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3IEMORIAL.
ERIE CONVENTION, PENNSYLVANIA,
(I
Praying for the construction of a Road, from some suitable point in
the national road, to Erie.
December £9, 1837.
Referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.
To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States in Congress assembled :
Tlie undersigned, officers of a convention assembled at Erie, in Pennsyl¬
vania, would, in behalf of the convention, respectfully memorialize your
Iionorable bodies.
We represent the counties of Allegany, Butler, Mercer, Warren, Craw¬
ford, and Erie, and have convened for the purpose of petitioning Congress
to construct a Macadamized road from some suitable point upon the na¬
tional road, to the harbor at Erie. The subject to which the convention
would earnestly direct your attention, is one that for a long time has been
agitated in northwestern Pennsylvania; nor is it new in Congress. The
importance, if not the absolute necessity, of such a road (tei'minating
at some point upon the great chain of our Northern lakes) long since
arrested the attention of tiie nation. Local interests and sectional jealousies
have thus far succeeded in delaying the definite action of Congress upon
the subject.
Your memorialists trust that your honorable bodies at the present ses¬
sion will take the matter into consideration, and make a prompt and
enlightened decision upon it. It is a great work ; and in all respects
worthy of this nation. It will lead from the national road to a Northern
seaport, a distance of about one hundred and sixty miles, through a
country much of the way abounding with proper materials, and of easy
grade. In peace, it is said we should prepare for war. Then, at least, a
nation should put herself in an attitude for defence. Upon this ground,
your memorialists would urge upon you the early construction of the above
road.
This country, upon the north, is divided from a foreign Government by
the great chain of lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Superior. These in¬
land seas are not the exclusive property of our Union. They have been,
and again may be, the scene of naval engagements. Upon tiiem, vessels
of almost any tonnage can sail ; and by them every facility is given in war
Thomas Allen, print.
HEsss-
•>AfPf ^
s i?37
to harass our commerce and destroy our property. That this nation in
time of need may be enabled to concentrate any force, properly provided
and armed, upon its Northern frontier, a road, such as your memorialists
ask, is required. Neither a canal nor railway will answer. For com¬
merce and general intercourse they are well adapted, for these can be
made to accommodate themselves to the seasons ; but to meet the exigen¬
cies of war, we must have a road always ready, In this point of view,
your memorialists would strongly urge the immediate action of Congress.
The road asked for is also needed for commerce, for travel, and to induce
the settlement and cultivation of the country. These, in the opinion of
your memorialists, are subjects worthy of your best consideration.
This nation, so wisely and happily united by its Government, by means
of our national roads, our State canals, and railways, must be perpetual.
The jealousies of the South and North, by intercourse thus afforded, can
be converted into an enlightened regard for each other, and a unity of
feeling and sentiment. To act in concert, which, as a nation, we are po¬
litically bound to do, we must know each other : of this your memorialists
are ambitious. As reasons for the selection of the route proposed by your
petitioners, they would state that it will pass through Pittsburg, at which
place a national arsenal is established ; by the State arsenal at Meadville,
in Crawford county, and terminating at the harbor of Erie, unequalled for
its size, its safety, and ease of access, by any other ujion the southern shore
of our Northern lakes.
Your memorialists would further represent that the harbor at Erie is
formed, as is well known to many of you, by a peninsula; is four miles in
length, and of an average width of one mile and one-fourth. There is a
depth of water sufticient for any vessel upon the lakes. For support of
this, you are referred to the report of T. S. Brown, civil engineer, which
will be found in the Journals of Congress of a late session. At this harbor
Perry's fleet was built ; because here only could it be constructed, launc'' jd,
and prepared for sea with safety.
These are considerations of great weight in the question upon which
your memorialists address you ; for all must admit that such a road should
terminate where vessels will be always safe, not only from the storms, but
from an assailing foe. In this respect, the harbor at Erie challenges a
comparison with any upon the lakes.
Your memorialists, therefore, urge your honorable bodies to take the
subject of their petition into consideration at the present session, and make
such decision as, in your wisdom, may be deemed best.
JOSEPH MORRISON, President.
T. S. CUNNINGHAM,
RUFUS S. REED,
WM. B. FOSTER,
JOHN DICK,
James Potts,
>Vice Presidents.
>Secrelaries.
Ai.prbd Geemore,
W. M. Stephenson,
Wm. M. Watts,
Erie, Erie coentt. Pa., dugust 16, ISSr.