The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-14

We did wrong Our folly has now brought
forth its fruits. men, as defence against
whom the law OF 1916 was passed. and who
have since robbed us OF nearly four millions
and halt Of dollars, grow more and more in
satiable as their avarice is fed and now ask US
for ten millions more. Ten millions is the dose
they want to swallow at gulp. There was
time when a million OF less year satisfied
them ten millions is now the amount which
their appetite requires. As ravenOus as jack
ais that have snuffed flesh, and dabbled their
noses in blood, they will not listen to an offer
Of a few miserable thousands, but must carry
off ten millions in their grasp.
Citizens of New York shall we give them
what they want? If we do, they viii be back
next year, with q demand for twenty millions.
Those whom successful robbery Of S4,336,479
in six years did not satisfy, are not likely to be
content with ten millions now. The more we
let them steal, the further and the more auda-
ciousy is their hand stretched out. Their or
gans pile figures on rhetoric, and rhetoric on
figures to show-what? That the tonnage on
the canals is increasing Who doubts it Is
not this the most conclusive argument that
could be brought forward in favor of the system
originally devised by the fathers Of the canals
and lately ratified in the constitution OF 1876
viz.:--the completion of the canals out of their
own surplus revenues? IF the canals were not
doing good business, if their tonnage was de-
creasing. there might be some ground for devi-
ating from policy determined on by the people
after the fullest consideration, and borrowing
money to effect alterations which would in
crease their revenue. But to propose such
thing when the most careless glance at the
figures show that the canals have no rival tor
the carriage of bulky articles, that their traffic
is steadily and rapidly increasing, and that
within the last six years nearly four and half
millions have been stolen from the treasury with
out reducing their revenues below the usual
standard, is really pinnacle ofaudacity at which
plain men will stand aghast with amazement.
Let the canals complete the canals. Let the
old rates of tolls be established Produce can
well afford to pay them Had they been in ex-
istence during the year 1853, the State would
now have been richer by $l.6S7 900, and that
sum could have been laid by for the works o.
enlargement and completion now in progress.
At the rate traffic is increasing the surplus this
year would exceed 50 100000 and in less than
four years from LIST January. 1853, the sum re-
quired for the enlargement would be entirely
raised. The tolls might then be diminished as
low as possible. This is the simple natural,
and logical mode of managing the matter. Any
other is palpable glazing breach of public
faith, a detestabe fraud on the public.
1t may prevail nevertheless. The men who
own boats, live on the canal, and are interested
in the expenditure of more money thereon, can
control, it is said, one fifth of the total State
vote. With these secured and strong proba-
bility Of apathy among the general public, the
projectors and abettors of the fraud ore going
boldly to the polls.
The kANsAs-NEBRAsKA BILL IN DANGER -
For the first time since the Kansas Nebraska
bill was laid before the public, we see a formi-
dable danger awaiting it. The Union has come
out with an angry article in favor of Judge
Douglas. Tired Of opposing him-bafded in its
attempt to make it appear that he was only the
instrument of the President in the mat
ter-the administration organ has finally
wound its courage up to the sticking
point, and pronounces Mr.. Douglas the
pink Of patriotism. This is alarming, ominous
The embraces of some wild beasts are more ter
rible than an open show of their claws; the
Union belongs to this class, and we had rather
ceteris p aribus, see it abuse than praise u.s.
Its anger can be borne. Men have been known
to Withstand its torrents Of invective, without
loss Of political reputation or social standing.
But its favor is more than any ordinary indi-
vidual can long endure. We warn Mr.. Douglas
in time. Let him remember the hackneyed old
adage about the Greeks and their gifts, and
bride the Union, if no other influence can be
brought to bear, to attack him as it used to do.
Presented to the country as the victim of the
administration organ, his popularity is safe; the
sponsorship Of the Union would be fatal to any
man.
Fatal in every way. Fatal from the intrinsic
feeblencss of the administration journal, which
absolutely tempts idle writer's to demoli.h it by
way of mere pastime, as boys break glass bot
ties. Fatal from the unparalleled tergiversa
tion and want of principle displayed by the
Cabinet whose organ it purports to be- Just let
Mr. Douglas look back few weeks, and trace
the course of the administration since Septem-
Der last. Let him always remember its boast
that it was and is unit; and then let him say
whether he is willing to 60 to the country as
its champion under the egis Of the Union news
paper.
In September the Union was the most rabid
advocate of the Compromise that could be found
in the country. Shortly afterwards Jefferson
Davis published to the world the Cabinet alli-
ance with the Van Buren, free soil dynasty OF
this State. Guthrie dismissed Collector Bron-
son because he would not appoint free sellers to
Office By way of counterbalancing these freaks,
Cushing who doesn't mind such trfcs as polti-
cal principles and is ready to be a wing tomorrow
as he was under Tyler, or a soft" as he was
Ixhan 10 oct tLs Aas<aaLss.s&4. =: