As the following letter, written at my request, by Mr. Lynch, contains many details connected with the subject of the preceding communication, it is entitled to a place in this work.

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Letter from the Hon. James Lynch to David Hosack, M.D.

NEW-YORK, October 1, 1828.

DEAR SIR,

It affords me pleasure to have it in my power to comply with your request that I should furnish you a statement of the proceedings in the legislature of this state, of which I was a member in the session of 1816, on the bill relating to the Erie and Champlain canals.

The numerous petitions from the whole extent of country through which the canals pass, as well as from the cities of New-York and Troy, praying that efficient measures might be adopted for the commencement of that great work, were referred to a joint committee of both houses, which was convened without delay. The first step taken was to invite a conference with the canal commissioners appointed by the act of 1811, and to request them to lay before the committee the surveys which had been made under their direction, with such information as they were in possession of on the subject; one only of those commissioners attended, and made some verbal communications of little importance, and presented some maps of a survey on the north side of the Mohawk River. He stated that the principal maps and papers necessary for a satisfactory examination of the subject were not in his hands, but were probably in the possession of another of the commissioners at New-York, and that he would procure them for the committee. After a delay of three weeks, that gentleman informed the committee that these maps and papers could not be found. A reference was then made to the engineers who had made those surveys and estimates, who very promptly furnished the same to the committee, which satisfied them not only of the practicability of the undertaking, but that the resources of the state were adequate to the purpose. On the 21^st of March the committee presented a report recommending the immediate commencement of the work, accompanied by a bill containing provisions to that effect.

A determined spirit of opposition, headed by a gentleman of distinguished talents, was soon evinced by the member from those parts of the state which considered that they were not directly to be benefitted by the measure; and under pretence of making the bill more acceptable, ingenious attempts were made to alter the bill, so as to dissatisfy some of its friends, and detach them from its support; this plan for one day succeeded, and the friends of the bill had almost determined to abandon it for the session. I had been absent for a few days, and on my return found the bill in this critical situation. I immediately called on Mr. Jay, and a few other members, and urged them to join me in a vigorous effort to rally the friends of the bill, and pass it as it was reported without any material alteration. In this we succeeded, except that we submitted to the addition of a clause, taxing lands adjacent to the canal, if it should be found necessary, and the bill was passed in the Assembly by a very large majority.

The most confident expectation was then entertained that the bill would pass, as it was known that there was a decided majority of the Senate whose sentiments had been expressed in its favour.

When the bill was under consideration in the Senate, an amendment, similar to one which had been proposed in the house by an opponent of the bill, was moved, which had for its object to defer the commencement of the work, and was most unexpectedly carried, many members who had uniformly and openly advocated the canal clause, voting for the amendment; and among them, if I mistake not, one senator who was in the committee, and agreed to the bill as reported. These gentleman gave a silent vote on the occasion, but is was well understood that they were induced to this course by political considerations, not dictated by any regard to the interests of the public; it is, however, entirely unnecessary and unconnected with the object of this communication into any examination of that matter, nor would I have referred to it now, were it not to show, that a few individuals by consulting their private views instead of the public good, put in jeopardy one of the most useful public works with has ever been accomplished; and, but for a concurrence of fortuitous circumstances, the commencement of the work might have been delayed for many years in consequence of their votes on that occasion.

On the return of the bill to the Assembly, there was a difference of opinion among its friends as to the policy of concurring in the amendments of the Senate, some being of opinion that it would be better to do nothing, than to pass a bill which merely provided for a further examination of the country, and appropriated funds only for that object, thus throwing the responsibility on the Senate: others, with whom I concurred, thought it would be better by adopting the amendment, to appoint active commissioners, who would cause the proper surveys and estimates to be prepared and laid before the public; being well convinced, that the more the subject was investigated, the more certain would be its success: I then moved to concur with the Senate in their amendment, and, after a spirited opposition, succeeded in the last hour of the session.

The effect was such as we anticipated. The new commissioners entered upon the duties assigned them with energy, and presented at the next session of the legislature, a report founded on minute and accurate surveys and estimates, which refuted every objection that had been urged, and produced so strong a conviction on the public mind of the practicability of the scheme, and of the ability to execute it, that the law of 1817 was passed, providing for the commencement of an improvement which has exceeded in utility and importance any thing before attempted in the United States; and, by its example, induced our sister states to develope their resources, and improve the immense advantages afforded by nature to this free and happy country.

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Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr, last updated 5/29/99.