Resolutions passed at the Ontario County Meeting.

At a numerous and very respectable meeting of gentlemen from most of the towns in Ontario County, held at the court-house in Canandaigua, on Wednesday the 8^th January inst. pursuant to public notice, for the purpose of taking into consideration the project of a canal, between Lake Erie and the Hudson.

Resolved, That this meeting, from the personal knowledge of many of its members, the published reports of former canal commissioners, and the more particular information communicated to them, by persons engaged during the last season in exploring the country, have the most entire conviction of its being practicable, without an exorbitant expenditure, to open a navigable canal, from Lake Erie to the Hudson River; and that the strongest reasons, of profit and policy unite in requiring that Lake Ontario should not constitute any part of the direct route of such canal.

Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting, the interests of the United States would be greatly promoted by the construction of this canal;

Inasmuch as it would immediately enhance the value of land beyond the Ohio, enlarge the spirit of forming new settlements there, and afford to that extensive section of our country all the advantages of a safer and more economical road to market that it can otherwise enjoy;

Inasmuch as it would secure to our own citizens the entire benefits of an inland commerce, of which that portion enjoyed by our northern neighbours during the last ten years, has given to the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, more wealth than all other causes combined, and of which the future extent will almost exceed calculation;

Inasmuch as by laying the sure foundation of an unrivalled interior navigation interest; by spreading suddenly, to the utmost western limits of the waters of the great lakes, a hardy, enterprising, flourishing and numerous population; and by offering the greatest possible facility for transporting, wherever they might be wanted, in that direction, all the munitions of war, it would be the most efficient instrument imaginable, of giving to the whole line of our north and north-western frontier, that security, which, in every well governed community, is the first object of good policy; and

Inasmuch as it would diffuse, multiply and strengthen, incalculably, all the ties of interest and sympathy, by which every good American hopes that the union and prosperity of his country will be perpetuated.

Moreover, having seen appropriated from the public funds, which we have been taxed, in common with others, to provide large sums, to secure to our south-western fellow-citizens, the right of a free passage to the ocean, and to cherish, protect, and extend the commercial interests of our Atlantic brethren,

Resolved, That it appears to us necessary to the substantial existence of that equity, which regards with equal favour every portion of the same people, that the United States should aid in the construction of this canal by a liberal appropriation.

But, as it is apparent that there is no district of our country in which projects of improvement, by roads and canals, are not entertained, the completion of which, in many instances, we have no doubt would be of great public utility.

Resolved, That, in our opinion, it would well become the wisdom of the national legislature to form, at once, and prosecute with vigour, a system of internal improvement, adapted to the whole extent of our territory, and calculated, as much as possible, to make general all those blessings which nature has lavished upon particular regions; and that we would cheerfully bear our proportion of all the burthens connected with the establishment of such a system.

Resolved, That as friends to the great interests of the state of New-York, we anticipate a long train of the most gratifying effects, as inevitably resulting from the construction of this canal – effects that would speedily advance the public good, and permanently identify themselves with it in every possible shape. This canal would promote the interests of the western district,

By reducing the expense of transportation so much as to confer, upon many of our heavy and bulky articles now entirely excluded from every market, a value, in the aggregate, of great amount;

By giving to all other articles produced in the country a large additional value;

By lessening the price of all imported articles;

By raising the price of our lands, and conducing most efficaciously to their settlement and cultivation;

By indirectly, though surely, effecting the utmost possible improvement in the navigation of the St. Lawrence;

By enlarging vastly the market for our plaster and salt, of which last article, the quantity manufactured, and the expense of it to the consumer, must always depend on the facility of supplying, at the salt-works, the necessary fuel; and therefore,

By opening to an almost interminable extent, the most economical road possible to wood and coal.

It would promote the interests of the middle and eastern districts,

By supplying them with the necessary articles, salt and plaster, cheaper than they could otherwise obtain them, and

By diminishing the amount of their properties of the public taxes.

It would promote the interests of the southern district,

By locating there chiefly the warehouses and agents of that extensive commerce, which must necessarily grow out of the increasing wants and means, not merely of the western parts of this state, but of all that wide and fertile country which lies between the Ohio, the Mississippi, and the lakes. In addition to these local benefits, of which the list might be almost indefinitely lengthened, and which it is easy to perceive, would abundantly swell the tide of general prosperity, the state at large would derive advantage from the construction of this canal,

By its increasing the value of her unsold lands;

By its drawing through her whole extent, from many different nations, an incalculable mass of valuable commodities, which could not fail, in various ways, to scatter wealth and animate industry throughout their course;

By its giving, universally, a new activity and expansion to her commerce, agriculture, and manufactures; and finally,

By its becoming the right arm of her power, the inexhaustible mine of her wealth, and the prevalent asserter of her rights.

Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting, the whole expense of this enterprise might be soon repaid, in a manner eminently calculated to encourage important interior interests, without discouraging those that are exterior, by imposing a rate of lockage, very low upon all exported articles, and much higher upon all articles imported.

Resolved, That while we are deeply impressed with the prospective blessings of the canal between Lake Erie and the Hudson, we are not insensible to the benefits that would accrue to this state and the union, from a navigable connexion between the said river and Lake Champlain, and also, from the project, by which it is proposed to connect the waters of the Seneca Lake with those of the Susquehannah; and that we are disposed to aid, wherever we have influence, in the accomplishment of these valuable improvements.

Resolved, That Robert Troup, John Nicholas, Gideon Granger, Nathaniel W. Howell, and Nathaniel Rochester, be a committee for the purpose of laying before the congress of the United States and the legislature of this state, the views and wishes of the people of this county, upon this important subject; and also for publishing these resolutions, and transmitting copies of them to such other counties in the state, as in their opinion, will feel an interest in promoting the great objects of this meeting.

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The effect produced by these resolutions, in connexion with the able speech delivered by Mr. Granger, as will readily be supposed, operated very powerfully in sustaining the measures then before the legislature; the following commendation of the labours and services of Mr. Holley, from the pen of Tacitus, is justly due to that gentleman.

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"Mr. Holley," says Tacitus, "was a member of the legislature when the initiatory canal law was passed, which he advocated with the whole force of his talents. This gentleman is a member of a numerous family distinguished for genius. His mind is improved by reading, reflection, and conversation, and is distinguished for extensive research, and acute discrimination. He has devoted his whole time and attention, mind, and body, to the canal; and some of the most luminous reports and communications have proceeded from his pen. Whatever he touches, he adorns, and whenever he speaks or writes, he instructs. His mild and conciliatory manners, his elevated character, his spotless integrity, and his indefatigable business talents, have rendered his services as an acting canal commissioner, invaluable."

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Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr, last updated 5/26/99.