The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-12-02
The Legislninre.

Uaion, harmony, concession -ereTy Hing for tie
srArE-nOthing FIR cLrQurs.
This should be emphaticalIy the motto of our
Legislature, which meets at Springfield on Monday
next If ever there is time when men are
more imperatvely called upon than at any other,
to make individual and sectional sacrifices for the
good Of the whole, that time now. Our state is
groaning under heavy deb:--hcr energies are pa
ralyzed-her vast resources unavailable--aGd her
fair fame and hopes of future prosperity on the
brink Of fightful precipice. Toreleve her from
this deplorabe condition will require at the hands
ofour legislators consummate skill untiring indra
Try, and thorough unanimiiy Of feeling and ac-
ton. The north and the south, the east and the
west---all must act in concert and make one nigh
~ effort to restore our beloved state to that rank
which is legilimately hers or we sink down, down,
down, SO low that the cry of "shamc ~ can 10
longer reach us. All, it is natural to expect will
have their sectional interests and preferences to
urge, and they should ne respected, buithey should
not be allowed TO take precedence of those greater
interests which effect the uhoh. the motto should
be'the state fr''.scc'ional interests o'lr,rards"
Bat how ran oar state be relieved is ihe qucs.
ion that gTecis our earsatcyey turn. IS nov
Of no other means Aln hy pumlas 0pasat
sud hon9rrtic -@ayg w. v-r- oas t.oht, o.sees
90 tho best advantage 70 how to Be va. u tla.
weeull believe tha, tto4ssly Is he ist kcy
avery thlng .bai sagpm Vi -egaateaoq should be
denounced. Illinois is not SO much embarrassed
bu, that she can exiricac herself if the right spi-
rit is manifested by our legislators There is still
spark Of credit and honor left to US to pierce the
dark cloud that hangs DER us--et it be cherished
and il may yet rise into flame that will light our
pathway or to wealth, honor, and independence. |
But Of all the means that have vet been sug- |
gesed to raise the state from her present PROSTATE
condition, none it seems TO US to be perfectly clear,
is calculated to accomplish that obect with any
degree Of certainty whatever, except the compile
ton of the Illinois and Michigan Canal This is
now acknowledged by every one. There was
time when tho canal was looked upon by many in |
tins state as sectional work, but that time has
passed away. All eycs are directed ,oits compile
ton as our only salvation. The friends Of the
Central Railroad, and the friends Of all the other
improvements projected by our state, are now con.
WINGED that unless the canal is speedily completed,
there is nc prospect that the state will ever be able
TO go on with their iavorite works But put
IN operation the canal, and at once new i'm. |
petus VIII be given to every portion OF our state,
inca'eulable resources now dormant will be yeyiy-
ed and the state with ample means at her com
mand, will be able to go on with other important
improvements.
Now, taking this to be true, the duty of the lc-
glsature is perfectly clear. All the energies Of
the state should be at once directed to the accom-.
plishmcnt Of tina, object. There should be no bar
gaining and sclling-no "log-roling' resorted to
to carry the canal through it mus; be carried by
itself; it should be made the great object of the
session; all other measures should be regarded as
but secondary to it in importance, and should be
kept entirely out Of its way. The whole state ex-
poets the legislature to do something for the ca.
nal, and II some feasible plan is adopted to com.
plccte that noble work, the members will 20 home
IN spring and receive from their constituents the
commentator of "Wcll done, good and faithful
servants"