The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-12-27


than half million per annum for unpaid
interest.
Should it he matter Of surprise to Us.
tina, with such evidences before them Of
the increasing liabilities Of the state; and
such direct proofs Of the Discrimination OF
the people to make any serious effort To
lulll their most sacred obligations. that
the hond-holdcrs showed a want of conf
dencc in their honor aud niegrity--shouId
we complain that creditors, living four
thousand miles distant; unarquainled with
our laws. our institutions, and our dOmcs-
tic relations; should exact Of us, coudi-
tons that we daily require Of each other
in our individual transactions The citi.
zen who has incurred liability, and re-
fuses TO give his creditors a 1.-THE of their
just dues, while lie remains in the pos
session and enjoymen, Of plenty, forfeils
their confidence, and loses the good opin.
ion of the public; and it would be diff
cut. apprehend, to make an exception,
by any acknowledged maxim of rgh, in
favor of sovereign state, to this just ret
rbuton.
The faith Of states, like the credit of
individuals, forms the crilcrIan OF their
virtue, and so fixed and sacred charac-
ter is given TO this palladium Of political
prosperity that every attempt, TO evadc
or divert the operation OF public contract
must be as fatal 10 the purity of public no.
nor as an original depravity Of sentiment.
Every individual has i. in his power, by
making the proper effort, to satisfy his
creditors of his honesty, even il he has no
means to pay them. The creditors of H.
linois are not yet satisfied that she has
made use Of the proper means TO merit
their confidence.
There has been a continued scene of
negative violation or noncompliance du-
ing the las, three years, and each breach
OF her public engagements. even though
in a considerable degree necessary, has
been hurtiul TO the credit Of the state.
And if further necessity shall exist, the
evils Of it are only 10 he palIialcd by a
! scrupuloUs attention, on the part Of the
state, TO carry the violation no further than
the necessity absolutely requires, and to
manifest sincere disposition TO pay as
far as her means will allow, and to max C
! full reparalIon whenever her ability will
permit. Had the legislature, at their las,
session, let the rate of taxation remain at
VIVA. 1t then was, and appropriated the
surplus that would have been raised after
meeting the necessary expenses of the
state government to the payment Of inter
est upon the public debt, the money for
the completion of the canal would have
been obtained without delay the canal
would have been Immediately commenc-
ed; the sum of 81 100000 would have
been brought into the state and distributed
amongst our citizens; two years of dete-
rlOralon and decay Of the unfinished
works of the canal would have been say.
ed; our citizens would have had The be-
nelit Of the completion Of tie canal two
years earlier than they now will and
the canal property would have been made
available two years earlier, 10 NEE, the
interest and provide for the canal debt.
But the legislature saw proper to reduce
the taxes and adjourn, without making
any provision for the payment Of any part
OF The interest, and the consequences have
been. that the creditors Of the state have
not advanced the money to complete the
canal confidence in the ability and pur-
pose OF the people to meet their engage
ments has not been restored; the emigta.
ton tending westward has been deferred
from entering Illinois eastern capitalists
have sought investments in other states
and territories the development OF our
resources has been great retarded the
state debt has been increased 81 100000
by the accumulation Of unpaid lnteres,
and the state, in almost every respect, is
in more hopeless condition than she
was two years ago.
All these disastrous results are attribu.
table to the attempt Of the last legislature
to save the people S75 600 per annum,
by lessenlng their taxes, one mill upon
the dollar. This false economy has wei.
nigh plunged the state into irrc,rievabIe
ruin. 1t therefore, becomes a question
! OG tho hiubpst m, nnrt,ucn ia, th. ,r,e,,,,