When we take a review of the facts which have been noticed in the preceding pages of this work, relative to the canal policy of this state, we are prepared to appreciate and to express our unqualified approbation of the judicious, pertinent, and correct observations presented to the state in the messages of his late Excellency Governor Yates, in 1823 and 1824. All party feelings having subsided, his remarks relative to that subject will now be perused with the interest which is due to them.

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Extracts from Governor Yates’ Messages, delivered in 1823 and 1824.

"It gives me much pleasure to state, that the canal system, so wisely adopted and successfully pursued in the state, promises to realize the expectations of the community. The convenience already afforded to the inhabitants, by the facility with which the products of the country may be brought to market, has exceeded the most sanguine hopes of its warmest supporters."

"During the last year, the Champlain Canal has been rendered navigable to the Hudson River, at the city of Albany, and the completion of the Erie Canal, the ensuing season or the summer following, is rendered morally certain, so that the period is not distant when we shall fully experience the benefits and important advantages secured to our citizens by this unexampled improvement. A more propitious era, connected with the growth and prosperity of our country, cannot well be imagined; and in taking a retrospective view of the enterprise and patriotism of our predecessors, it is difficult to suppress the most endearing emotions of respect and gratitude, for the memory of those with whom this vastly important and useful project of connecting the western and northern lakes with the waters of the Hudson, first originated. On examining our statute book, we find as early as 1792, within nine years after our revolutionary struggle, and whilst the western and northern parts of the state were a perfect wilderness, a legislature composed almost exclusively of those who had contributed towards achieving our independence, and whose zeal and devotion for their country’s good, it seems, did not cease with that memorable event, passing a law incorporating two inland navigation companies, one for the western and another for the northern part of the state, both of which commenced their operations and expended large sums of money. The northern company soon desisted, but the western continued their exertions, although comparatively circumscribed, on account of the situation of the country, and the source from whence their funds were derived. But those incipient measures introduced further inquiry and investigation, and after a great portion of the western and northern parts of the state became inhabited, the subject claimed and received the attention of many of its enterprising citizens, who caused examinations and surveys to be made, which resulted in a conviction that the undertaking was too extensive, and probably not within the reach of private capital, and that this great work could only be accomplished by the state itself. This opinion continued to gain ground, until it became manifest that a large and respectable portion of the citizens were its advocates; and the proper period to forward the views and intentions of its friends and supporters, soon arrived. Measures were accordingly adopted, to proceed the most effectually in the prosecution of the work, and after extinguishing the existing rights of the western inland navigation company, those measures were persevered in, by the people of this state, with ardour and uncommon unanimity; abundantly evinced by the united and uniform support of their representatives, in voting annual appropriations of sums of money, unusual in amount to be granted within so short a period for the like purpose, by the government of other countries, possessed of much greater and more extensive resources.

"The Champlain Canal having been finished, and the Erie Canal being in operation for upwards of two hundred miles, it is submitted to you, whether independent of providing the necessary means to enable the commissioners to finish the western section, legislative interposition has not become necessary, in conducting the extensive concerns connected with the operation of the system, as far as it has progressed; and to expedite the adjustment of existing claims for damages of meritorious citizens, who have patiently submitted to privations arising out of the necessity of the measure for public good; but from whom a just and equitable remuneration ought no longer to be withheld.

The navigation of the Hudson since the introduction of the canals, has assumed an importance highly interesting to the citizens of this state. The same subject has heretofore been presented to the legislature, and commissioners have been appointed by a law passed for the purpose, to report a plan for improving the navigation of the river. Their report has been received, and appears on the journals. By it, two plans, with estimates of their respective expenses, are given, one for deepening the channel of the river, and the other for a lateral canal for ship navigation; but canalling is recommended as the most efficient plan, if it should be judged that the benefit to be derived from it, is of sufficient magnitude to make its adoption advisable. The report further states, that no extraordinary obstacles are presented to its execution – that the track indicates facilities which were not anticipated before it was minutely explored. The accuracy of estimates, emanating from so respectable a source, cannot be questioned; and the amount of the expenses stated, ought not to be put in competition with the positive advantages to be secured by it to the country. The vast amount of property produced by the soil and by the industry of the western and northern citizens of this state, to be benefited by sales at a market for direct exportation, can readily be anticipated. If congress, therefore, would authorise a small tonnage duty on vessels passing through the contemplated canal, to be exacted by this state until the debt created to complete it, shall be paid off, and suffer such duty to be continued in aid of the funds set apart for the payment of the canal debt, until the final extinguishment of that debt, it would be an object mutually beneficial to the state and to the general government; as no reasonable doubt can be entertained but that the arrangement would in a short time eventuate in a removal of the duties on salt, and in such a diminution of toll as would require a sum, sufficient only to defray the repairs and other expenses, incident to the use of the canal; while congress at the same time would obtain an additional port of entry of considerable importance, and an extensively useful national improvement, without immediately resorting to the public funds for its accomplishment. If it should be deemed expedient to adopt the plan of a lateral ship canal, for the improvement of the navigation as suggested in the report alluded to, a law might be passed, authorising the prosecution of the work, upon condition that the assent of congress to the collection of such tonnage duties as are specified in the act, should first be obtained by the commissioners named in it, to conduct the construction of the canal.

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Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr, last updated 5/30/99.