New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-09-05

from the tine when trade began 10 be something
more than a mere barter between neishbors Tor
the 1ecess.ries Of life have .tL recognized value
and that the canals Of our own State are not ye'
alt gether useless.
There would seem 10 be ro,hi1g very ersrava'
CANT in this assertion, aud yet there I' Class OF
persons among Us who, if they have "a honest Par'
pose n the position they assume IN regard TO our
Csnsl.. would persuade Us that We have already
outgrovu the necessity Of such method of COM
municaton, and that this great work OF internal
Improvement has become useless, even before II 10
finished. 1t 10 desirable, therefore, they assert
that the State should be rid Of il, and the people
relieved Of what has grown TO be merely an excuse
| for increased taxation. Such persons might pos
eibly persuade US TO believe that they mean what
they say if they proposed to destroy rather than
| 10 purchase this State work Possibly in that
case we should doubt their intelligence; but they
| compel US 10 choose between faith IN that a0d 8
belief in their honesty. II pains Us to say
| that as st present advised, We have no doubt OF
their shrewdness.
1t is proposed TO sell the canals. sale, even
necessarily Objectionable, but it happens, in this
case, unfortunately, thst the proposition to sell
comes from those or the friends Of those, who pro-
pose also to buy. 1t is nsusht It is naught,
saith the buyer: but when he is gone bis way,
4" then be bOasteth" The canals are to be taken
cut of the hands of the people Of the State, not be-
cause they useless but for precisely the oppo-
site reason: their usefulness interferes with the
profits of other vested interests in the hands of in
diyiduals The agument-not, indeed, the one
which is presented TO the public, but that which
is set forth in very clear terms in the minds
of gentlemen, and possibly, also among themselves
in their mouths-may be stated in the sylogistic
fern, somewhat in this way: The trade of the
State Deeds ard seeks the cheapest method of
transportation; such method Of transportation is
afforded By the canals; therefore, the canals are
indis oepssbe 10 the trade Of the State. Secondly;
the carriers Of the traffic of and through this State
must receive large returns; the canals are the
chief carriers; therefore, the canals mus. reap
canals and railroads Of the State v i'll hayea monop
large returns. Thirdly whoever owns both the
DIV of this immense traffic We have the railroads,
and only reed TO buy the canals; therefore. the
canals must be sold, as they are an insurmountabie
obstacle to our prosperity.
1t lie not impossible that the reader may see a
flaw in the logic Of this last statement, satisfactory
as il is to the advocates of the sale of tnis properly
Of the State. Certainly the question may be diff
ferently stated, as thus: The prosperity of the
State depends to a certain degree, upon its traffic;
;tat ~ in lave ha ed IN
through its canals which belong TO the people; the
people therefore will directly well Us indirectly,
enjoy the fruit of their own prosperity Secondly;
all mobOpoes are hostile 10 the interests Of the
people; TO throw into the same haLds both the
Railroads aLd the Canals Of the State would b. to
give to prSa.e individuals the monopoly Of all its
internal transportation, and the power greatly to
Cypress the people; it is wise ard best, therefore,
to avoid the creation of such monopoly by keep
ing the Canals in the possession of the State,
and under the control of the people themselves
We think that these propositions will hardly fail
~ receive the assent of all reasonable men.
We desire, for cur part, to see this controversy
reduced to its Tim )est terms. The cost Of the
property in question to the Sta is little iess than
has been abou. $50, 600 900, aud that will not be
complete without al expenditure Of possibly,
81 100000 more. 1t is simply absurd to entertain
the idea Of the virtual abandonment Of 20 immense
work, made at so immense cost, because in its in
compile te condition and in rulnous competition with
railroads, permitted BY the State, aud instituted BY
railroad directors for the eIprespurPose Of breaking
dow the credit Of the canals. the investment has not
been remuneratiye to the State A private indi-
yidual, who should conduct his business on sue
principles, wopld be considered BY his friends Is
fit subject of writ de lanatieO inquirendo. We
cannot, unfortunately pot the State in an insane
asylum; but it would deserve to br placed under
guardianship for the rest of its natural life, if IT
should shox Itself 50 incapable OF managing II.
vested interests aud should part with its goat
works of internal improvement to private in1Ivd
uss, to be used b. them for their oan sggrasd'ze-
ME Mt and to the detrment Of the people.
We insist upon it that past mismans geuen. or
present debs or immediate difficulties 10 r,sing
money are not necessary elements IN the discuss o1
of this question Of the sale Of the Canals. lbat
question should be considered on its own merits.
Even if we granted-whch We do no. for mo
ment-that the Cansls are likely to prove bid
property we contend that the worst possible thing
We could do with them would be TO part Nth them,
when an absolute and demonstrate certainty exists
that they would be used 8 mighty instrument for
the political and pecuniary oppression OF the peo-
pie at large.