The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-24

The bill further provided that the Canal Commissions
ers shall upon such terms and in such manner the
Canal board shan direct and approve contract Tor The
completion Of the canals but such contracts shall be
awarded to such parties being Of suc eat
shall to execute their WORK 70 insure tha
completion Of the Is by the opening II navg alton
the spring OF 1854 which shall in tn. juig-
ment If the Canal Board be most safe and advantageous
to the state These extraordinary provisions OF the
bill indicate clearly the real designs the political Job
bers who were its authors and advocates The party in
have majority Of in the Canal Board while
two out OF the three Canal
was necessary therefore, to change the laws which
have been in force for years this State by which
the Canal Commissioners. required to award con-
tracts for the execution OF the public works to the lowest
bidder irrespective their party so to
secure to the peculiar friends OF the party in power
the patronage arising out Of the expenditure Of nine mil
hons Of dollars and Of the rcmander of the Of
from political ruin, which they perceive l. rapidly APP
preaching. to PROSTATE and ovcrwhem them. Such
concentration Of power and patronage in the hands II
few men would tend to corrupt the purity Of tho elective
franchise and would greatly destructive to the
best Interests Of our system o. internal improvements
Under the provisions Of this bill judging from tho
rence OF the past Is fair to infer that contracts would
have been made BY the favor OF the Canal Board only
with those who would use the means placed IN their
ha nds in the best manner to sustain aad parpet
uae the power Of the by whose Partially the con-
tracts were awarded to them
Although the nine millions of dollars to be bor
rowei in three years yet under the peculiar aud oxror
binary provisions Of the bill could have
made with the lowest bidders for the work but with
such Individual individuals the Canal Board deemed
Of sufficient responsibility and without any security for
petion Of the Enlargement and the Gcnesce Valley AMI
Elrck River Canals; and in that way the present Canal
Bosrl would have disposed Of pledged appropriated
the whole Of the nine millions TO be borrowed well
the Surplus for the TIVE
This unprecedented job thus to be farned out by the
present Canal Hoard would have been used the canal
patronage has been used solely for the pcrpetuation Of
the party nov in power
A your representatives. TO support the conti
futon Which the people had adopted for guidance,
We could not according 10 understanding OF what
seemed 10 rs lis plain import and meaning. give any sup
10 he borrowing
dollars pledge of the future of canals.
The twelfth section II the eth article Of the constitu-
tion declares that except therein specified debt
shah be hereafter contracted by on behalf OF this
unless such debt shall be authorized by law for
some single work object. which law shut not take
effect until IL has been submitted to and received the Ms
sent Of the people. AT &c neral election.
The sixth section IF the same article OF the eonstu-
ton dccar that the Legislature shall not sell, lease
otherwise dispose ofary Of the canals OF the state but
hey s rean IN, pfe tb tns section Of @a the as
article provide that the remainder Of the revenues II the
canals after setting aside the sums pledged by the con
sution for repairs aud to pay our State debit shall in
fiscal be applied in such manner as the iegs
shall direct the completion of the Erie Canal en-
,argemcn and the Genese Valley aud Black River Ca
mails ur Ill the said canals shall be completed"
These provisions # the constitution seem to Us so
plain that no man misunderstood or misconstrue
their meaning They were intended to guard and pro-
tect the people against hasty legislation and corrupt
schemes Of public plunder sanctioned by aithies repre-
sentatyes in the Legislature for the purpose OF reward
in. party adherent and perpeuating their own power
II the expense al the tax payers Of the state
,ha, debt shall hereafter be contracted by BIZ
hall Of the people Of this state. except in the manner
therein sut zcd; and yet attempt has been male.
notwithstanding that plain declaration to borrow nine
millions Of dollars under the p-etcncc that no debt will
be thereby created Our minds not acute enough TO
understand how the state borrow nine millions OF
dollars pledge mortgage Of its own property and
for IL and that it shall be repaid with in
and not debt for the money thus borrowed
able to understand how the Legislature can
pledge the of canals, without
violating tina, plain injunction Of the constitution which
t.ea hat he shall
otherwise dispose Of any Of the canals of the state but
that they shall remain the property Of the State and
under it, Manag cement for ever
The third Of the constitution has provided for
The certain completion Of tho enlargement Of the Erie
Canal and of the Gcneeee Valley and Blackiiyer Canals
by declaring at the surplus revenues shall in each ns-
ca gear be applied 10 these works until they shall b.
completed. Nj. proyion was agreed to by all parties
IN the convention which framed the constitution n
mise betsccn conflicting interests and should be
faithfully adhered to-
We have felt 1t duty owed to our constucnis
and the Il constitutional government. 10 resist
and defeat hy every in power the adoption Of
measure which To Us seemed clear and wholly nte-
fenslc inracton Of the plain provisions of the cons
tuition in view il Is better to have no constitution
II government than have which is set aside and
rumled in the duet by the peoples representatives, in
Tho Leg whenever the interests wishes of the
orruut lenders 4 party demand the deed - be done
But we could not gard the adoption of the measure
ia question. irrespective Of the constitutional oJccons
either lie cxpcdcut. The bill in question required
Le enlargement Of the Eric Canal to he completed In
three wears We in favor Of the completion of that
work and If the other canals at the earliest practical Pc
Of the constitution and the circumstance OF the case
bat 10 believe that 2ib miles uf the eScasa
lion enlargement 1856 miles of which j. not yet
under contract h. properly economically extcn-
ted IN three yeafs when in order TO prerFc the navga
tion Il the ceut canal great portion Of ths work
must be done during The winter months ia tins severe
climate The completion II thr enlargement unlrr such
Disadvantages in doing the work in the short period Of
tirse years vond probably cost nearer twenty thah ten
since the rcsumption Il the work the eulargomen.
and ON the ,.cn,e, Valley and Black River Csnals in
u4ff With ii
and ly dollars Il work IT the estimated cost ha been
put under contract nd payments made e. the Contract
thousand Gle hundred and niucty-seven dollars and
during the period there has been paid thr.r CT
na- for engineering 25SSi5 aud s52j5lafor land dam
ages and mlscellatCous charges and within thh f'ne
ending the Goth ~ last September there has been
raid for Interest the canal debt 81 the State the
e t3t6Ali oil ut which hss been lowed on the trans
rcFtzon pna1 Now II il proposed ~ increase
tie annual cypenlrr for construcin ~ tin rate Of
three millions Il dollars year. BY b"rrDaing that
AsnCaB prt lryyirg the inter-t on the mpey borrowed
~ ~ the rlne ia rs high tolls transportation
= the Il iweny ane year.. Ia eur Judgment Il l.
murh brtl porf IT, pursue the SAT and prudent
course eways .di RIA o. Us thu democratic party fr tc
.ortlet,n n tho, csusI. AMI which Nv wise faithful
cud trananlcsl application II the placed ~ tn
dispc al &c .hc state would complete them rapidly
tle pccrss q husine. - III interest. % tn p'opi
Grmsfd
Another act 10 relation - tNe enlargement inr
enaly developed Ia he discussion q the Nine Milton
bili Witch de- notice. We ,ule to the changal
rlan riotcd. ~ intended t. ~ adopted ny TIC Canal
Beard On Ire liz tf the enlargement istwern Rochcs
ter and luiaa. aHf which has nj hfhcr7o been
crmmnn'ctfcd I. ths Legislature o. thf FHolc ~ fhr
crcrr having char,r a the csnai., Ia any = ta"ir
,flcial fctort. required Y isw 20 I've n't'.
lsit ic ~ LclIort Or the greater part q tha dis-
tance toll" tiue f,et deep aud nngiy feet Wild snd
dim vs.hf rrfU "A Nail Il. nj r..i,e-tsr - ,su f.rt by
rvrrty WI hpF ti's chsrRr 81 the plan T. required q
lrau'aiu rffd rsyisntion. - 70 give 90 aaition'l
water power ~ ~ pert docs ut appear in any official
rcpar m no Canal EaaId Are.atcn q tIe Senate,
REQUESTING ne ,.ra b.arl 70 eanmnnicate their plans