New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-17
THE CANALS OF OUR STATE-WHO ARE
THLlR FRIENDS

THEIR FRIENDss
The Evening Post has copied part of
one paragraph from our last article on the
Canal Question: and, though it has done
this in such q manner and with such COM
ments as to give its readers an utterly
false impression of our views and purposes,
yet, so glad are we of an opportunity to
grapple with that journal on this subject,
that we copy its entire article and ask
it to do likewise with our rejoinder. Let
us see if it is willing to have its readers
see both sides of this deeply important
question. SAYS The Post:
TRUTH TURNED UP IN THE TRIBUNE.
At last have got the reason, the real reason the
long.suppressed reason, why the Governor win nol
order an extra session OF the Legislature, that the
neonle NAV sanction loan to complete the public
works Tie Tribune is the organ OF Its reveaton anu
it as follows:
mtted by peoples appreciation but for ore f'rSe co
and hsi should call for millions as you propose hs
same act must levy $4,000 AMMAN ON All
the property Of The people interested IN the Black river
osweso and Valley Canals vote to tax themselves
iesvy cone- Ere CANAAN c6ect for which no tax Is
yet lie dead until the he IN
re ,Io yeoyis lin rots tee, ih Branch Canal
IN ,ri Hnefeen ficeHhs Of en feel verfonaf iHeTeH
The people then, do not desire the enlargement OF
the lateral canals enough to pay the expense OF It.
therefore it must be done without their consent by
fraud Nineteen entiehs OF them f. no interest In
the Black River or the Oswego or tennessee aiisy Ca
malls therefore, the tuition must be violated, aud
the ee aiure and the press Of the state subsdized 10
compel 10 pay for an improve
meut in which the other twentieth only are Interested
If we he'd said any hing halt conclusive Age.
these improvement is contained in this admission,
h.,i h.va dered - arc M clOspj
We did not know that there was any press or any
politician IN this state, who desired the Legislature
lying in wait like gang OF watch suffers for an oppor
tuDy Of getting Of the people by foul means what
they could not BY fair ard Of compelling them 20 pay
for what they do not want under the hollow sanction OF
an unconstitutional law.
that there is such press and in It's princ
pal editor find one such politician. We hope there
are any more in the land they will have the grace to
conceal their sentiments and in matters OF this moment
" affect virtue though they have 1t not We wish to
believe that the number of those who are shameless
enough TO admit that they have tried tn tax the pe
against their will and by candestne processes Tor pub
lie improvements, is as small as possible.
As for the objection raised by TIE Tribune, that the
Legislature do nothing for the lateral canals by
Loan because the people determine upon only one
improvement at time, it Is nearly unsound as the
have already noticed though Tar more respecta
bic IN lis character.
Of the canals shall be applied toward the enlargement
of the Erie Black River and Genesee Canals, n such
manner the Legislature shall direct" The surplus
thus applicable is, say, one million year. To com
plee the two lateral canals requires only about 100000
$3.50 900 for the Black River and $4,000 for the Gem
Suppose enough were set apart from the surpus
the first year TO complete both these works
would it not sil leave Elk hundred thousand dollars
applicable TO the enlargement in the same year
Again: Suppose $1,000 900 necessary TO complete the
enla gene the Erie Canal and that it would be ad
sable eXpend 5000 600 annually upon the work it
lie only necessary give the people the will and op
poruIity Of authorizing loan OF S6O0O,0OO, aud all
these canals might be finished in three Years from the
time the law creating the loan should be adopted, which
il rs soon if not than the work could be COM
ced. ii delayed for amendment OF the Constitu
ton. Let portion Of the canal revenues he applied to
the completion ofhe lateral canals which would require
only twOthrds OF one years surplus and then we should
have S6O0OCO left for the Erie Enlarge nent the first
year and 81 600 900 after that with whatever choose
to borrow added to il, until it is completed.
This dsposes of The Tr,bHnes second objectsn TO an
extra session II the Governor will lust call the Legs
ature together there will be difficulty in or out OF
the Constitution in having the question submitted TO the
people this fad, and in having them determine wnether
they desire these works to be fastened to their compile
ton in another way than that provided tor IN tue Con
stituioD, enough TO Dor ow money to do II WITH
The Tribune thinks the people have no such wish ex
cept the Erie Canal If then let il be silent upon
the subject Those who think otherwise, and that me
people have interest in the completion OF the canals
have only TO persuade Governor Hunt TO call the Legs
lature together, and the work Is done.
Comments by The Tribune.
The above is either a true or false
representation of The Tfibune's position:
which is it! Is it true or Is 1t false that
The Tribune has proposed or advocated
the completion of the Lateral Canals by
fraud, in defiance of the Peoples will! Is
it true or is it false that we have desired to
see "the Legislature lying in wait, like a
gang of watch-stuffers, for an opportunity
Of getting out of the People by foul means
what they could not by fair :" Is it true
that we have favored - compelling them to
pay for what they donot want J" Is 1t true
that we have "tried to tax the People
against their will, and by clandestine
processes!" The Erening Post direct
ly asserts that there is a press and a
politician so shameless" as all this
to wit, The Tribune and its Editor.
If we were to repel these calum-
MES in the terms they deserve and de-
mand-if we were to say to their author,
'Sir, you are a liar and villain !" that
would be termed scurrility and abuse; and
be quoted all over the land as proof of our
bad temper or bad manners. Not one of
those who so quoted it wo0ld inqaire,
What is the truth in the case! We're the
charges which The Tribune repels false
: and slanderous. or were they not = Yet
that seems to Us the primary, the vital
consideration. If there be rudeness and
dsscourtesy in the premises, he is guilty of
it who wantonly defames, and not he who
repels defamation. Are we right or wrong I!
The readers Of The Tribune know, bat