New-York daily tribune., 1842-09-10

50 an Immediate Prssecution of the Works OF
Internal improvement in this State.
Reported for The AIbass Evening Journall
IConcudedl
have adverted clone to the ancient Babylon
because it showed at once the immense benefit.
resulting from the construction of suck works, and
the serious evis, nay destruction itself, that fol
lowed their neglect and ruin. But, sir, the same
policy marked the progress of all the other en-
iightened nations of the oiden time, in the con-
struction of canals and roads, in Egypt, Greece
and Rome and the mountain ridges in many
paris of Greece now exhibit to us in mountain
passes, where horse or mule can at this day with
difficulty find track, regularly constructed
"Tram roads" as they are termed by engineers,
a supposed modern invention, to overcome the
difficulties of steep ascents and descents with
heavy loads. And the same systom has been Pur-
sued to this moment by the more important ma
,ions of Europe-proving to US that upon what
ever other points people may have differed in
opinion all the enlightened nations of all ages Of
the world have agreed upon the importance and
necessity of fostering and encouraging system of
internal improvements.
That system-that glorious system-has Ibeen
introduced into our country; and although at first
it was considered wild and foolish project" to
construct the Erie Canal and the proposition for
It's survey in 1903 only acceded to on the ground
that sit could do no harm, and nigh: do some
good, it became adopted here, and resulted in
the construction of the Erie and Champlain ca
nails, which have built up and enriched our State.
That any harm resulted from the adoption Of
that system cannot, believe, be contended for by
any, even of its mos, rigid opponents; aNd to por
tray the good that was the effect of its prosecu-
tionis beyond the power of the most vivid inlugi-
nation.
In the summer of 1911 when Gov. De Witt
Clinton made tour through this Stale, on the
present route Of the Erie Canal, the country was
generally wilderness, and there was not sim
gle house where the city of Rochester now stands.
And in the autumn Of 1920, tho year ia which the
middle, and first constructed section of that canal
was opened for navigation, the Canal pierced
wild and desolate region at Rome only to emerge
from it at Salina. 1t was covered with deep
forest, and for large portion of the distance the
advancing settlers had avoided that country
unfit for cultivation. But the opening of the Ca
nal only afforded of transportation
between distant points, but also drained the
marshes and swamps, and caused the forests to be
cleared, and now its banks, instead of the gloomy
shades which formerly covered lha, extensive re-
sion for miles upon miles, refresh the sight with
the prospect OF thriving cities and villages, and
well settled land smiling under the hand of the
industrious husbandman; and it has made that
whole western country the pride and glory Of our
State.
1t is not the West alene, Mr. President, that
has been benefited and enriched by that great
work, and by the prosecution of that System. To
it the city Of NewYork owes millions of her great
wealth; aud is in fact moro indebted for her
growth and Importance among the cities Of the
Union to the prosecution of our Internal Improve
ments than to all the foreign commerce she ever
enjoyed. And if her eyes could be opened TO her
own interests, her citizens would be clamorous al
,he doors of your legislative halls for the compile
zion of your public works.
So msch do 1e owe to the Internal Improve
ment system. What may be derived from the
continuation of that system, remains for the fl-
ture to develope. But this I will say-no man,
however sauguine may be his anticipations, can
predict any thing but what will fall far short o!
the reality fifteen or twenty years hence.
How shall we carry on those Internal improve
raentsa We arc told by our opponents, that it is
useless to talk about prosecuting our public works
,ha, we cannot raise dollar of money-and tha,
the State is now almost hopelessly in debt. Sir,
] wish the people oe this State to understand one
thing, and that is, that while the Wings were in
power there was difficulty in raising money!
And had they continued at the helm of Govern.
,nent, the public works would have been prosecu
ted until this moment and the laborers upon those
works would have been paid. And yet when oui
opponents came into our seats, they were scarcel,
warm there before they told us that they could moi
obtain the necessary funds and that the work mus
STOP. Twelve millions had been contracted fol
the enlargement of the Erie Canal before the
Wings came into power. Ten millions Of tha,
amount has been paid Of that ten millions, the
Wings paid eight millions Ave hundred thousand
Hna roi]Itop Maid b,
before we came into effice, aud we left them bu,
half million to provide for, when they again sue
ceedcd Us. And yet their very first act &c
declare their utter inability pay even that small
amount.
Sir, if British ministers had come into the Eng
ish House of Commons and informed them tha
they could no, carry on the Government, the.
would have been instantly told TO give up thei
seats and le, others come in who could de 1t.
you displaced those who could carry on the Gov
ernmen, successfully and yor cannot carry OH
the policy 80 necessary for the wel-being of th'
State, retire, and again let the Wings come bacs
md take the helm of power. Such would hays
been the answer in any Government excep, this.
Sir, declare boldly thar there has never eees
moEnent since our opponents came into power, iha
all the money requisite for the prosecution of ou
works could not be obtained for seven per cent
But, sir, how can they even hope TO get it7 They
who are continually talking about the necessity o
repudiatisn, and no, paying the State debts-wil
capitalists lend their money to them7 No, SIR
if the rate of interest was but six or even Eve pei
cent. they could not borrow even single millior
Of dollars.
j. Horsley Palmer, the late Governor Of the
Bank Of England, after having taken a recen, tour
through this Stale expressed his surprise that any
one should talk Of the debt of New-York II was
nothing in comparison with her immense resour
COS. He said that we had only to say 10 the capi
talists of Europe that VIC would pay the debt for