The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-01-26

be by the union of the Lakes with the
Mississippi. j. required but little skill
to see tina, Sigh, appropriation for this
great object nigh. go very far towards
aiding his State along in her present en-
barrassmcnts and in doing this, he ask
of the Mississippi river friends, those
who had common interest with him, 10
have this question divided, and TO con-
sent that the Committee on Commerce
should take, as they had ever taken, the
charge of the appropriations for the upper
lakes. and then, if they wished the sub
Ject of their appropriations referred to
select committee, let it thus be referred.
The repo. Ter for Bonne,.'s Herald thus quotes
part of it:
Mr.. WENTWORTH, Of Illinois, (Long
John Sir, wish this question to be
devided. lie, the friends of the Mssis-
slppl, and other rivers, have select com
mittee if they wish it, and | am willing
to give them large appropriation for i'm.
proving those rivers but wish the sub
ject Of the great Western Lakes to 90 to
The committee on commerce the gentle
men composing that committee are men
from Boston, New York, Pennsylvania,
&C., in whom We have the highest conf
dehce and the interests of those cities
are closely identified with the interests of
the lakes. And there is one feature that
| hope will be particularly regarded, sir
ii is the interest Of the Illinois canal ; and
rejoice that John Davis has been sent
ont to investigate its condition. Sir, al
thong Illinois is deeply in debt, the people
of that state will soon be able, as they are
now willing, to redeem all their liabilities,
dollar for dollar, principal and interest,
If that canal be completed. Sir, | speak
the feelings of the people of Illinois,
when say that we are for interes paying
at once, and as soon as possible, for pay
ing all our debt Of S7,o00,000. We are
poor. but thank God we are homes, Oaugh-
teri. Reputation has been and will be
repudiaied by us. Our ability 10 pay
soon depends upon the action of this
congress there are many millions of
acres of public lands unsold give us but
comparatively a small portion Of these
lands, and wen soon pay what we owe,
and complete all Our in!erna! improve
ments. Then our state will improve;
emlgrants, now frightened away by fear
of taxation. will flock into the state, and
we shall go on prospecting and to pros
per. Let congress do the same by lud-
ana, and she will soon be out of debt.
But whether Illinois gets relief or not,
she never will repudiaie her debts, nor
will she sanction any such doctrine. The
young men Of Illinois are ben, on inter-
est paying, to some extent, Immediately;
and | know tina, many in this hall
would rejoice 10 see that day all my
colleagues, know would. And glcri-
ous day i, would be, sir. for you all. For
one, when it arrives, | will say with the
good man of old, Lord, now lete.t thou
thy servant depar. in peace, for mine eyes
have seen our salvation" Laughte. and
appiause.) Sir, would celebrate tina. day
like jubilee! (Laughter.) Aye, sir, next
after the birthday of our Saviour, and the
day on which American independence
was declared, would worship the day
that redeems Illinois from bankruptcy and
debt-the day Of credit restored and hon
or regained (ConSiderabie appla"se.)