Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-11-22

dence which this day affords. There is.
also, something gratifying in the refleo-
ton tina the political conflicts, which Tor
years have agitated the state, have not
suspended or retarded The prosecution oil
the work for single momcnl. There
can now be no doubt Of the vast utility
OF canals, and that they will, IN few
years, yield an amount of toll, which,
with The. other revenue already pledged,
will be far more than sufficient 10 pay
the interest on all the monYy borrowed;
and at no very distant period, to re i'm
hurse the principal.
The unexamyied economy which has
attended the operations OF the canals,
and the cheapness OF construction, are
onquesllonably the result oil the aGmira
bic course pursued by the commission
rrs in making contracts in every practi-
cable case; which, by creating compe-
ution, brought into action the Ingenuity
and hardy industry Of great bodies Of
men, and lba Al the lowest possible rate
Of competition.
The present will form one of the most
important eras in the annals OF dis State,
the anniversary oil which, next to thai OF
our national Independence, will ever be
rememb red with emotions of gralitud j,
and celebrated With demonstrations al
10y; for, SO long as our fields shall b
eu!tlvated, 50 long as our cities and VII
lagos shall be inhabited, and SO long us
The waters Of ne ma sslic Hudson Snail
minsle with those oil the A ian,c ocean,
Wli these canals con niue as impcrisha-
Die monuments Of the wisdom and pub.
lie spirit Of these ilus,rleus men, who,
by the influence Of their talents, gave the
first impu Sc to the undertaking OF the
skill. energy and perseverance OF the
cornmlssioners and engineers, under
whose directions the work has been exc
culed; and, more especially, OF the
patriotism Of the people OF the state Of
New-Y5rk, who, BY their appreciation,
sanctioned the mnnlfcent appropriations
made by the successive legislatures, for
carrying into effect the grand dtsisn.
Gentlemen The citizens OF A bany
are not onmlndful Of the ardnous dulle,,
and OF the fearful responsibilities whith
have been imposed on the canal cum
missloners, nor of the great ability ana
lailhIulness with which their services 10
The state have been performed: In the
exercise OF power almost despp'lc, ~
act Q! injustice or oppression IS aliedged
o have aecn COMMITTED by them.
II behalf OF my fellow citizens, | en-
der you their sincerest wishes for your
individual prosperity; ana that you mas
all long continue to ENJOY, next to the
appreciation Of your own hearts, the high
est reward that free people Can be-
sto@-- heir gratitude.
The president of the board Che Hon.
De Wit Clintoa) replied as follows:
The ,ra!ulatipns OF The cIl.z2ns
and municipal authorities Of Albans on
lais suseioious day, are received by The
Canal Commissioners With profound re
spec, and rcciprocated with cordial sin-
cerjty.
Ii would neither comport with on
situation or the occas n, 10 speak of tht
origin, the progress, and the opsumma-
UDD Of the work now honored by your
appreciation to eXpatia,e on The facil.-
les we have experienced and the embar-
easements we nave encountered. Futu-
rily will disclose the benefits that it viii
produce, and experience viii pronounce
an unerring decision.
II ba hoy II
ted We have 10 olher apology than the
purity of our motives. Ii We bave, al
any petiot, been unlustiy accused, We
look to the progress OF liinc, and Juds-
ncM OF posleri;y for our vlndicaiion;
and i! we have, in any respect, advanced
the prosperity OF the community, we
shall cad an ample reward in the sun
shine of approving consciences, and IL
the smiles Of approving heaven.
II setting an iliastrioas example to
the world, in the magnitude oil DER i'm
provoments and the CELEBRITY and econn-
my OF their execution, this state has con-
tracled debt, which, although conslde-
rable in amount, is not great, when COM
pared with the means OF extingulshment
created by her navisabie communica-
Tors. Ii is believed, tlal there is no IN
stance on record of the pay'nen, OF
large public debt. Either no adequate
provision has been made for the. pur-
pose, or there has been failure 10 the
faithful application ofaqpropriaied lunds;
and the consequences have been con-
tinual augmentation, pressing with IN
creasing severity, and menacing, il not
producing, the greatest calamities. We
fondly cherish the hope, that this state
will present another great example to