded the public morals, and debased the public character; why not then in our own? To anticipate this, however, would be to write our history in advance. Moneys obtained by fraud, gambling, speculation, or piracy, seldom profit their possessor. Moneys never earned, seldom endure-and not unfrequently ruin their possessor. To suppose that a few thousand dollars. will tend to corrupt a legislative body, is only to suppose that man is frail ; to suppose the contrary, is to discard the wisdom of ages, and reject the lessons of experience. During the first, second, and third quarters of the year 1842, 386,414,71-100dths acres, were sold in this State for $483 46 75. CHAPTER XXII. Canal policy-Illinois and Michigan canal-Its importance-Boats passed from Lake Michigan to the Illinois river a hundred years ago-New-York canals-Languedoc canal-Holstein canal-English canals-Middlesex canal-Canal commissioners appointed by the Legislature of Illinois, February 14, 1823-And six thousand dollars appropriated for surveys-A Company incorporated for its completion, January 17, 1825-Act repealed-Congress make a donation of lands, March 2, 1827-A Board of Commissioners appointed to explore, in 1829-Act amended, February 15, 1829— Office of Canal Commissioners abolished, March 1, 1833-Act for the construction of the Illinois and Michigan canal, passed January 9, 1836-Railroad, etc.-Canal commenced, July 4, 1836-Speculation-Whole expense of the canal, estimated at eight millions, six hundred and fifty-four thousand, three hundred and thirty-seven dollars-First contracts, price of provisions and labor-Road along the route-Loans, etc.-Canal Fund-State then in debt-Work on canal ceases-Claims liquidated at two hundred and thirty thousand dollars-Lands and lots sold-Amount of sales--Of receipts, seven hundred and fifty thousand five hundred and thirty dollars Amount of bonds issued-Resources-Their payment, etc.-Its future prospects South more interested than the North in its completion-Internal improvement system-Loan of eight hundred thousand dollars authorized-Credit of the State pledged, etc.-Governor Ford's message-Work suspended for want of funds. No principle in political economy is better established, than "that after the formation of a good government, the best and highest interest of a nation is, to adopt such a system of internal policy as will enable its whole population to enjoy, as soon as practicable, all the natural advar. tages of their position.' A mere glance at the map of Illinois, must convince even the most casual observer, that the union of Lake Michigan and the Illinois river by a canal, is an object not only of easy accomplishment, but of great practical importance. The attention of the first settlers of this country, at an early day, was directed to this subject, and trading establishments were erected by the French on its route. The importance of Canada and Louisiana was enhanced by the measure, and when the country passed into other hands, when the power of France had ceased, and the once proud lords of the soil had retired at the bidding of civilization and the arts, the project was renewed; and hopes are now fondly cherished, that in a few more years Lake Michigan will mingle its tributary flood with the great "father of waters." The importance of this measure, not only to the State, but to the nation, in a civil, a military, and political point of view, can hardly be appreciated. The history and progress of other States, is full of instruction. Holland, by her industry and enterprise, robbed the ocean of its legitimate domain; and intersected her whole surface with navigable canals. A few years since, she was mistress of the seas. China, England, New York, and other States and territories, furnish evidence also of their value. The rise and fall of nations in every part of the world, as well as in every age, furnish also incontestible proofs, that the most intimate relations which can be created between distant sections of a common country, tend, in their nature, to preserve its independence, to call forth its energies, and increase its wealth, its power, and political importance. In the United States, this conclusion is not only reasonable, but irresist ible. When the whole of this vast country shall become thickly inhabited; and different sections, actuated by different interests, shall feel, and perhaps act, as if they were separate parts of distant and discordant nations; when jealousies shall arise, as in all probability they may, to disturb its peace, and endanger its liberties; when patriotism, innocent and defenceless as she is, shall be assailed by those arch-fiends of ruin, ambition and avarice;-a community of interest arising from the mutual dependence of one section of the country upon another, may constitute that bond of union, and perhaps the only one, which shall cause the North and the South, the East and the West, "Like kindred drops to mingle into one." In the early ages of the world, when Governments were composed of petty clans and monarchies, without a single bond to unite their discordant parts; had no means of familiar intercourse, and no interchange of daily thoughts and comforts, except through caravans and standing armies, jealousies and petty feuds filled every bosom ; and one nation after another sunk into oblivion, without leaving a trace behind. Even England, containing a less number of square miles than Illinois, was divided into a Heptarchy; and seven independent monarchs once reigned supreme, within its limited territory. In Ireland, the kings of Lienster and Ulster, Munster and Connaught, sought for mastery. Wales had her princes, and Scotland her kings. Intermarriages and conquests at first, and reciprocal interests afterward, broke the barriers asunder which severed its discordant parts, and the Heptarchy ceased. Since then "The king has gone from Holy-rood, Great Britain and Ireland, to be sure, "intersected by a narrow frith, abhor each other;" different causes, however, from those enumerated, have heretofore severed, and may, perhaps, at no distant period, sever England and Ireland for ever. The different counties, however, in the former, like the several departments in France, by facility of intercourse, are bound reciprocally together; and when these United States shall be united by canals, by railroads, and other facilities for cheap and easy access to a market in all directions; by a sense of mutual interests, arising from mutual intercourse, and mingling commerce; it will be as impossible to split them into separate governments, whose frontiers shall be lined by custom-houses, and whose borders shall bristle with bayonets, as to reorganize the Heptarchy in England. The best security, however, for the continuance of this Union, "is industry, and a free, cheap, and easy exchange of the produce of man's labor, for whatever he may require." The French traders and voyagers, more than a century since, passed with boats from Lake Michigan into the Illinois river, at some seasons of the year. The country, however, was not examined by men of science, and the facilities for an artificial communication were as yet unknown. All talked of the project as easy and practicable, but none of them knew, and few of them cared how, or in what manner, an achievement so brilliant was to be accomplished. Some hesitated even to inquire into the matter, lest "its beauty might be marred." Theories and dreams passed finally away, and experiment and practice succeeded. York led the van, other States followed. The Alleghanies were penetrated; "the valleys exalted, and the mountains brought low." New-York, by her example, rendered the canal system exceedingly popular, and De Witt Clinton rose like a star of the first magnitude, passed his zenith in splendor, and set in a blaze of glory. Other pretended Clintons, impelled hither by his success, entered the field of politics and fame, and sought (if not immortality,) their own profit and advantage. The making of canals was no longer an experiment. Their utility had been tested long before. Their practicability, even at a moderate expense, reduced to certainty, and the junction of Lake Michigan and the Illinois river was regarded by the whole community as a matter of course. The Languedoc canal, in France, which unites the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, is one hundred and eighty miles in length; has one hundred and fourteen locks and sluices, and a tunnel seven hundred and twenty feet long; it is one hundred and fourteen feet wide, and six feet deep; and cost three thousand pounds sterling, or about fifteen thousand dollars per mile.* The Holstein canal, which unites the German Ocean with the Baltic, is fifty miles long; one hundred feet wide at the top; fifty-four feet wide at the bottom, and ten feet deep. Between two and three thousand ships have passed through it in a year; its cost was about thirty thousand dollars per mile. The canal which unites the Clyde and the Forth, in Scotland, is thirtyfive miles long; has thirty-seven locks-more than a lock for every mile. Vessels having nineteen feet beam, and seventy-three feet in length, drawing eight feet water, pass through it with ease. Its cost was twenty-three thousand dollars per mile. * This, and some of the statements which follow, together with the view taken of the canal subject, and of the public credit of Illinois, is extracted from a pamphlet on the same subject, written by the author, and published in 1841. Many of his positions were then controverted; what, however, was prophecy then, has become history since. The canals in England, are three hundred and eighty-five and a half miles in length; and cost two millions pounds sterling, or about twenty. eight thousand dollars per mile. In this, however, is included a large sum paid for lands--ninety thousand pounds sterling were paid in a sin. gle instance, when the canal was but sixteen miles in length. The Middlesex canal in Massachusetts, is twenty-eight miles in length, and cost four hundred and seventy-eight thousand dollars. It presents obstacles much greater than ours; it has twenty-two locks of solid masonry. In its construction it became necessary, in some instances, to dig to the depth of twenty feet; to cut through ledges of rocks, to fill up valleys and morasses, and throw acqueducts across intervening rivers. It cost about seventeen thousand dollars per mile. The Erie canal having sealed the triumph of internal improvements; the practicability of uniting the waters of Lake Michigan and the Illinois river, being conceded, and its utility and eventual profit being reduced, as it were, to certainty; nothing was requisite but "common sense and common honesty," to effect "a consummation so devoutly to be wished.” On the 14th of February, 1823, Emanuel J. West, Erastus Brown, Theophilus W. Smith, Thomas Sloe, jun., and Samuel Alexander, were appointed "a board of commissioners to consider, devise, and adopt measures to effect the communication by canal and locks, between the navigable waters of the Illinois river and Lake Michigan;" and "to make, or cause to be made, estimates, etc., for completing said canal, and report to the (then) next General Assembly; and the sum of six thousand dollars was appropriated to defray the expense. (See note 1.) Surveys and estimates were made, varying from six hundred and forty thousand, to seven hundred and sixteen thousand dollars; and on the 17th of January, 1825, an act of the Legislature of Illinois was passed, to incorporate a company, by the name of the "Illinois and Michigan Canal Association," with a capital of one million of dollars, for the purpose of completing said canal. Said company were to have and receive for their own use and benefit, all lands which the United States should give in aid of the undertaking, and all donations which private persons and individual States should make, to effect the same object. Said canal was to be completed in ten years from that time. The company were to receive all tolls for fifty years after its completion, and to release to the State, at the expiration of that time, said canal, and all lands remaining unsold, on being paid therefor the sum expended in its construction, with six per cent. interest. No stock having been taken under the above act of incorporation, the Legislature afterward repealed the law for chartering said company. On the 2nd of March, 1827, Congress granted to the State of Illinois, for the purpose of aiding the State in opening a canal to unite the waters of the Illinois river with those of Lake Michigan, a quantity of land, equal to one half of five sections in width, being each alternate section, |