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year, a sum equal to the interest on a capital of ten millions of dollars. Such is the present value of the salines of Onondaga; and, reasoning from the history of the past, not a single generation will have passed away before their power to produce revenue, and their consequent value will, with ordinary wisdom and prudence, at least be doubled. After the canals, what other property of a value approaching this, does this or any other of the States possess? In case of any emergency in the future, from what other sources are such revenues to be derived? What other property can look forward to such a prospective increase in value?"

Here we have the deliberate judgment of the highest State officials as to the value of this property, and its availability as a source of revenue.

Governor Morgan, from a personal examination, estimates the land, together with the appurtenances owned by the State, to be worth at least two millions of dollars, and the salines themselves of incalculable value. That the policy which reduced the duties on this important staple was unwise, and that it operates unjustly upon the people of this State.

General Leavenworth. of Syracuse, than whom no man in the State is better qualified to judge, in 1850 estimated the value of these salines at ten millions of dollars, which, with ordinary wisdom and prudence on the part of the State, could be doubled in a single generation. With the single exception of the canals, the State possesses no property of such immense value. These springs are capable of yielding revenue to supply any emergency. To which your Committee beg leave to suggest that such emergency is now upon us. At no former period in its history has the State been more imperatively called upon to avail itself of every legitimate source of revenue than at the present time. The report of the Committee on the Finances of the State augments our present State indebtedness to an amount beyond any former precedent.

The revenues from our canals are appropriated to pay the cost of their construction and enlargement. The salt springs should be made to contribute a reasonable sum towards the payment of the debt incurred by the State in the preservation of the life of the nation, and to that extent relieve the people of the heavy burden of taxation.

Your committee having given that attention to the investigation of this subject which their other duties would permit, ask leave to submit the following provision in regard to these springs, and be discharged from the further consideration of this subject:

1 "SEC.

The salt springs and property appurtenant and

2 contiguous thereto, belonging to this State, shall never be sold, 3 leased nor otherwise disposed of, except as hereinafter provided; 4 and so long as they remain the property of the State, the Legis5 lature shall by law impose upon all salt manufactured therefrom 6 a rent or duty of not less than three cents per bushel. Provided, 7 however, that such springs and property may be sold by and 8 under the direction of the Commissioners of the land office, and 9 in pursuance of a special act of the Legislature approving and 10 allowing such sale.

JAMES A. BELL,
CHARLES E. PARKER.

I concur and recommend a removal of the present constitutional restriction and the sale of the Springs and property connected there. with, as provided in this report.

WM. H. HOUSTON.

The evidence before the committee, and my own reflection upon the subject, has led me to the conclusion that the best thing the committee can do is to recommend to the Convention to remove the constitutional restraint against the sale or other disposition of the Springs by the legislature.

JOHN P. ROLFE.

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FROM THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, TO THE CONVENTION FOR REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.

UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,

OFFICE OF THE REGENTS,

ALBANY, December 10, 1867.

Hon. WILLIAM A. WHEELER, President of the Constitutional Convention:

SIR-I have the honor to hand you the accompanying communication, from the Regents of the University, with a request that you will present it to the Convention.

Very respectfully, your ob'dt serv't,

S. B. WOOLWORTH,

Secretary of the Regents, &c.

[CON. No. 157.]

1

COMMUNICATION.

To the Convention for Revising the Constitution:

The Regents of the University respectfully represent:

That they have learned from the journals of your honorable body, that a number of petitions have been presented asking "that pro vision may be made whereby the corporation known as 'The Regents of the University of the State of New York' shall cease to exist." It appears that copies of this petition have been circulated in all parts of the State, accompanied by the following circular:

ALBANY, August 19, 1867. "SIR-The accompanying memorial requires no word of explanation from us. It shows, clearly and conclusively, the absurdity and comparative uselessness of the corporation concerning which it treats. Other reasons than those we have given might have been adduced, which, with many persons, would doubtless have been of equal weight. But it was thought better that nothing be said on points which, on account of differing opinions, might furnish grounds for dispute.

"The memorial is sent to you in the belief that you fully indorse the free school law of 1867, and desire the complete triumph of the free school system, applied as well to the higher as to the common schools.

"But that triumph can never come until our system of education becomes a single system; and to make its coming at all probable within the next twenty years, the action asked for in the memorial, seems to us an imperative necessity.

"Please get as many names (of voters) subscribed to the memorial as you can in the time, and send it to some member of the Conven- ·

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