The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-12-06

iAiOSe '"A'e"'S VI ehS puuiiC ldliuS nave
been sold, and the sales must neces-
sarily decrease for the future, ma
king it more than ever necessary to
abstain from the creation of a new
debt.
1t is also true, that Great Britain
has great national debt, which does
not seem to impair her ability to
prosecute most extensive wars. But
there is a difference between this
government and that. Hers is a
government Of force at home and
abroad, sustained by the bayo-
nets OF a mcrccnary sodiery, by
which she is enabled to ravish from
the mouth of starving poverty, the
last morscl Gifts bread, in the shape
of the most odious and extravaganza
taxes, with which nation was ever
afflicted. Ours is a government of
opinion, founded upon the principle
of voluntary submission to the laws.
We are free people, who will ne
yer submit to such burdens as long
as our liberties endure. If we follow
the example of England, in the ere
alton of great national debt, we
would be compelled to follow her
example in her system of govern
ment. For nothing short of a mon
archy, sustained by the bayonets of
a hircling soldiery, could ever wiring
such taxes from the free people of
these United States.
All of these measures are liable to
the common objection which arises
from the uncertainty and dilatory
nature of the action of congress on
such subjects, and, upon the whole,
| think | may venture to assert that
none of them will do to rely on. As
for myself, have no new measure
to propose, but it will afford me great
pleasure to concur with the general
assembly in any measure which will
really conduce to the accomplish
ment of this great work.
The SUI jcct of common school cduca.
ton must necessarily a,trac, your a,,en.
ton. 1t is one Of the utmost importance
to the well being OF the people; the due
provision for which is essential to the per.
petuily Of enlightened repubIicanlsm, and
absolutely necessary TO proper and just
administration Of our democratic institu.
tons. No system on this subject has
we, been adopted, which has been salts.
factory to the people, or which has been
executed with efficiency in all parts Of
the state. Blu, little statistical or other in.
formation Of the actual operation Of exist.
ing laws on this subject has yet been col.
leced TO enable the general assembly to
lcgislasc upon it with an enlightened judg.
ment. Some means ought to be adopted
to collect this information and can
think ofnone better than the appointment
by your honorable bodies, of an agent a,
once faithful and competent to the task
whose duty it would be to travel into eve.
ry county, and, if possible, into every
neighborhood, and, by careful inspec.
ton and examination, collect this inform.
alton for the use of the legislature; and
by lectures and every other means in his
power, endeavor to impress upon the peo
pie the overwhelming importance of .hs
education of their children. Such ar
agent ough, to be rare man, endowed
With talents, zeal and discretion Of the
highest order. Money expended on sucl
an agency, if ably, zealously, and faith
fully executed, would be approved by thu
people as being more for their benefit thar
any other appropriation whatever. Anc
if taxed for it, they would feel that they
hab been taxed for a purpose of the high
est utility.
During the last summer serious distur
Dances occurred in the county of Han.
cock. The causes and consequences o
these disturbances, and the history Of the
several transactions to which they gave
rise, will be laid before you in specia
| report.
My proceedings as ex-oficio fund com
} missioner, III settling, collecting, and pay
ing debts due to and from the state, ant
the general management Of the state pro
perry, will likewise be laid before you ii
a special report.
The companies chartered at the las
session to complete the Central railroad
and the Northern Cross railroad from
Springfield to the eastern boundary o
the state, have not as yet complied will
any of the terms of tie several laws BY
, which they were created.
The ac, also to settle the account o
Macalister and Stebbins has not beer
complied with by them: and it is now
f pretty certain that they never had. and ne
yer will have, the ability to comply witt
its terms, The bonds which they pro