Great improvements may also be made by good roads in proper directions through the interior of the country.  As these roads would be laid out on principle on a full view of the country, its mountains, rivers, etc., it would be useless, if I had the knowledge, to go into detail respecting them.  Much has been done by some of the States, but yet much remains to be done with a view to the Union.

Under the colonial governments improvements of this kind were not thought of.  There was, it is believed, not one canal and little communication from colony to colony.  It was their policy to encourage the intercourse between each colony and the parent country only.  The roads which were attended to were those which led from the interior of each colony to its principal towns on the navigable waters.  By those routes the produce of the country was carried to the coast, and shipped thence to the mercantile houses in London, Liverpool, Glasgow, or other towns to which the trade was carried on.  It is believed that there was but one connected route from North to South at the commencement of the Revolution, and that a very imperfect one.  The existence and principle of our Union point out the necessity of a very different policy.

The advantages which would be derived from such improvements are incalculable.  The facility which would thereby be afforded to the transportation of the whole of the rich productions of our country to market would alone more than amply compensate for all the labor and expense attending them.  Great, however, as is that advantage, it is one only of many and by no means the most important, Every power of the General Government and of the State governments connected with the strength and resources of the country would be made more efficient for the purposes intended by them.  In war they would facilitate the transportation of men, ordnance, and provisions, and munitions of war of every kind to every part of our extensive coast and interior on which an attack might be made or threatened.  Those who have any knowledge of the occurrences of the late war must know the good effect which would result in the event of another war from the command of an interior navigation alone along the coast for all the purposes of war as well as of commerce between the different parts of our Union.  The impediments to all military operations which proceeded from the want of such a navigation and the reliance which was placed, notwithstanding those impediments, on such a commerce can not be forgotten.  In every other line their good effect would be most sensibly felt.  Intelligence by means of the Post-Office Department would be more easily, extensively, and rapidly diffused.  Parts the most remote from each other would be brought more closely together.  Distant lands would be made more valuable, and the industry of our fellow-citizens on every portion of our soil be better rewarded.