New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-04-03
Erie Canal enlargement, and of Genesses Valley

Mr. LLRoY called for the reading o. the amend
ments. They were read, and he contendsd that
there was but one amendment read at the time
the motion to recommit was made, bat now it ap-
pears that there are two or three amendments
made. He appealed TO the Clerk 20 say If there
Was more than one amendment proposed.
The CLERK said there was bat one amendment
read by him.
Mr.. D. ALLEN said that notwithstanding there
wss but one amendment read by the Clerk all
the Amendments were read by him Mr.. Al in
bis place.
Mr. LEROT insisted that the House did not IN.
deTstand, when it voted to recommit, that more
than the amendment read was to be made. He
moved to recommit the bill, with instructions, to
the Committee TO report the substitute offered by
him, in substance as follows: Authorizing loan
OF Sc 600 600, by installments Of 100000 year,
for four years. laying tax for the payment Of in
terest and Reimbursement of the principal. The
act to be submitted to the people, as provided BY
the Constitution.
Mr.. LEROY said it was apparent that the pas
sage Of this bill was q foregone conclusion, aud It
was forced on the minority at this time TO enter
their protest after judgment had been given. he
alluded 10 the opinions of the learned legal gentle
men which had been adduced, and said that the
opponents Of the bill had been refused the opinion
Of the Attorney General. He was not opposedto
any Internal Improvement If il was pursued on
Constitutional grounds, and proceeded at some
tionaliiy of the bill.
Mr.. JAYNE Of Yates Co. followed Mr. LEROY,
taking ground against the bill on account Of his
belief that it was unconstitu tonal and IN direct
opposition TO the acknowledged principles incul
Gated by that sacred obligation. he vas satisfied
that the bill was to be passed, and be only de-
sired 20 place himself in proper light before the
public in explanation Of the vote he should give
against the bill
Mr. WOOSTER opposed the BILL believing that
the sentiments Of bis constituents were IN oppo'
sition to the creation of any new debt and ne
look ed upon the bill as unconstitutional. He was
SONY be was forced 70 dispute the opinions Of one
Of the most celebrated jurists IN toe country,
John c. SPENCER, Etq.) yet be would attempt TO
exhibit the utter fsllacy Of the ground taken by
him in discussing the constitution atty OF the bill
before the House.
BE then proceeded at length in sustaining the
position assumed by him, and arguing the point as
to its uDconstitutionality Mr.. Wooster in con-
GLIDING lis remarks referred to the course pur-
sued by Mr.. Burroughs, in fsvoriHg the passage Of
this bill. He had always recognized him as the
Captain of the Democratic forces, bat in this in
stance he had deserted the acknowledged doc
trnes Of his party, and joined himself with the ad
vocates Of Wing measures and principles. he
deemed this course as somewhat remarkable, and
found it difficult 10 reconcile it with the former
conduct of this gentleman. He hoped to
hear from the gentlem from Orleans on this
question, and if he had not formed an opinion, that
be would be found voting with his Democratic
friends in oppositision TO this bill.
Mr. BURROUGHS, in replying TO the gentleman
from Herkimer, remarked that he had hoped this
bill would not be considereda party measure, aud
ia this belief he had prepared himself to address
the House Cd the merits OF the bill as regarded
Importance to the State at large. The gentleman
from Herkimer, however, had seen tt 10 make
cerlain illusions which he considered so extraor-
binary that he could not quietly allow them TO
pass unnoticed. Mr. Burroughs then proceeded
in 4 tone of deep sarcasm to reply to the charge
which had been preferred. He alluded to the
county of Herkimer as being always behind
the Intelligence Of the age, and sustained bis
position by citing the objections originally made
by her people to the construction of the Erie
Canal and the Railroads, that they would injure
her tavern keepers. That County had always as.
sumed to be much more than she was entitled to,
and low we find misrepresentation assuming to be
the mouth piece Of the democratic party-the
Democratic thunderbolt," which was TO annihilate
him Mr. b He begged that gentleman 70 under
stand that i wa s nSt hs Hs Efoas her
sentative, before the public as the expounder OF
certain doctrines She hadsbeen prolific IN the pro-
dpctiQn Of such weeds. and bad become very wen
known to the state at large. Mr. b. proceeded In
this bitter strain Of irony until the hour Tor recess
when the house took a recess until O'Clock.
afternoon Session
Mr.. BURROUGHS proceeded with his remarks
and discussed the merits of the bull The pas
sage Of the bill involved three subdivlded quss'
tiors. namely Is it constitutional Is 1t exPe'
dient2 Is it necessary He examined each one
separately.I First-ls il constitutional de con-
tended that it was, and went Oh toillustrate what
was the definition of debt, by stating that when
a man drafted note whenever he acknowledged
value received for which he sgreed TO pay Ger,
tain sum, that he considered it the contracting OF
debt; but il man goes on an expedition 70
California, to dig gold and agrees to refund the
man who furnishes him the means 20 go there II
the expedition proves profitable, then there is no
debt contracted. There is no certain oolssgon
Acknowledged. 1t is mere agreement. Inc
next question was. is it exPedient1 Mr.. d.
cited from statistics many facts TO show that
the enlargement would greatly advance puohc
convenience and the chance OF paying tne
stste debt would be greatly increased. In regard
to the necessity, he pointed to the present caPaci
~ Of the Canal to compete with Railroads and
meet the demands OF the Far West, as well as the
western portion Of the State. Dir. b. spoke about
two hours, and concluded by saying ne hoped this
me ssure would not be made party question:
and alluded to the position be occupied politi'
cBiy
Mr. WOOSTER replied briefly to the remarks Of
Mr. B.
Mr.. MAURICE obtained the floor, bat without
procs eding moved to adjourn Adjourned