Erie Canal Commission

The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission. Before 1817, the reports were submitted by the Commissioners Appointed to Provide for the Improvement of the Internal Navigation of the State, from February 1817 on the actual term Canal Commission was used, and its members titled officially Canal Commissioner. Besides, in 1817 a Canal Fund and Commissioners of the Canal Fund, and in 1826 a Canal Board, of which both the Canal Commissioners and the Commissioners of the Canal Fund were members, were created, and the term Canal Commission was applied sometimes to any of these bodies.

The Erie Canal Commission at first proposed the route for the Erie Canal, then organized the project and its funding, and then oversaw the construction which was completed in 1825. Afterwards the canal commissioners were minor state cabinet officers (from 1844 on elected by statewide general ballot) responsible for the maintenance and improvements of the State Canals.

The office of Canal Commissioner was abolished by an amendment ratified in 1876, and their responsibilities were taken over by the Superintendent of Public Works in February 1878. The Canal Fund and the Canal Board were abolished in 1905.

Origins of the Erie Canal Commission

As the United States expanded into western New York and the Northwest Territory, the Great Lakes became an essential part of the system of waterways, on which merchants did most of their shipping. The easiest way from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and Europe was by way of the St. Lawrence River, but this was controlled mainly by the French from Canada. After examining the Mohawk River, a canal from the Great Lakes to the Hudson River was proposed. In addition to the control of shipping in North America, the United States would successfully tie the western territories to the eastern states, thus creating a more unified nation. This was an enormous undertaking, so it became necessary to appoint a Commission to oversee the entire project.

The origins of the Commission can be traced back to two men: Thomas Eddy and Jonas Platt. Eddy was the Treasurer of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company, which had been established in 1792 with the purpose of developing a navigable route up the Mohawk River to Lake Ontario. When he found his company in financial trouble, he drew upon the idea first proposed by Joshua Forman (member of the New York State Assembly from Onondaga County in 1808) of building a canal, rather than trying to navigate the rivers. He turned to his friend Platt, then a State Senator and leader of the Federalists in New York, and the two of them decided to propose the creation of a small group of highly influential commissioners to explore two possible routes of a canal – one to Lake Ontario and one to Lake Erie. They would report findings to the New York State Legislature after their expedition to the west. In order to get permission for this commission, Platt and Eddy knew that each man had to command a certain amount of power and respect, but the whole group had to be politically balanced between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. On March 13, 1810, Platt presented his project for a bipartisan Canal Commission to the State Legislature, and received overwhelming support. On March 15, the State Legislature appointed Federalists Gouverneur Morris, Stephen Van Rensselaer, William North and Thomas Eddy, and Democratic-Republicans DeWitt Clinton, Simeon DeWitt and Peter Buell Porter a commission to explore a route for a canal to Lake Erie, and report.^[1]

Expedition and Survey to Determine the Best Route

In June 1810, the commissioners were prepared to head west to survey the land to determine a possible route for their canal. Though Gouverneur Morris was President of the Commission, the title was mainly ceremonial because all the members looked to DeWitt Clinton for leadership. All of the members except Van Rensselaer and Morris, who traversed the whole state by carriage, traveled up the Mohawk River and as far west as possible by water, where they met two amateur surveyors, James Geddes and Benjamin Wright. From there, they traveled the final one hundred miles from Lake Seneca to Lake Erie by carriage. DeWitt Clinton kept a journal for the entire journey, in which he closely documented their adventures.

After much deliberation, the Commission turned their findings into a report that they submitted in March 1811. Rejecting Porter’s ideas of running the canal either to Lake Ontario, or through his lands to Lake Erie, the commissioners decided that the canal had to run straight to Lake Erie. Otherwise, the St. Lawrence River would still be a primary route of transportation and the West would not be connected to the East. They also rejected Morris’s proposition of a natural waterway created by the overflow of Lake Erie in favor of an entirely artificial waterway. The final and most important section of the report demanded public financing and control of the canal by the State of New York. Citing past failures such as Eddy’s company, and George Washington’s Patowmack Company, the Commission stated that such large endeavors were too expensive for private financing.

Response to the Report

In response to this report, on April 8, 1811, the State Legislature passed the first of many laws relating to the canal. The bill added Robert Fulton and Robert R. Livingston to the Commission. Fulton had developed the first steamboat that ran along the Hudson River and Livingston was his business and engineering partner. It also gave the commissioners $15,000 to finance further activities and granted them permission to take all the necessary steps to finance the entire project. On June 19, 1812, the Commission was empowered to purchase the rights, interests and estate of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company.^[2]

Eddy and Fulton looked for engineers to design the project. De Witt and Van Rensselaer sought land cessations for the path of the canal. Livingston, with the help of Clinton, devised a plan to secure national assistance. Morris and North looked for the best way to borrow money. The largest duty, however, was assigned to Clinton and Morris, who went to Washington, D.C., to solicit aid from President James Madison and the Federal Government. Unfortunately, after failing to obtain any funds from the government, their situation only got worse with the War of 1812.

War of 1812 and aftermath

With the outbreak of war, Van Rensselaer became the Head of the New York State Militia, and Clinton ran as the Federalists presidential candidate opposing James Madison and the war. In addition, despite allowing the Commission to create a fund for financing the canal in 1812, the State Legislature repealed the act in 1814, rendering the commissioners essentially helpless.

Finally, after the United States made peace with Great Britain, officials could turn their attention towards the canal, which they did in a public meeting in New York City on December 3, 1815. The board sparked interest by emphasizing the benefits the city would receive from the canal.^[3] Despite minor setbacks, the meeting was a huge success. Even though President Madison vetoed a bill that provided funding for one quarter of the canal, the Commission convinced the State Legislature to go ahead with construction.

New Appointments to the Commission

On April 17, 1816, the State Legislature passed a bill that provided more funds for the project, and appointed Van Rensselaer, Clinton, Joseph Ellicott, Myron Holley and Samuel Young Commissioners to Construct a Canal from the Hudson River to Lake Erie and Lake Champlain.^[4] Ellicott was well informed about the lands in western New York as well as being an agent of the Holland Land Company, which donated 100,000 acres(400 km²) to the Erie Canal project. Holley, a State assemblyman, was a supporter of Clinton and government-financed public improvements. Young had written A Treatise on Internal Navigation - A Comprehensive Study of Canals in Great Britain and Holland.

On April 19, 1817, the State Legislature created the Canal Fund and the Commissioners of the Canal Fund which were ex officio the Lieutenant Governor, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the State Treasurer and the Surveyor General (until 1847).^[5]

The New York State Constitution of 1821 provided for the creation of a Canal Board which was established in 1826. Members of this Canal Board were ex officio the Commissioners of the Canal Fund, the Canal Commissioners (until 1878, then succeeded by the Superintendent of Public Works), and the State Engineer and Surveyor (since 1848).

The Commissioners of the Canal Fund and the Canal Board remained in charge of the control of the Canal System until 1905.

Political Struggle: Clinton vs. the Bucktails

The project was soon caught up in politics, with either party attempting to receive the credit for the construction; the Bucktails struggled to gain control over the Commission, still firmly held by Clinton in 1817. In 1818, Ellicot resigned from the Commission citing poor health, and to replace him, Clinton appointed one of his strongest supporters Ephraim Hart. Recognizing Hart’s political allegiance, the Bucktail majority of the State Legislature elected a Clinton opponent, Henry Seymour, in 1819 to succeed Hart.

The Commission slipped even further out of Clinton’s control in 1821, when the Bucktail-controlled State Legislature passed a bill that provided two million dollars in funding for the canal, as well as the appointment of an additional commissioner. As Governor of New York, Clinton had to sign the bill so he was not seen as blocking the necessary funds. The Bucktails promptly elected William C. Bouck, another staunch Clinton opponent.

A heavy blow to Clinton came on April 12, 1824, when his opponents succeeded in ousting him from the Commission. Despite words of support in the State Assembly, they voted him out and Clinton stepped down after being a commissioner from the beginning and its president since 1816. A wave of indignation over the politician's short shrift with the man who was recognized as the driving force behind the construction, Clinton was re-elected Governor of New York in November 1824, and had the great satisfaction to preside over the inauguration of the completed Erie Canal on October 26, 1825.

List of Canal Commissioners

The number of commissioners varied over the times:

• The original bi-partisan commission had 7 members (1810–1811).
• 9 members, the original ones, Fulton and Livingston (1811–1813)
• 8 members after the death of Livingston (1813–1816)
• The new commission had 5 members (1816–1821)
• 6 members after Bouck was added (1821–1824)
• 5 members after Holley resigned (March–April 1824)
• 4 members after Clinton was removed (1824–1833)
• 5 members after Hoffman was added (1833–1836)
• 6 members after Baker was added (1836–1844)
• 4 members after Clark and Hooker were legislated out of office (1844–1847)
• 3 members under the Constitution of 1846 (1848–1877)
• 2 members remained in office pending the appointment of a Superintendent of Public Works (1878)

Until 1844 the term of the commissioners was indefinite, the Act of May 6, 1844, established a four-year term, the Constitution of 1846, a three-year term.

Until 1844, vacancies were filled by concurrent resolution of both houses of the State Legislature, or - during the recess of the Legislature - temporarily by the Governor.

From 1845 on, vacancies were filled temporarily by the State Legislature^[6] or, during the recess, by the Governor,^[7] and a substitute was elected at the next State election if there was a remainder of the term.^[8]

Notes

1. ↑ The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (page 40; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
2. ↑ This sale was concluded only in 1817, the price of $152,718.52 was paid.
3. ↑ The Port of New York became the biggest port on the eastern seaboard based on its navigable connection to the Great Lakes.
4. ↑ The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858; page 40)
5. ↑ The office of Surveyor General was abolished by the State Constitution of 1846, and the succeeding officer, the State Engineer and Surveyor was not a member of the Commission of the Canal Fund but was a member of the Canal Board.
6. ↑ Elected were: 1847 Clowes in place of Jones, resigned; 1861 Bruce in place of Barnes, deceased.
7. ↑ Appointed were: 1846 Hudson in place of Earll, deceased; 1858 Ruggles in place of Whallon, deceased; 1869 Chapman in place of Bascom, deceased; 1875 Walrath in place of Stroud, deceased.
8. ↑ Elected were: 1861 Wright; 1870 Chapman
9. ↑ Morris, North, De Witt, Eddy, Porter and Cooper ceased to be Commissioners when the Legislature appointed a new Commission consisting of Clinton, Van Rensselaer, Ellicott, Holley and Young.
10. ↑ Clinton was removed for political reasons without the appointment of a substitute.
11. ↑ Holley was the Treasurer of the Canal Commission, and resigned after a shortage of $30,000 was discovered in his accounts. See: Erie Water West - A History of the Erie Canal, 1792-1854 by Ronald E. Shaw (University Press of Kentucky, 1990, ISBN 0-8131-0801-2 , ISBN 978-0-8131-0801-8)
12. ↑ The Democratic Commissioners Young, Bouck, Earll, Bowman and Baker were removed by the new Whig majority of the State Legislature which elected Hudson, Dexter, Hamilton, Boughton and Whitney instead.
13. ↑ The Whig Commissioners Ruggles, Hudson, Dexter, Hamilton, Boughton and Whitney were removed by the new Democratic majority of the State Legislature which elected Clark, Hooker, Enos, Little, Earll and Bissell instead.
14. ↑ The number of Commissioners was reduced from 6 to 4, so that Clark and Hooker lost their office.
15. ↑ The Act of May 6, 1844, called for the election of 4 Commissioners at the State election in November who should take office "on the first Monday in February" of the next year in place of the incumbents.
16. ↑ Two Commissioners were elected to a two-year term, and the other two Commissioners to a four-year term. Subsequently, every two years two vacancies should be filled at the State election.
17. ↑ Documentary Sketch of New York State Canals by Sylvanus H. Sweet (Van Benthuysen, 1863)
18. ↑ Article XIV, §3, provided for the remaining in office until December 31, 1847, but no longer, of a number of state officers, among them the Canal Commissioners, who were in office on January 1, 1847. The term of the incumbents with a two-year term (Jones and Earll [deceased]) expired only on February 1, 1847, so that their terms were extended, while the terms of the incumbents with a four-year term (Bissell and Clark) were shortened.
19. ↑ Under the Act of May 6, 1844, there were two vacancies to be filled at the State election in November 1846, and Democrat Hudson and Whig Clowes (who had the indorsement of the Anti-Rent Party) were elected. But, at the same time the voters adopted the new Constitution which extended the terms of the incumbents until the end of 1847, calling for a new election in November 1847. However, shortly before the State election, Earll had died, and Democrat Hudson (the Commissioner-elect who had received more votes) was appointed by the Democratic Governor Silas Wright to fill the vacancy.
20. ↑ Under the Act of May 6, 1844, there were two vacancies to be filled at the State election in November 1846, and Democrat Hudson and Whig Clowes (who had the indorsement of the Anti-Rent Party) were elected. But, at the same time the voters adopted the new Constitution which extended the terms of the incumbents until the end of 1847, calling for a new election in November 1847. Clowes (the Commissioner-elect who had received less votes) could not take office, but was eventually elected by the Whig majority of the State Legislature to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jones.
21. ↑ The first three Commissioners elected under the Constitution of 1846 were "classified" by drawing lots, so that henceforth every year one commissioner could be elected to a three-year term.
22. ↑ The office of Canal Commissioner had been abolished by an amendment in 1876. The incumbent commissioners Thayer and Walrath, and Commissioner Ogden who was elected at the same time of the ratification of the amendment, remained in office only because in 1877 and early 1878 no Superintendent of Public Works was appointed. The nominee of Governor Lucius Robinson, General George B. McClellan, was rejected by the State Senate, and no other nomination was made until January 1878.
23. ↑ Opinion of New York State Attorney General Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr. in NYT on January 7, 1878

References

• Bernstein, Peter L, Wedding of the Waters, New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 2005.
• Cornog, Evan, The Birth of Empire: DeWitt Clinton and the American Experience, 1769-1828, New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
• Koeppel, Gerard, "Bond of Union: Building the Erie Canal and the American Empire", Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo Press, 2009.
• Shaw, Ronald E, Erie Water West: A History of the Erie Canal, 1792-1854 Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky, 1990.

Officers in the State of New York
Current offices	Governor Lieutenant Governor Speaker of the Assembly Temporary President of the Senate Secretary of State Attorney General State Comptroller Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals Clerk of the Court of Appeals Clerk of the State Assembly
Defunct offices	State Treasurer State Engineer Superintendent of Public Works Chancellor Canal Commissioner Inspector of State Prisons