The New York herald., 1869-01-13

the nation at largo, and passed an act 'causing an
eligible and direct route for canal 70
open . communication between the tide water
OF the Hudson river and Lake Erie. TO
the end that Congress- may be enabled 70
appropriate such sums as may be necessary for the
accomplishment OF that great national OBJECT" On
the 9Th OF April, 1871 further act was passed. The
comprehensive objects expressed IN It's preamble
were, by means Of canal navigation between a., aae
agriculture, promote commerce and manufactures
and facilitate full and general intercourse between
the dlferent parts OF the United states tending 10
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT and prosperity OF the country
and to consolidate and strengthen the uni0n" Cnn-
~ r9Sa ta snd m ri
ianng to the proposed inland Navigation Tney
were empowered TO make application Ia behalf q
the Legislature OF any State. to cooperate in the
undertaking. 1t was not believed that q work so
efforts OF single State. During the Presidency OF
James Madison the commissioners thus delegated
proceeded to Washington and presented the appli-
posals the subject OF special message, dated De-
cember 9, 1911, recommending the proposed under
Objects and suggesting the adoption of whatever
steps might t ee 70 INSURE ts Ssn sacra
tary OF the Treasury, Clinton, Morris and Fulton
drew BILL in effect appropratng S. 900 for the
work and embodying the memorable words:-"On
shan be lepted upon the passage or boats through
the said canal other than such may De needJul
e sd g N a ~ s@paT Te 81 S tSsethsr Win ae the
special message OF the President, was referred to
large committee and was 1avorably received. Cal
latin the Secretary OF the Treasury In answer TO
letter from this committee asking his opinion as to the
policy Of the undertaking. urged their action
upon considerations OF the wsest craftsmanship and
purest patrotsm but as expectation verified by sub
sequent events, was held that rupture with Great
Britain was impending, Congress finally deemed 10
make the appropriation at that time, on the ground
that the resources OF the country might be required
to support war" The commissioners marked their
Of the refusal to grant aid 10 national object
no less important In war than In peace, by
saying, In the conclusion OF their report TO the
LeGislature:-"These men console themselves Win
hope that the enved State OF New YORK Will continue
a suppliant for the favor and dependant upon the
generosity of the Union, instead OF making manly
and digni1ed appeal to her own power. 1t remains
to be proved whether they judge justly who judge
SO meany of our Counsels. :. Congress having told
the New York statesmen to wait until the war was
over, they replied that they would not walt" that
delays were always the refuge Of weak minds" In
the current language OF those days they called the
sublinty Of the 0enefcent change 1t would produce
In opening out for immigration and the use OF man
kind area OF fertile land greater In extent than the
narrow edge OF the Continent occupied by the leading
nations OF the Old World, more clearly, in the c0nf
dence OF their well-founded hopes, than we do now,
who look at their realization as fact accomplished
long ago. After the pOstponement of aid by Con-
gress applications were made to the Legislatures Of
@ s ~ar q srae haoa
On the 10th of November, 1919, Dewitt Clinton,
u
the previous year, received the application 70 tne
government OF the United States, and on behalf OF
the state he n ss
her own interest only by promoting the national
welfare He said" rhe State OF New York is not
unaware OF her interests or dsincned to prosecute
them; but when those OF the general government
are concerned and seem to be paramount she deems
it her duty to ask for their assistance" Finding
that all her efforts to secure aid from other States
the general government were unavailing the State
OF New York alone, and with the slender resources
n a IN lo nt n
undertaking. Even then she perseyered In rejecting
considerations merely selfish. Her commissioners
be .sthe better course II the State stood
sSe So tSs not fr 3ee sas
connected by bond which. II the prayers Of good
men are iavorably heard, will be indissoluble' The
act inauguratng the construction of navigable COM
munications between the great Western and North
ern lakes and the Atlantic ocean passed by the
State Legislature April Is, 1907, and was based upon
by the leading merchants and men OF influence in
the city Of New YORK. II stated that
Whereas navigabe communications between Lakes Erie
connecting with the Hudson river, will promote agriculture
Sancs the blessing o. peace Il. Union ana
h "
avail themselves Of the which the Almighty has placed
K: o. such
Having originally taken upon herself whatever
there might have been Of risk IN making at
her unaldcd cost channel OF cheap COM
munication by water between the citizens OF
the Eastern and Western States, and be-
way OF the world, the state OF New York
from patriotic motives to-day continues to be the
Of ts eoss o sa me
the people OF the Union against those extortionate
charges which might have been levied II the canal
into the hands OF speculating individuals or compa-
nes II Is computed that during the six months OF
navigation the canal alone carries as large ton
mage or freight as the five chief trunk railroads from
West TO East during the whole year at hall the cost
to the public, being saving OF 900 annually
to the people OF tne United states.
RIGHT OF wAY-THE RIGHT or THE MILLION.
There Is no withdrawal from the original doctrine
OF the State that the canal should be considered as
trust from which the state should receive back sim
ply what 1t advanced for construction and mainte-
nance, and employ The surplus for the improvement
OF the work and cheapenng the service 1t renders to
the public such were the views held at the Consi-
tutional Convention or the state In 1857 when the
principles enunclated In lSl6 by Its master spirit
Michael Hoffman, were quoted, reiterated and ap-
proved by the leading men on ali sides. He said:-
Tho right of way the right or the million. The sovereign
and has no right 70 make ou Of T. sasa course
must snSsnasr the worst Oppression and tne worst sorrnp
rnents-taxaiion on all we consume, which VIII allow
State.
The same doctrine was expressed at the Con-
stitutionai Convention IN 1861 by Evarts Tilden,
Church, Cavey, Opdyke, Dwight professor OF In.
ternaional Law In Columbia College) Brooks, MUIR
ply, Cassidy, Clark OF Rochester, and Others, VINO
repudiated the idea OF taxing tolls upon canals for
any other purpose than to pay Tor tile cost OF con-
structi0n and repairs
NATIONAL CHARACTER or THE CANAL.
The truly national character OF the work and OF
It's value Is shown by the fact that the commerce
passed over II and belonging TO the people OF its own
state IL only One-ninth OF the aggregate. the re-
mainder coming from the western and Central
States or Canada. The State OF New York does not
furnish M large an amount OF tonnage for tie canal
Is supplied by either Michigan Illinois or Wiscon-
SIN singy. NO less conclusive ID the testimony OF half
century as TO Its unequvocal success, present vaue.
and the certainty OF the continued increase Of It's trade
The magnitude or the present annual productions or
the states bordering the lakes is not entirely un
known to she public; but few know how fertile Is
the soil and gcna The climate OF the vast areas To the
northwest Of Lake Superior soon to become settled
and increase that yet undeveloped commerce Of the
lakes which Will pass through our own territory, en-.