New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-27

the revival If the spirit Of improvement 80
evoked by De Witt Clinton aud sosuc-
cessflny appealed to by Gov. Seward Amend
ing the Constitution is process 50 tedious ani
so easily obstructed that We haze little hope
from that quarter. Before il could be per
fected, the public attention would be distract
ed by other State or By National questions,
and the energy required to effect it thus re-
lsxed or FILTERED away.
For this state Of embarrassment and OBJ
struction we hold HOratio Seymour Of all men
most culpsble. Ifhe had been an original dis
ciple Of the school TO which he has sold bin.
self, we might regret without blaming his pres
ent attitude; but he is exactly the reverse OF
this. When Silas Wright & Co. we're welding
the power Of the State Administration to the
identical ends now subserved by him, he vas
their determined and prominent antagonist.
He is BY conviction and tradition friend of
the Speedy Enlargement, though BY bargain
and policy its deadly adversary. All his ante
cedents are with us; but alas bis interests
and aspirations ally him to our antagonists. II
he we're to-day President of Company owning
the Canals Of our State, he would not hang
back. doubt nor hesitate, but urge and insist
on their completion at the earliest practicase
day. And now we have him gravely recon-
mending their enlargement BY deepening some
three or four inches per year SO that the
Grand Canal, which formerly suficed tor boats
of 40 tuns but has already been enlarged so as
to admit of boats of 90 and is expected next
season 10 suffice for those Of 100, may be
gradually increased, in the course Of future
years, to convey boats of $40 tuns Just con-
slider how great must be the waste aud loss in
bodybuilding for navigation which thus
changes in capacity Of transportation with each
successive year.
We say Gov. Seymour would not, because
he could not hesitate 70 urge the energetic
prosecution Of our great work to completion if
it were the property Of a Company over which
he presided; and this suggests the proposition
that, since we are practically at a dead lock,
cur State should sell out her Canals 10 a company
iciich ,cH complete item at an early day. Do
not reject this proposition abruptly, but con-
slider it. Our Canals as they stand this day
might be sold for at least Twenty Millions Of
Dollars over aud above every debt the State
owes in the wOrld-Canal Fund, General Fund,
or other They might be sold for so much, on
condition, /. That they shall be completed
Enlargement and Branches) before the open
ing OF navigation for 1856; 2. That no en-
hancement Of the present Rates of Toll should
ever be made. and 3. That Twenty Millions of
the consideration might remain as perpetual
first mortgage thereon at five per cent, giving
the State an unfaing Canal income Of One
Million per annum. 4. That the Company
should either pay the balance Of the considera-
stallments as the Debt becomes terminable, so
as to obyate all necessity for investing the
money elsewhere TO await the maturing of the
Debt Abundant security might be exacted
and obtained il this course were adopted ;
though il would probably be deemed preferable
that the State should take all but the amount
of her perpetual mortgage and invest it to meet
the maturing Of her debt.
Such course, should it be adopted, would, l.
ensure the promptest possible completion ofour
Canals and thus secure to our State and City
the immense transportation and trade OF the
West, which, owing TO the incompleteness of
our Public Works, and the consequent COM
pasatiyely high rates Of transportation thereon,
are being, or certain to be, drawn away into
director channels 2 Extinguish the State
Debt practically on the instant, and nominally
as soon as il could be called in g. Secure to
our State noble permanent income in aid OF
her enterprises of Popular Education, Philan.
thropy, &c. 4. Sweep away the gigantic Canal
Patronage Of the Canal Board, and the gross
corruption which il incites and sustains No
company that might buy the Canals would ever
be suspected Of paying q quarter more for
work than its real worth, or of converting the
Canals into pauPer hospital for damaged pol
iriaans. A company would very rarely buy
lumber or stone for Canal repairs at double its
real value. or spend Half Million year in
patching and tinkering, when Quarter of a
Million would be amply sufficient.
Friends Of the Speedy Enlargement do
you see any other course so certain TO effect
your object as this Do yoa see another that
promises to effect il at all If not, why not
try this Honest and stubborn adyersaries
Of State Works, State Patronage, and all
svoidable interference Of Government in the
sphere OfArts and Industry what ought to be
yoEr relation TO movement OF this sort ?
VIII you consider
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.