New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-02
FAVORING FREE CANALS.
MASS MEETING AT THE COOPER UNION.

MASS hEE ldE COOfEh ONlOS'
A GATHERING THAT FnLED THE LARGE HALF
SPEECHES BY WILLIAM NJ EvARTs, ABRAs 8.
HEWITT. Ex-IEUrENANT-GovERSoR DoRsHEIM-
Err, NOAH DAVIS AND ALGERNoN s. SULLIVAN.
The call for mass meeting in favor of free canals
OF the large hall of the Cooper Institute last eyen-
ing under the auspices of the Canal Union Of New,
York. caused every seat to be occupied nearly
a half hour before the time fixed for the opening
of the meeting. When the speeches began the
main body of the audience was fringed with persons
standing two and three deep along TIE walls. just
before o'clock the Produce Exchange. the MARI
time Exchange the Mercantile Exchange and tne
Iron and Metal Exchange Free Canal Clubs, severai
hundred strong, entered the hall in body Bern
STEMS band played thesteps of the building after
the doors of the hall were opened, and subsequently
the musicians took their seats in the audience and
greeted the conclusion Of each address with music
The platform pillars were draped with American
flags anil bore these notices; The commercial
supremacy of our State must and shall be MAIN
tainedr and, Our canals must be as free to navi-
CATION and commerce the rivers and lakesj
therefore vote for the constitutional amendment"
Documents and pamphlets in favor Of the abolition
of tolls on the canals were distributed at the doors
of the hall.
While the audience was waiting for the opening
of the meeting Peter Cooper was escorted across
the stage by George Wilson, secretary of the Cham
ber of Commerce, his appearance evoking warm
applause. Promptly at 8 o'clock the platform
seats were filled, the entrance on the plat
form of Mr.. Cooper again exciting applause,
which was also bestowed on Franklin Edison. Mr..
Edison called the meeting TO order. Mayor
Grace had promised to preside, forgetting that ha
had previously agreed to be present at the review
of the Goth Regiment He sent letter of excuse
and regret-which Mr.. Edison read-and stated his
hearty sympathy with the object OF the meeting,
He wrote:
After careful study Of the whole situation am
sincerely convinced that the freeing o. the eanals
have the effect now so particularly desirable, sd %
Charges from one end Of the state TO the other.
The cost OF maintaining the canals without the exacon
and benefit throughout the state and such burden as
there is will fG mainly upon the great cities alOng the
lines and at the ermin OF the canals which pay almost
80 per cent OF the taxes Of the state The tolls only
specla tax which falls with great severity upon hos9
the monoposts OF of transportation 10 the dert-
ment of the whole community"
Mr. Edison then nominated Frederick A. Conkling
as chairman A. B. Miller chosen secretary.
In acknowledging his election Mr. Conkling read
paper prepared by Peter Cooper, which was in part
as follows:
We are here my friends to call and fx the attention
OF this whole community fact that all the pros
perty and business industries OF our state and city
the Erie Canal the cheapest and best means 10 bring
to city the heavy products Of the West We are In.
OF the State, and also for a very larse portion
the present wealth of our city Lhe wean tast mas
come through channel has been OF the most SUD
stantia character It brought TO us cheap bread
lumber, and the raw materials tnat haVe gwen ehP'oy-
| ment TO The wOrklngnen or our city.
THE yICE-PRLSI DENTS AND RESOLUTIONS.
In reading the list of vIce-presldents OF the
meeting, the names of Mr.. Edson and Allan
Campbell were both applauded Among
the vIce-presidents were George w. Lane.
Jackson S. Schultz Franklin Edison, S. ID.
Chittenden. L. j. n. Stark, William E. Dodge,
Royal Phelps, James +. Ruggles, Henry Hentz,
| Ambrose Snow, Edwin ID. Morgan, samuel ).
| Tiiden Joseph J. O'Donoghue, L. +. Holman, Allan
Campbell Gusav sGhwsP henry Sasepi Siti feI1s TeSn
T. Agnew Francis b. Ihurber, T.; h; LiVerIhore, pn,
| Henry f. spaulding, Alexander Z. Orr; hoDero
| Tannahll, William l.. strong ana oswald ot'en-
| dorter , -
Thereas. Through the wisdom of fathers, that
great conception Of the honored De Wit clinton, me
Erie Canal constructed uniting the waters OF tha
great lakes with the Hudson River thereby forming
eohnuous navigation from the interior Of the e0nnen1
| to the City OF New York; and .
| Whereas To the benign operations Of the canal In
opening up to and cultivation the vast fertile
of their commerce. population wealth and
influence have acquired for our state and city an I'M
BIeres statistics and other evidence absolutely de-
monstrae the canals essential now as at any
nrod of their existence to the Of the
ercia supremacy and prosperity OF our state ana oiy
not only in their immense contributions 10 their coa
merce but also in regulating and controlling the rates VI
the railroads. and -, 49, .....-
ghereas The existing provision OF the Constitution
limiting the that may be expended each year or the
support Of the canals 70 the gross amount & Sf tos re-
ence and threatens US with commercial ana nhahelo
Rsired That it is the duty well the interest of
every citizen throughout the length and Dreadth Oh our
State to aevTy up be 1e5pIe on Tuesiay next
November OF the constitutional amendments aoohsn
| ing tolls on the canals-
A LETTER FROM HORATIO SEYMOUR
| Letters of regret then were read from Horatio
| Seymour and Richard OGorman. Mr. Seymour
stated In his letter that he was too Ill to come TO
| New-York 10 attend the meeting, and too weak TO
| sneak He then advocated at considerable length
| tine freeing Of the canals. he said
The more che subject OF cheap carrying Is looked into
the more we snail learn OF Its importance. All that 10
sayed in into the pockets OF our tarner
our meenanlcs and our labOrers. The question which
most concerns every business aud every pursuit Can
we export our farm products TO Europe After the
Senressed We were suddenly lifted out Of
our trouble by great sales OF grain ana provision
Every man VINO studies the future OF busness watcnes
tu ace how Jur Imports compare with our exports lug
latter have increased IN vast degree sSe 1
to EurOpe. But some say putlng down t2Ls mas aos
% & Is7o The railroads have lowered their charges
| from so u rs cents per hundred the r smouns ,s
ps in strong light the influence OF tue canals on
otaer routes OF carrying Our e1ports nave
oo W.,ter-routes and railroads There 10 reason why
,h hnsness of canal has not grown lager py low
, aud tnat the strongest argument TOT the
| Sansi Amendment. Railroad charges come down
| when tolls are reduced
| ADDRESS OF MR.. EvARTs.
| The Hon. William M Evarts was the first speaker
| His introduction was greeted with tumuituous APP
plause that was prolonged until gratided smlle
WAS called to the face OF the
ex-secretary of State. Although his voice was .
little hoarse Mr. Evarts spoke with energy and held
the Attention of the crowd 10 the end of his speech
| lie spoke as follows: