Year: 1863

NEW YORK CANAL TOLLS.


Tho session Of the New York Lcgisla-
lure is drawing near its close but we arc
not informed that anything has been done
by that body whereby the impositions that
have been placed upon Western business
by the oncrous and unnecessary tolls on
the New York canals, are in the way Of
removal or Of reduction. With the un-
Questioned legal power to make the Wes:
pay the entire expenses Of the Government
Of that State, the members Of that Leglsla-
turc, with full knowledge Of the injustice
Of what they sanction, but restrained BY
coWard's fear lest their constituents should |
grumblc if their representatives should |
dare to do right, seem willing to sanction
by inaction and delay the monstrous |
wrong that the West is compelled to suf-
fer at their hands. We tell them that they
are pursuing q policy that for its short
sightedness and folly was never equalled
by men not animated by rancorous
theological or political hate; and that |
the day will surely come in which they
will acknowledge the truth and feel the
full force of our words. But they play the |
came boldly. No highway-men could |
eyer have stopped traveller on the road
with the startling, Your money or your
lie" with more nonchalance or unimpas-
stoned greed than marks the demand Of
New York upon the West, Stand and de-
liyerg' And certainly no robber plying
his vocation in deh1e, each end Of which
was closed By his enemies, ever seemed
more unconscious Of danger than these
Legislators, who at time when new politi-
ca1 changes and combinations are not vio-
lcntly improbable changes involving the
dissolution of old organizations that have
been believed to be perpetual, and the re-
lease Of dependencies from their subsection
Insist, having no other impulsion than
The law Of might, upon the perpetuation |
Of the iniquity to which they are commit
ed. Long accustomed to believe that New
York CITY is the fixed and inevitable cen
trc Of the commerce Of the Continent, that
the West is ut the most only colony that
lives By s1t1erance Of the parent, and that,
come What may, tie supremacy Of their
city and State will forever remain undis-
puted, it is not wonderful that the rob-
beTs right is exercised with the shameless
ness that they practice. Ne who so well
know the temper Of our people, and the
deep feeling to which continuation Of
this system Of extortion has given rise, do
not err when We say that the
money view Of the question involved
is being lost sight Of; that d sense Of injury
and oppression is taking its place; and
that great time will not elapse before it
will become matter Of Interstate
comfy in which every element in the North
west will be enlisted. Already it furnishes
IN argument to Copperhcads and disunion-
lists that we know not how to meet. t'See," !"
say they, "here is, in our own dealings
"with the East, IN instance of the continued
"injustice Of which the South complained
before her revolt. Strengthen her hands
"by the utter humiliation Of the seceders
"who are fighting not so much against the
anti-slayery sentiment as against iniqui-
"tous tariffs and commercial disabilities the
"result Of unjust Legislation, and you sec
"what will happen to us New YorA
snow yearly rohs us Of millions; what
twill she do when we are wholly in hc1
"power? What shall we do now to ward
."ofT such calamity as that with which
eve arc threatened: :" Artful1y mingling
talsehood with truth-making the ap
peal to the pocket sense Of every
man who has 4 bushel of whea1
or Of corn to sell, the medium by which
an ingenious excuse for the rebels is con
vcyed, need We be surprised that secession
has its sympathizers, or that their number:
have grown fearfully large? And what
in fnce Of the central fact that the New


York Legislature, 50 far as it relates to tn


West, is Ubiquitous and cxtortionate, ca


the friends of the Union saJ? When th


free navigation Of the Mississippi is ol1erc


to flats, who suppose that only The bloch


ade prevents our commerce taking tn;


direction, what can we pledge ourselve


that New York will do save to continu


the system by which, while ne have bee


cut to the bone, she has wa1ed fat? Whc


the glories Of a Northwestern Confcderac


are painted by an imaginative hand, VIII,


that excels the picture shall VIC endeayo1


We ask nothing Of The generosity


New York. We should scorn the idea


appealing to her cupidity or to her fca1


We challenge her sense Of justice, and h


lore of country. And if her lcgislato


can find time to forget the attractions


the lobby and the excitement Of polite


strife, they will hear what the West has


say!