New-York daily tribune., 1849-10-31

& q
this rar is portion Of our people, who have taken TO
themselves the name Of DE,ocGArs, and claim,
though most unjusty. III; exclusive uso,for the very
end and aim, and plain effect Of the Improvements
sough, By the Wig. is 20 level, not only natural
but commercial ard social inequalities; 10 equalze
the condition q the people TO place. oy means o.
eheap and accessible channel. Of trade the producer
BY the ide Of the consumer 70 Lessen the exclusive
advantage which geographical or Typographical 20
.,.on has conferred on the more favored portions Of
the commonwealth; and that If fame or hone't re-
nown is 70 be gained, by the successful accomplish
uept ofthese undertakings, il justiy belongs 10 the
state A. large. and all our citizens in common and
alike.
The ra-tv thus arogating to itself the name Of
p.nocrat. il divided in opinion, as to the degree in
which bese doctrines Of Internal improvement are 70
no admitted Many OF them persons Of good dis
ro.i,on. Of personal integrity, and sound niellect
b,, some are deep students Of political economy,
and hold that Nature is to be let alone,-esTeci
ally by tie Government that without its aid
All things human will find their level Canals with
eye-vtbinc else that the construction Of public
works tends TO eucender race of denagogues, who
are sure to lead the people into debt and difficulty $
that their own creed being to do little or nothing for
the public good they are the safest guardians Of the
rnbl;e credit and honor:-aud that all accumulatons
Of wealth or power whether in associations, corporate
bodies, public sorks, or in the state ITSELF are anti
democratic and dangerous.
This section Of the Democrats do not believe IN IN
tcrnal Improvement, or improvement OF any kind'-oy
the Government They are peculiarly and s'ubbornly
otposed 10 the construction Of harbors and the IN
uroyemont Of naygabe rivers especially by the federal
authority prcicng rather to % to the bottom Than
be saved by unconstitutional means They have as
.umed and bear the terrific epi,hct Of BAENHrRN-
FRS and if the term has any application or mean
ing it denotes sect prone rather to destroy than
creatc.-to pull down, rather than build up
q marty. if not positively in favor Of Destruction,
NJ aiy rate opposed to liberal Construction Of any
sort. The most prominen; and successful leader Of
this section Of the people is Colonel SAMUEL lorNc,
copspicuously aided by Mr.. MICHAEL HOFFMAN. Of
Uerkimcr and in some degree by Mr. fAcG, the late
Comptroller.
Standing midway, between this wing Of the De-
nocracy and The Wing party, is that portion Who
have taken upon themselves, the comfortable title OF
"OLp HrsKrRs The genealogical origin Of this
eri,hct. is already ost in obscury They embrace
a considerable portion Of our citizens who are en-
Gagged in banking, and other active business, but
at the same time, decided lovers of political place
and mower. At heart, they believe in progress,
and are in favor Of liberal prosecution Of works Of
improvement, but most generally disguise it in order
to win the Banbumcrs' votes. They are by no
means deficient in intelligence, or private WORTH
but arc deeply skilled in political tactics,-and
their creed. if it is rightly understood, Is that
public works ought TO be "judicously' prose-
cuted provided they themselves can ill all the "
fees of profit or honor connected with their admins
tration The most eminent leader Of this school Is
Governor MARCY.
With this division Of our political world kept
steadily in view, we may more clearly comprehend
the past history the present condition, and the ui-
mate prospects Of our public works
The present generation, enjoying as it does, the
daily benefits Of the Erie Canal. can hardly realize
the difficulties which its projectors were obliged to
encounter Cur population small, and thinly
scattered even along the Atlantic border. The city
of New ork with less than hundred thousand IN
habitants, had found its occupation mainly on the
ocean, and in foreign commerce,-and It's leading
men knew little and cared less for the Great Interior
The West destined to become the true and uniaiing
around remote chain Of distant inland Lakes, but
dimly seen and feebly appreciated When therefore
the proiect was announced some forty years ago Of
constructing a Canal from the Hudson River-
not to Lake Ontario, but the remote waters Of
Lake Eric-the idea was treated as purely
cbimerical and il is among the most curious facts
in its early history, that while the merchants and
captas,s OF the city of New ork afforded 1t neither
announcement nor sympathy, and still less pecuniary
SUPPORT one of its earliest and most efficient advo-
cafes unfortunate debtor, then actually with
in the iail limits of the County OF Ontario.
In the city Of New York, Mr.. CLINTON, lately its
Navor stood all but alone, and II was not until
the 18th of April lSil, after eignt years struggle, III
which he was aided manly by clearh headed ana iaF
sighted friends in Western New ork, that the law
for the construction of the canal, after conflict Of
great severity was passed through the Legislature
The whole delegation from the eity oi Ne" ora 70
a man. voted against II Nearly al TIE conservative
portion ofthe community joined IN the oppositon ana
learned lawyer from Of the river counties. ore
eminent that OCCASION Tor the readiness OF ms VIII
than the strength of his judgment on hearing 10 sa-
ted in debate that the Canal could not be supplied
with water exclaimed from his seat IN the Assembly,
Gre pauS.if tr0ub.c.-fh, tears of oar constt-
fuenfS cN MI Il ~ The project instantly became me
subject Of violent party conflict and in no quarter did
it receive violent and malignant opposition tnan
in the city of New York.
Ii was during these struggles. that the political
parties which even yet sgae the state found their
origin and early organization. Ar SuAs WRIGHT
junior since elected Governor, and Mr.. AzARlAH I.
tLAeG, the late Comptroller, came into public life
the active opponents Of Mr.. CLINTON In the year
1874, they found in the State Legislature one
in the Senate, the other in the Assembly
During the seven eventtUl years, between the cora
menccment Oft the Canal IN ISL and its near approach
TO completion in lS2i, the work had been vigorously
pushed onward by Mr.. CLINTON, though met by op-
position at every stage of It's progress. lie had re-
tred from the Office of Governor IN 1923 but from
TIE eares; surveys and first exploration Of the route
in 1910 TO that day, he had held the honorary post
Of Canal Commissioner, but without salary or emo
ument Ca the last day Of the session Of the less-
aiuge in 1924, his adyersarcs. having majority in
both branches, carried through a joint resolution.
removing him from that post. 10 was supported by
Mr. WasHr in the senate, and Mr.. FLAGG in the
Assembly.
The shock which this event produced throughout
our whole community is well remembered. As
4 deliberate. intentional. cold-blooded insult, TO
great public beneaciOT II reused the senSoities OF
,y,rv 0'nsrous and manly nature throughout the