Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 387 FEBRUARY, 1826.] Florida Canal. [SENATE. nas not interposed physical impossibilities. I mind that our vessels will pass due east, from understand that a work of great magnitude in the mouth of the Mississippi River, in the Sweden is still continued with unabated zeal shortest time, on an open sea, free from danand confidence; that the apparent delay is ger, almost out of the range of the violent owing to the extent of the work-the partial winds of the West Indies, and under the proappropriations of the Diet-not to any insuper- tection of a naval force that will find in Pensaable difficulty, or physical impossibility. It is cola the same advantages of position that Cuba under the direction of an able minister, who presents to a maritime power, and that each of perseveres in the object with a zeal that en- these vessels, in each of these voyages, traverssures success. It is expected to be completed es fourteen degrees of latitude in distance, and in 1828. They began by survey, as we do; increases her passage about eight days, and the they acted as we shall, upon the opinions of outward voyage will require a long time to Engineers. A failure is not anticipated. beat up against the current. It may be safely To form some idea of the present and future calculated, that on the outward and return extent and value of commerce of this region, voyage from New York to New Orleans, onewe must look to the great expansion of this half of the time, and one-third of the distance, Mediterranean Sea, the country that surrounds will be saved, and a corresponding diminution it, with the population that inhabits it, and the of expense. productions it affords for exchange. This export of our country, which employs It extends from Appalachicola Bay, west, so many vessels and seamen, of which I have along our own coast and the Bay of St. Ber- spoken, is entirely the production of the earth, nard; thence, south, to the same extremity of from our own labor, and not liable to any dethe Isthmus of Darien: thence, twenty degrees duction for raw material, foreign skill, or capieast, through the Carribean Sea, and thence, tal. It is the production of three millions of northwardly, along the coast of Jamaica and people, with ample space, a rich soil, and favorCuba, occupying all the space between those able climate, which, in twenty-five years, will, islands and Florida, Louisiana, Mexico, Guate- probably, double their number, and whose promala, and Colombia. ductions will increase in a corresponding ratio. It embraces a country of immense extent, Besides this export, it must also be remembered, with a population of fifteen millions, and pro- that a supply equal to the consumption of nine ducing the richest productions of the earth; States, is brought into our ports from fthe the whole of whose commerce necessarily pass- Northern States, or from Europe; that these es through the only outlet to the Atlantic, a importations must likewise increase with our narrow, crooked, and dangerous channel be- numbers and wealth. tween Cuba and Florida-bound by shoals, I am unable to furnish a full statement of the reefs, and keys, with a strong, irregular, and navigation and commerce of the Spanish Amerunequal current, exposed alike to the calms and icas, bordering on the Bay of Mexico. The the storms that prevail there. exp.orts of Liverpool alone, for the South The loss of property and lives is incalculably A.merican markets, of British goods, at the great. I have evidence of the loss of sixty- custom-house price, for the year 1823, amountfour vessels, estimated at $700,000, during the ed to thirty-four millions of dollars, of which last year. Here Mr. J. said he had an accurate more than twenty millions pass by this route. schedule of all the losses during the last year, This is independent of the amount shipped furnished by a gentleman of Boston. It ap- from other ports in England, or from the rest peared by that statement that the five first ves- of Europe, the re-shipments from this country, sels were estimated at $470,000. and the direct trade of American supplies, But let us take a more accurate and particu- which is equal to six millions. In addition to lar view of this conlmmefce. The whole of the which, a large amount of the export trade of country west of the mountains, and by far the Jamaica and Cuba pass by this route. The best and largest portion, depends on the Bay of whole of this trade, with the exports of MexiMexico, and furnishes alolie an extensive trade. co, Guatemala, and Colombia, will employ It produced last year 2!73,000 bales cotton, 150,000 tons of shipping, equal to seven hun(Mississippi River, 208,294,; Mobile Bay, 58,797; dred vessels, forming an aggregate, with our Florida, 6,000 bales,)-nearly half of the pro- own, of 300,000 tons of shipping, and 1,500 ductions of the United States, besides sugar, vessels. molasses, tobacco, flour, and other provisions. This country, like our own, is rapidly augThey are stated to have equalled twenty-three menting in numbers, and daily developing its millions last year, and to halve employed, from resources. They have just emerged from a the Mississippi alolie, 150,000 tons shipping. long and ruinous war'; and the influence of There entered the port of Orleans, in 1825, peace, independence, and freedom, has not yet seven hundred and thirty-two vessels, making produced its effect upon the industry of this 1,464 voyages; and, including the Mobile Bay portion of our hemisphere; and we may anand Florida, probably amounted to 850 vessels ticipate, when this influence shall be felt, that, and 1,700 voyages. from the extent of territory and population, To form a correct opinion of the value of and the value and variety of their productions, this interior communication, we must bear in this trade will greatly increase.

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 387
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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