many new yorker's felt corruption was a major cause of the canal system's troubles. in 1867 at the state constitutional convention, erastus brooks alleged canal contracts of being awarded to the highest bidder. a commission was established, consisting of james gibson, henry c. murphy, charles stanford, william bristol, william s. clark, george w. millspaugh, and counsel henry smith. it concluded there were "gross and monstrous frauds", and the canal commissioner, robert c. dorn, was impeached.