New-York daily tribune., 1859-02-11
FROM ALBANY.

ters to continue the business Of issuing canal drafts
and 20 allow them 10 draw an interest Of SIX per
cent. This pclicy is substantially advocated b.
many Of the loudtalkus frieads aud advocates OF
the speedy completion of the enlargement who
claim that this much is necessary to KEEP
tie contractors at work. Now, apart from the
fact that the issuing of drafts is strongly pro-
tested against by the Controller and Canal Au-
dtor as the great cause OF our financial difficult
ties, and virtually condemned in the annual mes
SAGE Of the Governor, as Well Sc by the letter OF
th. Constitution, the system should be opposed on
the ground of sound morals. ANY member OF the
LEGISLATURE who will vote for continuing the issue
of these evidences of debt, or who viii refuse hls
vote for to put speedy stop To their Ia
sue and fails to comprehend that he Is thereby com
mtting moral perjury BY violating that Constitution
which he has sworn to sustain, Is clearly too OBJ
tuse to have ANYTHING to do with the framing OF
laws for the govern ment of the people. IL u.s. OF
course very desirable that the canals should be
continued and finished, but if these public works
cannot be continued without trampllng the Const-
tuition under our feet, in the name OF all that's
msnly and decent, let them be stopped. Let no
money be raised unless il can be raised honestly
and above board There ha, been reckle.sness
enough in this business already Let it be stopped
and stopped at once. There is no better time than
now for Legislative repeptance-no better time
than now 10 cease doing wrong and begin to do
right.
II is all yery wen t, say that the outstanding
drafts must be paid: and as the State has not the
means to pay now, it is no more than fair and just
that it should do as any honest man would do un-
der like circumstances viz: pay lnteTest until such
time as il can cancel the indebtedness, though
apprehend that an interest of less than six per cent
would make those unfortunate drafts equal to cash
in the market But the plea that We must pay
these outstanding drafts because We have received
value therefor in the increased capacity OF our
canals-because they represent work done under
contracts which were made by legally y-authorlzed
officers of the State, acting in pursuance 0i law,
and are therefore valid claims against the Govern
ment-because the fault that these draftt are
afoat was ours and not that OF the contractors,
inasmuch as the Canal Commissioners failed
70 do their duty by ordering the works to be
stopped when the funds for ia, r prosecution were
exhausted-because, if you please, it is cOnstltu-
toual or at least honest if not constitutional, to
raw an Unconstitutional debts not valid when
urged as an excuse for enlargng that unconstitl-
tona debt by the further issue OF similar drafts
for work vet 10 be done. And it matters not the
value of a brass button whether this be accom-
plisbed by positive legislation authorizing the issue
of such diaits, or by skulhiDg failure to enact
law for their suppression, thus acitly and sneak
iroly wpkiug al the continued Illegal acts o the
officers having charge of the canals.
II won't do, gentlemen of the Legislature Your
eyes are vide open. You understand this whole
question. If you fail to stop this unfortunate, II
| not wicked business now, on your heads be the
| SEQUENCES You cannot hide behind the State
| officers aud say ''they are very naughty fellows,
! and ought not to have done this thing" The peo-
pie will understand it, and say truly that you, the
LEGISLATURE of 1859 By ndorsing the illegal acts of
the Canal Commissioners, have made those acts
your own. YOn are the gentlemen now who DIS
regard your oaths and aGdaciOusly trample IN the
dust the fundamental Law Of the State.
The friends of maLly and fair dealing in state
affairs will be glad to know that Mr. OWEN is
about to introduce into the Senate bill entitled
"An act TO prohibit the creation Of debts against
"the State contrary to the provisions OF the Con
"s,tution." Mr. Owens bin will provide that the
Treasurer shall notify the Canal Commissioner
State when any appropriation is exhausted, and that
there is no worr money applicable 70 particular
work; and upon receiving suGS notice the Com
missioner shall suspend work on the contracts Tor
such improvement and shall not be permitted to
draw for any work done after receiving such no.
| tice. If Alr. ID. would add to his bill clause
making il felony for Commissioner to disregard
the provisions OF th, act it might perhaps have
the desired effect.
We shall see in due time how many members OF
this Legislature are prepared to vote against or
dodge this squaIe.tOed proposition.
Your telegraphe reporter made slight mistake
in regard TO the proceedings OF the Senate Lobby
Investigating Committee last evening. lie states
tie point raised by the counsel ior the witnesses
corrective but instead of adjOurnlng without taking
action on the point, as your report states the
Committee oveIruled the point, adopted motion
TO authorize the Chairman to send tor persons and
papers in the Albany Bridge case, and adjourned to
o'clock to-day when it is presumed that they
will proceed 10 the examination OF witnesses The
Chairman, Mr.. Wheeler. remarked that the Conn
mttee were likely to have their hands full ior seV-
eral days as he had list of over forty witnesses
whom be desired TO examine.
Whether this investigation VIII come 20 nny-
thing or not it il Of course impossible to say bat
there is considerable futteriug IN certain clrdes
about town and it is regarded as a somewhat Om'
nous sign of the time that the first witnesses sum-
noned or requested to appear before the Commit
tee. should come accompanied by two OF the most
eminent counsel in this part Of the State Nessrs.
Porter and Cagger Of this city. Public rumor mas
IL that there is strong outside pressure being
brought to bear against any further proceedings on
the part of this Committee; but Of this
know nothing. 1 only know that there
are many new faces here to-day, and not adj OF
them remarkable for their plscidity. If they are
here for the purposes of suppresslng inyestigaion
into corrupt practices Inside Views" will prob
sbIy be able to tell you all about il in day or two,
when the public can judge for it'elf whether these
busy gentlemen are Influenced by other than mo.
tiyes OF public good in spending their time ana
msney for the purpose OF instructing the COM
mirtee " LOw not to do it,"
In the Senate to-day, Mr.. AMEs, one OF the
Committee OF Investigation rose 70 qlest9h oi
Of privilege and called the attention Of thal Dody
to sn article IN The Albany Statesman oi yesterosy
rejecting upon that Senator as having absented
.;S g.,