The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-10
Nine Millions More Dcbt-Thc Constitution
m Danger-RailrOads vs.. Canals-Impor-
tant Liquidation in Albany.

ACCORDING 10 all appearances, u strong cHort VAL
be made TO force the bill creating debt Of nine
millions of dollars, for completing the enlarge
nert of the canals of this State through the Senate
the measure having already passed the Assembly
1t is to be hoped there friends enough OF the
constitution in this body, to defeat the infamous
scheme, and to rebuke this glaring and daring at
tempt to set ut naught the organic law Of the
state.
Nothing that has transpred since the commence
ment of the session proves more conclusively the
ignorance, mbecility, and want of practical COM
mon sense and sagacity in the present Legislature,
than this Canal bill. 1t proposes, in violation
of the constitution TO create debt Of nine millions
of dollars, for the completion Of the canals, at
time when experience has shown that, for the pur-
poses Of freight and travel, railroads infinitely
superior. We have now in operation line Of
railroads from Albany to Buffalo direct, and, in
short time, the Hudson River Railroad will
be finished This will give complete and
continuous line to Buffalo. The New York and
Erie Railroad, through another part Of the
state, will be soon completed, and then We shall
have another continuous line from the city OF
New York to another point on Lake Erie, Dun
| kirk Here, then, we are to have, IN very short
| time two direct railroad lines from New York to
| Lake Eric. Now, if these two lines had a double
| track throughout their whole extent, they would
be capable of carrying all the freight and passen-
gers that might offer, at cheaper and more expe-
ditious rate than could be done on any canal. In
consequence Of the superiority of railroads for the
purposes of trade and commerce, canals getting
out Of fashion everywhere. Old England and New
England are both covered by railroads, which add
greatly to the wealth of each. The same result
4
Boston be without the numerous railroads which
centre in it She would be isolated, comparatively
speaking, and her foreign commerce would not be
half as extensive as it is Look at the present po
sition Of Dunkirk, on Lake Erie, the terminus of
the Erie Railroad. 1t is small, obscure villages
but before ten years it will have population of fifty
or seventy fve-thousand people. The railroad will
make it, railroads have made other places. again,
system of railroads in this state, similar to that in
New England, would attract great proportion of
the trade and traffic which now finds its way down
the Mississippi, and ofeourse add proportionsbly to
the prosperity of not only the city Of New y ork but
the whole state. As it is, we have drawn a good
deal Of that trade through our State; but great
deal more might be done by judicious legislation.
In fact, if we had men in the Legislature who knew
what they were about who understood the interests
Of this state, and the Importance Of the increasing
trade Of The West and Northwest, the State of New
ork could be made the great highway of the
foreign and domestic commerce of half the Union,
BY the establishment of system Of railroads under
the direction Of the state.
Instead, therefore, of cxpendng nine millions Of
dollars in charging the canal; OF this State il would
he better to take that sum. add to it, and purchase
the lines ofrailroad We have mentioned make double
canal take of ITSELF be disposed Of But the
Legislature in Albany have not the sagacity to per-
ccve this. Their ideas DO not range above intro
iucng bill for the purpose OF levyng black mail
on the gamblers Of New York. Only look at and
examine their conduct in Albany.
When the infamous canal bill was received in the
Senate on Saturday, after having been run through
the House, By the report of the proceedings
that Mr. Mann desired that the bill might be re-
ferred 70 three standing committees, each to re-
lorttAe one, the Judiciary, upon its constitution
atty another, the Bank, upon its banking and
financial features; and the third, the Canal Com
mittce.
This motion was opposed, on the GROUND that
the proposition was a species Of dissection which
was unusual in the reference of bills. A vote
taken by ayes and noes, and the motion carried
IT. r.
gan voting with Mr. Mann and his loco friends.
The result n that vote produced the most profound
consternat Ion; for the wings discovered they had
been caught BY the sagaeity Of Mr.. Mann, as, BY
such reference, tho bill night probably be lost aud
their prospects Of spending ten millions among their
rartilans during the comins year would be cfectually
blasted. Mr.. Babcock il appears, instantly sprang
to Ill feet and from a report of his remarks
l. "a 4
ton to the two whg Senators who had assisted in
producing the result of the vote just taken. lie
pronounced tie reference unprecedented, ami cal
culatcd 70 defeat that important measure. Ills sar
cann vas undoubtedly intended to apply to Mr.
Morgan; and Il had the desired effect; for the
moment Mr. Babcock concluded Mr. Morgan went
upon the stool OF repentance, rose, and spologizcd
for the vote he had just given, aud WIS wiling to
tctmc, his steps, the only object he had IN vot
ing On the side ., Mr. Mann was to obtain an
opinion to the constitutionalty of the bill fIc
however, took the back track, manifested his sin
ecre repentance, and moved reconsideration Of the
yots. which carried The bill was then re-
fcncd t. the Committee on Canals. where the yio-
la,or- II the constitution wanted Il, with 4 simple
request that tie Judiciary Committee give an
opinion ulon Is constitutional features. which
amounts t. nothing 1T all-bccausc, frst, Nc
Babcock viii not make any report; and Mr.
Nchoonmakcr i hc says anything at all vii merely
cory the statement made some time since aud be-
fore tie bill saw the light Of legislation; aud Mr.
Nann will present AZ opinion against it, constitu-
icnality -, j; viii b perceived, he opinions will
. essentially conflict being party opinions, that
they viii not have To, least bearing upon the auc.-
ton u i, passage.
Although Mc'srs. Bcckman and Morgan, Ia the
hTst instance voted with the loco.. 10 making
reference Il their choice there i no doubt Of the
-, 4 Tie question they viii ultimately take.
They will pursue course similar to tia, adopted by
Babcock. when the political Canal Superintendent
bill hrst from the House he arose anil verv