The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-29
Charges against Canal Omcer-Ruptarc In
the Canal Boar d-A family Fcud Of n DAM
ger0ns Charncter.

Charges against Canal Onicer-Ruptarc In
the Canal Boar d-A family Fcud Of n Dam
gerous Char ter.
From Developments recently made, there is rea-
son to believe that the most deadly feud exists
among the democratic members Of the Canal Board
at Albany. Although the meetings OF that body
arc in private, generally, and the public know very
little or anything in relation to it's transactions, yet
the proceedings occasionally go boiserous, and
mharmonous, that one party or the other exposes
them to public view. We find an exposure of this
nature in the Albany Atlas, of Friday, the 9th Of
August, furnished, no doubt, by George W Newell,
the auditor of the Canal Department. In lengthy
and colored statistical communication to the Board,
he refers to the act Of the Legislature of lS46, in
which it declared that fthe Auditor is not satisfied
with any amount rendered by either of the Super
intendents of Repairs, he (he Auditory shall notify
the Canal Board and Commissioners of the Canal
Fund of that fact Although this law has been in
effect four years, still this is the first instance in
which the auditor has complained of the unsatisac-
tory nature Of suchsaccounts. In this instance, his
complaints exclusively directed against Smith A.
Waterman, Superintendent Of the first section of the
Erie canal, embracing distance Of nineteen miles
from Albany, all of which is Of the enlarged size.
The increase Of expenditure for six months, from
first Of February to the first of August, the present
year. the Auditor says is $50 per cent over the cor
responding months in 1851, in which year there
expended for repairs $40 1885, and in the present
year the of $50 003, being an increase Of $780,,
907 The other Superintendent specially complained
of, is David Barrett, having in charge section No.
3, being the northern section of the Champlain
canal, whose expenditures, it is alleged by the Audi
tor exceed those of last year, up to the first of Au-
gust, 154 per cent. Upon these general charges and
complaints, Mr.. Attorney General Chatfed offered
resolution forthwith dischargng the said Waterman
and Barrett from the service Of the State This
was not adopted; but one offered by Mr.. Comptrol-
Ter Wright requiring the said Superintendent per-
sonaly to appear before the Canal Board the 7th
day. of September, was adopted.
The report of the proceedings of said Board fur
ther divulges the fact, that Mr. Attorney General
Chatfeld offered resolutions, the 3rd of August,
highly censuring the pursued by Commission
Mathor, in making contracts with individuals for
excavatng the Albany basin, an area of fifty or
sixty acres, at probable expenditure Of $4,000 or
100000, without consulting the Canal Board or the
Legislature The resolution also directs the State
Engineer to make an accurate survey, and exhibit
ted to the Canal Board for its action.
Such are specimen Of the tumults and family
jars which prevail in the democratic Canal Board.
We apprehend that other objects are sought after
than an inquiry INTO Inc conduct OF these canal
officials. There is going on in the ranks Of the
''united democracy" bitter strife for n can adate
for Governor. In the Canal Board are Sanford +
Church, l.. S. Chatfeld F. S. Randall, radical free
soil Van Buren, barnburners, and John C. Wright,
"soft SHE'LL said to be Of the softest kind, who
are moving heaven and earth, and intend re-
moving every bunker on the canal, in order to
accomplish the nomination of Seymour, at Sy-
racuse, on Wednesday. On the other hand,
there are McAlpine, Follett, and Mather-out
and out canal hunkers. Follett is working
for denomination for Canal Commissioner and
Mather- since the invitation given him by Cornelius
Bogardus to read paper at Tammany Hall-has
set himself up as candidate for Governor in oppo-
stion to Seymour. The two Superintendent above
alluded to are opposed to Seymour's nomination,
and presumed to be in favor of Mather. This fully
accounts for the milk in the cocoanut Besides
these candidates, put up according to the line of
safe precedent, we have various others set apart
among the democracy outside-such as G. w. Gin
ton. of Buffalo, Col. Curtis, of the Zinc Mining
Company, in New Jersey--to say nothing Of floating
candidates, without NUMBER character, or preten-
sions Of any kind, to recommend them to the con-
vention.
Now, in view Of this state Of things among the
leaders Of the harmonious democracy at the CAPT
tai, what does it indicate! Does it look like obtain
ing victory on the State ticketl Is there not
something ominous in the fact that two bunker
Superntendents should be attacked by the Auditor,
and bunker Commissioner by the Attorney Gene
raj the very eve of selecting candidates for State
oficersl The time is now so near at hand for the
State convention, that there can scarcely exist a
doubt but this matter will be discussed there-that
the bsrnburners in the Canal Board will be repre-
manded and highly censured for opening the wound
again before the election. The Office seekers would
have preferred that such charges should have been
deferred until after the election They now see
that as the breach has been opened at tho Canal
Board the feeling must eventually extend through
out the State, and the result may be that the wings
will elect their Governor, Lieutenant Governor
thereby securing the Senate, the House Of Assem-
bly,, and Canal Com missioner, and likely carry the
electoral vote Of the State for General Scott The
only remedy is to nominate for candidate as CO.
vernon some one not connected with any OF the old
cques Of office holders Office seekers; but to take
some sound, able, honest man, such as General
Ward, Of Westchester, whose character as demo-
cratic statesman and man Of honor and integrity
is without spot or blemish.
THE RECENT PRIMARY ELECTIONS. demo-
cratic primary elections that have been just held,
exhibited an unusual amount of rum, rowdyism, and