The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-28

resolution adopted at the Canal Convention at
Rochester, "a Peoples Convention" will be
held this day at Utica, at which will be dis
cussed the commercial policy of the State with
reference to her agricultural, manufacturing
and mercantile interests, as connected with the
canal and railroad systems the abuses in the
management of the canals, the evils resulting
the restoration of the canals to the uses con-
templated in their creation.
This, it will be seen, opens very extensive
field for discussion. But whether any practical
benefit will arise from it is very doubtful. The
object of the Convention at Rochester held on
the LIST September, was to operate on the politi-
cal Conventions about to be held at Syracuse.
The object Of the present Convention is to in
fluence the coming elections.
There is great deal of truth in what the ad-
vocatcs Of the canal interest say. Such has
been the Encouragement of these public
works, that twenty-five years have been con-
sumed, and many millions of dollars without
rendering the enlargement" productive of the
benefits anticipated from it. Yet the delegates
10 the late Canal Convention urge the expendi-
ture of more money to complete the enlarge
ment, which, they say, will be so beneficial to
the interests of the State, and particularly the
city of New York. No doubt it would be equal
ly beneficial to certain contractors, who have
their weather eyes open for expected jobs.
1t is contended that if the waterway of the
A. ell
and seventy feet wide contemplated by the
enlargement law of 1S35-if the locks were so
extended and improved gates used, so as that
larger vessels could be admitted, and if the
banks in exposed places were secured by walls
against breaches-the increased facilities thus
afforded would make the canals prosper to
tremendous extent, and give such rapidity and
certainty to the operations Of commerce
through these channels as would effectually
checkmate the policy of British statesmen, who
desire to divert Western commerce from New
York through the Welland canal and st. Law
renee river to the ports Of Canada and Europe.
This is a powerful appeal to patriotism which
would have its due weight if the people could
be only sure that it was sincere, and that under
this cloak something of selfinterest did not
Turk. The New York Chamber of Commerce
has been quoted to the effect that steam on the
canals is the commencement of a new era in
our internal commerce. Perhaps it is; but
then let us first see it in successful operation.
To use homely proverb, let us not count the
chickens before they are Matched. 1t is not yet
certain that the banks of the canals will resist
the wave produced by steam
There can be no doubt that it is the design
of the Central Railroad interest to keep the
canals in an embarrassed condition and bring
them into bad repute, in order that they may
be sold and knocked down to that monopoly
at a low figure. The Albany democratic
Regency and the Regency of Thurlow
Weed & Co. are equally in that interest
The design of both is to give bargain Of the
canals to the Central Railroad; in other words,
to sell the canals to themselves
Now, we wait to see what the patriots who ase
to assemble to-day at Utica will doin the matter;
whether they will propose anything practical,
or can accomplish what they propose, or whe-
Their they, too, do not want to have finger in
the rich and tempting pie on which the spoils-
men of democrats, wings and republicans have
luxuriated SO long.