Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-07-21
CANAL DAMAGES.

first issue, to make political capital out of the
fact that damages have been sustained by per-
sons along the line of the North Branch Canal,
! by reason of the location and construction of
that Improvement. This reprehensble course
! is full of evil to those most interested and
should be frowued upon by every person who
/ feels that he has sustained injury, and has q
| just claim for remuneration from the Canal Co.
, The attempt to mix this question of Canal
| Damages with politics, or use it for personal
and selfish ends, is dishonest aud demagogical
come from what source it may, because a sound
and healthy state of public sentiment every
where prevails, and the man or men who put
themselves prominently forward as the cham
pions of the claimants, are influenced by selfish
motives aud would sacrifice the interests of
those they are so Jealous to advocate, if there
by they could advance their own schemes Of
political aggrandizement. The feeling is uni
verSal, as far as we can judge, that the time
has come when those who have submitted in
patience to the damage caused to their proper
ty by the construction of the North Branch
Canal should be literally recompenSed, without
delay or hindrance There may be an honest
difference cf opinion as to the manner in which
this result shall be arrived at, but no disnter-
ested or candid man will for a moment claim
that the method should not be one by which
the rights of all the parties will be protected
Our Senator has been the target for many
of the most yirulent of the attacks of the Bu-
chanan organ, in which studied attempt has
been made to place him in a false position, by
Misrepresentation, and wholesale charges, IN
supported by show of evidence. While we
have no desire to enter upon his defence, we
cannot but feel that these are part of the re-
gular Lecompton tactics, proceeding from per
sonal spleen or partisan malice, engendered by
the fact that he has been a bold and able de-
fender of the Republican faith. Their only
effect IS to commend him to the confidence and
respect of every true Republican
We have noticed, with much regret, articles
in that paper, counselling an unlawful and dan.
gerous course Of conduct, which if literally car
ried out by the people along the Canal, would
destroy that Improvement If intended as
braggadoci2, to attract notice, we consider it
ont Of place and reckless. If proceeding from
the reputed editor of that paper, they could be
accounted for from the fact that he is a stran-
ger here, and ignorant of the long struggle and
strenuous exertion by which the completion of
the North Branch has been secured For up.
wards of thirty years the people of this section
have been laborng to effect the consummation
Of this project for connecting the public i'm
provements Of Pennsylvania with those of New
York. thereby opening a channel to market for
our minerals and agricultural productions
They have watched with anxiety the progress
sive steps Of its slow development, alternating
between hope and fear They have met in
conventions, they have petitioned, and sent men
to the Legislature, to urge the great impor.
tance of the work Now that it is completed,
and the long anticipated "boatman's horn"
in reality awakenS the echoes of our hills, is
there any reason why the advantages and utility
of the work should be deprecated Is it any
the less Of public Importance than when its
early completion was matter of general and
great anxiety? If the public interest was not
strangely misplaced, it should now be a source
Of congratulation that the time has arrived to.
wards which our fathers looked with SO much
opvietv tbot tho Nortb Rrouob - olo,.I,, L..
surely showing that it is to be of immense ad-
vantage to the country through which it pas
ses. Setting aside all llquestions of sale, DANA
ges, etc, let US rejoice that we are enjoying the
benefits of an Improvement to Sc ure which the
citizens Of the North have spent so much time
/ and money.
J But the most dangerous and dishonest advice
which has been volunteered by the Lecompton
organ, is given in the issue of last week, the
substance of which is contained in the follow
ing paragraphs
We look with suspicion upon the whole proceeding
and do advise people who Interested to avoid
the set for them. Keep away from this one sided
tribunal-do not submit single to them for action
There must be latent justice and fairness enough some
subsequent Legislature to give you just such remedy
at law, as is common throughout the State-for why
should not the North Branch Canal Company be amena
BILE to those whom they damage under law similar to
that which obliges the Wiamsport and Elmira Rail
Road Co. or the Barclay Rail Road and Coal Company
TO answer to our citizens in Courts before jury Of
the country.
" There is reason under Heaven, why special law
should have been enacted in the the North Branch
Canal Company unless the purpose is shield their in
erest at the sacrifice of the just claims of the people in
terested to have fair adjudication of their claims A
long time has elapsed since your farms were dug mp
your enclosures thrown open Your lands have been flood
ed for years. and you justly feel anxious to know
whether you any part the damage you have
sustained. Now we propose that you employ counsel
have diagram made OF your farms, showing how the