The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-15
The Canal Qus stiOn Settled-Tne C0nspirators
Defeated-The People Triumphant.

The politicians have finally been compelled
to adjust the canal difficulties. The force Of
public opinion, and nothing else, has driven
them to it. OF their own free action they never
would have taken the canals out of the political
arena. OF their own accord they never would
have moved q single step-adopted no method to
complete these great State works. By their own
desire, the canals would ever have been kept
stalking horse for the use of future demagogues,
as they have been for past and present ones, to
obtain and retain power thereby. The people Of
this. the Empire State ofthe nation, should 'ever
pray in thankfulness. that a prospect is now
presented Of becoming, sooner or later, disbur-
thened of this political incubus. During the
last fifteen years. both parties have striven
harder for the control Of the canals than any
other object because with them Gordon of Off
Gals would be established from this city to
Lakes Erie, Ontario, Champlain, and through
the valley of the Genesee, Black river, and
other routes. whereby political power could be
welded through the instrumentality Of the sub
ordinates. Indeed, ever since the adoption of
the constitution in 1876, there has been no other
prize worth fighting for in this State.
The wings, finding themselves in a rapid de-
cline in 1851, went recklessly to work, and in
duced the Legislature, which Seward and Weed
then held in their hands, to adopt law nomi-
nally to finish the public works, but really to
distribute ten or twenty millions to the parti-
zans of that faith. 1t was one of the most mag
nifcent schemes of public plumber ever con-
cocted and went far ahead of any Galphin-
Ism ever attempted in Washington. They
went only by thousands, but the State Re
gency was bent upon millions Of treasury
plumber. The people. knowing that their
constitutional rights had been invaded, caused
a veto to be put on that law, and the entire
whig fabric was demolished in an instant. In
this emergency, Governor Hunt was implored
to convene the Legislature of 1852, in order to
perfect some measures Of constitutional cha
racter by which the canals could be completed.
That functonary peremptorily refused to go
any further. The Court Of Appeals had decided
against his measure, and he did not feel willing
to recommend any other to the Legislature or
the people and so he passed out of office, leav-
ing the whole question in the hands Of those
who succeeded him.
The democracy succeeded in electing Hora-
ito Seymour, Governor, as friend to speedy
completion of those works All his antecedents
were in his favor his father had been one of
the first Commissioners under whom the canals
were first constructed his estates, inherited,
lying on the line of the canal. have increased
thousand fold by the building Of that work his
residence upon its banks, his perfect knowledge
of the necessity for enlargement. his public adj
dresses last October along the line Of the canal,
in the western part of the State, all contributed
to render him formidable candidate, and
supposed friend to an amendment of the con-
stitution to accomplish that purpose. The peo-
pie believed in his declarations of friendship for
an amendment, as expressed before them, upon
the stump and the hastings. He prepared his mes
sage under this conviction and penned clause
recommending an amendment, as he had promis-
ed at Buffalo and other places, before election.
But upon his arrival at Albany the press of the
public printer was stopped and that clause Of
the message stricken out. and the message APP
peared without any practical recommendation,
to the great modification of large portion of
his own party, and the disappointment of the
wings. Before election he was for an enlarge
ment upon the most extended basis; but his
message only required deepening of the bed
some six inches, or as Mr. Burroughs remarked,
sweeping the bottom and tickling the Sides
of the canal.
The true friends of the canals being thus de-
ceived by the executive, took the matter in
their own hands. The whigs being powerless
in all the departments. in the Senate and the
House, remained as mere spectators. They
waited for movement OF the waters. Accord
ingly Senator Cooley introduced resolution
asking for joint committee of the two houses,
for the purpose of presenting and agreeing upon
some plan for finishing the public works.
No opposition to the resolution was offered
in the Senate, and it passed that body
almost unanimously, and was sent down to the
House. It remained there upon the table seve-
raj days Enacted upon, though in consideration
Of the magnitude and importance of the subject,
no one doubted Of its passage. But when it
was taken up, Mr.. Loomis opened his batteries
against it. A long debate ensued and when
the vote was finally taken, the proposition was
rejected by the casting vote OF William Ii. Lud-
low, who had been elected Speaker Of the House
upon the pledge of his friends that he was
friend Of the canals. This blow, together with
the one previously given by Horatio Seymour,
alarmed the canal men in the Legislature. and
produced the greatest CONSERVATION in and out
of that body. The Senate made no further eff
fort 1t was left for The House, now known to
be in the keeping Of doubtful men, to make the
next movement. Mr.. LOOMS. chairman Of the
WAYS and means, and Mr. West of the canals, in
the course Of time agreed upon bill. and run
it through the House, known as the " Tax and
Toll BILL This was received in the Senate.
and treated with disdain that body knowing
that the people would never submit to
taxation Of ten or fifteen millions to complete
the canals Then Mr.. Vanderbilt proposed his
o,pandroant IN tho constitution which the Sc