New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-11


eral views shall guide cur councils. we E..c
the ability 90 command. during all luiIre time ihe
commerce OF territory larger tan Europe tii'i '.-
Dr.. several 0t thc most pros er1ls STATES ol -.,t '"-
ion. which though get ia thelr infancy. are ti'tl
rg beyond example 10 population arl resources. ihl
in The Construction of internal communications WHICH
I'D eject aiC but an extension % our .v1.
The commercial relations created between ih'
Si.te aud IFS N,-.crn ucl-l1orS- by opening 'f i.i
an easy ,nauLC az nltI CATION from ilc Lake, .' tt
scaLoard. have Welded and must continue 90 confer
re lpIoca- benefits upon both /, giving % them '..a
advantage oi cheap access % tlc Ai.iuI' .t N'.N'
we enhance tie value O.. .helf soil ali proin'tons'
while We acquire for our "flZ5ns ihe pr0ms ol ilc
carrying trade and the var IL benefits which spring
hCm healfhfIi and expand ng commerce. In this
connection Il should be remarked that tae increase
of production from year 20 year ln the states uod-
ary TO Lake Enc is larger than Their entire surplus
az ne trst opening OF the Ere Canal Inc people
OF those States. so closely Identified Win US IN IN
eTes and feeling are not nSenSble 90 these adyan-
ages and Is credltabe 20 their intelligence that
they should look torW Arb with anxious sohcltude, rs
We are assured they DO, 10 the completion OF the
Ere Enlargement
Ia considering the financial bearings OF the subject.
We should remember that our Treasury derives no
bic revenue from the Western trade. equivalent
for the facilities Of transit which this state has ere
ated The proportion of Canal tolls derived from tun-
mage coming from or gong beyond rbor1erSl> stead
lily increasing. The amount collected IN the year
1850. at Buffalo and O>WeCo. on the production Oh
other States was Sl,0l363l S. 90 which should De
added the amount received az the Eastern Offices on
reiuWso fmorchandse. The rectpisat the same por;S
for Ile present season exhibit gratifying increase.
Thus Il viii be perceived that large share OF the
means Tor the gradual payment OF the state DEBT rs
well as for the completing our unfinished WOfhs, is
TO be- furnished not bv our own citizens. but by
neIghbOung communities whose trade has been at
tracied by our liberal anal policy and IN cOnncc-
ton with this view, Just estimate Of ahe increase IN
trade and revenue which Will resultjfrom the En-
argement of the Ere and Oswego Canals must dlSpe
al apprchenslOns OF future embarrassment and taxa
ton. Unless the calculations ofmCrCaSed tunnagC up
"A
shall prove to be faac0uS It Is evident that the state
VIII he relieved from debt no an earlier period by
prosecuting the work 10 a speedy completion.
than 10y posponlng Il for long series OF years
careful examination Of the subject must also
convince every practical mind that an early con-
summation of the improvement VIII shorten the Pc
Rod which must elapSe before the canal revenues
VIII be released and made applicable to the oril-
nary expenditures of the state, as % relieve
the people from taxation for the support of govern
ment Then. freed from debt with revenue from
us public Improvements without example IN the |
history of governments, the state Will have an
mexhauStlbe fund for the support of education the
encouragement of ant and the relief of the untortu
maize, without the Intervention OF assessors and tax
CATERERS
In surveying the financial condition and prospects
Of the State, it IS Important 10 observe. that after
completing the Canal, already I'm existence. no FUR
thcr Improvements which can create burden upon
the people viii remain 20 be- accomplished by the
Legislature No rev Canals are proposed. The
au of the stale for construction of Railroads us no
longer needed or solicited Thus We perceive that
after Terleciing what las been commenced, there
VIII bC neither necessity or excuse Tor new enter
prsos 1t the cost of the Treasury, beyond the judi
cous application Of the ample revenues which the
Canals. when released from all cncumhrance, Will
viii place at the dlspoSaLoi our suco oSsOrs.
Whether the state continues tSpo>SeSs those Sovc-
reign powers and faculties which are necessary 10
expedite the completion of the canals, without trans
ccudng the limitations If the Constitution, Is QucS-
ton which demands your enlightened consideration.
Assuming the necessity for action IN be established,
you are called upon TO determine III what manhcf1h me
object shall be attained.
In communicating my views at the commencement
of the annual session, deemed Utmost becoming and
respectful 20 submit this question TO the superior WIS
dom OF the Legislature entertaining on my part an
earnest desire to cooperate IN any practical measure
which YOU should deem free from constitutional OBJ
lection, Regarding the considerations IN favor OF a
more efficient and vigorous progress as paramount
and scli-eVldcnt dld not hesitate TO recommend
such AN amendment of The Constitution aS should
confer the requisite authority If IN your judgment no
iudlcious plan of could be matured consistent
IL with the financial provisions of that instrument
our first and highest obligation Is to preserve nElo-
late the principles of the organic law which We have
sworn TO support. Whatever differences of opinion /
may arse touching the Interpretation o. particular
prov sons, should BE our constant ann TO give tul
effect 10 all ITS requirements. No considerations OF
cXreClency or even of necessity can Justify depart
uIe from lis true lHientand spirit. The financial pro-
visions of the Constitution were intended not to de-
cat, tut to insure, the completion OF tine Ere En-
larpcmcnt and the Black River and GeneSee Valley
Canals For nearly five years these works had been
suspended majority In the Convention of lbi6de
tormIned that they should be resumed and finished.
They dedicated TIE entire surplus tandi revenue 10
tins Object after mas certain reservations for the
payment Of the existing debt, and tine support of Gov
eminent j; Is hardly conceivable tha they wouldhaye
refused TO permit the early accomplishment Of an |
object Tor which they 50 carefully provided, II IL |
could have been supposed that individuals would !
consent TO furnish the necessary means at once on
q simple assignment OF the surplus, with special |
coUduions that the purchasers should receive the |
transfer al their own nsk, without recourse 10 the
state n any contingency. Is It reasonable, Is u Just
to the equation of men eminent for their wisdom |
and sapacliy, 10 conclude that whle requiring the !
performance of work they nevertheless intended |
10 deprive tie Legislature OF the power 10 employ |
the me AIS which thCy placed al us disposal IN such
manner as 10 execute thc dosignln The most erOnOm
zeal manner and IN the shortest possible period
Wmle pledge Of the revenue, IN The nature OF
collateral security for the payment OF moneys |
borrow cd upon the general credit OF the State |
Would clearly fall within the prohibition of Sec |
ton II, Article :, of the Constitution, It seems |
equally clear that an absolute assignment OF the |
surplus. At the risk OF the holder, made for the |
purpose of obtaining funds IN advance to perform |
the very work for which such surplus Is appro-
priated by the Constitution, must be within the |
discretion of the Legislature. ms proposition IS
established by the arguments Of able and eminent |
mrists whose opinions have been heretofore submit
ted TO your consideration.
The constitutional power Of the Legislature to au-
ihorlze an assignment OF the surplus, without re-
course to the State IN case OF deficiency wtha view
to realize the funds IN advance for the purpose OF
attaining al the OBJECT 10 Nhlch the surplus II
pedeed by the Constitution, never appeared 10 me
10 be doubtful. Butlt proper for me 10 observe
that in my annual message RETAINED from recon-
intending a resort 20 tins mode nom an apprehension
that holders OF capital might hesitate 70 invest
their funds IN a stock containing no obligation
or guarantee by the State for the suhconcy OF
the revenue, and for the payment OF principal and
interest IN case OF deficiency Your attention vas
called to the objections which seemed TO conflict
with the feasibility Of the plan. These objections
and my appfehenslons have been oo'ldted IN ihe
wen natured provisions OF the bill now pending be-
fore the Senate and by reliable assurances that cap
iats stand ready 10 purchase the proposed revenue
certificates or terms favorable 20 the state
The steady increase Of Canal tolls for years past,
and the constant erOWihO of the Western States, from
which a similar progress may be anticipated II future
seem 10 have inspired hrn confidence IN the sui-
fclency Ofthe revenues, even among those who are
aast luclned % be credulOus upon such sn1ecs. On