New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-11
ARGUMENTS FOR FREE CANALS.
A LETTER FROM EX-GOVERNOR SEYMOUR

HIS REASONS FOR URGING THE ADOPTION or TN,
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Ex-Governor Seymour has sent to FrankIi,
Edson OF this city. chairman OF the Free Canal Upo
letter In which he marshals OF the arguments 4,
favor Of free canals His views presented as M,
lows
1t has been my duty in the course Of my life 70 nyes
gate the value OF canals. As member OF the Hos
iaure as chairman OF the Canal Committee and in me-
sages [ have made frequent reports and Statement,
with regard to them have no interest In their prcser-
parts OF the State and the sympathy feel for the boat
men Tho are struggling Tor nvenho9d against ra-
than they have by keeping down charges give,
me great pleasure when think that was able In Official
positions thus to aid in promoting the welfare he
northern end southern sections OF New-York; but IN
common with others nm mortified to find that in cone
instances these people are opposed 10 making our canal
free channels of trade. They VIII IND II thcy look pta
the subject that they not only harmng Others bal
themselves Experience proves that they viii cut Don
their share OF taxation by the adoption OF the amend
WeGt when 6 T give c grUw We anu scep S,s
g. stem by which the State raises It's revenues We have
many counties. Taxation In these is not levied upon
tho persons but upon the property OF citizens, andk
paid into the state Treasury and from which IL ex
pended for the benefit OF the counties without regard 10
the amount which they may have raised. More than
half of these taxes now levied upon property In the
city of New YORK., and this assessment upon them Il
constantly increasing which feleVss the rest Of The
State the valuations OF the real and personal property
I'm NewYork have increased this year many millions
more than those apprnsements year since. Hostility
TO free canals has been shown In the Congressional dis
triet made up Of Franklin and 81 Lawrence Counties
and of tho district composed Of Chauaugua and Catta-
raugs. And yet their members voted ut Washington for
the River and uarbor bill the most important expendl-
ture OF which Is designed to turn commerce from our
State TO harm the prosperity OF the city OF New York
and 10 check the increase Of s share Of the States
thus tending 10 increase the charges upOa
the counties have named. For some OF them the City
OF York pays more for t9e EDUCATION o. tnelr chill
the Legislature their judicial expenses than their
Inhabitants do Let compare the consequences OF
the River and Harbor bill and those which viii follow
from making canals free The cost OF the latter will
bs about one no9 S ea S e ces and connes o o
the line of the Erie Canal This VIII be raised by tar
upon property. The cost OF the Rysr ana HarOor bill
will be tax upon persons their clothes and 70 some
extent their food and medicines III VIII In faet fall
poSation of Is onetenh that Of the Union
but its northern position ts use OF more clothing and
living in tho milder climate OF the South. makes the
share OF taxation which falls upon u more than one
tenth Nearly three millions Of dollars for one years
designed njure State by turning commerce away
lions will be followed mp each year hereafter. me ons
made last commits the Government 70 the policy OF max
ing others-to complete unfinished work Inc sp-
prevail of tho action Of one II not both Of tho members
OF Congress from the districts to which have referred
tends to divide our State into unfTendy sections The
best expressed by Words Which import that II the coun
ties which desire free canes wish TO have them made %
to what end will it leadl 1t viii be said Ia return
such counties wsh to have thr sfho a bsr ppebsr.s
the Legislature their judiciary should receive Their
salaries Let them pay the COST ' S @ ss msSs
In amount than their share Of making free canals |
deplore result which would go 50 far to Impair The
should regret the defeat Of the amendment because
II it is adopted It will lessen taxation upon all sections
and pursuits Canals arc the rontes most heeaeu ~ our
farmers and mechanics; every dollar Oh TAX or Tolls d
OFF Of their commerce adds to the value OF thor produces
and lessons the charges tney nave 70 pay 10 Se' non
market If anyone wishes to learn how much tey are
protected by the water routes let them e1anane Sca.
reports made to the state Engineer ana they WIZ SEQ
that railroad charges are put up when cola "eathe,
closes the canals, and PIT down when tney 1Ts the
destroyed. winter rates will he made through the
Whole '99f of e ysr a na done mo What could IN
public and I'm private life 70 lift Ot from them every
charge FOR carrying imposed ny our Gr te as
ters 50 long as We nave canals which iit hedn 49,
the public will he satisfied but when they rely upon the
what they deem to be unjust action they give rise 10 @
less scandals even II these agents are Tree from MY
wrongful acts they cannot III e honf the Stac
or actively oppose the schemes OF Oeis ~ foct ma
II their hands clean they must be- III ,gt P'
that is evil on the part of around them No worse
calamity could befa the railroads than the r,In W o
upon po ~, , sS Win t6eir families II is charged
am unwilling TO credit this. When think how Literally
they have been treated by orr stare 10 b n 1S SSs
they liable to pay by tlcr charters; the widespread
distress which the destruction Of the canals would cans.
piod and vomd cneender ~ wdesDread and doep-
rooted hostility to great and rich corporations which
should use their power crush those who arr labOrng
for slender returns for their cXerOns in trying to gain
mere subsistence for their families by lives OF harhip
and toll These bOamcn too humorous TO make pools
combinations Canals not only protect The people
through Central New-York but also those living on
parallel roads through the northern southern counties
for they I'LL have common arrangements; Tor they al
have StipuatOnH themselves Ia their charges
The Central aud Hudson River have declared that they
can carry freight to the city OF NcwlOrk for price as
low as ii can be taken to Baltimore or Philadelphia nut
II they do so they are threatened with railroad war
disastrous TO their stockholders Our citizens are s
ed tn
terests controlled by the DEGREES issued by foreign cor
pOratOns and the OF these DEGREES Is many times
greater than that of making canals free When We Deax
down the protection public works give we do not
know how far the Influences may put up charges
upon our commerce which will bring distress upon al
classes and all interests. We tn bear in mind that he
directors of railroads the agents and trustees 81 n
stockholders of their corporations and must IespOndN
their wishes, which apt To be unreasonable ana ii
wise They always seek and demand the largest possible
ydends in whatever part of the State they placed
The cities and counties most interested in making on
cnnals free contain larse mnlOity of our peopLc.