The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-12
rhe People vs.. the Spectators at albany.

The People the Spectators at Albany.
The issue in this great case as our readers
are aware is to be tried on Wednesday. II viii
then be decided whether, In default of patent
extensions, railroad schemes and surplus reve-
nue.. the taxable property IN this State is to be
handed over to the tender mercies of specula
tors. II is hard to say what the verdict will
be. There has been no LACK Of skill or caution
on the part ofpolitcians. The scheme has been
long maturing. For years the public pulse has
been felt the enterprise of the mercantile CON-
munity tickled, the vanity Of the people
brought to bear on the question We have been
periodically reminded Of the grandeur of our
canal system, and its fruits upon the great
ness OF New York. De Witt Clinton's
ghost has been time and again evoked from
the grave to frown upon the unprincipled
faction which steadily opposed the de-
mands of the Spectators and politicians A
| desperate attempt was once actually made to
wrest the money from us in defiance of law, and
we were only saved by the conscientious firm
ness Of the Court Of Appeals. Taught by their
failure in this instance, the Seward party are
now once more approaching the summit OF their
hopes with cautious tread and wary footstep
To believe them, nothing less than the future
prospects Of this State hang suspended in the
| balance. II we do not grant the ten MILLIONS
| and half for which these harpies beg, we are
| omnously warned that foreign channels OF
| trade will carry oil the Western produce, and
| the whole State will cease to advance To
these portentous Vaccinations are added col
umDs Of wholesome abuse Of those who, like
| ourselves. venture to make inquiry before we
put our hands il cur pockets for ten more mil
| lions
| Let us for moment forget the threats and
| imprecations which avarice and dread of failure
| suggest to the friends Of the loan. Let us
look at the plain acknowledged facts and
taking the figures Of Mr. McAlpine's admirable
report, without the deductions drawn from
them, let US see how the case really stands. No
one denies that our New York canals constitute
one OF the nobest works ever projected by man
They are monument Of which any country
| might he proud and which will hand down the
| name Of De Witt Clinton wish honor to the
latest posterity. Looking back at this distance
Of time TO the party strife to which the project
gave rise, words can hardly express the graft
tude we all feel to their originators, or the
Indignation which we naturally feel at the
Van Buren, opposition to the " big ditch.n For
tunately for us, the latter was baflad. and De
Witt Clinton triumphed. The canals were com
menced. Cautiously and economically 1T first.
SO as 70 ensure an adequate revenue from the
tolls. The spirit Of De Witt Clinton pervaded
the whole enterprise, and the moment the i'm
mense work was completed, twenty eight years
ago, the fruits Of his sagactty were apparent.
The canals paid handsomely. Traffic flowed to
them unbdden. Wealth and plenty abounded
on either bank. A moderate rate of tolls had
been established and freights were cheap while
the receipts of the canals were highly remune-
ratiye. 50 far New York had every reason to
rejoice at the success Of the scheme.
But the avarice Of the spectators and poll
ticians AT Albany had been whetted By the profits
made On the contracts for building the canals
Most Of them had bad a share in these contracts,
and when the canals were completed their vo-
cation was gone. and they lancuished for fresh
chances Of spoil, SO they devised fresh scheme.
They persuaded each other that the tolls were
too high. Nothing was to be gained for the public
~ cutting them down a. produce was sure TO 60
20 market by way Of the canals. and reduction
in canal tolls could hardly affect the price here
But the amounts rclnquished by the State
would 60 into the pockets Of the forwsrders:
and an arrangement might easily be made with
these latter 70 share The pelf thus placed In
their grasp. II was accordingly done The
tolls were reduced. The reductions were small
at FIRST; but the politicians acted on
the business principle Of small profits
and quick returns" and if they helped them
selves to small amounts at time they repeat |
n the operation frequently. During the last |
fifteen ~ twepiy years, REDUCTIONS IN The tolls