New-York daily tribune., 1849-10-31
rrrl.Y np Ia. KI-GGLEs.

SETH G.. JoNEs, FREDERICK 1I4N"'
ALEXANDER Mann,
REILLY oP Mr.. RrGGLES
New YORK, oct 9th, l'i9
Gr,r,rvry-Your favor Of the 18th inst inviting
me TO address the citizens Of Rochester on the lanai
Policy Of this state reached me Friday last and
truly regret that prior aud indispensable engagements
will deprive me Of the qualification Of complying
with your request There is point on the Enc "a
anal where ! could expect a more intelligent or III
dulcont audience. My sympathics are well known
10 be strongly in favor Of the wide spread and grow
ing interests Of your active and enterprsng Oiiy an
IL is source Of most pleasing remembrance that some
Of the best years Of my life have been passed 10
egorts 10 promotc them Your letter assures me
tba, the,e efforts have not been wholly in vain,
md / will not attempt to conceal the gratihca-
sion the expression of your hatterng remembrance
has afforded me Indeed it would be little crclitable
TO INV sensibilities, could forget the numerous and
constant acts of personal kindness ! have received
from most If not all Of you and, in truth, IRON every
member Of your intelligent community with whom
was ever brought into conncxion There was much
need Of that kindness. by political man%uvre IN
the Board Of Canal Commissioners IN l0'9, hal
been suddenly and Unexpectedly compelled to take
the active charge of the Gcncsee Valley Oanai' anu
of that portion Of the Erie Canal embraced between
your city and Lake Erie The work then IN progress
on both those canals of great magnitude ana I'm
portance, and on the Genesee Valley Oanal oil uuu-
sual complexity and difficulty In the practical
construction of canals was almost totally inexpe-
rienced. and poorly prepared suddenly to assume so
great a responsibility 1t then that l enjoyed
the advantage of your friendly advice, your ripper
knowledge, your large and liberal intelligence
From your city, the terminating point Of the
Genesee Valley Canal, quite up to the north
ern line of Pennsylvania ! found the whole val
lev lined with friends, warm hearted and true,
willing and able to instruct Their kindness has
sunk deeply into my affections, and will be felt and
remembered to the latest hour of my life But why
conhne the recollection TO your noble city, your rich
and fruitful valley The whole of western New
York-the fsircst portion of mans heritage it has
ever been my lot to visit-thc land Of virtue intel-
gonce and honor-rece,ed me with almost fraternal
kindness and were dead indeed to every feeling of
gratitude could ever forget it.
The p,rtiality of your regard, of which abundant
evidence is afforded in your hattering letter, must be
attributed, not to any personal merits Of my own.
but to the common bond Of sympathy which for up
wards of ten years has united We have gone hand
in hand in the great enterprise of enargng the Erie
Canal of adequately improving the noble channel Of
commerce which the genius of CLINTON has left US In
period, Of its most successful progresin all the ef
forts t. expedite its completion,in its hours Of diff
Guilty, danger and disaster,we have habitually ex-
changed our opinions, and inierminglcd our sympa-
Il l.. tl.. IL. 81.
mics of tue work more in the field, we should
even at this distance sit down and take counsel to-
gcher.
What, then, is the present state Of the Erie Canal
enlargement What has brought it to its present
condition What are its prospects
These questions, though apparently distinct. re-
qure to be examined together for It will be found
that il is the party conflicts in the State which have
most affected still affect, and will continue TO affect
them all Ii is deeply to DO regretted that on sub
iect SO enduring and important, affecting deeply
the interest the power and the just renown of the
State the sentiments of political parties eond not
have been more firmly united. But from the time Of
MIR. CLINTON to the preSen; day, the canals have
been more or less the subject Of partizan dis
cussion and party fauaticiSIn, and their progress
or rctardation, has been too much governed by
the fluctuations Of our political struggles. The
history of the canals for the last thirty years would
constitute in good degree, the political history the
state II deserves to be fairly and conscicutously
written, and as one, among the humbles; actors in
some Of the scenes am Willing 10 furnish cha pier.
The present division Of political parties in this
State, take to be this
The wues, consist mainly Of those, and the
descendants Of those who supported Mr. OliNroN IN
his great achievement, Of commencing and completing
the Erie Canal This party are Of OPINION ana ]
confess to being OF the number, that nigh da'y
has de,olved upon the present generation thai
Providence in its bencfcenec has given Us lands an1
waters Of much value and extent but which need some
;mnrovemcni TO render them suitable to the comfort
and safety of cur race:that cheap channels Of trade
And travel. safe and commodous harbors, and nayg
HE rivers free from inpedment, are what We most
need and must have that we are now at peace
und;sprbed a, home and ard tha; II Is not
only our present interest but our hounden duty to
the generations who are to follow u.s. to prepare the
country for their reception that this Office is one not
only Of duty, but Of great honor and that IN al ses
and under all forms of government, It Is ana mas o.s'
and ought TO be the peculiar function ard proper ru'
Of the sovereign power in the state to see tna' 'h
duty ia not neglected and that history IN all times
past, has marked with distinguished honor those "n0
have Won these psscefu victories over phyca 00sta