New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-27


,.H.,s Ia sspersl taxation Of the State. This
misht be accomplished notwithstanding the
deores .ion of every interest and the eouss
oueot general decline In burmese Caused By the
Fee. tr,de tariff of 1916, whi;h was saddlod
unoo the nation BY the Same school Of politicians
which made the Seventh Article Of our CSnstita-
ton. But II such prosperity a. resulted from the
tariff of 1912 should retain to the country uni Ter
Whole /, luence the tolls on the Canals amounted
in Is47 to $3.50. 600, there would be q much
larger surplus for general purposes.
We will not deny that 1t 10 Just AMI right TO
psy Of public debts during the lifetime Of the
generation by which they are contracted, when
the money 30 borrowed has been spent in war, or
for any other temporary use. But when i! 10 sx-
pended in the erection Of works whose bereHts
will remain for sges, and which promite to be
perpetual source ofincome, the propris.y of taxing
tire generation which builds those works for their
entire COS! IL not apparent. Indeed, it appears
preposkIous and foolish when We zee that it 10.
wolves either direct taxation, or such indirect i'm
posts as are recommended by Mr.. Baschford.
TIE canals will remain an inestimable property,
and will render most valuable services to the peo-
pie Of twenty five years hence as they do to those
now living; they will yield then, as nov, va't
annual sum beyond the cos. Of keeping them 10
repair; and it il only judicious and business like
that instead Of worrying and ovsrtsIiDg one gen.
GRAFTON to pay for them. We should ALLOW them to
Day for themselves 10 one and half.
In q word, we propose that the Legislature
should at once pas bill providing for such an
au epdment of the Seventh Article Of the Coasti-
tuition, that, Instead Of requiring the canal rev
enues to pay seventeen hundred thousand dollars
annually to the canal debt sinking fund.- they
shall be required to pay only half million. II
passed by this Legislature, the question could be
acted on by the next, and be submitted to the
people before the first Of next March. If not
now taken up, it will require at least two years
to carry through the necessary charge, and re-
lieve the Stste from the unworthy and fo,lsh
policy under which it is now suffering. The e.
trsordinary wants of the Treasury, In the mean
time, could be borne either by temporary tolls on
the railroads, as proposed by Mr.. Blatchford, or
by direct tax, az the Legislature might judge
most advisable.
1t will, peihsps, be urged. that the people are
not ready for so bold a course as this nor enght-
ened enough to render its adoption by them cer-
tain. We have no fear on that score. The days
have gone by when Mchsel Hoffman, like Michael
Scott Of old, deluded all men with his spells
Since that dreary and unwholesome epoch, the
State has been revolutionized, and in no respect
more thoroughly tbsn in regard TO the Canals.
We have beaten the Hofmahites again and again,
and need not fear to encounter them In this new
contest. Public opinion is no longer deluded in
favor of the barrow and short sighted policy
which eliminated in the infamous stop-law,
and left its tinal mark on the seventh Article Of
the Constitution 1t is impossible to conceive
that when the question iss,fairly presented, be-
tween paying off the State debt 10 reasonable
time, with perfect ease and safety, to the salts
faction Of the public creditor and without OPP
pressing the people with taxes, and paying 1t off
In hurry by means Of taxes and at great inc On
venience to all but the wealthy class of tho popu
lation, the electors Of New.YOrk would decide
for the latter course. We are convinced that an
appeal of this sort would be met with universal
and approving response, and that good sense and
enlarged statesmanship, which are after sll about
the same thing, require such an appeal now to DO
made. 1t could not fail, we think, to call forth
in its behalf a degree and warmth Of popular
support such as no mere e1pedient can ever hope
for.
We earnestly hope that such step may be
made before the Legislature adjourns Depend
upon it, it is the best and most polite course.