New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-14
CANAL PROSPECTS.

Our State Assembly presented discredita-
bic scene on Saturday, which we should report
more fully but for the pressure on our columns
caused by arrivals yesterday from both En-
rope and California A few words of explana-
ton must suffice.
Mr. Ludlow. the Speaker, is Barnburner;
Mr. LOOMS, the leader of the House, is an
other, but rather more so and the series Of
resolves reported by him from the Committee
Of Ways and Means is the SeymOur-Soft-She
programme for the Canal Policy in 1853
They assume that important retrenchments in
Canal management may be made, lthe two
majority Canal Commissioners being leading
Hard-Shells;) that no money must be bor-
rowed to complete the Canals; but that
100000 should be raised this year for Canal
purposes by new direct taxes, levied partly on
Banks and Railroads; and that with this SUN
and the Surplus Revenues the Erie Canal
may be made nayigable, by deepening and
widening in certain localities, for boats of $50
(instead Of 9O) tuns from and after the open
ing of navigation in 1854. This programme
appears to have broken down on Saturday in
most important respect; the House having
decided against levying special and invidious
tax on Banks and Railroads for the improve.
meDt Of the Canals.
This was undoubtedly just decision. Con-
slider how the Barnbumer programme would
have operated practically: There is the Og-
deDsburgh Railroad, work Of vital cOnse
quence to an important section Of our State
previously secluded wilderness, but now rap
idly filling up with a hardy, thrifty, energetic
population. But, vitality bcnefcent as this
Read is. its stockholders have never seen div
idend yet, and probably will not for years to
come-vill never get back the money they
have put into IT, Now the Enlargement of tho
Erie Canal viii be the cheapening Of a rival
route, and viii naturally reduce the business
and receipts of the Ogdensburgh Road. GA
what just principle its stockholders could be
specially levied upon TO pat through the Erie
Enlargement, We cannot imagine. 1t is the
hard old sentence, booming man to be hung
and to pay for the erection of the gallOws. So
Of the Erie and other Railroads
The wrong in this case is easily seen but
the wrong Of taxing at all for the Enlargement
is equally certain, though not equally palpable,
Five Millions Of people (soon to be TEN out
side Of our State, with Two Millions in il,
greatly need and desire the prompt completion
Of the Enlargement-the sooner the better
They ought to pay for the work in tolls, and
they are riiliRg to pay for it. Complete the
Enlargement forthwith, and they viii double
the down freight within a few years, double the
aggregate receipts of toll, and SO sweep OF the
entire Debt. None Of them object 20 paying
such tolls as will ensure the extinction of the
entire Debt within reasonable period; for
with the Enlarged Canal floating 2iO-tun
boats, they could pay the present tolls and yet
have great reduction of freight-charses. But
in steps Barnbumerism aud says, No, you who
want and viii profit By the Enlargement shall
not pay for il; its cost SHAH be assessed upon
and paid by Delaware and S.. Lawrence, Suf.
folk and Washington, that viii receive com.
'paratiyely no benefit from it, or the work
shall not be pushed forward at all And so
we are likely to be brought TO dead stand.
We wish the Stats would allow the Canals
to finish themselves, according to Gov. Hunts
programme; there vas no other course so just
and equal rs that We wish il would AZ least
get out of the way, selling out the Canals to
the best bidder who would contract TO complete
them within three years. We wish it would
GO ahead, or let the Canals 20 ahead, in enc
way or another. If al preferable plans are
defeated by those who have the power, we
would rather stand Direct Tax OF S7O0,G0O
than have the Enlargement stop where IL is.
But let us hayeuo special victims selected for
taxation, but serve all alike.
Gentlemen Barnbuners you have the State
in your hands. You want TO keep her there
for some years to come. Remember lo2l ;
Remember 1876; and remember that the eyes
of the People are upon you Look well to
your responsibility