The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-24
The Canal Lettings - More Curious Dis-
closures

The Canal Lettln9s - More Curious DIS.
closures
We publish elsewhere in our columns, TO- day,
very pregnant letter from our Albany eorrespon-
dent, which lets out great deal Of additional light
on the canal lettings in Albany-even to greater
extent than tho official record Of tho bids, already
given. disclosed to the public. It ID well known in
ethics that there are generally two sides to every
question in human affairs. The virtue or rsscality
of politicians forms no exception to the general rule
Of human nature.
It seems the history of the movements relative to
the canal lettings discoses the fact that the recent
allotment was merely tho last of three programmes
which had been formed by different com binations Of
the various party factions--the two first having
been defeated, while the last happened to be sue
cessful.
The first combination, or coalition, to monepo.
lie the nine millions, was formed by the barn
burners, hunkers, and silver grsys, excluding en-.
tirely the Seward and Weed party from having
any participation in the spoils. This programme,
or allotment, was half million Of dollars higher,
it seems, than the present one AS soon as the ar
rangem ents Of this allotment became kno vn to the
outside bidders. q most terrible uproar was
created by the disappointed Seward and Weed
men corruption, fraud, rascality and impu-
dence were banded about. The barnburners,
under whose patronage this programme, both by
outside and inside influence, had been framed,
backed out from the scrape. The second com bina-
tion was brought about by the Seward and Weed
party-the barnbSrners and silver grays uniting to-
gether in the Canal Board, but excluding the old
hunkeIs from participation in the spos. As soon
as this allotment became known among the lobby
members at Albany, o similar explosion took place
among those bidders vino had been rejected, prnci.
pally the hunkors The uproar continued for
several days, till it swept away, with the first
programme. The last, third, or successful allot.
men, combined the Seward party, the silver grsys,
and the old hunkers, excluding the barnburners,
with the exception of two or three doubtful ones.
This is the allotment which was made a few days
before the close of the last year, and which has
created the present excitement in Albany. 1t
stands to this day, in spite Of all that has been
brought up against it in Albany, and throughout
the State, but for how long we cannot tell.
This is, We believe, brief view of all the leading
features in this curious history previous to the pre-
sent allotment. full account of 80 facts in de.
tall would nearly fill volume, in rascality, folly,
man@uvring and fnanciering but it is yet unwrt-
the secrets. One thing is said to be certain, viz
the previous two allotmeEts were Just as
Objectionable as the last, though successful,
one-all Of them, probably, plundering the
whole State Of sum Of nearly three millions
for the advantage Of contractors of the different
parties engaged in the business In the present
instance, the Van Buren, barnburners, who have
profted so much by canal corruptions for the last
thirty years. are disappointed for once, and there
fore, they create the greatest noise and confusion
The Van Buren, party in New York, during their
possession Of power, in times past, have quietly
plnndered the people of this State to the amount
Of Eve or six millions. The Seward party has not
reached that amount yet, and it is but fair play
the fair play practised in the regions of wickedness
below-to allow them to cheat the people out of
two or three millions, in order to be on an equal
footing in point Of rascaty, when they reach their
hot homes in the lower regions Of the next world.
The silver grays and the hunkers come in for their
shares; probably both these have received about
third of the contracts, on condition that they
not their political influence in the coming cleo
tons 1t resuls therefore, that this business gives
the State of New York, for several years to come,
to VIM. II. Seward and his party, in spite of all
efforts to the contrary.
This is a brief view of the whole rumpus in AL
barry. We cannot believe tina. any change can
take place to save the peoples money, bat that
they must suffer several millions in the faal COM
netion OF the canals If the present allotments of
contracts we're to be defeated, the probability is
that arew allotment would be merely Few shuttle
OF the cards for dividing the plumber with the
baTnburners, while Tie people Of this State--the
honest tax poyers-would suffer equally under
each and every allotment.