The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-16
MORNING EDITfON----TUESDAY, MARCH 49, 1852.

chanic and experienced contractor by the politician
lard saloon keepcrto hotel keepers Of whom (we
cannot Fay why, however) became associated with po
htcal man)-to hardware merchants, taiors dairy men
and farmers One contract given to minoronc to
member Of the late Senate who sent in his resignation
before signing tho contract il that act cancelled the
Touse of Assembly Interested also In the contracts of
which doubtless they the active and effecual pro-
curers The delivery OF the contract by tho letting
board wac an extraordinary assumption OF power as they
only directed hy the Canal Board TO execute them
and that after certain method The awarding of
tracts in the total disregard of the instruction Of the
Canal Ponrd is wholly uniustfabc and is unparalleled
In the history Of this state. which furnish such
Instance where one rank OF officers have mistaken their
n frrs and refused obedience allegiance to the
date rights Of another placed by the law above them
with directory and supervisory powers Towards the
conclusion. MIR. Conger remarks thus On reviewing
tho several infractons of law which characterize
the contracts. II will he perceived that, setting
taincd wonid unqucstionaby destroy tho contracts,
many Of nc contracts void hy of the acts them
tice that yoidable because Of acts Of the let
ting board in tho first point and not proper sub
ecs of curative function because of their gross mpro
prcty that MI the remaining contracts voidabc for
two causcsFirs because they imperfect contracts
not properly approved and sanctioned TO their award
ing execution, delivery II will further be manifest
that of this latter voabc because of the
original Irregular procedure Of the superior oard and
finally all the contracts II not otherwise
voidabo from like irrcgulary and oversight the
part of the board" lilo would urge upon the Lc-
gsaturc that if no serious impcdmcnts be found in the
way. the honor Of the state demands that most
mary rebuke be administered to those who have sought
tolay their lnnds the treasury of the State
to those who have regarded the prosecution of public
work of great interest to the commercial and producing
classcs OF citizens, the occasion for the
trce Of their cupidty-to those who. coming
frcm the legal. mercantile and other pursuits.
have thrust aside those who have hitherto made
such work their proper business (our honest in
dusrouS and practical arisans) forced themselves
upon those to carry of divide the fair profits of their
labor. II opportunity offered of cxtricatng
the public work from ruin well as disgrace is the
favorable moment There is danger Of such action be-
coming the theme Of party strife for of all those who
might be rejected there is sad to be equal number of
both parties and Of those who hold the richer contracts
there only u few hundred in number
Mr. CUSHING, of the ASST mby. docs not agree with his
democratic friend Senator congcr e approves the
tracts and thinks they ought to stand for these
First that there has been fraud proved against the
letting board and proof of couson between thcm
and the contractors in the recent canal lettings Second
The law not requiring the contracts to be given to the
lowest responsible bidder departure from that principle
in the Lettings is not of itself evidence of fraud
though the discretion vested by the law in the State Off
has been exercised unwisely, and cannot. and
ought not to be taken advantage Of by the State tn repu
datc annu the contracts thus entered into. Third
There not sufficient evidence Of abuse of discretion
the part Of the officers making these contracts and if
there were the officers guilty. are alone responsible.
Sound policy, If not honesty must prevent the state from
repuda,ing annuing these contracts lie occupies
about one column in preseniing his individual views.
IMPEACHMENT.
After the reports had been received. MIKE WALSH
and offered resolution niecaching John g. sather and
Frederick Foctt present Canal Commissioners and also
Charles Cook late Commissioner and Hezekiah g. Sey-
mour, late engineer
Affairs III Albany.
TIE CANAL LETTING ISyESTIG ATIoN-GREAT EX-
CITEMSSr, ETC.
SPECIAL conn EspoNDrNcE or THE NEW YORK HERALD.
ALBANY. March 15 1852.
The canal fraud investigating joint committee presented
their reports this morning to the House There three