It is worthy of note that the very first description of the forks of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers comes from his pen, and that from the same pen is given to the country, for the first time, the need and possibilities of improved waterways as a means of this development. What reply was received to his letter to Colonel Butler is not found in the records, but it is significant that in the early thirties his vision of this development was realized in the construction and operation for many years of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, the Erie Canal, opening up a channel of commerce from Lake Erie to the Big Beaver River, at the site of the present City of Beaver, and other canals, all of which contributed largely to Pittsburgh's greatness and advantage as a commercial center. It is also worthy of note that in keeping the views of Washington, the construction of a ship canal from the Big Beaver River to Lake Erie, has in recent years, and is now, commanding with splendid prospects of consummation, the attention and energies of many of the most progressive men of the present day. Following the events herein narrated, Washington was called to be chief magistrate of the nation, and it is fairly to be presumed that with this greater opportunity for service, he maintained his interests in the development of the territory so often referred to by him as the Western Country and contributed much to its accomplishment. A study of the personality which he possessed, and of his activities in the interest of extended commerce, not only in this locality but elsewhere, followed by the results that have been achieved, leads us to accord to him preeminence as a nation-builder, and to the conclusion that in no small measure his greatness had descended to the people. much greater and the operation more difficul* Another letter to Jefferson dated Febru: dwells on the same subject and refers to the fa "As you have had opportunities "1. What is the face of "2. The distance bet Cayahoga to each of the tioned? "3. Would it be pra pensive, to cut a canal b either of the above river cation between the wa Ohio? "4. Whether the able, and easy comm the waters of Lo hich the fu ransported Je have We 'n Cour ha outlined territory ne Scene Granaleading essful ten : beating of aring for dein, reining his that he was a .om the court, that a reconsideration of hay. It was hardly s from that little stone ranada, Spain, and it is critical period, which ocelphia, in Pennsylvania. y portrays to us in our last ons surrounding the signing ted States. After the RevoluColonies were on the verge of a Jiety of Western Pennsylvania on but a constitution. Civil which would be folarchy. Entirely seconded but fail..in, for another day. nstitution. te election of Abraham vil war again would have of civil war then existing. by rebellion, and rebellion is s civil war. Nations are usuDellion, but civil war is a wastee weeks after Lincoln's election I established an embassy in WashI the day Lincoln was inaugurated the dust was rising in every loyal ng columns that saved the Union. Critical Period, as I have said, was ..kable combination of unfortunate accid time. The Constitution of 1838 did not Lieutenant Governor but provided that the e Senate should succeed the Governor in case ity or death. When the Senate convened under itution they organized and elected a speaker. e reason they considered that the speaker should ve during that session. No one knows where they got a. The Constitution gave no such thought. It proi that the Senate should be a permanent body constitu. of two-thirds constantly, one-third being elected each But that was the construction they placed upon it, and when the session came to a close the speaker who had served, considered it the dignified thing to do, to leave the platform, and take his seat at his desk on the floor, leaving the Senate staring at an empty chair on an empty platform. The only official of the Senate then was the clerk, and the clerk said, "Gentlemen, we are without a Speaker. We need a speaker for the recess." In case anything should happen to the Governor someone must be in a position to take his place, then nominations were made for a speaker to serve during the recess. At the end of the recess and at the beginning of the next session, the regular session, this spes' THE CRITICAL PERIOD IN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY By JOHN P. PENNY* Critical periods are the cross-roads where nations hesitate as to which way to go, but as a rule there are two ways to go and the hesitation is caused by doubt and fear as to the choice. That was the case in the three critical periods of the United States, but not so with Pennsylvania, whose critical period was caused by the most remarkable combination of unfortunate conditions ever recorded in this country, leaving the State like a ship, in a storm, without captain or pilot, the crew in mutiny and the machinery broken. On the wall in a corridor in the Capitol at Washington, framed, hangs a mosaic. The artist has entitled it "The Critical Period of American History" and has put the scene at a small stone bridge on a mountain roadway near Granada, Spain. Columbus, mounted, with his servant leading a pack mule, dejectedly returning from an unsuccessful ten days' conference at court. They hear the rapid beating of hoofs behind them, fearing a robber and preparing for defense. The rider suddenly coming upon them, reining his horse back, and raising his hand denoting that he was a friend, telling them he was a messenger from the court, that Columbus was to return and be given a reconsideration of his plan for a westward passage to Cathay. It was hardly a critical period, but our history starts from that little stone bridge in the mountains west of Granada, Spain, and it is three hundred years to the next critical period, which occurred on Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania. Mr. Smith very graphically portrays to us in our last month's magazine, the conditions surrounding the signing of the Constitution of the United States. After the Revolutionary War, the Thirteen Colonies were on the verge of a *Read before the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania on March 28, 1922. civil war. Nothing could save them but a constitution. Civil war would produce anarchy very rapidly, which would be followed by monarchy, the last resort of anarchy. Entirely unable to agree, a motion to adjourn was seconded but failed, on the appeal of the venerable Franklin, for another day. The result of Franklin's appeal was a constitution. The next Critical Period was the election of Abraham Lincoln. Had he not been elected, civil war again would have been inevitable, a partial state of civil war then existing. Lincoln's election was followed by rebellion, and rebellion is not as dangerous to a nation as civil war. Nations are usually better than ever after rebellion, but civil war is a wasting disease that kills. Three weeks after Lincoln's election South Carolina seceded and established an embassy in Washington, which was closed the day Lincoln was inaugurated and a few weeks later, the dust was rising in every loyal State from the marching columns that saved the Union. Pennsylvania's Critical Period, as I have said, was caused by a remarkable combination of unfortunate accidents at a very bad time. The Constitution of 1838 did not provide for a Lieutenant Governor but provided that the Speaker of the Senate should succeed the Governor in case of his incapacity or death. When the Senate convened under that Constitution they organized and elected a speaker. For some reason they considered that the speaker should only serve during that session. No one knows where they got that idea. The Constitution gave no such thought. It provided that the Senate should be a permanent body constituted of two-thirds constantly, one-third being elected each term. But that was the construction they placed upon it, and when the session came to a close the speaker who had served, considered it the dignified thing to do, to leave the platform, and take his seat at his desk on the floor, leaving the Senate staring at an empty chair on an empty platform. The only official of the Senate then was the clerk, and the clerk said, "Gentlemen, we are without a Speaker. We need a speaker for the recess." In case anything should happen to the Governor someone must be in a position to take his place, then nominations were made for a speaker to serve during the recess. At the end of the recess and at the beginning of the next session, the regular session, this speaker |