The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-01
THE ILLINOIS FREE TRADER.

with the local legislation and reserved
rights of the states a remedy for present.
or a security against future danger.
The first, and assuredly not the least
important step towards relieving the coun-
try from the condition into which 1t had
been plunged by excuses III trade, bank
inc, and credits of all kinds, was TO place
the business transactions OF the govern
ment itself on a solid basis giving and
receiving in all cases value for value, and
neither countenancing nor encouraging IN
others that delusiye system OF credits from
which it has been found so difficult toI
escape, and which has left behind moth
ing but the wrecks that mark its fatal
career.
That the financial affairs of the govern
men, are now, and have been during the
whole period Of these wide-sPrcadng diff
fcultcs conducted with a strict and inya
riable regard to this great fundamental
principle, and that by the assumption and
maintenance of the stand thus taken on
the very threshold Of the approaching
crisis, more than by any other cause or
causes whatever, the community at large
has been shielded from the inCalculableI
evils of a general and indefinite suspcn-
sion of specie payments, and consequent
iannihiation, for the whole period it might!
have 4sted of a just and inyariable stand
ard cl value. will, it is believed, at this.
period, scarcely be questioned.
A steady adherence on the part of the
government, to tie policy which has pro-
duced such sau,ary results, aided by ju-
dicious state legislation, and, what is not
less important, by the industry, enterprise,
perseverance, and economy Of the Amer
lean people, cannot fail to raise the whole
country, at an early period, TO a state of
solid and enduring prosperity, not sub
| iect to be again ovcrlhrOwn by the sus-
pension of banks, or the explosion of a.
blotcd credit system. 1t is for the people,
and their representatives, to decide wheth-
err or not the permanent welfare OF the
country (which all good citizens equally
desire, however widely they may differ
as to the means Of its accomplishment
shall be in this way secured; or whetherI
the management of the pccuniary con-
Germs of the government, and, by ccnsc-
qucnce, to a great extent, those Of indiyid-
ualS also, shall be carried back to a con-
dition of things which fostcrcd those con-
fractions and expansions Of the currency,
and those reckless abuses cf credit, from
the balciul effects of which the country
has so deeply SUFFERED return that can
promise, in the end, no better results than
to reproduce the cmbarrassments the gov
eminent has experienced and to remove
from the shoulders of the present, to those
of fresh victims, the bitter fruits of that
spirit of speculative enterprise to which
our countrymen are so liable, and upon
which the lessons of experience are So
unavailing. The choice is an important
one, and sincerely hope that it may be
wisely made.
A report from the secretary of war,
presenting detailed view of the affairs of
that department, accompanies this com
munlcation.
The desultory duties connected with
the removal of the Indians, in which the
army has been constantly engaged on the
northern and western frontiers, and in
Florida, have rendered it mpracticable to
carry into full effect the plan recommend
ed by the secretary for improving its discip-
line. In every instance where the regi-
mcnts have been concentrated, they have
made great progross and the beet results
may be anticipated from continuance of
this system. During the last season, al
part Of the troops have been employed in
removing Indians from the interior to the
territory assigned them in the west-a
duty which they have performed efficient
ly, aud with pralscworthy humanity (; !
and that portion of them which has been
stationed in Florida continued active OPP
crations there throughout the heats of
summer.
The policy of the United States in re-
card to the Indians, of which succinct
account is given in my message of 1898,
and of the wisdom and expediency of
which | am fully satisfied, has been con-
tinued in active operation throughout the
whole period ofmy administration. Since
the spring of 1887, more than 10000 In
dams have been removed to their new
homes west of the Mississippi; and
am happy to add, that all accounts concur
in representing the result of this measure
as emincntly beneficial to that people.
The emigration of the Seminoles alone