New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-01
Present Position OF the Canal Quesisn-Ie'-
fer from Hon. III. j. Raymond.
NEwloRS, Ihursdsy, Way 30 =

&. 49,, a., long neslected your welcome letter; you
mus, fud one for in the fact that have Oeen susuy
careless and very busy Upon the political points 70
which YOU refer suppose you have not been kept oy
nv DELAY In suspense 10 my opinions, Tor OF All inca
In the world the editor Of daily paper has the poorest
chance Of coucealing suppressing MS sentiments
upon any subject go. p.,.s
Won need not therefore now be told hst as 10 Eres''
dental candidate | agree with YOU entirely ana me
sentiment of the Wings Of this State has been eXphcuy
procsirned 10 the same effect No sane man can aouot-
ss,ever ne may think of the policy of the Adninttra
ton or the Justice OF the verdict upon t-thst S Mr
Fillmore forced upon Us by southern pel2cra.s $3.50
as our candidate, we shall De disgfaeelulS u.-CN'o
while with Gen Scott shall have good chance OF
.uccess-nless he s 10 be hsrFg by letters or resO-
utions before the begins and OF ths trust there
is now no fear. -, re,..r
5id NOT expect did not fort the decision o the
Court of Appeals against the Canal Law NY isitn IN
the constirutionaty OF that law was so hrn ana my
hope that the Court OF Appeals would raise itseu ABOVE
All psrsan considerations was so strong, tnat re-
0srded that question a seulod But the radical ma
FORTY ON that Bench have disappointed all such eXPecta'
tons Il might he unjust 10 suspect them OF sNlus
been influenced in their decision by any but legluste
and ur,oer motives But one thing is clear they de
cded the case upon the principles, and In atFct ae-
cordance with the views OF their section OF the Demo
cratic party and against the convictions Of the Leading
bunker and Wing lawyers, boch on and OF the Beach
This 10 tcot-whch may De eXPaiaed-oat II eSHnot
be denied.
question open The compile ion of the State Canals is
yet 10 be provided for. Too much interest Ia the &C
cOmpshmcnt of that work. has been crested by tue
discussions and struggles OF the past year, 20 ailowu
pow 70 be abandoned. cannot be IN rhere stdHdS
And the enemies of the Canal policy this fact Just a.
clearly its friends Thefrst and mOstmportsnt duty
of the next Legislature will be- 10 provide Ia some new
way for the speedy completion OF the State Canals
And there a clear divsOn already in The two parties,
to the principles upon which such provision shall be
made 10 rest
The Democratic party has declared itself In favor OF
flqp -
for the completion of the Canals. You remember that
Mr. L. Roy introduced such bill rs substitute tor
ours in ISL and that it received the eatre vote OF MS
party The same proposition was made by Mr.. Elder.
kin at the same session and ny Senator McMurray aud
others at the last session OF the Legislature and ia
every case il received their party vote The Wings
have steadily opposed the imposition OF such tax be-
cause il would be unjust toward those sections Of the
State remote from the Canals oppressive 10 the state
at large and utterly needless The Constitution pro-
vides fund sufficient tor the purpose it sppropristes
the strpus rfrennss Of the Canals their completion
and while those revenues are abundant Tor the attain
ment Of their object would be the hight OF Injustice
to impose direct TAR upon the people OF the state inc
only thing necessary is TO provide some way OF Hstag
those revcnues-some feasible plan for doing the work
promptly, and paying for II out of that specific fund
Now our bill did just that thing. ls!whole scope
TLa did and al did-was provide for anticipating
me surplus rcrcaues for digging the Canals and paying
for them those revenues should accrue. EVERYBODY
conceded the intrinsic excellence OF the plan Men OF
all parties confessed that both equitable asd feast
ble-ihat It would enable the Canals to complete them
selves without taxing the people Of the State single
doar-thGt il would release the remote northern and
southern sections OF the State from burdens they ought
not to bear and that il would finish the work and pay
for within the tine assigned. The only objection 10
that plan is one that does not touch lis substantial mer
it's but only It's praccabiy. 1t has been declared UNI
constitutional The Court of Appeals has decided that
the Constitution stands che surplus rereRHes can
not b. anticipated II this objection moved tho
plan would stand uncallenged and the work would go
on without resistance complaint from any quarter
A tharafora that ramaius he done il
such an amendment of the Constitution will cover
and correct this specific defect and 90 no further
sHeh change as nil dtoD these Tecep"es 70 De GRt'cdea
for The speedy attainment Of me object hey are e.
pressly apart No change Is needed, or
should be made in the general spirit scope OF the
COnstution-no alteration in any of its material
provisions and sl ess any abandonment or modlhca-
ton of its essential principles. No change Is needed,
should be allowed, in that provision against mourning
debt against the State which in many respects an n
portHnt and useful restriction upon the Legislature,
though greater latitude might, perhaps, have been
wisely lett TO he people hesssres upon this subj set But
all these restrictions and all the essential principles OF
the Constitution, ought to be carefully preserved What
the State needs is simply an addition TO that clause OF
he Constitution which directs the surplus revenues 70
be applied to the completion Of the Canals providing
that hey MAJ so be qHtic2Gd-that their crcRh may
be used for the speedy attainment Of the same
result What IA wanted is therefore, not so much an
amendment OF the Constitution-sDy essential change
in its provisohsas preservation Of It's real intent and
object from the construction put upon by the Court OF
Appeals.
seems me that there can be no doubt about the
readiness of the people OF the State to authorize
slight and so useful a change. 1t will effect interest
and section Of the State inurously, but will the
contrary, by benetting the state nj large, advance
them all II will put the Railroads beyond all fear Of
reimpostion Of tolls, 10y making such step unneces
sary, snd will ty making the Canals dependent on
themselves alone place them beyond the reach Of hos
tily and the need Of favor from any other source.
There Is onv chance of danger from this policy.
II the Banburners should assume 10 be its friends,
should have serious misgiyings about its fate Their
pledge last fall b. carry out the law-treachegousy
given and shamefully bruken-misled many sincere
friends of the Canals and induced them to couhde is
execution 10 their hostile hands The result ought 10
be sufficient warning against similar mistake here
after.
Nothing can be done in regard to this question, o.
course until next winter An extra session could not
hasten the contamination In the least and would be ~
tended with heavy expense and serious Inconvenience
10 the public But if be taken 10 put the State
Administration into proper hands this fall aud to elect
Legislature OF the right stamp the nals may yet be
completed NJ no distant day
have written good deal more than intended but
your interest in the Canals will incline you u look
leniently whatever trespasses mine may have led
to commit against your patience. am, IS ever, very
truly yours, HENRY J. RAYMOND.
Hon JosEPH BENEDICT