The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-02-28

"a, nayso.
The bill to provide tor the case of the |
removal from office. by death, resignation
or inability to serve of both the Governor
and Lieutenant COMMUNICATING that |
the Secretary of State shall act as Cover
nor-was passed the final reading-yeas
rs, nays 2.
The Response of the Canal Trustees.
In reply to the resolution asking the Trus-
tees to inform the Legislature what DISPOSE
ton they intended to make of the canal, and
what legislation would be required of the
State to accomplish their object the Trus-
tees have sent communication to the
Speaker of the House, from which we ex-
tract the most material parts.
/. That it is certain that the Trustees
can not maintain navigation on the Wa
bash and Erie Canal by the means now at
their disposal.
2. The "reasonsn why this cannot be
done are-f fully set forth in the late report of
the Board, submitted at the early part of the
present session of the General Assembly,
and will be found embraced, from pages to
I6 inclusive, and to reconsideration of which
we beg leave to call the attention of the
House.
3. The only Legislation which could
be effective might be embraced under two
heads. The first would be an appropriation
of money to maintain the canal in navigable
order, and the second to confer power upon
the Trustees to lease the work to private. as
sociations, who would maintain it for the
benefit of the people, who look to it as a
means of securing the cheap transportation
as well as for the benefit and security of
those who have invested large sums in mills
manufactures, and warehouses transpCrta-
| ton lines, and boats, connected with the
business of the canal.
H. The Trustees are clearly of opinion
that the legislation above enumerated could
in no wise Involve a change in the ar
! rangement and settlement with the bond
holders, made in 1916 and 1847," and we
are sustained in this position by every I'M
prejudicial legal opinion expressed in our
| hearing. The Trustees ask nothing incom
patible with strict regard to that arrange
ment, and only wish such enactments as
will save the work from ruin and decay.
| The Trustees feel every confidence that the
State and the bondholders share in this SEN
timent and that neither would knowingly
treat subject of such grave Importance in
a manner unbecoming the integrity of pa
tent creditors or the dignities of sovereign
State. As citizens of Indiana, representing
equally the State and the bondholders we
| desire no legislation which is not open, fair
i ana unmistakable-non that will not re-
commend itself to the Judgment of all good
men.
Whether the leasing of the canal is prac-
! ticable is not, to our minds, absolutely Ger
tain, though we think the probabilities are
favorable to that end. If the lessees could
he relieved from themaintainance Of bridges
over the canal where it crosses State and
county roads, it would go far to secure that
desirable result. AS this burden would
have to be borne by those who have an I'M
mediate and direct interest in the canal navi-
cation, we cannot doubt that the people of
the Wabash counties would cheerfully as
sumo the responsibilities thus created. This
suggestion is made more for the benefit of
a portion of the citizens of Indiana than for
the interest Of those living without its bor-
ders
Those citizens have had our anxious
wishes for the success of some measure which
would meet the expectations of the people
|
terested in tins work.
We would respectfully suggest that the
authority to lease this canal must be de-
rived from the State and the bondholders,
and that without this authority and consent
that cannot be done. As Trustees, we have
t not the power to lease or abandon the work,
+, and could not act without the assent OF
both. 1t is due to the importance of the in
al Il, Il, II
90 to the honorable body over which you
I preside, and that our position should be
E thoroughly understood, to prevent future
/, misapprehensions. We cannot disest our
selves of even the temporary control of this
canal, without the assent of both parties to
c the arrangement of 1847, and, for this rea.
: son, some action is essential to the mainte
nance of navigation. In what words OF
phrases that assent shall be given. does mo-
concern the Trustees, and cannot change
: modify or increase the responsibilities O
either the bondholders or the State.
No enactment looking to the working o
: the canal by private companies, and arantda.
: THIS sanction, can avail 10 keep the work il
operation. Indeed any hope of this kline
would only create disappointment, and be
source of annoyance to the people.
b The State in the act establishing tn,
> Trust, anticipated that further legislation
fmight become necessary, and in the act o
> ls47 it is specially promised that the Stat
shall and s0ilt supply, by future legislation, al
aeeifut endctmeRts to carry out the obviou
> intent and meaning of the arrangement be
; tween Indiana and the boEdholders. NJ
IS one then, supposed or expected that
Trust so large, and with individual and pub
!, lie interests SO varied, could be successful.
maintained without the protecting power o
J the State. The time has arrived when thi
10 promised legislation has. become necessary
,e and the Trustees only ask that the Stat
. 4 without committing herself to any fnrthe
= liability, or imposing new condition on TIL
y creditors of the State), will confer power t,
: secure the preservation of this work for tn
VI use and benefit of her own citizens Re
spectfully su omitted, @t-l =
THOS. BOWLING,
l. RICHARD RALEIGH.
3, Trustees, ~