American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-03-03
From the Ohio State JoorBal.


Ifparty advantage was our object we might
be mach gIatiGed il the democratic legisla-
turs would pass the blIl,to restorsthe canals
to the contractors. Il is probable that
such MEASURE would dwindle the great
est democratic majority the party ever
had in Ohio. But even il We could be
governed by SucII . policy, is not neces-
airy that the interest Of the State should
be anydurther sacrificed in order to give
its entire government TO the r. pu'licans.
That result seems inevitable already; and
this fact which democracy generally con-
cedes. gives the present legislature the
miscbievious character ofan irresponsible
power; for, despairiug any future con-
troll, the democracy is reckless Of peular
rebuke and determined TO make the best
of the present op ortunity for spelling The
State. Ia this state OF affairs the rsstOra-
ton Of the c0Dtrscts becomes probable
event, but the demoeray must take the
responsibility, and we shall sndeavor that il
shall net be done under any false preieDes.
The stand ng argument for the Testofa
ton is made up on a statement Of saving
by the contracts, which has been repeat
edly shown to be false, but continues TO be
repeated with desperation that shows an
interest IN the question quite superior to
regard for principal or truth. This Oon-
sists in taking the contract price S978,.
600 year; insisting that this sum was the
entire cost Of the canal under the contract
| system; and persitently refused to recog
I = he
Of the board and of the army Of engineers
special sup'teudents, collectors. inspectors,
wei9hma sters and so forth had 10 be paid
ljust the same under the contracts $40l..
| 1885, In spite of this palpAble fact which
is directly stated in report of the board for
1856, several organs --of whom we leaye
our readers to say-persist in stating that
tie whole cost Of the canal under the con-
tracts was but S278,0OO, and they Com
pare this with the S349, 488 expended for
the whole service last year. and 5439.000
required by the board for the whole SER
vice this year. The Ststesmsn also states
that the bos,d expended the first J ar after
the reputation Of tue contracts 1885,. 600,
being S74, COO more than the contract
price. by which it thinks to cover up the
fact That the expenditures for actual su-
perntendence and repairs was less last
year than under tho contracts. q.
4 The appropriations for tie year ending
November 10, l857-the year. after the
contracts for supsriDteadsnce and repairs,
were but Ss77 700. The other expenses
were of that character that the contracts
do not avoid. That paper is careful to
mention frequently that arepnblican board
has made this increase, but ignores the
t fact that in 1857, the Npenditures on sthe
northern division Of the Mismi and Erie
canal for allpurposes, including salaries,
! awards and supelintendent's boats, were
S22, ,437. while the Democratic member oi
the board who was legislated into that d.
vision last winter, now asks $4,000, for
this year. let j.,
Senator Schleich is officially reported as
having stated in the Senate that the COS!
OF the canals under the contracts was bul
8 S278, 900. Itis hardly becoming SEN
ator to make a statement so far from taets
, for, in the most charitable view Of the case
! it.afgues an ignorance of the subject tina
should prevent his taking a prominent par
4 in :he que srion until he has informed him
: self. 1t would be just as near truth IL
, say thatsthe estimates for superintendent
and repairs this year were but 1926, 75S
, for that would cover all such woIklas the
contractors did. i The balsnceiS for speci
fed rebuilding of structures, of which
$II8, 8,3o0. lis for rebuilding. sixteen locks
The contractors did not rebuild one. Th,
remainder is chiefly made up Of rebuilding
: aqueducts, dams,slone proiection,, cnlyert:
and general purposes, salaries, DC, ..7s
We wish to do noiajustce to the coplr
ols in the, matter. They bad as perfect 9
right to make a good bargain out of theStat
as bidders at any sale or letting; but sh
must always retain the right to, protec
. herself from the uniailhfulness Of her, owl
, agents. Ii is expected that they viii en-
ploy all the influence in thsirlcen'rol I
bear upon the restoration. Of the cQutract'
8 but their cause can be no batter advocate
= on a higher ground thaa The constant rep
etition in a newspaper, o. the, falssho.
: that the canal cost but, S218.O0O unde
! the coatracts; or. by any caaards about ii
y United States Supreme, Court taking U
. the matter end compelling The state to re
J spo nd in damages or the. state, beiu
. mulced in damages 10 the contractors
: Neither, the legislature or the people al
% children who can be prevented from loel
: into this matter by the parrot repetition G
u 1919, 900; or frightened by any bugbea
; Of the state being mulccd in d images b.
; the federal Court. .bs. ..-,,,
s re- 1T takes good many shovels fu
ar of earth 10 hury fha truih - Rurv IL dsa