8. Ohio Canal--The great artery of America, which will carry vitality to all the extremities of the Union. 9. State of New York--She has given to the world a practical lesson what freemen can do when determined to secure their own happiness. 10. Henry Clay--the able supporter of “internal improvements.” 11. General Bolivar--The Washington of South America. 12. The power of free government. 13. The fair sex of our country--In prosperity the partners of our joys, and in adversity our greatest solace. VOLUNTEER-- By De Witt Clinton--The Ohio Canal--A fountain of wealth, a chain of union, a dispenser of glory. By General Van Rensselaer--The memory of General Wayne--By his sword, the way was cleared for the settlement of the country. By I. Johnston--National Improvements--A fit subject for national pride. By Wm. Lord--Thomas Jefferson--A man with one mistake. [Illustration: Canal Era. 1825.] The 4th of July, 1825, only a few months prior to the completion of the New York Canal, machinery was put in motion to revolve until the end of time. On this day the policy of the state government in favor of internal improvements was permanently inaugurated. Even the few opposing minds of those who had never seen the walls of China, but wished to maintain the state secluded from the commercial world by means of the high tariff (the barriers nature had vouchsafed to the inhabitants), weakened in their ideas of “home protection,” or at once became favorable to the doctrine of _reciprocity_, which at that early date was the “soft” or synonym for _free trade_. And when it became satisfactorily demonstrated that improvements would increase the amount and price of labor, as well as the values of its products, such individuals changed to vociferous advocates of a canal, saying: “If the canal can secure such prices for the products of the soil, and in return furnish foreign cheap supplies, we can afford to abandon looms and spinning-wheels, and let supply and demand take care of themselves.” And the energetic boards of construction were unanimously supported by the people, and soon completed eight hundred miles of canals and one thousand miles of toll-roads, with a disbursement of over fifteen million dollars, borrowed money. The state, however, suffered no inconvenience on this account; its credit was good, and all that was necessary to obtain funds as fast as needed was to call upon the Lord who came to Ohio with Governor Clinton at the opening. [Illustration: Log-Cabin Luminary.]