The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-17
Affairs nc the state Capitol.

coin, and 5000 in gold dust, belonging to passen-
ger. No arrest. ORPHEUS.
Affairs at the state Capitol.
OUR ALBANY CoRREsPoNDENcR
ALBANY, March l3, 1851.
IN Early Opening of the Canah is indispensable.
The merchants, traders, producers, consumers,
forw arders and all others interested in the navga.
tion of the New York State canals, have, for many
past years, been unaccountably annoyed, and many
of them greatly injured, in consequence of the de-
lay in resumirg spring navigation the canals.
Fer several recent years the opening has been
delayed until about the first of May, some thirty
days after the lakes and rivers become open for
commercial operations.
Efforts are now making by those who are mostly
interested to endeavor to induce the present Canal
Board TO open the canals an earlier period this
season. They allege, with much reason, too, that
the Ohio canals, affordDg water communication
bt tween lake Erie and the Ohio river, being open
through their entire length by the first OF April,
will draw of in that direction much trade, in con-
sequence OF being In navigabie con itioa month
earlier than the Erie canal The Ptnnsy wanna ca
nails, aleo, being now in use, and transporting at
reduced cost, will divert large amouat of produce,
which would seek a market by the Erie canal
route, il our canals should not be ope ned AT an
and grain merchants in The southern portion of
Ohio are now engaged in shipping, via the Ohio
nver and Penn'ylvania csuas, who desire to ship
by the Ere canal route, II their property did not
suffer detention al Buffalo Others, again, are
sending their produce 10 market from the upper
lakes through the Welland canal, onward to the
sesboard, by means of the Ogdensburg railroad.
Spring shipments on the canal should com nence
with the opening Of Lake Erie, and the ARRIVAL of
vessels from The upper lakes with -four ain poA H.
and other products of those western regions The
Losses, by dete n,ion Of from four six weeks on
the rome between Chicago aud New York, at
time Of year, too, when they are less able 10 sus-
tain losses and detention.
IL rs now proro sed 10 ask OF the Canal Board the
opening Of navigalion by the l5h of Aprl-two
weeks sooner Than formerly. 1t is said by those
who know, that, with the exception of some few
sections, the water could be let in al the present
time az the repairs necessary this spring are of an
unmporlant character. The re ison for work, ever
since the fret Of February, has neen remarkably
favorable tor repairs Besides beng OF Immense
importance 10 the people, the State would derive
Increased amount OF revenue by an early opening,
es much properly would be transported on the ca.
mails 10 market and heavy merch hlndlse sent back
in return, which would seek other channels OF
transportation.
The time has gone past, when the State could
mCnopolize the carry log trade across its domain.
Private enterprise has alreads produced most pow.
erful competitors, aud IL behovts rot only those
who have the direct supervision and managemea
of the canals, hut The people themselves In the Le
gislatuTe represented, 10 awaken from an inditirr
ence and morbid drowsiness, add render the
promptly available for use and occupation Let
the present Canal Board ascertain immediately
from the various resident engineers, their
al sections, the condition OF the works, what pro-
gress Is now being made, and the earliest precti.
cable day when they will probably be able 10 iin-
sh the fpfng repairs, IN order that the Board may
be able TO anf ounce TO the many thousands who
are eegsr 10 learn, when the canals will he Ia navi.
gable condition. Will you Messrs Canal Com
mlssioners take trip along the line Of the canals,
and leave the lobby Of the Legislature tor awhie,
10 facilitate The opening OF the canals by the 18th
ofApnl w.
ALBANY, March IL, 1861.
JViH hue be au Erra Session OF the Legis-
taiure?
The prosptct now is, that an effort Will be made
within a few days, 10 induce Governor Hunt to
consent TO make call for au extra session Of the
Legislature, sometime duunq the summer months.
The ostensble object will be to tuke into consider
alton the Report Of the Commissioners Of the Code,
which was made TO the Legisliture Of 1850 At an
early pert of the present session the subject was
brought up. but there was not a member IN either
house who manifested any desire TO devote any
time to it. The report was then referred to joint
committee OF the two Houses, and with them the
subject has quietly slept until this time The near
epproach to the close Of the session will prevent
any dehseraion by the Legislature, durcng the
II is high ime that this report WIS disposed Of
II the reforms recommended by the Commissioners
TO be perfec ected and legaiised, tne sooner the
public mind becomes settled down. in relation TO
them, the better On the coptriry, u the report is
TO he rejected by the indss;ry-and indefdtgable
industry Of the legal profession, III and out OF the
Legislature, then, also, decision ought TO be
had. IL Is hardly probable that, even should the
Joint select committee recommend the adoption of
the report. as IL came from the hands OF Messrs.
Loomis, Field, and Graham, that the lawyers in
the Legislature will permit its adoption, sa vl1sc,
as was the case with the Report on Pmctice and
Pleadinrs, in 1919.
Will the present Legislature be justhahle in
evasing the responsibilities incumbent upon them.
in sdiourniDg without disposing OF this report !
VIII the Governor issue his proclamation, (, m.
vening the Legislature Although two.tbrds of
the members, comprising about 40 equal namber
OF both political parties in the last Legislature, re-
quested Governor Fish to call extra srssion last
year, he refused To do so. prefetnng the report
should lie ovtra year, rather than take the resppn-
slbilliy. The present executive, being a b0lser
man and a more adrolt politician, would no doubt
make such call, could he obtain the written re-
quest OF on equal number Of mem bers of both 20.
lticel parties IN the Legislature
Previous 10 the adjournment Of Congress, the
mBloriy were more anxious for an extra session
than they now nre They had expected and
hCped that Congress would Rave declared the
ratio of representation IN that body under The late
census. II ad this been done, the Governor wouli,
doubtless, have convened the Lesislstnre fsr the
purpose Of districling the State the whigs unpu
/ retaining Mr. Schoonmaker n the Sensge. could
! have gtrrymandered the state 10 their own lking
Bnt aa Congress failed 20 perform that duty, the
Legislature OF 1851 canno, sitter the congressional
| districts, and the majority this yesr nav ~ ~ 4
minority in the next Legislature, and the duty oi
disric'inp the State delivered into cther 'nds, pro.
/ viatd IN Governor veto does no intrrposs.
4 But should the present Legisl5lurs feel willing