Mr. SPALDING. Mr. Speaker, this measurewas very fully discussed during the last Congress; and I am happy to have it in my power to say that this House, by a very decided majority, passed a bill similar in its features to that now before us, though for some reason the measure failed to receive the concurrence of the Senate. Sir, I regard this measure as I have always done heretofore, as simply one of time; for I am satisfied that the iin erious necessities of the great and growingWest demand and will ultimately secure the construction of this canal around the falls of Niagara. There can be no doubt about that fact. No man representing here a district in the Northwest can at this moment venture to vote against this great measure, however much the intelligent members from the State of NewYork may insist upon their own polic of extending the capacities of the Erie I understand that the only objection offered by members from the State of NewYork is that this measure will interfere with the interests of the State along the line of the Erie canal from Buffalo to Albany. But, sir, the Eriecanal cannot be made of sufficient. on acity to accommodate the wants of the great “Pest. We already transport from the upperlakes to the tide waters of the East 100 million bushels of wheat and corn. This quantity can easily be made 1000 millions ifyou will give us facil ities for transportation. Growin r as the West is in wealth and population, and once in importance, how long can you successfully resist a measure of such vital importance to that section of the U.S.? I put out of view at the present moment the question of the importance of this great work in! a military necessity as a channel, in a time of difficulty with n neichboring Power for the transportation of armed vessels from ti e water to the lakes, where we have so many flour Liliing cities, where we have such a growing commerce, and where we are now without any protection excepta single gun upon a single vessel. Sir, at this moment we have upon the upperlakes I speak now of the lakes above the Niagara falls a fleet of water craft connected with commercial operations equal to 4000 sail of vessels altogether. My own little city. which within in own recollection had but 1500 in ubitants, has at this momentapopulntion of65,000, and it has between 3 and 400 vessels emploed in this lake commerce. Our imports an exports within the last year would astonisl: gentlemen living in the East, if they do not know more than in friends from that quarter generally express themselves as know 1ing about our interests in the West. I say it would astonish them to know the amount of the exports and imports of the city of Cleve land, which does not pretend to compare with the mighty city of Chicago, away beyond us on Lake Michigan. The imports into the city of Cleveland for the last year were $117, 582, 984. The total of their exports was $96, 572, 137. Now, when you take into this account Detroit, Milwaukee Chicago, with all the intermediate points on that long chain of lakes, what would on say to the imports and exports of the whole Northwest bordering on these lakes? It is a confessed fact that the Erie canal, the Erie railroad, the Pennsylvania Central, all these at lines of communication now establishe leading from the Northwest to the sea board, are not enough to take Off our surplus products.