The daily union., 1854-07-29
Prom the Monmouth Democrat
COMMODORE SToCKToN'S REPLY.

a.
We publish in columns to-day the reply Of Com r.
F. Stockton to the letter addressed him by the citizens
of Toms River published in the Democrat of the 9th inst
The reply noble vndieaton.of his in regard to
the policy of the State OF New Jersey in conducting her
public works and contains much that win interest every
good citizen of the State We bespeak for II careful pc
rusal
Reply Of Com r. F. Stockton 10 the lter from caigeas Of
Toms Ripcr.
GRNrLRS In consequence Of my absence from Prince
tom did not your letter until it was published in the
Monmouth Democrat
II would nevertheless have been acknowledged
had engagements prevented.
The act to which you refer assure you gave me no
noyance in the exercise Of the largest liberty any of
my felowcitizens fit to recreac themselves by
ting eiges which they please to designate Commodore
Stockton they welcome to all the enjoyment and glory
they derive from amnsements SO harmless. While
conscious Of the recitnde OF my actions and inen-
tons, malicious denunciatons move me not.
II is nearly quarter OF century since devoted
my mind my means and those of cooperating friends
whom could influence TO the cause of internal improve
ment in New Jersey When consider the inadequacy of
experience and abilities TO the vast enterprise in which
then engaged the difficulties be encountered and the
slender resources which first within my control
and then advert to the realization OF my hopes and more
especially when survey the benefits which in part through
my nsrumentay have been conferred upon New Jersey
bv this system of internal improvements which have d
yocaed and defended can well tolerate with inditIer
any abuse which my and my fidelity TO the
interests and welfare of my native State may pro-
woke f.
Gentlemen You say that majority of the people here
opposed the of the party with which you
cooperate and to the State policy OF which you
bic advocate With regard to party measures do not
rush but in relation to the improvement OF New
Jersey do feel deeply concerned and viii hope that the
time is not far distant when there will be little differ
cnce of opinion between No doubt the time has been
when formidable opposition existed in New Jersey TO the
system of internal improvements with which have been
identified The papers tened with abuse Of me- and
and the violation of public honor placed myself in the
breach those occasions; but deprecated abuse
nor retored the incorporate fuminations Of political adj
versares chose rather to let results speak for To
their verdict always confidently appeal was wilingto
stand fall with the success failure of the system
which recommended Nop that these results have proved
eminenuy fortunatenog that triumphant success vnd
Gates my system though may continue to treat deama-
ton with silence and calumny with contempt shall
fitting occasion like the present hil to remind my fellow
citizens that they the prosperity of New Jersey
under God ls TO the system ofnternal Improvement
sbssng and I'd to the adherence by the State and the
joint companies to the principles Of pghd good faith and
! honor
Interposing between the great commercial empoums
Of the continentthe natural bridge for all internal inter
course between the North and the Souhher alb
orbed and diverted from her harbors New Jersey
bound by every dictate Of political sagaciy make the
Of and herself there
from for the injuries inflicted by the oversbadowng rival
ship of New York and Philadelphia The first great desd
eraum for the accomplishment of this object the
sruction of the Delaware and Raran canal The
Of the Hudson and Erie canal inspired many with desire
Chat New Jersey should make the Delaware and Raritan
/ canal Stale work.
The State wisely las events have shown) shrunk from
The danger of ncumberng herself with debt She not
possessed Of the vast of New York and Judging
from the analogy furnished by State prosecution and man
aceent of the public works elsewhere is quite probable
that had this State commenced the construction of the
Delaware and Raritan canal she would have abandoned
its completion and instead of pouring its contributions las
ct presently into her treasury the debt incurred for lis
commencement would hang like nm incubus on her pros
perity. f
For more than ten years subsequent to The completion
l,f Tho of anips iD
hardly paid its expenses How would the State have 5us
tanned herself under such result even if she had conem
plated the construction of the canal? She would proba
bly, have been compelled by public canor to have sacr
feed it Spectators who would assume only half of hel
ndebtednessust Ponnsy is endeavolng to
dispose of her public works The State OF New Jersey
pursued more cautious policy; she conierreS o liberal
charter company for the construction OF the canal
The company which have completed twere secured against
rnous competition, and have been thereby enabled pa
teuty to await the growth OF business on that great
work.
Contemporaneous with the incorporation Of the cbna
company the State incorporated also the Camden and Am
boy Railroad and transportation Company AT that time
the motive and of railroads but little known
understood and was aware o! the mighty caaclt,
of the locomotive toresaw that the Delaware and
Raran canal could be constructed while menaced witt
the rivalshp of railroad The public of New Jersey
and the people became impressed with the same views
they saWsin competition of those benign influences
which its jealous friends attribute to it. They were
not willing risk the defeat of the canal for the sake o
encouraging runou competition principally for the ben
eft of the inhabitants of other States They established
then after careful deiberation, The pocy and the syse7
which has continued to this daya system which, whether
called monopoly thing else has yndicatcd itself
That system insured the construction OF the Delaware anc
Raritan canal it insured also two other railroad thor
oughles across the Stnie adequate accommodations al
reasonable fares for the transit Of all freight and passen
gers the State; it insured too just compensation
the State for the privileges conferred yielding an abund
and increasing and in the progress OF Tune
and the development of the system ii secured likewise thu
OF all local roads which may he needed iii thu
southern and parts of the States when without it
they would hardly be made in the lifetime of the presen
generation And lastly at sysen after all doubt ahou
the productiveness of the canal and railroads shall have
been dspeed and after experience shall have demon
sated the most uacious and economical method OF man
aging them invests the State with the right to take then
at their appraised value Should she do at the TINT
when by law she is authorized to exercise her option tC
do and should she conduct them wisely and economically
there be doubt they will make New Jersey IN pro
portion her population the most opulent and 6ouflsh
: ing State in America elsewhere.
Now in contrast with the results of this system OF New
Jersey your eyes sister States where Stat
construction and management of public works. and boHndes
co1apetoe have prevailed In you perceive pow
erfu States crippled with debt and ormented with vexa
ous taxation depressing industry, and deprecating th
value Of the property of the people In the other case, yo
see gigantic corporations totterng the verge OF bank
ruptcy and threatening in their fall TO cover the land VIII
desolaton impoverishng widows ana orphans, the nc
and those who are not rich
Unrestricted competition, when applied 10 railroad con
sructions, is and dclusiyc fraud 1t is
fraud because promises advantages which 1T cannot con
Jer il allures into the unwary the ignorant ant
the HELPLESS and involves them all in fatal catastrophe
II is far better the public to have good railroad
than two interior railroads The real interests of the peo
transporting freight and passengers at loss The inter
Of no class can permanently promoted by the indus