Mr. INGERSOLL. Mr. Speaker, I remember with somewhat of pride that in the 30 8th Congress I voted in favor of a bill of this character, or the construction of a ship canal around Niagara falls, and also a bill to aid in enlarging the Illinois and Michigan canal, and after a considerable contest I had the proud satisfaction of seeing those bills pass this House by a very respectable majority and I remember with what grateful feelings the people of the West responded to that action of Congress upon witnessing the exhibition of the Generous spirit in this House which regarded not merely the interest of certain localities but the entire countr. Early in the present session I introduced, a bill providing for the appropriation of $5,000,000 to aid the State of Illinois in enlarging the Illinois and Michigan canal to the capacity of a ship canal and now, if it were not for fear O embar rassing the passage of this bill, I would offer as an amendment the bill which passed this House at the last session to enlarge the Illinois and Michigan ship canal. But I feel certain that if we pass this bill for a canal around the falls of Niagara, it will he a step well taken in the right direction and that having taken that ste, the 2ndstep will easily follow, which Will be the passage of the bill for the enlargement of the Illinois and Michigan ship canal, and thus without embarrassin this bill we will secure the other also; and t us those 2 great national works will receive the sanction of the national Legislature. complete these 2 great works and you will have one more to a randize the Republic than by any thin you have ever done, except it be the crns in out of the rebellion. The Gentfrom NewYork [Mr. J. M. Hunrnasr] objects to the passage of this bill, because he says that by virtue o a treaty now existing between this Government and the Government of GreatBritain we can have but 2 war vessels upon the northern lakes and but one upon Lake Ontario, and consequently we cannot regard this measure as one of miitary necessity or as one required to provide for the common defense, as the treaty provides that we shall not enlarge our power upon those lakes. Ndw, let me remind the House and the Gentfrom NewYork of what he no doubt overlooked for the moment, that in case a war should ensue between GreatBritain and this country the provisions of all existing treaties between the 2 countries would be at once annulled, and we should then be free to exercise whatever power we might desire for our protection and self preservation in building as many war vessels as we might deem necessary.