The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-14

the HOUSE, when II was 6nA,ay passed and sent 10
the Senssc It's fate was not certain in that body.
Several whig Senators had previously expressed
their opinions adverse to The bill. Mr.. Morgan had
ao,bts OF its cons,itutfcUality, and moved rcfe
renee to the judiciary Committee, in order that his
mind might bo enlightened. Mr.. Beekman was
opposed to il, on account of Stewards mark being
upon it. Mr.. Robinson originally expressed HIM
sclf strongly opposed to the bill ; aud Mr. james
NJ. Cook, then Chairman Of the Bank Committee,
entertained strong doubts of the correctness Of the
provisisA wiach allowed the revenue eri6cates to
be used for banking purposes. The democratic Sc
majors very took o united nnd determined
stanl against the bill. This made it party mea-
sure, most emphatically. Even Brsadreth, the most
| incsrrigihle bunker, and ono of the hardest of
the Shells, yielded and went with his party.
| The wings having majority Of two, also formed
strict party phalanx, and unitcdly resisted every
proposition for amendment offered by the other
| side. By this time Daniel Wobster's opinion ar
rived agreeing with Spencer and it was freely as
serted the time that it mainly this account
that Babcock and Beekman changed their views.
The democrats being driven TO the wall, and having
exhausted all arguments-all efforts in the Senate
to defeatfhe bill-hed caucus, when they resolved
to resign their seats rather than witness deliberate
murder oftbc constitution. The next morning nearly
every democratic Senator was al sent. Mr.. Mann
ard inquired whether it the intention of the
majority to press the question upon the bill The
ply that it the object. He then sent to the
Chair the resignation Of himself and eleven other
Senators, which, being read he calmly and with the
greatest GOODNESS anddignity, retired from the Sc
nate chamber. The soepse was one Of the most
solemn, interesting and imposing ever witnessed in
that or any other Legislative hall. This important
step saved at chat tim, thS constitution from vio-
lation; butt caused an immediate adjournment Of
both houses.
| Before these proceedings were recorded upon the
journals of the two branches, the friends of the
Canal bill demanded that Governor Hunt should
forthwith call extra session, and issue proca-
nation to fill the vacancies of the resigned Senators
Ho promptly complied.
1t now became evident that the law would pass
as soon as the Legislature. convened. No time was
TO be lost in parceliIe, cut the ten or twenty mil
lions. special secret meeting was held at Albany.
The master spirits, being the chief and confidential
associates of the weelly wing order, and few of
Burroughs hard shell democrats, adopted a slate,
upon which written, in bold characters, the
name Of firm which was to have the entire control
of the canal compilations Allen, of Buffalo Abel,
| Of Genesee Dickinson, Of Steubcn Dimmck, of
'Broome, assigned the duty Of selecting the
sub contractors for certain rportions Of the work.
Heavy bonuses, in the shape of premiums were to
be secured for certain privileges and cmoluments.
The certificates to be issued by the Comp
troler were also parcced out among particular
| favortes, to be at once returned to the banking
department, upon which to issue paper purporting
to represent money.
The extra session was held, the dill enacted and
the persons directed therein proceeded with oil pos
siblc despatch to carry out its provisions. The
Comptroller advertised for loan of million the
Canal Board, engineer, and assistants examined the
line Of the unfinished canals preparatory to solicit
ing bids from canal contractors. In the meantime,
the annual State election took place, and the people
changed the political complexion of the Canal Board,
the members Of which would assume duty on the
first of the then coming January This was
shocking and an unexpected event. The persons
and the party who had recklessly overrode the con-
stitution, in order to accomplish such magnificent
scheme, had been frustrated. All the fruit which
they had expected to pluck, was nipped by chill
ing FROST They stood as motionless as statues.
Pillars of marble were not stationary. The
| pill which had been nicely gded became tar
exhibited the appearance Of disordered hypochon-
driacs. The commissioners finally advertised for
bidders on the whole work. The time ran out
! the propositions opened in form, as the
Jaw required. The meetings Of the Board were
IN secret. The Abeli demanded that
contracts should be allotted according to a pro-
grainme arranged by Weed. The Beard stood, four
wco1iy wings, silver gray, (Seymcur,) and four
n =
to Weeds slate, and consequently it was broken.
Seymour next demanded that his " next fricnd,'
George Law, should have contracts to the amount
Of three millions, or about e-third Of the whole.
This was denied. Then it wss concluded to make
political division, as it fonnd that unless Sey
mour was gratfad, neither tle woolly whigs CT
democrats could make distribution to their friends;
and here became developed most remarkable fact.
The very men who denounced the law from its first
inception, and threw every possible obstacle in the
way of its passage, now became as jealous for con-
tracts the friends Of the bill. Although they as
serted repeatedly that the law could never be
ried into efcct-although they declared it unconst
tutional. and must eventually be so decided by the
highest tribunal in the State-although they caused
an adjournment Of the Legislature rather than the
Canal biz should pass-although their chief law Of
fcer openly asserted his determination TO test the
question-yct notwithstanding all this, these ident-
cal mon entered as voraciousy into the contest for
contracts for themselves and political friends, any
of the woolleys or hunkers. The first slate which
was submitted, was by Mr.. Chatfcld, who, by agree
ment with Engineer Seymour, wanted to give Geo.
Law three million contract. The circumstance
that General Chamberlain offered to "throw n
thousand dollar bill in his pocket" already demon
stratcd the fact that the Attorney General himself
was making the most he could for his friends, not.
withstanding he believed the law, and all the pro-
cccdings under it, filed with yillany and abo-
mination. The whole transactions show that the
leaders Of each section of the two parties endeavored
with all their might to obtain the lions share Of the
nine millions. A number Of meetings were held