The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-01-13
Correspondence Of the Free Trndcr.

Correspondence of the Free Trader.
Ayu;nalof Jsige B,o'on-S'afe's Attorneys
I'll. Judicary--Rshef Lotc-- Canal BIDS
Conversational D.StyiciS--JJs Smith.
SFniSorIELp, January 9th, ls43.
Mess,. Hise 4 Osn,an--Not much of general
interest has been accomplished since last wrote
you. Three days, Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Thursday, were mostly occupied by the House.
in committee of the whole, in the trial OF Hon
Thos. e. Brown Of tho Supreme Court, on a
charge of incompeiency preferred against him by
members Of the Galena bar. 1t drew out much
discussion from tho members After the evidence
was heard. Judge Brown was discharged, almost
by acclama''on.
The House, on Friday rejected the bill which
had previously passed the Senate giving the APP
pointmcnt of states attorneys to the governor.
SO that these officers will be again elected by the
legislature.
Tho bill which has been long pending in the
House, to reform the judiciary of the state, and
gradually restore it to the system that existed be-
fore the law Of the last session, and which has ex
cited so much warm and able debate, has been
rejected by considerable majority; SO that the
vacancies now existing in the. Supreme Court,
will be filed by new elections. These elections
will probably be brought on tho latter part of this
week.
The relief law which sometime siuce passed the
House, has undergone much discussion in the
Senate. The Senate struck out all Of the House
bill after the cnacting clause, and substituted an
entire new one this underwent much amend
ment and alteration, and various votes were Ia
ken but finally the friends Of the bill rallied, and
BY close vote struck out oil the amendments and
restored the bill to the precise shape in which it
was when it came from the House, and in this
form it passed. 7. has been under the superyi-
sion of the council Of revision and received its ap-
probation, though not without some dissenting
votes, and thus it has now become the law Of the
land. Some Of the provisions of this law are
very bad, as for instance requiring an appraise-
ment Of property held in trust, or mortgage with
power to sell; it is not very easy to see how the
legislature can interfere to compel parties to exc
cute a contract, or dispose of property in man
ner different from what they have agreed and
bound themselves to do by the express terms OF
the contract. This, however, is a question which
the courts mus, determine when cases arise under
the law. This is one of the great measures Of the
session. 1t will do much good, and carry with it
great relief in large portions Of the state. All
agree that the law is wrong in principal, inter
fering between the rights Of debtor aud creditor
yet, it is justified by its friends under the peculiar
and embarrassed condition Of the country. For
instance, gentleman Of high standing, residing
In the Wabash country, informed me few days
since, that in some Of the interior counties OF that
section there not one thousand dollars Of
rent funds IN the county, while the debts owing
from its citizens would amount to one hundred
thousand dallars; SO that il the payment, of these
debts wcre enforced, few individuals would be
able to ruin hundreds Of worthy people, and get
within their grasp large portion Of the property
Of the country. Numerous instances nrc given
OF sales Of property on execution in tho las, few
weeks, where property has been sacrificed in a
manner that is startling. These cries coming up
from the people, have controlled the legislature,
and however much we may dislike the principle
Of this kind Of legislation, i, must be confessed
that the majority in the legislature is pretty fair
representation Of the public sentiment in the state,
taken as q whole.
A bill has been introduced into each House,
having for its object the completion of the Canal
II provides for conveying the canal and the canal
lands In trust for company, tina, shall be formed
70 complete this magnificent work. have no,
the bill before me, but it will be printed in day
or two, and its contents laid before the people.
hear so,uo ci 'its provisions complained OF. Ose
especially il made matter Of great complaint
The bill makes no provision for enabling those
Who hold the canal Indebtedness or scrip to pur.
chase lands thssewith, leaving them without any
remedy. moro than other creditors Of the STATE
havs. A. this scrip was received under the belief
lhal 4 would b. sscsiyab!e in paymen. Of canal
sssdss \ NIL operate bard upon the holders. The
ut)scs h ~ Wi1hspl n difficulty. i requires
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