CHAPTER   VII

CANALS----TOPOGRAPHY  OF   NEW   YORK  STATE  AND   EAELY   EFFORTS

FOR A CANAL FROM THE HUDSON TO THE GREAT LAKES----CON¬
STRUCTION  OF  ERIE  CANAL AUTHORIZED—LATERAL   CANALS----

STATE   AID   TO    RAILROADS----ERIE   ENLARGEMENT   PROPOSED----

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS----PUBLIC DEBTS—STOPPAGE OF WORK

UPON THE  CANALS----ACT OF   1842  AND ITS  POLICY----ATTEMPT

AT REPEAL-----GOVERNOR  WRIGHt's VETO AND ITS EFFECT  UPON

HIS POLITICAL CAREER----PUBLIC DEMAND FOR A CONSTITU¬
TIONAL CONVENTION AND FOR CONSTITUTION.AL RESTRICTIONS
UPON STATE DEBTS AND PROHIBITION OF LOAN OF STATE
CREDIT TO PRIVATE ENTERPRISES, AND FOR JUDICIAL REFORM
•—PASSAGE OF LAW RECOMMENDING A CONSTITUTIONAL CON¬
VENTION----^VOTE FOR A CONVENTION----THE APPORTIONMENT OF
 

The constitution which took effect, as a whole, on January I,
1823, remained in existence for twenty-four years. During a
large part of the time, the State enjoyed almost unexampled pros¬
perity. Men of ability and sagacity, most of whom afterwards ac¬
quired national reputation, filled its gubernatorial chair. Its judi¬
ciary numbered some of the most exalted names in the annals of
its jurisprudence. The advancement of the State was, however,
largely due to its canal system, which attracted immigration,
augmented the revenues of the State, imparted value to the land
in its middle tier of counties, and summoned villages and towns
into life. The Appalachian range, which in the States south of
New York raises a barrier between the Atlantic ocean and the
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