The New York herald., 1851-12-22
NEWS BY THE M AILS
Our Albany correspondence.

Our Albany Correspondence.
ALBANY. Dec. -, 1851.
The Canai Contracts = PoitrciaaS Desperately Co~.
te~iing for the Mae hfsliionS- Outrageous W.
iaxy in High Places.
II ia nov nearly month since the Canal Board
unseslsd and opened three thousand propositions
bid for the canal work, under the famous Law OF
June last From that time, the clerks and engi-
nsers have been daily engaged in making exs
ninstioEs Of this immense nunber OF proposals
The board took the estimate OF the engineers
made before nroposals we're issue ed-and instructed
ths exami inipe clerks to throw aside all bids which
ranged ten per cent beo wand fifteen per cent above
those estimates Nearly one-third Of the whole
number we're consequently thrown out. About
week since, the Canal Be ard commenced their ex-
xminations for the purpose of making awards to
competitors. Proposals are made by George Law
& Co for constructing work to the amount of nine
millions aud over, which coms within the range
adopted by the board and il is said they are as IA
yorsble to the interest of the state as any other
bids This firm is the "OceaI Steam Navigation
Company" Of New York, comprising the well
known names Of George Law, PROSPER NJ; wet
the latter gentleman, it will be recollected, OBJ
tanned large portion of the million canal reve-
nue. certificates, for which he paid liberal pre-
MUM In their bids fol canal contrasts, these gem
tlemen are associated with Horatio Seymour, Of
Utica-one Of the weathiest and most responsible
men in the State, and a relative Of Hszekiah Z.
Seymour, the present state EngiAcer-and q mem
ber Of the Canal Board Hezekiah is an undis-
guised silver gray, and holds the balance power
in the board. The Weed and Seward section
Morgan, Fuller, Cook, and Hunt-are striving ar
IDENTIFY and zealousy to carry out the provisions OF
the Law il was intended during tae pro-
tracted discussion OF ~ 1T tAe regular and
the special session-thst is, to award the
contracts to certain partzas OF that section OF the
"a tnf 2 10 Ypfar of
or the responsibility of those to whom are awarded
contracts. Had 8 compromise been effected,
whereby an equal NUMBER Of whigs and democrats
should Anticipate in these jobs, then the whole
matter could have been arranged in twsnty-four
hours; but as the tour Seward wings adhered per-
tinaciously TO their political friends the democrats
would net yield, and Engineer Seymour held the
scales in his hand, demanding that the Law otter
shouId be received and confirmed. Follstt and
Mathsr, hunkers, were ready TO coalesce with Sey-
mour, but Church and Chstfeld, burners, would
touch nothing in which Cfcsweu is interested.
Seymour, in case he carries his point, will be ap-
pointed superintendent Of the work, which would
yield him twice the salary the office does which
he failed to be re elected TO at the late election.
uads IN s'1s, By Z Law
surer Hunt proposed a resolution, q day or
two since, declaring thst no persons should
have a job whose ,propos itions exceeded four
ed. Subsequently, Lieutenant Gov. Church
offered another resolution, declaring contracts to
the lowest responsible bidders. This was also re-
ected If the Canal Board had pursued this course,
there ia doubt bat millions would have been
saved the State during The prosecution of this great
work. This is the method which would have given
satisfaction to the whole people; and board OF
honest men, whose desire is to act i'm partially and
uprghtly, would not have hestated a moment in
ursuing such course.
The difficulties which thus exist in the whig ma
orty OF the board have reached the remote parts of
the State The ex :itsment is extremely intezse.
Great ard email polti;isDs, from every part Of she
State, ars in Albany, pressing tight the party
screws. The time ID yt6vms very neas when
the present Canal Board Will expire only j6me
ten working days remair-srd if matters are
net arranged before the first Of January, all the
labor, all the villany, all the treschery pra ,tised
to procure the passage of the mine million" BILL
VIII be lost to the whics forever lis quite an ex.
citing game, as IL now stands-more interesting
than any game Of chess and requires an amount Of
skill which think the players DO not possess, to
induce Mr.. Seymour 70 mako q false move He
has been a thorn Ia The side Of the woolley wings
ever since this Law first concoc,ed, and the
large majority by which be was beaten at the last
election, furnishes ample evidence that his name
was ''scra,ehed' petty extensively lie holds the
whcle party now IN 'ribbens, and IL he ID frustrat
ed in the manner which he v shes 10 distribute the
canal contracts, he will Join locofoco memb bers OF the
Canal Board in postPc ling the whole matter until
the new board GENES into power. Hundreds Of
politicians from all parts Of the state here, aud
pressing the Canal Board for their friends The
sessions Of the board are daily, and In ss:ret.