are within the limits of one general and liberal government. From the intrinsic principles of our national policy, no monopolizing system can gain even an inchoate existence. Each and every city and state are left to cultivate, to the utmost extent, the advantages of which nature and their civil freedom have given them full possession. But this ample and untrammelled scope of human action leads to a result that sometimes deceives even men of sound judgment; and that is the fluctuation of relative importance. A city may advance in population, science, and wealth, annually, and yet not keep pace with other cities which are progressing still more rapidly. This state of things must exist, from the log cabin of the new settler on our extreme frontier, to the richest of our marts; though all are advancing in prosperity, yet the relative velocity of their march may be continually changing. It is from these elements that the future course of interior commerce, in the United States, may be calculated to considerable accuracy. If a more easy route to the interior of our continent exists from New-York than from Philadelphia, then, all things else equal, the commerce of the former must exceed that of the latter. The same observation also applies to the relations between Philadelphia and Baltimore. A retrospect upon the history of those three cities, since the American revolution, confirms the correctness of this mode of reasoning. Whilst the population of the adjacent regions was confined to the Atlantic border, Philadelphia continued the largest city of the United States; but with the expansion of settlement this order of things changed, Baltimore and New-York gained in relative extent upon Philadelphia, in the ratio of attainable intercommunication. Another fact elucidates this revolution in a very striking manner. Pennsylvania, as a state, has always far outstripped Maryland, in attention to roads, bridges, and canals; yet so prone are men to seek the greatest gain from the least labour, that much of the wealth of Baltimore is deriv ed from the counties of Pennsylvania south of the Susquehanna river. Indeed a mass of produce by no means inconsiderable is carried from the state of NewYork, over Pennsylvania, to the city of Baltimore. How far the canals contemplated by Mr. Breck would be efficient in diverting to Philadelphia, a part or the whole, of this produce, we are unable to determine. No doubt, however, can be entertained but that, opening a passage by water to the coal mines on the head waters of Schuylkill river, would be of incalcula advantage, not cly to Philadel phia, but also to New-York, in the great article of fucl. If a practicable canal route exists by the Tulpehocken and Swatara creeks, through which Philadelphia might possess the advantage of water communication with the Susquehanna river, we can only observe that the inhabitants of that city have hitherto neglected heir own interest in a very essential point. We are led to exonerate the people of Philadelphia from this charge, by supposing that nature has denied a sufficiency of water on the summit level. Hiils, rocks, and mountains disappear before ardent zeal, but unfortunately return and oppose themselves to the efforts of those who are deputed to carry projected improvement into effect. Where nature has denied water for ca nals, she has given stone and iron in abundance for roads and bridges. Excellent turnpike roads and railways can be erected in central Pennsylvania at less expense than the same improvements would cost in any other section of the United States. With such materials, and with a soil that produces abundantly, Pennsylvania can itself, without exterior aid, preserve Philadelphia from deterioration. Without ingulphing the produce of the far distant, and, we believe, to her inaccessible, rivers of the Mississippi; without taking from either New-York, New-Orleans, or Baltimore, what nature has given to those cities as unalienable property, and without obtaining tea and silk from the Columbia, Philadelphia may and will, no doubt, maintain a respectable rank amongst the cities, not only of the United States, but of the civilized world. Although its inhabitants, if they were so disposed, could neither fill the Hudson with rocky shoals, turn the current of the Mississippi and Ohio, nor prevent the Delaware from freezing in winter, yet they can continue to do as they have already done-make the most of their situation. The public institutions of Pennsylvania, entitle her to the admiration, and in one or two instances, to the gratitude of mankind. This commonwealth has been foremost in adopting a rational mode of removing that foulest blot on the character of civilized man, negro slavery; her soil may with peculiar emphasis be justly called a land of religious and political freedom; and Pennsylvania, first amongst her sister states, extended a lenient hand towards those of her children who had stained themselves with crime; she has softened the rigour of punishment, and placed the statue of Mercy beside that of Justice. Philadelphia has participated largely in the production of so much good. Many of her citizens will be named amongst the ornaments of our race and the benefactors of their fellow men. When the practicability is discussed of condensing great bodies of human beings on a small space, and yet preserving order, and cleanliness, and health, Philadelphia will be adduced as a prominent example. There are, as we have already observed, limits beyond which no human effort can carry the prosperity, or influence, of any city or country whatever. Within those limits ought the labour of mankind to be restricted. The trouble, time, and expense, which would be exhausted upon a circuitous, and for ever defective canal and river communication from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, would unite these two cities by a road that would, at all seasons, answer an infinitely better purpose. It is of nearly equal importance to Pennsylvania to complete such a road, as it is to New-York to finish her grand canal. If these two invaluable improvements were made, and intersecting river and canal communications opened, these two thriving cities would share an immense commerce. Mr. Breck examines, at considerable length, the practicability of ameliorating the navigation of the different branches of the Susquehanna river; and endcavours to show that a better water route can be made from Geneva to Philadelphia than to New-York. As such an opinion will scem novel to many of our readers, we have extracted from the Observations, the data and the conclusions formed from them by our author. "A few miles on this side of the line, which divides New-York from Pennsylvania, the Tioga river comes into the Susque hanna from the northwest, and just within the line of New-York, and on the Tioga, stands a small village, called Elmira or Newtown. From this place to Seneca Lake, the legislature had a survey made last summer by two able engineers, Mr. Robert Brooke, of Philadelphia, and Mr. Charles Treziyulny, of Centre county. These two gentlemen fore the assembly a plan and profile of the falfiled their task satisfactorily, and laid besurvey and levels, executed in a style of great elegance, and accompanied by a report, from which I make the following ex tracts: “The subscribers, commissioners appointed by his excellency Simon Snyder, in pursuance of an act of the general assembly of the said commonwealth, procceded, the 22d March, 1817, to explore the route of the intended canal for uniting the waters of the Seueca lake and Tioga river, in the state of New-York, report: "That we believe the making the cana practicable, there being no other difficulty to encounter, but the great descent of the ground, and the consequent number of locks which will be required upon it. Although the descent from the summit level to the Seneca lake be great, it is pretty regular, and the ground will be easily dug, there be ing no rocky or otherwise diflicult ground to pass. "If this canal be made, it will, with the proposed canal from Canandaigua outlet to Sodus' bay, complete a chain of boat navigation from lake Ontario to the Susquehauna;* thus uniting the great northern and southern waters. The immediate benefits which will result to the people of Pennsylvania, will be the plaster and salt trade of New-York, by which the interior of the state will be supplied with those necessary articles of subsistence and of agriculture. In return the citizens of Pennsylvania, will find canal be finished, from the Susquehanna to Phi*And by consequence, if the Middletown ladelphia. a market for their coal and iron in the lake country of the state of New-York.' "The length of this canal will be nineteen miles, and one hundred and thirty-five poles, and will cost, by the computation of these gentlemen, $583,300. All necessary materials for building the locks, &c. can be obtained in great abundance, and of an excellent quality, in the hills adjacent to the route of the canal, in all parts, from the middle ground northward to the Seneca lake. "Having shown the facilities which the northeast branch offers for conveying from the very interior of New-York, into which it extends, as well as from the Genesee lakes and lake Ontario, every kind of produce which can be spared, I beg leave to draw the attention of the reader to the advantage Philadelphia possesses over New-York city, both in distance and mode of conveyance: and I acknowledge myself indebted for these items to a pamphlet lately published, and full of useful information upon the internal improvement of this state, ascribed to Mr. Samuel Mifflin, whose activity and zeal in the promotion of these great concerns, merit the thanks of the community. First Route to New-York. Geneva to Albany, land, 192 miles. Albany, by water, to New-York, 165 357 from the west branch of the Susquehanna, (which I shall notice presently in speaking of that branch) over to the Alleghany river. "It is well known that the people inhabiting the western counties of New-York, look to Philadelphia, as to their geographical market. Mr. Church* has written and laboured hard with the influential men of this state, to get the waters, which do, or can be made to lead to our city, cleared of their obstructions. The time is now come when this great business is about to be accomplished." In page 35 of his work, Mr. Breck observes, that "the following letters upon this subject do honour to the parties, particularly to the liberality of Governor Clinton, who acknowledges that Pennsylvania is the route through which the pro duce of the western counties of New-York should pass." "Copy of a letter from the Governor of Pennsylvania to the Governor of New-York. "HARRISBURG, Sept. 3, 1817. " SIR, "For obvious reasons, I take the liberty to transmit to your excellency, a copy of an On this route there is a land carriage of act passed by the legislature of Pennsylvanearly two hundred miles. Second Route to New-York. Geneva to Oneida lake, water, 90 - 109 56 15 165 435 Canal. nia, at their last session, under the authority of which, I have appointed Robert Brooke and Charles Treziyulny, Esqrs.commissioners. Those gentlemen have fixed on the 29th of the present month, to meet at the head of the Seneca lake, for the purpose of performing the duties contemplated by the law. "I anticipate no objection to a co-operation on the part of this state, to carry into effect some portion of the vast internal improvements, contemplated by the enterprising and liberal legislature of the state over which you preside. Should, however, any 45 miles. present themselves to your mind, or should your excellency have any suggestion to make on the subject, I shall feel gratified by an early answer to this letter. Route to Philadelphia by Middletown From Geneva to Newtown, down the canal in agitation between Elmira and Seneca lake, From Newtown, or Elmira, to Tioga Point, 18 From Tioga Point to Berwick, 121 Berwick to Middletown, Middletown to Schuylkill, at Reading, Reading to Philadelphia, 75 65 55 379 "From Geneva to New-York is then, by a bad navigation, and fifteen miles of land, four hundred and thirty-five miles; whereas the distance all the way, by an excellent water route, will be from Geneva to Philadelphia only three hundred and seventynine miles difference in favour of Philadelphia, fifty-six miles. "I say nothing of Baltimore, because she cannot interfere in the smallest way with us, if the Middletown and Seneca lake canals are finished, together with a short cut and Tioga river, exhibit an intelligent, en- We agree with Mr. Breck that these letters do honour to the parties. We admire that business mode of transacting public affairs, where all is open, candid, and perspicuous. We are far, however, from applauding the custom of giving to any man's expressions any other meaning than the plain construction of his words will warrant. If any part of Governor Clinton's answer to Governor Snyder's letter, contains the opinion that Pennsylvania is the route through which the commerce of the western part of New-York should pass, we must acknowledge our selves incompetent to understand the import of what appears to us very clear language. We enter our decided protest against such expressions as the following: "Both these letters," says Mr. Breck, page 36, "allude to the efforts making by the state of New-York to possess itself of the northern and western trade;" and then continues to say, "her efforts, and those of Maryland, ought to stimulate Pennsylvania, and particularly Philadelphia, tơ take immediate measures for the security, in perpetuity, of those advantages which nature has given to them; and in adverting to these rival attempts, I cannot discuss the subject better than by quoting the language and sentiments of the committee on roads and inland navigation of last session."* Our author then quotes at length the opinion of the committee; we have followed his example by also quoting the same opinion, together with the farther observations of our author respecting his so much dreaded rivals. "1. Pennsylvania, (possessed of rivers, the impediments of which, as experience proves, may be passed by short canals and locks), requires an artificial channel of about sixty or sixty-five miles in length; whereas New-York requires an artificial channel three hundred and twenty-seven miles in length. 2. In Pennsylvania the same boat will answer for the whole route, whenever the rivers are united by canals and locks, or canals and inclined planes, and consequently no unlading or detention will take place; whereas on the route from New-York to the Ohio river, the boat which navigates the Hudson river, will not suit the canal; and the boat which navigates the canal will not be adapted to lake Erie; and a fourth boat will be necessary for the Alleghany river, and the canal that connects that river with the lake. "3. The boats on the Pennsylvania route, may throughout the whole extent, if they are not driven by machinery, be propelled by poling or rowing, and thus a more certain calculation may be made as to time. 4. On the Pennsylvania route, the distance from the commercial city, (Philadel phia) on the Atlantic waters, to the banks of the Ohio, will be but little more than four hundred miles; whereas on the New-York route, it will be about seven hundred and fifty miles. Philadelphia will consequently afford a more speedy and less precarious market, and a quicker communication by mail. 5. The frequent unlading and ware housing on the New-York route, will give opportunities of pilfering; an evil considered of great magnitude in Europe, and which the change of manners which is taking place in this country, will render of great magnitude here. 6. Nearly the whole of the Pennsylvania * Journal, House of Representatives, 1817-18, page 419. route will be through the richest parts of the country, along the banks of rivers already improved and peopled, affording conveniences and comforts, which many parts of the New-York route cannot for a long period possess. removal of western merchants themselves, to swell the capital of our rival city; a rival, however, only so long as we neglect to open a water intercourse." Mr. Breck has not communicated to 7. Pasture lasts longer in Pennsylvania his readers by what ratiocination he disthan in New-York, and there will not be as long an interruption by ice; (the difference in the course of the year being computed at two months in favour of Pennsylvania) which, in connexion with the great length of the New-York route, will render a communication difficult in the spring and autumn; the most natural seasons for communication.' "So much for our advantages over NewYork. Let us now consider how we stand with Baltimore. What is our present situation? No water communication with the Susquehanna, and a heavy toll to pay upon a road three hundred miles long! It does not require the gift of prophecy to foretell, that if we remain idle under such circumstances, Baltimore will acquire very soon a superiority over us; nay, I will boldly aver, that the trade from the Ohio, through its usual overland route, will wholly leave Philadelphia in a few years; and, "1. Because Baltimore is nearer to that river by ninety miles, over the new national road, toll free, from Wheeling to Cumberland, and will of course supply the western states with all light Atlantic luxuries, much cheaper than we can; and, "2. Because the steam boats on the Mississippi and its tributary streams, and which are already numerous, and susceptible of any increase, will transport all articles of bulk from New-Orleans, at a less rate than can be done by us. "To counteract these threatened evils, we must furnish a cheaper water intercourse, by some of the routes hinted at; and know. ing as we do the natural impediments which the lower part of the Susquehanna offers to a communication with Baltimore, we can covered that the correspondence between governors Snyder and Clinton alluded to the attempts of New-York to seize the northern and western trade. If Governor Clinton ever confessed that this trade. ought to pass through Pennsylvania, that gentleman has certainly been guilty of a singular inconsistency in abetting an attempt to divert it from its natural channel. We have perceived in the letters of these two valuable citizens, sentiments of full reciprocity, and have found nothing that could foster for a moment any semblance of state rivalry. If the activity of the citizens of either New-York or Baltimore secures any advantage to those cities, the effort deserves commendation. If Baltimore is nearer to the western waters than Philadelphia, so much the better for Baltimore; but we could hardly have expected that such a fact would be adduced as indicative of rivalry. Indeed it would appear from the whole tenor of the "Observations," that the north and south bad combined against Philadelphia. If that devoted city could effect that, which her advocate seems to think is within her power, we are induced to be-* lieve a combination to check her growth would be very justifiable. We have not yet learned that any writer in favour of New-York or Baltimore ever broached the opinion that either of those cities could, or ought to grasp the commerce of the vast extent of country claimed by Mr. Breck for Philadelphia. If our author will only read his own pamphlet with impartiality, he certainly will retract the charge of ambition or rivalry against all his neighbours. with certainty monopolize the whole of the western waters. But we must make our way to the Susquehanna, and thence to the Alleghany first and we must go about it soon too; for without the accomplishment of this object, is it to be conceived that Philadelphia can long continue to offer attractions superior to Baltimore, particularly when every foot of the way, as the road now stands, must be paid for on turnpikes to our city, while the trader goes free to the other? while he travels from Wheeling three hundred and forty miles to this, and only two hundred and seventy to that? We have a transporting company, it is true, but this does not exclude Baltimore from having one likewise; and all the other advantages We have swelled this article beyond which we now enjoy, of better assortment, the size we intended, We will trouble larger capital, &c. will soon be acquired by the reader with but one more quotation that city; her locality will then triumph over all our land efforts,and we shall diminish from this singular production; it is the in trade and size daily; perhaps even by a concluding paragraph. The author, af |