Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-10-17

have conceived and pronoled wcrk equally
splendid and beneficial, and which vii, be a
lasting monument Of glory and source OF
wealth to the state.
Gratitude is pleasing passion and also an
attribute ofhumanity. Public rejoicing for ma
tionai benefits. when properly conducted, is an
appropriate and acceptable demonstration Of
homage to the Creator, and is also a proper
aud suitable mode of expressing national graft.
tude to national benefactors. We behold the
persons of many now among us, who are
highly deserving this tribute of respect; and
assure you, sir, that the citizens of Albany
derive the highest pleasure in seeing among the
distinguished Committee of New York, gem
temen who have always added the weight and
influence OF most respectable characters To the
cause oil internal Improvement; but especially,
from the satisfaction of beholdng among them,
the venerable President, aud the virtuous and
enlightened Secretary of the meeting, whose
Committee presented the luminous memorial
To our legislature, which prepared and con-
vinced the public mind for commencing the
great work we now celebrate. We again re-
new our most cordial invitation to the honor
able members of the New York Committee,
to now unite with us in the festivities of the
day. appointed for shelving our respect and
esteem To the Commissioners, who have so
successfully conducted the magnificent work
To its present issue.
| al the Popition in the Public Square. The Hon.
Charles e. dudley. Mayor Of Albany, made
the address rhich tolioics:
| GENTLEMEN.-The honor of addressing
the Canal Commissioners on the present his b
ly interesting occasion, having been assigned
me, 1t Is with uufeIgned pleasure that pro-
| coed to the performances of that duty.
lmlsessed with feelings Of gratitude to the
Divine Ruler of the Universe, the citizens of
Albany have assembled this day for the pur
pose of testifying their Joy on behuIding the
magnificent spectacle, of the union ofthe wa
ters of the Erie and Champlain canals with
the Hudson river, and Of :he passage of the
first boat from the Grand Canal through the
lock at this place. In behalf of the Common
Council and citizens of Albany, / tender YOU
the most cordial congratulations on this pro-
pitious event, and on the successful completion
of the canal connecting Lake Champlain with
the Hudson river, and of the Erie canal from.
Rochester, on the Genesee river, to the tide
waters of the Hudson at this place.
These noble canals cannot fail To excite the
| admiration, and to secure the applause of this
and every succeeding age but works of such
| grandeur should be seen-no description can
convey an adequate idea of the triumph of arr
|
have been reared-or of the obstacles which
have been surmounted in their construction.
1t was shortly after the successful and glori-
Gus termination of the late war, that the pro
ject of the Erie and Champain canals was re-
vived and agitated in the state Legislature and
| II is not surprising, that some of our most dis
| iiDgushed public men, some OF the ab.est as
seriors ofthe peoples rights, and most faith
fui guardians of their treasure, should, at that
period, and before the finances of the, country
| had recovered from the shock they expert
enced during the war, have paused and hest
tated at what they considered might be pre-
mature commitment of the power and credit
of the State, tn AN undertaking of uncommon
| magnitude and indefinite extent, and az to the
probable expense of which there was great di-
versity of opinion. These honest doubts, and
patriotic fears, had the effect of inducing great
circumspeclion and vigilance, on the part OF
the members ofthe Legislature who advocated
the immediate commencement of the work
and led TO the act of the 18th April 1915
which appointed aud directed commissioners
Ia explore and survey the most eligible routes
and To make accurate and minute estimates o
the amount which would be necessary To com.
pleted the Erie and Champlain canals: to III,
/ prudence and circUmspeotion evnced by thu
restrictions and provisions of this act, may be
/ y
economy which have characterised the subse
queni prosecution of the work-and what wa:
"f equal importance, served in an eminent de
gree 10 acquire and secure the confidence o
the people in the practicability and fitness u
| the measure.
| The system of canal navigation, original
ing with few enlightened and eminent men
and which had its most efficient support in III,
general intelligence and patriotism of the PEG
| pie, may now be considered as having hat
its probation in this state; and the policy u
| completing the whole as soon as practicable, i
sanctioned by the test of experience Th,
hopes of the saoguine have been more thar
realised and the apprehensons of the fmid
dispced, by the evidence which this day af
fords. There is also something gratifying il
the reflection, that the political conflicts, which
for years have agitated the state, have no
suspended or retarded the prosecution Of tn,
work for single moment. There can nov
he no doubt ofthe vast utility of the canals
| and that they will IN few years WELD al
amount of toll, which with the other re
venue already pledged, will be far more thar
sufficient TO pay the interest on all the money
borrowed; and al. no very distant period (,
reimburse the principal.
| Great praise is due to the commissioners o
the canal fund.- for the wise and iujicious mea
surfs tney duOpteu Ior inc purpose Oh pFocur'
| ing loans on the best terms on the whole a
mount of debt 50, S43, 5OO) the rate of interes
does not exceed 81 per cent. BY an article
in the new constitution, the tolls of the canal
as then established the auction duties, th
tax on salt manufactured in the western dis
trict, the steam boat tax, as they are respec
lively established 10y law ; were inviolably APP
propria:ed for the completion Ofthe canals, In,
payment uf the interest, and reimbursement o
the capital of money borrowed, or to be Dor