MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YO RKER: 
AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSFAFER. 
GOVERNOR’ S MESSAGE. ability of the Stole to keep its engagements had 
_ built their humble cabins on the lines of our ca- 
r Continued jrom page 15.] mils, were left in a condition of destitution and 
i • suffering. The act of 18-12 was passed to restore 
press insurrection, or defend the State w , the ^ q{ th(J & and Clja ' ble it to pay j ts 
unless authorized on a direct appeal to e pop- deblg ^ ,. elicv( , , he blic creditors. It was a 
ular will, in the manner directed by the Con- , bold and h(me8t efful J 0 8tem the tide of repudi- 
stitution. These important provisions have ic- adon ^ threalei) ,. d t0 swe ep away the charac- 
cently been topics of earnest discussion, in pop- te] . for int it aud honor of many of the States 
ulnr assemblages, in the halls ot the Legislature, ^ the Union J 
[Continued jrom page 15.] 
press insurrection, or defend the State in war; 
unless authorized on a direct appeal to the pop¬ 
ular will, in the manner directed by the Con¬ 
stitution. These important provisions have re- 
i(l before the judicial tribunals. 
It cannot be said our condition in 1842 was 
The finances of the State, and the condition of the pub- | . ‘ , ^ • i of ihp time 
lie works, are at this time subjects of great interest; I : owing to tilt financial embdl JSSmentSOt the tir ie. 
therefore deem it my duty to recur to the reasons which i If the State nau not involved ltselt 111 tleut, It 
led to the adoption of the‘financial provisions .f the Con. would have been beyond the reach of pecuniary 
stitutfon, to give u y views of the condition of the public revids j olJ8 . Instead'’of increasing the distresses 
work?, and to ninkc such recommenQMtions with reg&ru . r . . i - 1 , 1 1 
to them as I think best calculated to effect their compie- of the farmers, mechanics and merchants, by hot - 
tion, and make them the channels of commerce between rowing the money they needed, it would have 
the great and productive regions of the West, and the affbided them relief by ihe annual expenditure of 
markets of the East. The Constitutional Convention j gurp us canal revenues, thus giving employ- 
caused statements to be prepared showing the financial } . , , . , - , ,P ., r “ 
condition of the State; and ascertained that the debts merit to labor, and cieatmg a demand loi the pio- 
contracted for the canals, amounted to $17,516,119.57, and ductions of the soil. But the State fell from its 
pay the expenses ot the government, so tnattms ueot 
constantly increasing. 
Of the general debt of the State. $8,000,0(10 had been in¬ 
curred for the benefit of the New York and Erie Railroad. 
To extinguish the canal debt the 1st section of the 7th 
In consequence of the absorption of its reve¬ 
nues by sinking funds and interest accounts, it 
was unable to avail itself of the low prices which 
article of the Constitution directs that after paying the ex- prevailed from 1843 to 1847. The annual expeu- 
penses of repairs, &ctnere shall be set apart from the ffiture of the surplus revenues we should have 
revenues of the canals in each fiscal year $1 8«0 000 un- j j j tl it we had borrowed no money 
til the first of June, lS5o, and, from that tune, the sum ot J . „ 
$1,700,000, in each fiscal year, as a sinking fund to pay (lie would have been ot gieat advantage to oui unnn- 
interest and redeem the principal of the canal debt, as it ished works, while it would have given season- 
existed on the first day of June, 1S46. able relief to our citizens. 
To pay the General Fund debt of the State, the 2d sec- j j des j rable to bave contracts on the public 
tion of the 7th article provides, that in each nscai year, . 
after complying with the 1st section, there shall be set improvements taken by men whose sail! aud ex¬ 
act apart for tlie payment ot tne wenerai j; unu ueoi, JS to - . 
be increased to $1,500,000. and expended within short periods ot time, mex- 
To aid in paying the expenses of Government,, the th rd perienced persons are induced to leave their prop- 
section of the 7th article directs that ^ere shan be paul e[ . punsuits arid app iy f or contracts. It is evident 
out of the surplus revenues of the canals foi that purpose, , i . 1 1 ° , • i 1 : u , -u- 
asum notexceeding $200,000, in each year, after comply that such persons must be paid high puces or be 
ing with the provisions of the first and second sections. compelled to apply to the Legislature for relief. 
To secure the completion of our unfinished public works q' b j s bas beeu a source of great loss to the State, 
it repuires that the remainder of the surplus revenues of , , •. • Wtototimi 
the canals shall, in each fiscal year, be applied to the Erie au „,, L IC,lt ewj in legislation. _ 
canal enlargement, and the Genesee Valley and Black Itiv- i ho system ot borrowing afreets injuriously the 
er canals, until they are completed. public interest in other respects. More than 
When the purposes of the Constitution shall he accom- *40,000,000 have been paid to the State for tolls 
phshed, according to these arrangements, the Erie canal v , .. •’ . .. ... .. . .• , i +t,...... 
enlargement and the Black River and Genesee Valley ca- in addition to the cost ot tianspoitation, by those 
nals, will be completed, the State of New York will be free using our canals, since 1835. this enormous 
from debt, and will own 85S mile? of canals, yielding large weight of taxation has borne heavily upon the 
then ^ F°^«g f« and business interests of the 
ductions of the taxes on the transportation of the products eouutiy. it the btate liad cieateu no debt lot 
of the country to market, as may be necessary to increase canal or other purposes, since 1835, we could now, 
their sale, to secure the commerce of the Western States, or j u a yean » rt! jj eve the canal commerce from 
traded 10 ° Ur dtiZUnS ^ P * Va Can ‘ yi " g any taxation beyond the amount necessary to 
The mistaken idea is entertained by many, that the keep them in repairs, and make such contribu- 
nals; that the improvident creation of debt, not only embar- more than thirty -eight millions of dollars, a sum 
rassed the finance-' of the State, but also delayed the com sufficient to have Completed the Erie Canal Eu- 
pletion of the unfinished public works. The history of our . . ., . rr n,.. i v>i„ . 1 . 
canals gives abundant proofs of the truth of these propo- ougement, the Genesee \ alley and Liack Rn ei 
siiions Canals, and to have paid the balance 01 canal m- 
flefore the year 1S35, the State of New York had built debtedness due ill 1835. 
656 miles of canal, connecting the Hudson river with the 
Erie, Ontario, Cayuga, Seneca and Crooked lakes; and 
with the valleys of the Chemung and Susquehana rivers. 
The toll upon the transportation of a barrel of 
flour from Buffalo to Albany, at the present re- 
This great system of internal improvements cost only duced rates, is about twenty-three cents. If we 
$11,652,652,96. Its first and greatest enterprise, the Erie, were not burdened with debt, eight cents would 
canal, was commenced in 1817. It traversed a vast extent y tiv L-I 
of dense forests and pestilential swamps. Great numbers b ® lts P opoitio.ute amount Ot tax tor keeping 
of laborers were disabled or destroyed by the diseases in- the canal m repair, and contributing an anipie 
cident to uncultivated low grounds ; the contractors, with- yearly sum towards the support of government, 
out the facilities now enjoyed, in many instances without The saving of expense of transportation, by the 
the convenience afforded by common roads, were obliged to . .. 0 r , „ .,1,1 1. 1. 
overcome numerous obstacles with which they had to con- completion ot the enlaigemeiit, Mould have been 
tend, unaided by experience. Y’et this great work, 864 ten cents more, making a diminution of twenty- 
miles in length, connecting Lake Erie with the Hudson five cents in theexpeiiseofconveyingthisimpor- 
river, cost on!y $t,l"kj**89.86, tant article of food and commerce to the city of 
In IS 80 , the successful and rapid completion of the pub- .. v J 
tant article of food and commerce to the city of 
lie works, and the extinguishment of the princip 1 part of New Y ork. 
the debt created for their construction, was a just cause for It is deemed a matter of great national interest 
pride and congratulation. Since that time there has been to be able to export freely the productions of the 
expendedonou canals $25,245,009, besides $9,477,000 paid . , com iimanee of' taxation which should 
for interest; yet tli e enlargement is not completed, nor any • 011 > “ K ‘ coni lnua net 1 1 ux.uu l), umin bin mo 
new canals finished. Our finances are embarrassed, and have been avoided, will frequently prevent the 
for interest; yet tli e enlargement is not completed, nor any , ’ j L , . , ' ’ 
new canals finished. Our finances are embarrassed, and have been avoided, Will frequently prevent the 
our resources diminished, until we are threatened with an shipment of provisions, deprive the farmer of a 
increase of direct taxation. I do not deem any apology market, aud the merchant and ship owner of an 
necessary for giving in detail my views of the causes which • ... 1 , . , .. 1 
have produced these disastrous results important tiade and tianspoitation. 
I have heretofore had occasion to examine this subject, If a tax of twenty-live cents should he lmpos- 
as a member of the Legislature, and chairman of the com- e d by legislation on’each barrel of flour consumed 
mittee on canals. At that time as on the present occasion, j eastern cities, or exported from New York, 
I consulted those engaged in buulnng or navigating ou . . . . *. *. . . c , c ,, , , 
canals, for the purpose of obtaining correct information such an act of injustice; mischief and folly would 
respecting their history, interests and condition. I have be justly denounced by the laborer, merchant and 
been compelled to the conclusion that the practice of bor- f anner . To prevent such injurious legislation, 
rowing and expending large sums of money within short p rr •.'A q. . 0 ■ ) 
prevent 
peSKftffiK tbe Constitution of the United States provides 
juriousto the public interests. The effective appii ation of that ‘ no tax or duty shall be laid on articles ex- 
money previous to 1835, extended through a period of ported from anv State.” Our unfortunate canal 
about eighteen years The average amount borrowed or debt as j t practically imposed such a tax, does 
expended within each year, was less than $1,000,000.— • ^ J 1 • i 
Speculative excitements were not then created by profuse inflict this injury upon US ill addition to the de¬ 
expenditures; extravagant plans were not engendered by rangement it has occasioned in our finances, and 
placing great amounts at the disposal of disbursing agents; the delay it has caused ill the completion of our 
localities were not stimulated to press for ornamental or r “mi tay wb ; pb n i mr , OSP o , lnon the wood 
questionable improvements. Limited annual appropria- f ana . 1S ' i tax W111C11 It imposes upon me WOOC1, 
tions induced ail to desire such application of the money lumber, and other coarse productions of our State 
as would most promote the great object of increased facili- is still more onerous. If from the toll now ini- 
ties for transportation. M hen it was decided, in lS8o, to posed upon these articles, there is deducted 
enlarge the Erie canal, it was proposed to accomplish the 1 , 4 , . , ■ i • 
work by the application of the surplus tolls, without re- enough to keepjiie canals ill lepaii, and to aid in 
enough to keep the canals in repair, and to aid ii 
sorting to loans. There has been collected from taxation supporting the State government, it w ill be found 
upon the transportation of property upon our canals, that if we had borrowed no money and finisned 
si r nc t.i ha l ti, n?i m the -n SU “ S 41 ' 227 ’? 00 ; the canals by our surplus revenues, the toll on 
of keeping them in repair amount to $11,459,000. , , . « 1 . > -r, 
TIia hfllnnrv* hnvA hppn annlifiri t.n a tliousaud ieet <jf pine 1 umbel lioni Dans- 
The balance might have been applied to the 
completion of our public works if we had created 
ville to Albany, on the Genesee Valley canal, 
no debts involving charges for interest and Sink- C 0 U J ( ] be reduced to one dollar ; that a reduction 
ing Fund accounts; it is believed that the balance C( J u n he made of 53 cents on each thousand .eet 
of $29,768,000, if it had been applied as it ac- ot g re ® n healloc k. and of Gi cents on each thou- 
crued from the revenues, would have finished the saD< . green spruce, and of 18 cents on eacli 
works ; the estimate of their cost was $30,734,000. c 1 orc ^_ ( ?^ wood earned to market from the head of 
Uufortunately, the prudent system of expending the Black river feeder. Investigation will show 
only our surplus tolls was abandoned. The poli¬ 
cy of borrowing is always adopted when money 
is abundant; when a speculative feeling pervades 
the coimmunity ; when extravagant plans arepop- 
that the canal debts has materially diminished 
the value of real estate in many localities. 
The amount of business upon the canals is not 
governed by the amount of the productions and 
ular ; »vhen materials and labor are high, and supplies of the west, for they are inexhaustible ; 
when the application of money produces the least bu t by the demand for them in the markets of 
effect. This state of affairs prevailed to an unex- the eastern cities, or of the commercial world.— 
am pled extent in the years 1837-8-9 and 1840, The extent of our market, and the distances to 
when under its influence and during that time, which vve can export our productions, depend up- 
the State borrowed more than sixteen millions for 011 their cost in New York. Y\ e cannot foresee 
canal purposes, and incurred obligations in addi- how iar the unfortunate policy we have pursued 
tion. that swelled the sum of liabilities to $ 20 ,- will deprive us of the advantages of foreign mar- 
713,905.58, and created the heavy interest account kets ; but it will without doubt affect seriously 
that has absorbed so much of our revenues. the exportation of provisions. 
The expenditure of these great amounts in- The object of the Constitution is to prevent a 
creased the speculative spirit of the times, aud recurrence of the evils we have experienced, to 
caused the adoption of uselessly expensive struc- provide for the extinguishment of our debts, and 
tures on the lines of the canals. The cost of do- for a judicious prosecution of our public works, 
ing the work was swelled still more, by putting Since the adoption of the Constitution, there 
large amounts under contract at one time. The has been expended upon the public works $ 6 ,- 
expense of structures was much greater than it 715,000; the surplus tolls applicabletothepur- 
would have been under other circumstances. The pose, amounted, in 1851, to $964,432. In 1851, 
regularity of the pursuits of the industrial classes the Legislature passed a law to raise nine millions 
was disturbed ; great numbers of laborers were of dollars for the purpose of completing, at once, 
drawn from all quarters, who, when thrown out the unfinished public works ; and at the same 
ous of employment by the inability of the State session relieved certain railroads from the pay- 
to pay their employers, increased the general dis- ment of tolls levied to protect the canal revenues, 
tress. The full force of the evils of indebtedness It was objected to the law of 1851 that it violated 
was felt in the autumn of 1841, when the State the letter and spirit of the Constitution, aud 
officers were unable to borrow money to pay the would produce the evils which it was designed to 
contractors. The work on the canals was not prevent; that if the law was Constitutional, it 
suspended by a mere legislative act. The stocks would injure our carnal system by burthening it 
of the State could not he sold at par, for some with the payment of the principal and interest of 
months before the Legislature of 1842 convened the sum borrowed, rendering continued taxation 
and paased the law to restore the credit of the upon its commerce necessary ; that the expense 
State, and enable it to pay the debts due to its of the work would be increased by putting so 
citizens. _ much under contract at one time ; that prices 
In some instances the contractors were com- were high and the money market inflated, and 
pelled to take the stocks of the State at par, and would become more so, under the influence of the 
sell them in market at a loss of ten or fifteen per law, as it permitted the certificates for the money 
cent. The distress caused by the loss of public borrowed to be made the basis for hanking, thus 
credit, was not confined to the public creditors.— converting the indebtedness of our canals into 
Their embarassments involved others in their hank hills for circulation ; that if the amount of 
misfortunes. The laborers, who, relying on the the certificates should should not be equal to the 
contracts made under the law, while the indebt¬ 
edness would be increased, no resources would be 
left for the completion of the works, as the bill 
proposed “to sell all surplus revenues” applica¬ 
ble to that purpose, for the repayment of the nine 
millions raised under its provisions. 
Unfortunately the Legislature rejected a pro¬ 
posed amendment, providing that the constitu¬ 
tionality of the law should be determined before 
any contracts should be made, or money borrow¬ 
ed. Canal certificates for $1,500,000 were sold in 
August and December, 1851, at a premium of less 
than one per cent, while the stock of the State, of 
known conatitutionality, bearing the same inter¬ 
est, commanded a premium ranging from 9 to 16 
per cent. The contracts were let; it has been 
supposed that they only amounted to $8,029,727,- 
42, but this is upon the assumption that all the 
excavation on the enlargement would he of the 
easiest kind, and of the description which was to 
have been done at the lowest prices under the 
contracts. No allowance was made for the fact, 
that by the terms of these contracts, much higher 
prices were to have been paid far the quicksand 
or hardpau that might be excavated in the per¬ 
formance of the work. Jt is difficult to estimate 
what amount would kuve been required, if the 
law had been declared constitutional; the aggre¬ 
gate is variously estimated by different engineers 
to be from ten to thirteen millions of dollars.— 
For the payment of the expense of the work be¬ 
yond the amount to be raised by the law of 1851, 
there was no resource left, as the surplus tolls were 
all disposed of, until the $9,000,000 were paid ; 
and the works would have stopped, or resort must 
have been had to taxation upon the people. 
The law was declared to be (^constitutionalby 
the highest judicial tribunal of our State. Justice 
requires that the money received from the certifi¬ 
cates should be refunded, and that the State 
should pay for the work done under the contracts. 
The amount required for this purpose must be 
raised by a tax, or by submitting to the people a 
law authorizing a debt for the purpose, and pro¬ 
viding for the payment of the interest and princi¬ 
pal by a tax, according to the provisions of the 
Constitution. 
Although the law has been pronounced uncon¬ 
stitutional, the legislation of 1851 has seriously 
affected the resources of our canals. 
For the fiscal year ending September 30th, 1851, 
the surplus amounted to $964,432 ; for the fiscal 
year ending Sept. 30,1852, they are less than $300 
000 , a sum insufficient to have paid the interest 
on the proposed debt of nine millions. When 
tolls were taken off from the lateral railroads, the 
canal revenues were not only deprived of a contri¬ 
bution from that source, but the roads became 
more formidable competitors, and rendered ne¬ 
cessary a reduction of canal tolls. 
The honor and interest, of the State of New- 
York, require the completion of the Erie canal en¬ 
largement, and the Genesee Y'allev and Black 
River canals. These enterprises have lost none 
of their importance. Their completion is deman¬ 
ded as soon as is consistent with a judicious and 
economical application of money. The amount 
needed to finish the Black River canal, and im¬ 
provement, is $248,784 ; to complete thirty miles 
of Genesee Valley canal, is $389,000. Upon the 
Erie canal, the locks, acqueducts, and otliar struc¬ 
tures, which determine the future size of the en¬ 
largement, are mostly completed. The work 
which remains to be done is principally the adap¬ 
tation of the channel work to the size of these 
structures. 
The Caual Board have directed that the old 
locks between Port Byron and Rochester, shall 
be lengthened and widened, and contracts have 
been made to have the work done during the sus¬ 
pension of navigation, so that they may be bro’t 
into use by the first of June YVlien this is accom¬ 
plished, a boat of the dimensions adapted to tlie 
enlarged canal, cm go from Lake Erie to the 
Hudson river. When the new locks upon the Os¬ 
wego canal are finished, the same class of boats 
can also be used upon that route. The mistaken 
impression prevails, that the work which has been 
done upon the enlargement, is useless until the 
entire enterprise is completed, and this is fre¬ 
quently urged as a reason for making a debt to 
complete it at once. This is not so. The im¬ 
provements already made have doubled the ca¬ 
pacity of the canal. When it was first built, the 
boats used upon it carried, on an average less than 
forty tons. 
The average tonnage of the boats built in 1844, was 64 tons. 
The application of surplus revenues, and some 
small appropriations made before the adoption of 
the Constitution, have increased the capacity of 
the canal nearly one-half since 1844; and when 
the locks are lengthened next spring, it can be 
navigated through its entire length by boats "of 
the largest contemplated size, carrying one hun¬ 
dred and twenty tons. Boats of this size are now 
used between Rome and Albany, and between 
Buffalo and Rochester. It appears from examina¬ 
tions made by the State Engineer, that with an 
expenditure of about $400,000 in addition to the 
work under contract, the water can be deepened 
so that the new boats can carry one hundred and 
fifty tons, or four times the original tonnage.— 
Only $200,000 of this amount will be expended 
for purposes that arc temporary, or that will not 
advance the enlargement. The work under con¬ 
tract for enlarging the locks, will make this im¬ 
provement of the channel way indispensable.— 
Without it, the wedging of boats will prove a se¬ 
rious difficulty. 
If one million dollars can be expended annually, 
upon unfinished public works, the lateral canals 
will soon be finished, the enlargement constantly 
improved from year to year, and the boats here¬ 
after built can soon carry their full loads of two 
hundred and forty tons. This increase of tonnage 
will not require any increase in the dimensions 
of those built after this year, as they will be of 
the full size required for the enlarged canals. It 
will be gained by allowing them to draw more 
water. Eveiy increase of six inches to the draft, 
will add about twenty-five tons to their loads.— 
To gain this increased tonnage,from year to year, 
it is not necessary to make repeated improvements 
of the whole channel of the canal; it can be obtain¬ 
ed by finishing the enlargement at the obstructed 
points, and by procuring an abundant supply of 
water where the want of it occasions difficulty. 
Of the enlargement, about 150 miles are com¬ 
pleted. The capacity of the remaining 214 miles, 
is very unequal on different sections. On some 
portions of the old caual the boats adapted to the 
enlargement can be conveniently used, while in 
other places, the smaller ones, when loaded, are 
delayed by want of water or by narrow channels. 
The points of least capacity on the canal, which 
may be very short in extent, limit the size and 
tonnage of the boats navigating its entire length. 
Removing the obstructions at such points will 
practically increase the capacity of the whole 
canal. The judicious application of expenditures 
to the most needed improvements, will rapidly 
increase the amount carried by the enlarged boats. 
The western end of the canal is supplied with 
water from Lake Erie to the Seneca river, a 
distance of 159 miles. It-is difficult to keep up 
a supply for the locks at the eastern end of the 
line, through a narrow and obstructed canal, 
and the State has been frequently compelled to 
take water from the Genesee river and other 
streams, to great detriment of (he manufactur¬ 
ing establishments dependent on them. The in¬ 
troduction of enlarged boats will diminsh the 
evil, as they will lessen the number of lockages, 
and the amount of water drawn off by each 
lockage. The early enlargement of the canal at 
different points between Buffalo and Rochester, 
will entirely obviate the difficulty, and improve 
navigation, by alh wing an abundant flow of wa¬ 
ter from Lake Erie. 
It is very important to allow the enlarged 
boats to be introduced at this time, for other 
reasons, although their whole capacity cannot 
be used immediately. There will soon he a de¬ 
ficiency of boats, unless Ihe number built in 
each year shall be equal to the number destroy¬ 
ed by time and use. This will be very injuri¬ 
ous to the commerce of the canals. The for¬ 
warders and boatmen are anxious to build their 
boats of full size, so that they may not lose the 
value of their investments in this kind of prop¬ 
erty. These vessels will not be able to carry 
over one hundred and twenty tons at first, 
yet they will meet the increased demands of 
commerce, while the quantity they can carry 
will not srive them such advantages as to des¬ 
troy the value of the present class of boats. 
These can he run with profit, until they are 
worn out or placed upon the lateral canals.— 
Many of the smaller boats can be lengthened, 
and all will be able to make their trips in less 
time than heretofore. The number now navi¬ 
gating the canals is computed tobe about 4,000, 
and their value to be about $3,000,000. They 
constitute the means of support to their owners, 
many of whom have invested all their property 
in them. Any sudden change destroying the 
property of a meritorious class of citizens should 
be avoided. 
I have deemed it my duty to give detailed 
statements on this subject, to correct the im¬ 
pression that we can derive no advantage from 
the expenditures on the enlargement until it is 
completed ; to show that we are now benefited 
by the improvements made; that we can. ren¬ 
der them still more available from year to year, 
by the judicious application of moderate sums ; 
that we can have “an enlarging canal until it 
becomes the enlarged canalthat this annual 
increase of capacity will meet the increasing 
demands of commerce; and that all this can be 
effected without the creation of a large debt, 
which experience has shown to be prejudicial 
to our public works. 
The purposes of our canal system is to direct the vast 
commerce of the west into artificial channels traversing 
our Slate, and thus secure to us the profits arising from 
its transportation. Cau these artificial channels be made 
cheap enough to command this internal trade, against ihe 
competition of the St. Lawrence aud Mississippi rivers, or 
of the rival artificial routes? 
The whole enquiry is resolved into the expense of con¬ 
struction, and economy of management. Sound, honest 
and intelligent financial management, constitutes our only 
assurance of success in the undertaking. 
Many entertain the opinion that railroads will, in a few 
years, to a great extent, divert commerce from the canals. 
1 do not eoncur in these views, hut if they should prove to 
be true, the canals would be of great value in controlling 
the rates of transportation. They are owned by the peo¬ 
ple of the State who are always anxious to reduce to the 
lowest point, the expenses of conveying their productions 
to market. Railroads arc owned by individuals who arc 
interested in getting large returns from their investment. 
While the canals are in good order and under judicious 
management, combinations cannot he successfully formed 
between corporations to the tletrimcnt of the public in¬ 
terests. 
To complete our unfinished public works in the manner 
above proposed, it is necessary to expend about §1.000,01)0 
annually. If the amount of the surplus tolls could be re¬ 
stored to the point at which they stood in 1851, they would 
he sufficient for the purpose, hut they arc less than §3(4),- 
000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1852, and in 
the year 1855, an additional charge of §400,000 will be 
made upon them for the payment of the canal debt. We 
have reason to believe the present low rate of tolls and Ihe 
enlarged capacity of boats will greatly augment them, but 
wc cannot hope that they will give the required amount 
beyond this additional charge of $400,000. We cannot 
raise the rates of tolls, and it may be desirable to reduce 
them. 
The competition between the canal and other channels 
of commerce, is now very severe. An increase of tolls 
would either drive business from the canal, or it would 
compel the freighters and boatmen to reduce their charges 
which are now low enough. Low tolls not only widen the 
circle from which we draw business, but they also enlarge 
the bounds of the markets within which the products of 
the country are sold. If we would retain commerce upon 
our canals, we must do so by making them its cheapest av¬ 
enues. The great difficulty with-which we have to contend 
is the annual tax of $2,250,000, caused by our present debt, 
which will hereafter be levied upon our canal commerce 
in addition to the expense of keeping the canals in repair. 
If we can keep down the tolls and the charges for trans- 
portati m, by the introduction of large boats and an annu¬ 
al increase of tlieir loads, wc shall be able to extricate our 
public works from their present embarrassments. 
There is now estimated to be due to contractors and for 
land damages, &c., for a large portion of which, drafts 
have been given by the Canal Commissioners on the Audi¬ 
tor, which are unpaid by him for want of kinds,..$400,000 
The amount estimated to lie due for work perform¬ 
ed under the contracts made on the 30th of Dec., 
1851, is. 200,000 
The cost of the work recently let between Port Hy- 
ron and Rochester will be about. 100,000 
Engineering and miscellaneous expenses,. 100,000 
The cost of the work on the canals necessary to be 
done within the year, is. 500,000 
$1,300,000 
When provision is made for the payment of the 
^$1,500,000 received on the canal certificates issu¬ 
ed under tlie law of 1851, there will he made 
available an unexpended balance of. . . $250,000 
If the surplus tolls for the fiscal year end¬ 
ing September 30, 1852, nre equal to 
those of last year, they will amount to.. 225,000 
-- 475,0011 
$825,000 
Tlie reputation and in f ercst of the State require that 
immediate provision be made for this balance of $825,000. 
A large portion of the amount is now due to the creditors 
of the State, many of whom hold drafts on the Auditor 
which have been dishonored for the want of funds. Tlie 
residue is to make indispensable improvements upon the 
canals. Tlie only way to procure the money necessary to 
meet these pressing demands, is to impose a tax, which, 
with that now levied for the support of Government, will 
amount to about one million Ou tlie assessed valuations of 
1851. 
I deem it of groat importance to secure an application 
of at least one million of dollars, annually, towards the 
completion of the Genesee Valley Canal, the Black River 
Canal and improvement, and the enlargement of tlie chan 
nels of the Erie and Oswego Cau.als. This will in a short 
period of time effect these desirable objects and relieve the 
embarrassments on the line of tlie Erie Canal arising from 
an insufficient supply of water and narrow channels, and 
enable the boats hereafter to be built to carry their full 
loads of two hundred and forty tons. Many expensive 
works of mere convenience] can be postponed until these 
essential poiuts are gained. A judicious application of six 
millions of dollars (a sum nearly equal to tlie original cost 
of building the whole Erie Canal) expended in equal an¬ 
nual sums, will effect these great objects. 
It is impossible to estimate with any degree of accuracy, 
the amount of the surplus tolls, during the next six years. 
To enable Ihe State to make an annual expenditure of one 
million of dollars on our canals, it will probably be neces¬ 
sary to raise in each year, from some other source, about 
$509,660, in addition to the amount of the surplus tolls. 
Different modes have been proposed to raise the sums 
necessary for the prosecution of our public works. The 
Legislatiu-e may, in each year, impose a tax for that pur¬ 
pose; or, it may borrow the money under the provisions 
of the 12th section of the 7th article of the Constitution, 
which require that an annual tax sliall be imposed, that 
will pay the interest, and redeem the principal, within 18 
years from the time of the contraction of the debt; or, a 
proposal to amend the Constitution may be submitted to 
the people, which, by the terms of the Constitution, must 
be agreed to by a majority of i he members elected to each 
of the two Houses, of two distinct and consecutive i.ejiis- 
latui'cs, and then submitted to the people for their ap¬ 
proval and raiificalion. 
Objections exist in the minds of some, to any changes 
of the financial provisions of ihe Constitution, as they are 
apprehensive that they may lead to the improvident crea¬ 
tion of further debt, or to a postponement in ihe time for 
the payment of the existing debt. 
If any amendment of the Constitution shall lie proposed 
by the Senate aud Assembly, to enable the Legislature to 
borrow money to complete our canals in tlie manner sug¬ 
gested,it should conform, in all respects, to .‘ho provisions 
of the Constitution, in relation to ihe payment of the ex¬ 
isting indebtedness, by requiring Ihe creation of a Sicking 
Fund to pay tlie interest and redeem the principal of any 
such debt, within IS years from tlie time of u-, creation; 
and, if the surplus tolls should be insufficient for the pur¬ 
pose, that the Legislature shall provide for any deficiency 
by equitable taxes. 
The finances of tlie State are not in a satisfactory condi¬ 
tion. In 181-1 the State had a fund applicable .<> ihe sup¬ 
port of its government, amounting to $4,386,943. This 
lias been spent and a debt created which, ou the 1st of 
June, 1846, amounted to hi '-I’.. To extinguish this 
debt the Constitution provides that tlie sum of $35(1,000 
shall be set apart from the canal revenues, as a sinking 
fund, to pay llic interest and redeem the principal of the 
General Fund debt, including the loans to the railroad 
companies. After the canal debt is paid, the sum of -;1,- 
500,000 is to be set aside in enoli year for ifiiu purpose. It 
was evidently the intention of the Convention to ascertain 
and fix tire amount of the Canal and General Fund debt as 
it existed on the 1st of June, 1816, and so to arrange ihe 
Sinking Funds that their annual application would pay the 
interest and a portion of tlie principal of these debts. In 
1819 the Legislature made a Joan for $385,000 to pay mi al¬ 
leged indebtedness of the General Fund to tlie Canal Fund, 
and added this amount to the principal of the General 
Fund debt. Other loans were made at the same and the 
preceding session amounting to $8.-9.819 1. which were 
added to the principal of ihe caual debt. Tlie constitu¬ 
tionality of these loans lias been assorted and controverted 
in official reports. Without inquiring into their propriety 
at this time, it is proper for me to state that they pr< long, 
beyond the design of tlie Convention, the time wi-hin 
which the canal debt can ho paid, and make the sum of 
$350,000 set apart to pay the interest and redeem the prin¬ 
cipal of tlie General Fund debt, inadequate to ; he pay m- n 
of tlie interest. Instead of being diminished, ibis debt is 
increasing by accumulation of interest; or, if the excess 
of interest over the $350,000 is paid from (he general rev¬ 
enue of the State, the means to pay the expenses of gov¬ 
ernment are thereby lessened,and increased direct taxation 
is made necessary. 
The amount borrowed bv the State, since the adoption 
of the Constitution in 1816, exceeds tlie amount of debt 
paid by the Sinking Funds. 
It, appears from the report of the Comptroller, which 
will be submitted to you, that tlie expenses of , he State 
Government for the fiscal year ending Spot. 30, ls52, ex¬ 
ceeded its revenues about $200,000. 
The report of that oiii»*r will show the character of the 
expenditures and the necessity for their rein i chment. It, 
is believed that many charges upon the treasui y can he cut 
off or diminished. Unless the expenses of that State are 
curtailed, it must withdraw hs heuefacrions to institutions 
of learning and asylums for tlie unfortunate subjects of 
mental and physical infirmities, or if must increase the 
amount of taxes imposed for the support of Government. 
A strict regard for economy and the mandates of ihe or¬ 
ganic law are of vital importance in republican govern¬ 
ments. The Constitution of our State is the barrier created 
by the people for their own protection against injudicious 
or injurious legislation. The Consiuiuinn of the United 
States is the bond which holds together (he nun crons in¬ 
dependent States of this confederacy, enabling them “to 
form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domes¬ 
tic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote 
the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to 
us and our posterity.” Under the terms of this compact 
tlie different States of the Union, occupying a territory 
nearly equal to tlie whole of Europe, have existed in har¬ 
mony, notwithstanding great diversity in their condi ion, 
pursuits, climate, productions, and domestic institutions. 
We can perpetuate our Union only by a strict construction 
of tlie Constitution of the United States,, and by confining 
the action of Government to tl lose subjects designated in 
the compact of Union, and which are of common interest 
and value to all portions of this great confederacy. 
The welfare of our State and Nation, will be best pro¬ 
moted by rigid economy in tlie conduct of their affairs, and 
bv a strict maintenance of Constitutional Law. 
HORATIO SEYMOUR. 
Albany, January 4, 1853. 
jjebs 7?:(Rjcjh7jM)s. 
5 ggT There are eight Colleges under tlie super¬ 
vision of the Methodist Church, with property 
and funds to tlie amount of $494,663. The old¬ 
est of them at Middletown, was founded in 1$30. 
There are 46 academies and seminaries, the oldest 
of which is at Wilbraham, founded in 1849, un¬ 
der the auspices of the lamented Wilbur Fisk.-— 
In 29 of these there are 4,936 students, an avetage 
of 178 each. 
The St. Louis Intelligencer, referring to 
tlie statement which went tlie rounds not long 
since, that the hired girls of Pittsburgh had sent 
home $35,000 to their relations in the old country 
within tlie six months previous, states that within 
twelve months, the immigrants from 11 eland in 
St. Louis, have purchased and transmitted home 
$ 110 , 000 . 
The Louisville Journal states that an ef¬ 
fort is being made in Texas to ship the cotton of 
that State direct to Germany. A ship is daily 
expected at Iudianola from Bremen, which on its 
return to the latter port will take cotton at one 
cent per lb. that to New Y'ork would pay three- 
fourths of a cent. 
jrigp According to the recent annual message of 
the Governor of Iowa, the receipts into the Treas¬ 
ury of that State during fhe year have been $139.- 
683 ; disbursement to $ 130.631. Tlie funded debt 
of the State amounts to $81,795 75 — of which 
amount $26,795 75 is payable at the option of the 
State. 
SlSF’The movement in favor of a straight rail¬ 
way from Syracuse to Utica, has probably ended 
in the organization of a company with a capital 
of $400,000 to build a straight track from Utica 
to Oneida, 20 miles. From thence to Syracuse . 
the present road is nearly straight. 
The Potnologists of Pennsylvania are in¬ 
vited to attend a Convention to be held at Har¬ 
risburg ou the 8 th inst., to consider the propriety 
of forming a State Pomological Society. The 
State Agricultural Society will meet at Harris¬ 
burg on that day. 
grtsf-Tlie notes on the Merchant’s Bank of Os¬ 
wego, and Farmers’ Bank of Onondaga, are sel¬ 
ling in New York at 63 and 75 cents on the dollar. 
The Tribune states that there is some prospect of 
an arrangement by which they will resume busi¬ 
ness again. 
jtjg” Hon. John Thompson, of New Lisbon, O., 
died on the 2d inst., aged 75 years. Mr. Thomp¬ 
son was well and favorably known throughout 
Ohio. He was a member of Congress from 1829 
to 1837, aud has held other important public po¬ 
sitions. 
The Panama Railroad Company has made 
a dividend of ten per cent, payable in stock. The 
road lias been in operation, we think, about six 
months. This, for an unfinished work, is certain¬ 
ly highly encouraging. 
The Washington Intelligencer publishes a 
circular, signed by a large number of members of 
Congress, recommending organizations in all the 
states and territories, to raise funds for a monu¬ 
ment to Henry Clay at Ashland. 
Recently, a single locomotive. No. 136, 
brought into Elmira, on the Erie Railroad, fifty- 
live eight wheel cars heavily loaded with produce 
for New York. The weight of the train exclusive 
of engine and tender, was 935 tons. 
A witness of the two late ceremonies in 
France and England, says that the proclamation 
of the Empire was far less magnificent than the 
Duke’s funeral, and a great deal more melancholy 
