Part 29

[From the Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Works upon the trade and tonnage of the Canals for the year 1884, page 100.]

1874 1884

Products of the forest 1,192,681 1,097,450 Agriculture 1,470,872 1,054,041 Manufactures 49,426 56,899 Merchandise 12,905 45,538 Other articles 497,228 377,259 --------- --------- Total 3,223,112 2,631,187

"Tonnage of the canal, and of the Central and Erie railroads:

[From the Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Works upon trade and tonnage of the Canals for the year 1884, pages 94-95.]

1874 1884

New York Canals 5,804,588 5,009,488 New York Central R. R. 6,114,678 10,212,418 Erie Railway 6,364,276 [35]16,219,598 ----------- ------------- 18,283,542 31,441,504

[35] Of this amount, 5,147,660 tons is the tonnage for twelve months of the N. Y. P. & O. R. R. Co., leased by the Erie.

"The railroads have competed successfully with the Erie Canal, and have carried off all the increase in the tonnage. Notwithstanding the State has ceased to charge tolls, and has imposed an annual tax of $700,000 upon the taxpayers to maintain the canals. The Erie Canal has failed to keep up its business. It holds on to a portion of the lumber, and of the grain.

"There seems to be no probability that the Erie Canal will regain any portion of the business it has lost.

"None of the grand schemes by which it is proposed to enlarge or improve it can, to any appreciable extent, cheapen the transportation. They will simply waste the money of the taxpayer, and revive the system of contracting, jobbery, and fraud.

"The advantage of lengthening the locks so as to pass two boats at once, when there is plenty of time to pass four times the boats which the tonnage requires, is doubtful, and is at least inconsiderable. It can only pretend to save five minutes in a lockage, if, in fact, it will save any time.

"Unless some effectual expedient be adopted to prevent the waste of water in locking through a single boat, it would consume three times as much water in the long lock as in the short lock. I understand that the superintendent thinks that ruinous mischief can be avoided, but I have had no means of testing how the thing would work in practice.

"In 1867, when I examined the subject, I found that on the Delaware and Raritan they used boats of about the same dimensions as the boats in use on the Erie, notwithstanding the locks were capable of passing two boats at a time.

"I send my Message of 1875; my speech in the Constitutional Convention in 1867, which contains a fuller discussion of the subject. I send, also, the last report of the Superintendent of Public Works on the canals.

"The statistical tables are so changed from the ancient forms that it is difficult to get the materials for a satisfactory comparison of the present with the former business.

"A certain portion of the business naturally belongs to the railroads. The principles which govern this division are set forth in the beginning of my speech in 1867. The business would naturally be divided, and the share of the railroads would be increased as the network of the railroads is perfected, and more and more points are touched.

"Besides, the railroads will compete for additional business at less than cost, charging the loss upon the paying portion of their traffic.

"On the whole, it must be observed:

"Within the last ten years the cost of transportation by railroad has been reduced one-half. All the improvements tending to cheapen transportation are made by the railroads.

"As to the clamor about diverting traffic to the Canadian lines, it is senseless. The great mass of grain brought from the West is for local consumption. Two millions and a half of people residing in the city of New York and its suburbs are not going to bring the grain for their own consumption by way of Montreal. A large share of the flour and grain carried by the New York Central is for local consumption in New England. Formerly it came to New York city, and was distributed from that point. It is now carried direct. For instance, flour and grain, for consumption at Springfield and Worcester, are carried from the point of shipment in the West direct to those places without change of cars. They cannot be diverted.

"The Erie Canal still has a certain utility. It should be nursed along, but without any expectation of regaining the place it once occupied in the transportation of the country. The taxpayers of this State will not always consent to pay a bonus of $700,000 per year in order to get tonnage for the Erie Canal."

HORATIO SEYMOUR TO TILDEN

"UTICA, _Sept. 25, 1857_ (_1885_).

"DEAR SIR,--I have received your letter of the 22d inst. I wrote the note to the Rochester paper, not because you would care for it, but because I felt it was due to myself to correct any such statement. I am aware that you are used to and indifferent to such attacks.

"I am seventy-five years old, and suffer from nervous attacks. I had _a sunstroke_ in 1876, from which I never recovered. It has progressed until it has weakened my body and my memory in many respects. I have not been away from Utica during the past two years, except to visit my sister at Coquemen. I have a man in constant attendance. I leave my farm to drive over to Utica about once in a week. If I get into your section of the State I shall be happy to call upon you. I do not keep track of current events. I went to the convention about our canals. I was nominally its chairman; but I presided only a few minutes, as I was too deaf to hear. My attendance harmed me. I have not been as well since. As I can take no exercise, I grow in weight, which makes me look better and feel worse. I hope I may live to see you again, but it is doubtful.

"Truly yours, &c., "HORATIO SEYMOUR."

HORATIO SEYMOUR TO S. J. TILDEN

"UTICA, _October 7, 1885_.

"MY DEAR SIR,--A few days since I received with my mail a letter from you. I glanced at it, and laid it aside with a view of reading it with attention. Since then I have been unable to find it amongst my papers. I find my memory is so much impaired that I am apt to forget what I do when I put aside with care. I cannot, therefore, write you a responsive reply. I am mortified by such mistakes, which multiply as memory fails.

"During the past eight years my memory and health have been impaired by a sunstroke.

"I am obliged to live in a quiet way at my farm; all excitements are hurtful. I have not been away from home, save to make a short journey to see one of my sisters in Madison County. I know but little about current events. I think over the past or speculate about the future.

"Now and then a reporter calls. As my views upon public [sic] are vague and vaguely expressed, they give such interpretation as they wish, so that I am frequently surprised by my opinions as they are given in the press.

"I wish I could visit New York again, but I fear I am too weak to do so. With my wishes for your health and welfare,

"I am, truly yours, "HORATIO SEYMOUR.

"_Hon. S. J. Tilden._"

GEORGE BANCROFT TO TILDEN

"NEWPORT, ON THE WING FOR WASHINGTON, D. C., "_18 Oct., '85_.

"MY DEAR MR. TILDEN,--I thank you very much for the volumes of your writings, which you have been thoughtful enough of me to send me. I am one of those who have always held and constantly avowed the opinion that you were duly elected President of the United States; it would be instructive if some one well versed in our public law would look through the laws enacted in the period for which you were chosen, and mark such of them as would have encountered your veto. That should be done while you live to confirm the result of the inquiry.

"I remain, dear Mr. Tilden,

"Yours very truly, "GEO. BANCROFT."

S. J. TILDEN TO BANCROFT

"GREYSTONE, YONKERS, N. Y., _Oct. 21, '85_.

"DEAR MR. BANCROFT,--I have received, through Mr. Bigelow, your note acknowledging a copy of my _Writings and Speeches_ edited by him.

"I observe that in your note to him, you mention that the copy sent you does not contain my autograph.

"If the idea that you would desire it had occurred to me, I should have been particular to add every homage of esteem and regard for you in my power.

"Very truly yours, "S. J. TILDEN."

TILDEN TO PRESIDENT CLEVELAND

"GREYSTONE, YONKERS, NEW YORK, _Oct. 21, '85_.

"To His Excellency, GROVER CLEVELAND.

"MY DEAR SIR,--Mr. D. A. McKnight, the law clerk in the Patent Office, is the author of a book of great ability entitled _The Electoral System of the United States_.

"Without adopting all of his views, his independence, integrity, and conscientiousness are shown by the fact that his masterly analysis of the doings of the electoral commission, in which he exposes the inconsistencies of their decisions, and condemns them as illegal and unconstitutional, was published in a volume printed in 1878, with a preface dated March 10, 1877. At that time Mr. McKnight was holding his present office under the administration of Mr. Hayes.

"I understand that his resignation has recently been requested, in order to give the appointment to some other person.

"Mr. McKnight is confessedly an excellent officer, serving the government with fidelity and skill; and is personally free from every objection.

"Under these circumstances, I take the liberty of appealing to you for an intimation in favor of the retention of Mr. McKnight, or his promotion to a higher grade in the service.

"The Democratic party of the United States have beheld, with indignation, the chief agents in the frauds, perjuries, and forgeries by which a pretext of documentary evidence was furnished on which to base a false count, rewarded by their appointment in numerous cases to most important civil trusts.

"It would scarcely be anticipated that a Democratic administration should have so little sympathy with, or respect for the popular feeling on this subject as to discard a meritorious officer having the peculiar claim to its recognition which the facts I have narrated show Mr. McKnight to possess.

"I have no personal interest in the matter, but consider it my duty to represent the cause of public justice, to the end that the crime against the people consummated in 1876, and again meditated in 1884, shall never be repeated.

"I trust that you will excuse me for calling your attention to what might otherwise escape your observation.

"Very truly yours."

D. A. McKNIGHT TO S. J. TILDEN

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, "WASHINGTON, _October 24, 1885_.

"HON. SAML. J. TILDEN.

"MY DEAR SIR,--A few moments ago I received the two letters which you were good enough to write at my request. I am, as you may surmise, very highly gratified with them. They contain all (and more than all) that I had hoped for, and must certainly accomplish their purpose. And I assure you that I am full of gratitude to you for an interest in my affairs which gives me fresh courage, and which shows me again the great heart that inspired these letters. I only wish that I could thank you in adequate terms, or that I could again _do something_ to exhibit the warm personal regard for you into which my original esteem has developed. If the day ever comes that I can be of service to you, command me.

"With my kindest regards and warmest wishes for your health and happiness, I am,

"Very respectfully and truly, "Your obedient servant, "D. A. MCKNIGHT."

MARSHALL PARKS TO S. J. TILDEN

"NORFOLK, VA., _14 Dec., '85_.

"HON. S. J. TILDEN, GREYSTONE, N. Y.

"MY DEAR SIR,--Your letter to Hon. Mr. Carlisle on the subject of our coast defences has been published in our papers, and I can assure you were read with great interest.

"The change in the mode of warfare has rendered a number of our forts almost useless. I would call your attention to those near this city--Fortress Monroe and Fort Wool (formerly Fort Calhoun). The former is said to be the largest for defence in the world, and the latter on an artificial island, one mile distant, not yet completed; both designed to protect Hampton Roads, James River, Norfolk, and the U. S. Navy-Yard here. As they are only one mile apart, I presume it was about the range of guns at the time they were designed. Modern ordnance renders this structure of _no value_, and it is likely it never will be completed, and I write to suggest the importance of its removal to another location, which will, I think, make it a defence for the capital as well as Baltimore, Norfolk, Richmond, and other cities. By reference to the map of Chesapeake Bay, you will observe there is a shoal between Cape Henry and Cape Charles called the _Middle Ground_ on which a modern fort could be erected from the material now useless at Fort Wool. This fort is built on an artificial island having a base of fourteen acres, in water from twelve to fifty feet deep, entirely of rough granite. This could be removed at little cost, and a modern structure of iron or steel erected on it, with necessary fixtures for torpedo service.

"Just inside Cape Henry is Lynn Haven Bay and river. The river would make an admirable station for torpedo-boats, as it is a safe harbor, completely landlocked, and may be connected by a few short and inexpensive canals with Back Bay, Currituck, Albemarle, and Pamlico sounds which may extend the inland route to Florida at little cost.

"Several years ago I made the voyage from New Berne, North Carolina, to Oswego, New York, _in the same steamer, going inland the entire way_! I have spent many years on this inland project. By the construction of two short canals (only fourteen miles) we have opened up to commerce 1800 miles of navigable waters. I am now about to open a canal from Neuse River to Beaufort Harbor, North Carolina, which will be a continuation of the inland navigation. It would cost but little to make an inland water route to Florida, as a few short canals would unite the natural waterways existing, and the inland route would then be complete from the Great Lakes to Florida, passing by all our great seaboard cities.

"As we have now no defence to our national capital, I have thought a line from you at this time would bring it to the favorable consideration of Congress.

"If you have not the charts convenient, I would be pleased to furnish them and any further information desired.

"Very resp'y, y'r obt. st., "MARSHALL PARKS."

DANIEL MANNING TO S. J. TILDEN

"WASHINGTON, D. C., _Dec. 16, 1885_.

"MY DEAR GOVERNOR,--I write a line to acknowledge receipt of your letter to the Saratoga convention in which, for the second time, you decline to be nominated for the Presidency by the Democratic party. The manuscript of that letter will, of course, always have very high value to me. It will be the most prized of the few heirlooms that I possess.

"Mrs. Manning and I are very glad that you consented to a visit to us, during the New Year week, from Miss Ruby and Miss Susie. Everything and everybody promises to be gay here, and I think they will find pleasure in the visit.

"Faithfully yours, "DANIEL MANNING.

"_Hon. Sam. J. Tilden, Greystone._"

S. J. TILDEN TO DANIEL MANNING

"GREYSTONE, YONKERS, N. Y., _Dec. 19, 1885_.

"DEAR MR. MANNING,--I read over your report when I first received it, and laid it aside intending to give it a second and more thorough perusal, and waited about acknowledging it until I should do so; but I have been less well than common, and have found so many things pressing upon me that I have not had a chance to execute my good intentions.

"The impression your report made on me was very favorable. I think it does you great credit, and congratulate you on the manner in which it has been received by the public.

"Very truly yours, "S. J. TILDEN."

TILDEN TO HON. GEORGE BANCROFT

"GREYSTONE, _Feb. 12, 1886_.

"DEAR MR. BANCROFT,--I have received a copy of your _Plea for the Constitution of the United States_, which the publishers sent to me at your request.

"I note your strong impression of your sense of the importance of the theme, when you say you 'have thought it right to bestow upon it many of the few hours that may remain to you for labor.'

"To the eyes of your countrymen, those hours grow more valuable as they become fewer.

"As an argument your _Plea_ is overwhelming.

"Indeed, until new lights recently dawned upon the court, and upon some others, in all our national history it had been universally considered as axiomatic that Congress had no constitutional power to make anything but gold and silver a legal-tender. That conclusion was always assumed when the subject was incidentally alluded to. Forty years ago, in a speech in the constitutional convention of the State of New York on the subject of Currency and Banking (Tilden's _Public Writings and Speeches_, Vol. I., p. 222), I recognized the disability of any government in this country, State or Federal, to make a legal-tender of anything but gold and silver.

"In all the literature of political economy, of currency and banking, this postulate was taken for granted.

"It is a long time since I have had the pleasure of seeing you or Mrs. Bancroft. I was gratified at the account of you, which I received from my nieces who recently visited Washington. I hear that you have lit up your household by the sunshine of a young lady of your kindred.

"I am passing the winter at a country home perched upon a cliff overhanging the Hudson four hundred feet above the tide. I send you a picture of the place.

"With best regards for yourself and Mrs. Bancroft,

"I remain, very truly yours, "S. J. TILDEN.

"P. S.--Since writing you, I have received the _Evening Post_ of this afternoon. It is a 'Mugwump' journal. I send a cutting from its editorial columns upon your _Plea_."

HIRAM SIBLEY TO TILDEN

"ROCHESTER, N. Y., _Feb. 6", 1886_.

"HON. SAMUEL J. TILDEN.

"MY DEAR FRIEND,--This is _my_ birthday, and, as I remember, _yours_. I see in the papers they say you were born on the 9th of Feb. But I dare not place much reliance on what some newspapers say of you.

"Seventy-nine is not eighty. Eighty is considered _old_. While it is unsafe for us at this age to make plans for the future, we may contemplate the past, and that is what I am doing to-day.

"Among those who took active part in the _Free-soil_ movement of 1848, you were an able leader. Your associates, _Wright_, _Gardner_, _Van Buren_, and many others from whom I took counsel, are gone. You among the larger, myself among the less important of that band of noble patriots, are left to enjoy the consolation of doing what we could at that early day to check the growth and extension of slavery.

"The _present_ I regard with fear and apprehension, and I have recently written to, and received an answer from, our _inaugurated_ President, whose administration I heartily approve, and I now address the _uninaugurated_ President to say one word of approval to him also.

"You should encourage, by word and deed, our President to hold fast to the pledges in the Democratic platform, to _Civil Service_ especially.

"The times are trying the metal of our President. The army on whom the people rely for defence are greatly demoralized.

"The _veterans_ are nearly all _dead_, the _regulars_ are _skirmishing_ for votes, and recruits are _few_.

"Pardon me for this rambling letter. Don't trouble yourself to answer me.

"The times, the time (Feb. 6"), all conspired to move me to write you.

"May you live to see many a birthday, as I hope to.

"With great respect, I am,

"Your friend and obt. svt., "HIRAM SIBLEY."

TILDEN TO JOHN F. SEYMOUR

"_Telegram._

"GREYSTONE, _Feb. 13, 1886_.

"HON. JOHN F. SEYMOUR,--I learn this morning the sorrowful intelligence that the mortal career of your illustrious brother is closed. Convey to his relatives, and when a suitable occasion arises, to Mrs. Seymour, my warm sympathies at their loss. We have the consolation of knowing that he passed away without suffering, in the fulness of years, and amid the largest homage of public esteem.

"S. J. TILDEN."

GEORGE BANCROFT TO TILDEN

"1623 H STREET, "WASHINGTON, D. C., _February 15th, 1886_.

"MY DEAR MR. TILDEN,--I thank you very much for your note of the 12th. We old men must keep up the good tradition which we received from the fathers, and which you defended in the constitutional convention of New York.

"I am also alive, as you undoubtedly are, to the dangers that overhang the country by a legislative measure, designed to throw gold out of circulation, and to depreciate the currency fully twenty per cent. By this measure, among infinite evils, all contracts now in force between the employer and the laborer will be depreciated twenty per cent., to the injury of the poor; and every one of our newspapers will be compelled to stop its publication or to raise its price.

"Wishing you perfect health and long life,

"I am, very sincerely yours, "GEO. BANCROFT.

"Pray recall me to the kind recollection of your nieces, whom I had great pleasure in meeting a few weeks ago."

TILDEN TO HIRAM SIBLEY

"GREYSTONE, _Feb. 27, 1886_.

"DEAR MR. SIBLEY,--I have received your interesting letter. The newspapers are correct in saying that the 9th of February is my birthday, but some of them are quite astray in saying that I am seventy-nine years old. I was born the 9th of February, 1814, and was seventy-two years old on my last birthday. Although seven years younger than you are, I can readily believe that you are practically younger than I. You have not done so much as I to exhaust the vital powers, and have not so large a debt to pay for strength borrowed and consumed in advance. My eyes are extremely good, and enable me to pass most of my time in reading; my ears are both of them much more acute than those of most people. The doctors tell me that every vital organ is in strong and sound condition. But I have been for some years greatly annoyed by a mysterious malady of some of the nerves of motion, which imparts a tremor to my hands, and impairs my voice so that I lose most of the pleasures of conversation.

"I have also read the brief biography of your life and doings which you were kind enough to send me. It illustrates an example of an active, useful, and successful career.

"Wishing you every blessing of continued health, and prolonged years of happiness and prosperity,

"I am, very truly yours, "S. J. TILDEN."

"ACCOUNTABILITY OF CORPORATIONS[36]

[36] Originally printed in the New York _Sun_ of March 4, 1886.

"The governmental policy of the State of New York has been a long while established, that charters of corporations within its jurisdiction, carrying on business for profit, should be subject to alteration or repeal in the discretion of the Legislature.

"The Revised Statutes of 1830 applied that rule to corporations thereafter to be created. A reservation of that power had been previously inserted in the special charters which had latterly been granted. The origin of this reservation was ascribed in an article asserting the repealability of corporate charters, written by Mr. Tilden for the _Democratic Review_ of August, 1841 (Tilden's _Writings and Speeches_, Vol. I., p. 171), to Silas Wright, who procured the insertion of such a reservation in a charter granted in 1822.

"In the convention of 1846, which formed the present Constitution of the State of New York, Mr. Tilden, from the select committee to whom was referred the report of the standing committee on the subject of corporations, made the following report: