The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-04-08
SALEOF THE STATE CANALS

At last and when it is probably too
late for il to be got through, bill is in
troduced into the Legislature for the sale
of the Canals of the State. We know of
bnt one reason why such a bill was not
presented months ago. The present Leg
! islature, has made such woful blunders in
everything they have undertaken, that
they are afraid to act upon any important
matter, and for this reason kept back this
bill until too late to getit through.
The sale of these Canals is not strictly
"a party measure, but as their patronage
is now under Republican control, that par
ty is less jealous for the sale than if it
were otherwise. Every one who has at
tended State Convention of the party
g having at the time this patronage at their
disposal, has observed the vast influence
which the Board of Public Works exer-
. else in the nominations This Board can
almost always have delegates appointed
from the Canal counties, favorable to their
friends. We have ourself seen contest
for nomination in which it was generally
understood that the struggle was between
the Public Works clique OH one side and
aspirants in differents parts of the State,
knowing the influence of tue Board, COM
bine with them and thus make a formida
BILE league, so that a mans chance for
nomination depended less on his merits
than on his success in courting the Board
of Public Works.
sJs It Is this influence, as we verify believe,
that has prevented the Canals from being
sold long since. Pccuniury advantage to
s the State cannot be set up as an objection
4 to the sale for every one who can perform
simple subtraction can satisfy himself that
they are now drain on the treasury, and
are rapidly depreciating, as we have here
tofore shown But Notwithstanding this
there are generally "Public Works men,
bers" enough in the Legislature to stave
of action on a bill to sell them, aid we
confess we have not much hope that It will
be otherwise with the present bill. When
the people send men there as the avowcd
friends of the sale, then we shall look with
some confidence to see this food gate of
the treasury shut down, and mischievous
and formidable political clique dispelled.
The following are the main features OF
the bill now pending as presented in the
Statssman:
Section st constitutes the Governor,
Secretary of State, Attorney General
Auditor end Treasurer, Board of Com
missioners, with power to sell and convey
the Public Works
Section Cd, divides the Public Works
for the purpose of sale into three sections,
as follows: Section one, is the Ohio
Hooking and Walhonding Canals and the
Muskingum improvement, with all thcil
feeders, locks, houses, sc. Section mum,
Der two, is the Miami and Erie Canals
with their appurtenances. Section three
is the Western Reserve and the Maumte
Road.
Section 3rd provides for selling to the
highest bidder, and guards against frauds
being practised by buying off bidders OF
otherwise, and that section No ! shall
not be sold for a sum less than one mil
lion and o half of dollars, nor section
No 2 for sun less than one million OF
dollars, nor section 10. 3 for sun;
less than ffty thousand dollars; and fur
ther, that the purchaser or purchasers