The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-07

this ncrease VIII be oocasioned chiefly from allowances by
the Legislature and the Canal Board upon application
Of the contractor for extra allowance on that kind Of
work hazdpan and qoicksand The amount ossarily
to be paid Of that three millions BY the Canal Conms
under the t. win epend very much mon
the honesty capacity and integrity fthe Canal Commits
sionerh and engineers.
II il said by majority Of the Select Committee in
the conclusion Of their report
That facts have been ascertaned showing anv frauds
in the letting Of the contracts awarded the execution
If the canal law but the contrary the uniform tenor
Of all the testimony taken ctuay repels all suspicion
Of the kind.
Fraud and collision are usually proved by circum-
stantial evidence or by the comparisons Of circum
stances and combinations of things and facts which
in their connecting links lead the mind to an newt.
able conclusion. In this, there arc two distinct
charges; one, in the conduct of the State Officers;
the other, in the combinations and confedsracos Of
the bidders. For instance, if there should be
bnation to prevent bidding at legal sale, so to
have property struck Oft at less than its value, the
sale would be set aside as fraudulent, although the
officer selling might be innocent; but if the officer
should confederate with the bidders to nave the
property sold for less than responsible parties would
give, there would be an aggravated fraud, and the
officer would, for his participation forfeit his Office,
and be liable TO damages and punishment AS to
the combination among the bidders, read from the
report Of the majority of the Select Committee
Accordingly when, after due notice had been given for
the receipts of proposals for the entire work on the Erie
Genesee Valley. Black River and 0swcgo Canals the
Canal Beard the Goth OF November last proceeded 10
open and examine the same scene was presented I'M
From all parts Of the state-from other Staesfrom all
walks of efrom every profession pursuit, and trade
from every division and subdivision of political sects
there swarmed upon the caral legion of applicants
all anxious and nporunate for participation in the
ticpated profits Of some share in this mprovementthe
last, for years at least be obtained upon the
public works of this State The expectations of all ran
high. Some had claims real imaginary for political
services Others relied npon personal friendship for
cess While others destitute of such recommendations,
resorcd TO other and less credible to ia
vorabe consideration Associations combinations, and
partnerships were formed almost without numbers and
embracing components OF ever conceivable complexion
for the purpose Of securing the name of some of them
share in the contracts.
AS graphic as this description is, it doubtless
comes short Of the reality. The political cauldron
boiled. Hecate's invocation went FORTH
Black spirits and white,
Red spirits and gray;
Mingle mingl G. mingle,
You that mingle may.
Before referring to the clear and convincing evil
dence of fraud upon your table, will state some
general well known facts, in order that may make
myself understood, as shall proceed with the evil
dence. When the canal law was passed, the canal
board was politically divided, five wings and four
democrats the letting board, three wings and two
democrats the State Engineer, whig being men,
Der Of both boards, well as the Canal Commits
sioner, and having under his charge and manage
ment the estimates In the Canal Board the Comp
troller, Treasurer, and Canal Commissioner Cook,
acted unitedly and for common end, and the wing
engineer and surveyor was found united by some
in hostility to the three wings. The Secretary of
State having early satisfied HIMSELF that the work
could not be awarded unless about three millions of
the work was first awarded to certain democratic
parties he was not supposed to sympathize with
Mr.. Cook and his whig associates. The Lieutenant
Governor and Attorney General acted with both
files They stood in the centre between these divi-
sions. For convenience shall call one wing the
right bower, the other the left bower of this gam
bling transaction. am justified in going to Hoyle
for illustrations as the testimony of these mmacu
late State officers forced me there to find an
explanation of "points, and as their trans
actions assimilate the gamblers acts more than
the honest discharge of public duties. 1t
is, ! believe, in the game of ''eucre'' that the
terms right and ''left bower are used, and each
bower is then represented by knave in technical
sense. In this case, there real representative,
distinguished colonel of Geneseo corresponding to
the three straight wings and sometimes aiding them
by his counsel and advice, and no less distinguish
ed parsonage than George Law standing for the
right bower led by a non-sympathizing wing Thus
were the two great political parties represented be-
tween whom the nine millions were to be equally
divided 1t is probably thought of very little con-
sequence what the 25O0OO democratic voters Of the
satisfied with them. The wing party seems dis
posed to acknowledge Mr. Abel's claim to be the
party itself He has revealed nothing. He has set
the authority Of this house at defiance. Like the
scape goat in the Jewish ceremonial, which was
brought to the door of the Tabernacle, when the
high priest laidhs hands upon him, confessing the
sins Of the people and putting them on the head Of
the goat, he is sent into the wilderness, bearing
away the iniquities of the people.
His mission symbolical; and can imagine
the high priests Of the lobby, after getting through
with these lettings sending him forth as an emblem
of their dongs, and of the necessity of publication
The ceremony is described in Leyiticus, chap. xvi
verses q and %.
81 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the live
goat and confess him all the inquitic of the chill
dren of Israel and all their transgressons in all their sins
putting them upon the head of the goat and shall send
him away by the hands Of fit into the wilderness:
D. And the goat shall upon him all their inquities
into land not inhabited and he shall let the goat in
the wilderness.
1t certainly is noticeable fact, that his attend
ance and that of another favorte of the letting
board could not be procured before the investigating
committee. In regard to Mr. Laws connections
with the State Engineer, the following notice from
the New York Times will give the public n key to
the Willingness Of the latter to unite with the demo-
cratic members of the board, provided the former
could have about three millions of canal work at fair
prices:-
The Ohio and Mississippi Railroad Company have put
forth able report from Prof Mitchell Of Cincinnati
who made the recent contract with H. A. Seymour and
George Law. Of New York to build the whole road The
work from Cincinnati to st. Lous-3i5 mes-is to cost
complete in equipments nine millions OF dollars the con-
tract to he filled in five years Seymour Co. are to
ccve S3500060 in cash. derived from Stock 81
cent nrss G Ne ana IN
for other objects and contingencies-makng the debt
S3,750000. and the stock $625o000. The project is
eeem large for single firm Of contractors at least of
their number is known for his success 10 carrying through
whatever he puts his hands and purse and enterprise
and thus far is understood to have given him the
means for further large undertaking. Great country
this and greater age when two modern Aliases like Geo
Law and David A. Neal are found ready to take twenty
six millions Of dollars In railways their shoulders
Equally willing, it would seem, was this Mr.. Law
to shoulder three millions Of these canal lettings for
he is truly an Atlas"-a magnificent gentleman of
large calculations and large hopes. Various 'slates
were formed and broken by different combinations
Of the centre, the eccentric movements Of the Secre
tary Of State, with different wings Of the division
or rather the right and left bowerpreserving each
its three State officers in the formation Of oil the
estates" until the letting board, being part ofthe
Canal Board passed the resolution Of 22d December;
and for the motives which induced Cook, Follett,
and Maher to vote fer that resolution, the only true
and honest basis upon which these lettings could be
made, must refer you to their acknowledging
ing however, that the resolution did restrict them
to the lowest competent and responsible bidder, it
was not binding on them, for the Canal law would
justify them in an unlimited discretion, although the
letting board could only be put in motion or en-
Dowprad IN act ~ the action of tha canal Roa ri