Chicago River and Harbor Convention of 1847

The Chicago River and Harbor Convention of 1847, also known as the Harbor and River Convention of 1847, was a political convention held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 5 to July 7, 1847, to express support for federal funding of internal improvements. Noted for its size and pageantry, the event drew almost 2,500 delegates from nineteen states. Although not expressly partisan in nature, it proved to be important for the elaboration of Whig beliefs.

On August 3, 1846, President James K. Polk vetoed a Congressional appropriation bill for river and harbor improvements, most of which were slated for the Great Lakes region. Polk argued that since the proposed improvements did not pertain to national defense or foreign commerce, their responsibility lay with individual states, not the federal government.

His decision enraged many politicians and commercial groups throughout north and west, who believed that it was a federal responsibility to help maintain the safety and viability of waterways. Many like-minded delegates, representing mostly northern states, saw the need for a political counterattack, and the convention was scheduled for the following summer. Although Chicago was still small and fairly remote, many contemporaries saw it as a promising city, especially since the Illinois and Michigan Canal was expected to open soon.

The River and Harbor Convention was an enormous occasion, especially for Chicago. The first day of the convention began with a 12-block parade including floats, bands, military units, and fire companies. It led to a large tent pavilion, located in front of City Hall, which could seat between 4,000 and 5,000 people. One contemporary reports on the convention claimed that the attendance was upwards of 10,000 or even 20,000, but delegate registration lists pin the actual number closer to 2,500. Nevertheless, the size was unprecedented for political conventions of that era. One attendee called it "undoubtedly the largest deliberative body that ever assembled." The three-day event was reported in Washington, D.C., New York, and even London.

The attendance list included many notable names, such as Horace Greeley, Millard Fillmore, Thomas Corwin, and Edward Bates, who was named the convention's president. The states officially represented were Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.

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