The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-11

-
ool moneys Iads thr .ough the hands Of such |
nen as these, about ne half is usually pocketed
y the coHractc .fs, spectators, politicians,
members oil the Legislature and editors favora-
Die TO the &c .eme This estimate is liberal
'ne, perhaP too liberal TO the state; 1t would
De well i u us it the public wo Ks always got
hall I'd amounts voted to them. With this expe-
rieI &C fresh in their minds, the people oil TINS
5 tate will be called upon next Wednesday
to say whether or no they will sanction
new loan of slO,oo0,0O0, or in other words
whether they will put s5,0O0,00o Of money
into the pockets Of the politicians, spolls-
men, editors and others who are interest
ed in carrying through the amendment. II the
people think these parties deserve reward
from the public for their devotioDto party ~
terests and private speculatons, let them
have IL by all means though perhaps it would
be more straightforward to call things by their
names, and vote FIVE millions Of hard cash
directly to the operators. 1t must not be sup
posed shat we are exaggerating the case. Most
OF our readers recollect the beautiful division
voted for the enlargement of the canals, and
rescued by the Court Of Appeals from the
Jaws Of the spectators and spoilsmen who
we're to have had such pretty per Gen.
tace thereon Nor has ii been entirely
forgotten that some Of the present editors Or
proprietors Of the New York Daily Times
figured in the list Of the would-be sharers in
- " Is A., 10
"reminiscences in mind as we read the apologies
now published by our Seward contemporaries for
tie proposed amendment. The most charitable
can hardly help thinking that many of the
defenders OF the scheme have as good reasons
for their present as they had for their former
course
In point of fact, the canal system Of thi.
State is thoroughly understood 10y every one,
and it will not be as easy to throw dust in the
eyes of the public as these newspaper editors
believe. The present plan of enlargement was
adopted by the people after mature delibera-
| ton, and the bulk of our citizens are still as
firmly convinced as they ever were that it is
| the only sound, proper and judicious one. If,
with the glorious traffic now carried on between
| the seaboard and the West, with the splendid
business OF which the canal enlargement party
boast so loudly, the New York canals cannot
provide fund for their own completion, as pro-
vided by the constitution then they dc not de-
serve to be completed. Had they belonged to
private individuals, We have not the smallest
doubt that they would by this time have fur
nished ample means for their enlargement and
completion. They have not done so, simply be-
cause the wire pullers at Albany did not desire
that they should; as they would then have had
no opportunity of plundering the State of four
or ete millions of dollars. These plunderers
be deluded any longer. The old system recognized
by the constitution is the only safe one. We
must adhere to it.: and, while we give to the
| politicians at Albany due credi. for having
matured q scheme which certainly leaves the
| most impudent of the Washington operations far
| in the shade. we must use tpe power we have re
| tanned in our own hands TO prevent these spoils
men robbing us OF five millions Of dollars.
| What Is this Legislature which calls upon us
| 70 incur q fresh debt Of $40, 000, 900? In all
| our experience we never remember to have
seen a more utterly worthless and abandoned
set Of politicians assembled together. Men
sent 10 the Legislature by corruption, by mis-
take, by every means and every influence ex-
cept that Of character, integrity or talent: the
| outgrowtb OF isnstical agitation, and the apes
| ties Of every absurd ism that unrostrained
license Of opinion ever begat blind preach
ers OF teetotalism, crazy apologists for women's
rights, lunatics born So and lunatics made so
by spiritualsm such are the individuals who
represent us at Albany, and propose to run us
in debt ten millions more. Shall we vote to
plunge ourselves.and our children into debt to
raise money for such men as these-for legisla-
tors like Mr.. Leigh, who has distinguished him
self so signally by his base vulgar and ridicu-
lous attack on the barroom OF the st. Nicholas
Hotel-one of the best and most magnifcc Mt
hotels in this or any other country
The people will answer. We say, let the
| canals complete the canals. IF they are pro-
perly managed and let alone by schemers and
poilsmen, they can do it,
Il I14rY n..a.H =