The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-26
National Debt 10 the Erie Canal.

SHALL CONGRESS IMPROVE the usenags AT grP.
fALo AND oswEoo, ASD PAY 1HE oosr or TBr
BREAKwATEE AND BASIN AT NATURALIZATION
FROM THE CANAL BOARD Ere.
The committee Of the Canal Board, 30 whom was dele
gated the duty Of preparing memorial Congress ash
ig the enlargement Of The harbors Buffalo uswego
and the payment q the cost o. constructing break.
water and basin at Buffalo have submitted yerlori.!
for the consideration 81 the Board
The document sets forth that hc United States govern
ment has erected piers the harbors OF Buffalo aud
os~ego; TINT the pier Buffalo gave new direction to
the waters q Lake Erie, and caused them wear away
the land threatening the destruction the main channel
Of the canal well the valuable SLIPS and outlets thu,
in the exgsEcy, there not being time 10 wait for
the action q Tie United states the Canal Board caused %
be erected brcakwaer In the waters II the lake about
onctonsani feet from shore thousand two hundred
feet long aud twelve feet high exci,atag the sand whic.
had collected beiwcca tic breawacr and the Shore ard
forming "fhc Eric Basin; tina, the total has boon
s7o oo0. which, with interest from tho date Of ayent
amounts to se5O0ye and that further expenditure al
$1,000 VIII be needed 10 the brcakwater from The
of the lake that the works of The United states II
Dulbo ana Oswcgo need repair the batter aaordng - H.
dlaidai condition lte shelter from the violence Of the
lake
On ths state ~ facts, IS claimed by the BOARD tn,
tho gene sal gOVeruncnl ought refund sum saQiei,xi
T. compcusac the stale ur moneys expended uecess t
~ tie barber 81 Buffalo, such expenditure Ice lnaeiy
belonged a. thc United States and ii il pcttoncd thai tue
harboss a Buffalo and Osgogo may be adequately or.
afsed mfoy cdaud protected by the general goscrnneri
TIE Canal Board asks only that the national govcrnment
viii exercse It's authority the paygabse o.
the nation, and discms any desire for violating the
abishcd principle o. non assistance to works Of this kind
While the government, different principle, assisted
the Cumberland Road through six States, New yori
never objected, though 1871, when she desired assist
anoe IN this great nslDnal work Congress eody dccnc.
TO grant H.. New York has therefore constructed tn
work herself at cost &C so 600 900, and simply ass
The government " 10 is portion, by mpros M and pro
octng the hlrbors on tho long Inc of natural water
forming part Of the great chain OF national navigation
The Board claims that II is The right and duty &C tue
snird States thus to improve It's navisabe waters on the
l. They are no, local waters sabcc, 70 the states. but
national in extent and IMPORTANCE as well rs IN u
legal and political view. The United States station
officials collect mrcsts grant navigating licenses along
these coasts, and claim aud exercise jurisdiction
them.
2 These waters have been placed by fundamental com
pact beyond the separate authority Of tho States. ~
surrcDdcrng TO the national government the right 30 col
cct mIosts aud other Jurisdiction necessary "a the uni
vcrsal benefit OF Internal navigation duty imposed
upon The general government TO improve and protect
within its jurisdiction.
3. New York, Ike her sister States, retains all the
sovereignty she possessed at the fcrma,on 81 tho ccns
giou except that which she then surrendered o. tho
Union, but respect 10 the portion thus surrendered
The sovereignty Of the Union Is mramoun, and supreme
The peculiar raphcal position 81 New York gives her
the Immediate connection by water between the ocean
and the lakes. commanding the nosi extensive trade
the continent and by surronderng the benefit which she
York has paid into the golfers cf the general government
ss4s Zoo Of customs since the adoption 81 the cons
tuition Is she not entitled to justice and hbcralty IN
return
4. New York has surrendered control over her navga
bic waters for the Supreme Court 81 the United States
has decided that Lege roua nufrant 10 Robert
Fulton the exclusive right 10 use be invention for term
IF wears the river which WINS the theatre cr bis
cess cou the necessities OF commerce tho
legal objection Of the supreme Court to the erection Of
Albany bridge
g. The exeisc or this right Of the general government
in lust and liberal sense by adequately improving all
IT, navigabe waters and especially by constructing and
maintaining tho works necessary protect the
of the lakes the only adequate equivalent which
be rendered 10 New York Cor her sacrifices aud
sous, hut " fairly exercised, will repay them fully
Tho canals arc national capacity and fully adequate
10 the natonai commerce. The report of every Canal
BOARD proves this the statistics Of the vast oe
transportation and revenue. II n the connecting water
INK between the ocean and tho Mississippi enclosing
water communication tho nucleus Of the Union.
4 New York has ahstancd from taking seeking am
unfair advantage her sister states either by dsur
ininatipg tolls otherwise, the vnf masses of proper
" belonging 20 them and carried on her canals.
g. The New York 30 the and prespe
ry of the Union and her nals sgnalsc her enterprise,
throughout the world