WILLIAM CAMPBELL TO TILDEN
"Cherry Valley, March 23, '75.
"Dear Governor,—As a taxpayer I return my thanks for your canal message.
"Many years ago that sagacious politician, the late John D. Hammond, author of the Political History of New York, remarked that whatever political parties there might be in New York there always would be 'an Erie Canal party.'
"And he was right. There always has been a canal party. The Constitution of 1846 manacled the State. It declared the canals should never be sold. The spoils would be gone. The last constitutional convention determined also to keep the manacles on. The Legislature had provided that of the members of that convention thirty-two should be named whose election should be secured, and this, too, without reference to location. Sixteen were named by the Republican party and sixteen were named by the Democratic party.
"Of this thirty-two, not one whose residence was south of the Mohawk and west of the Hudson was named by either party. There was one north of the Mohawk. With that exception, commencing at New York and following up to Albany and Troy, and thence on the Erie Canal to Buffalo, we find the location of them all, except one or two on the lateral canals in the western parts of the State. There has not been a high officer of the State in the same region for, I think, the last quarter of a century.
"Surely, my dear Governor, there must still be a canal party. But I see you are resolved that the stealing shall cease. I was in the Legislature of 1869 with your brother, and on a celebrated occasion witnessed his stern integrity. I recollect well putting my hand on his shoulder and remarking—
"'Alone among the faithless,
Faithful only he.'
"I said then the blood of old Dr. Younglove told. I am rejoiced to see that it has told again.
"Very Respectfully, your old friend,
"William W. Campbell."