The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-11
OPENING OF THE EXTRA SESSION
OF THE
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE.
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE,
&C., &C., SO.
Governors Message,

feloU Ctftzns the Senate and Of the .fssenbky:-
The abrupt termination Of the recent annual session
OF the Legislature imposed upon the responsibility Of
convening the two Houses in extra session, and of
derng special elections to fill the vacancies created by
the resignation Of members.
While felt reluctant to burthen the treasury with
extraordinary expenditure and to subject you the
inconvenience mbng the capital at this un-
usual session, the condition of the public business the
time of your adjournment in April was such as to
der further legislation nd pensabe to the ordinary ad
mnsration Of the government and in this posture OF
affairs a sense Of duty constrained to act with
promptness in adopting the only mode OF proceeding
which seemed adequate to the occasion.
The annual appropriation bills and many general
affecting the public welfare, which left
unfinished should receive final action as early as prac
ticablei and in the discharge Of this duty your
wishes less than the interests Of your constituents
will prompt the utmost despatch which you may deem
consistent with prudent and judcious elaboration.
1t is a subject Of gratifying reflection that, in the
elections recently held so large portion Of the people
Of the State rising above all party divisions should
have proclaimed their adherence to the vital principle Of
which clothes constitutional majority
with the power decide public questions. and control
the action of representative bodies The temporary
prostraton of the legislative power by the secession
Of minority, event which could hardly fail TO
produce a deep impression upon the public mind.
proceeding Of this character had before
occurred since the formation Of a republican govern
ment in this state. 1t not the first time in the
Of State and national progress that wide d
erences Of opinion had arisen in legislative bodies
respecting the expediency Of public and the
legitimate construction of constitutional provisions
but hitherto in seasons Of high popular excl ement,
when the violence Of party spirit seemed to defy
troll and when political divisions were msst equally
balanced the encounters of debate have ceased and th
gayest conflicts of opinion have yielded to the deliberate
Judgment Of the majority The diverstes of sentiment
which arise in the administration Of popular system
to be viewed a necessary incident of self
government. Our past experience has shown that
the utmost freedom of discussion is not incon-
sistent with the restraints Of the constitution
and that the produced by opposing views of
public questions not hostile TO the stability of demo-
cratic institutions The cheerful acqu Of the
whole people IN the ascertanec will of the majority has
constituted the brightest feature of history
furnishing indispusble proof Of the wisdom of
publican theory and the capacity Of our citizens for the
exercise Of political responsibility This principle of sub
mission to the voice of the majority sscd through
the forms Of the constitution, is fundamental and or
ganc; it pervades and animates admirable system
of regulated liberty, and constitutes only shield
against the disorders of faction Its practical recog
milton has thus far happily distinguished country
from those il.fated derocracies ancient and modern
which have sunk beneath the violence of popular strife
and insubordnation.
You will dou btless esteem it among the first Of your
duties to resume the consideration Of the important
ect which under discussion in the Senate when its
proceedings were so suddenly arrested
The merits Of the measure, and the objections whi;h
have been advanced in opposition to it, should receive
your calm and impartial deliseration In my annual
TO the Legislature deemed 1t my duty invite
attention TO the interesting subject of canal
conclusive in favor Of the early completion Of
unfinished canals The convstions which we're then
expressed in relation TO the expediency Of consummatng
gained strength from subsequent reflection and
discussion The Importance Of the trade and
the Erie Canal to the prosperity Of the State Is
ceded by all No public Of any age country
contributed largely to the welfare and happiness of
whole community Every interest In the commonwealth
has felt its vivyng influence The and cities which
has unparalleled perity Of our prnci
pal emporum-the giant strides Of Western New York in
wealth and Improvement and above ALL the commercial
supremacy Of the State may be pointed to with honest
pride by all citizens enduring memorials Of the
wifdom which conceived, and the energy which
mated the noble design Of opening water comInunca-
tion To unite the Lakes with the Atlantic 1t would
not be- difficult to demonstrate that the Erie Caaal
has added than three hundred millions in value
the property Of cur people Its effects upon the public
treasury no LEES striking aud satisfactory Its re-
after psyipg the cost of ts original construction
rapidly reducing the debt incurred in Its enlarge
men and In aid Of other improvements That the cariy
completion Of channel which has yielded these benen
results would injure the State endangrr its ber
ties H. appreheL sion condemned by experience dis
owned by reason and only to be regarded the dismal
jectng all grateful memories ~ the past and dsdanng
all generous hopes Of the future.
IL L. fifteen years since the work Of eIlar cement
commenced. The main purpose OF the undertaking
to create channel with sufficient capacity for boats
Of $50 tons burthen by which producers aud
will be relieved from about half the present cost (ex
cuding tos) ofcanai tram portaton Towards the ae
81 ,n aessn We hsne s S e,sf s
tures have been completed for the OF boats Of
heavy tonnage; but this avans nsthng towards the
definite object Of the Improvement until the last
mile Of excavation IL finished. At the present rate
Of progress from ten to hftesn years viii DO required
TO perfect the work This tardy operation requires m
organization Of officers and engineers and u attended
with large increase Of expense aud heavy lsss VI IN
ter.s In this condition Of things the real II not the
only question presented L. whether work Of such vt
importance admitted by all to be- necessary and upon
which much has been done, shall be procrsstinated
frm year to year until generation shall have dissp
pczred and many Of the benefits u tho improvement
have been surrendered 10 composing of rais
or ,hsn the plan be prosecuted With visor and o,m.
peted other useful enterprises carried forward In
this age Of advance and achievement
In considering the subject with reference 10 our fu
ture policy BECOMES important TO form correct est-
mate Of the growing value aud extent of ths Western
trade and to keep In view the peculiar advantage Of
geogi apbicnl position IL depends mainly upon our own
leQtrl " he hzu
the chief cust for the vast aud fertile region stretch
Ing from the Lakes TO the Mssissipp wiss and libe
raj views shs guide councils, have the ability 10
command, during all future time the comm-rce Of ter
rtory larger than Europe, embracing several of the
most prosperous States Of tn. Union which though yet
In their nfsncy advancing beyond example in po-
pulaton and and in the construction Of intr
nal communication which In effect are but an exen-
The commercial relations created between this state
and It's Western reghbors by opening for them easy
channel q navigation from the akes TO the sesbosrd
have eded and continue 10 confer reciprocs bene
fits upon both. In giving 10 them the advantag. OF
value q their soil and productions while acquire for
citizens the profits o the carrying trade and Tho
varied benefits which spring from heslthfni aud ex
psnding commerce In this connection IT should be re-
marked that the ncrsase production from year year
In the States tributary to Lake Erie h larger than their
entire surplus at the srs opening Of the Ee Canal The
people those states so closely with In In.
terest ard feeling not nsensblet these
and Is crcdsble to their intelligence that they should
look forward with anxious soliouds, a We ar. assured
they do, TO the comps tion of the Erie enlargement
In considering the financial bearings OF the subject
We should REMEMBER that treasury derives noble
from the Western trade. equivalent FOR
the facilities Of transit which this state has created The
proportion Of canal tolls derived from tonnage coming
from going beyond borders Il steadily increasing
The amount collected In the rear 1850 at Buffalo and
0sv the productions fother States 63l
s TO which should be added the amount received at the
Eastern ofnces returns Of merchandise. The
receipts at tho same ports for the present sea-
son exhibit gratifying increase. Thus y will
be perceived that large share Of the means
for the gradual payment Of the state debt,
a. well a. for comprising unfinished works, is
TO be furnished, not by citizens, but by neigh.
boring oommunites who-e trade has been attracted by
our liberal canal policy and IN connection with this
view just esmate % the increase In trade and revenue
which VIII result from the enlargement of the Erie and
oswego Canals must dspel all apprehensions of future
en- bsrrsment and taxstion Unlef the calculations of
increased tonnage upon which the Erie enlargement was
originally based shall prove 20 BE- fsseious " IL evident
that the State will be relieved from debt at an earlier
period By prosecuting the work TO speedy compile
tion, than by poetponing for long series Of years
careful exasninAtn nf the s,leet must also convnce