The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-11-08

the evil day. And whilst we are pos,po-
ming it, we keep ourselves and the world
in the fearful apprehension, THAI blight
ing ruin will sooner or later, fall upon
this fair land, in the shape of high taxes.
This has been our condition for years
past. The mere belief, that there is a
possibility Of oppressive taxes, las caus-
ed many TO leave the State. Compare
lively but very few, have since come to
settle in it. There has been scarcely any
sale for real estate. The inhabitants who
are now here, many Of them are tied TO
the country by the impossiblity of sell
ing their property. Emigration has al
most ceased And although we have not
decreased in population, we have gained
but little since 1899. The territories adj
jacent to us, are filling up with inhab-
tants at our expense; and all lands seem
to I've on the increase but ours. The high
and palmy days have departed when we
doubled our population in few years
when, if man had more land than he
wanted for cultivation, or If he wanted TO
leave the country, or to remove from one
part of the State to another, he could sell
his land for cash. In this respect we are
deprived of one of the uses of our proper
ly; and amos, of the liberty Of locomo-
ton.
Wha, has produced this state Of things b!
Has it been high taxes No! it has
been the fear of them only. |, is because
exhorbiant sums Of money have been
drawn from our pockets as a tax. upon
our industry 10 pay either principle or in
terest of the debt! No! not one cent
has yet been paid by taxation.
Ii is very obvious then, that the early
settlement of this question; the very pen
dency of which, is so inconvenient TO
ourselves; which by stopping emigra-
ton, stops the sale of our property. is
one of vital interest TO every man, who
has n dollars worth of real estate TO sell /;
or who desires to change his residence,
10 other parts of the State or elsewhere.
There are but two modes of settling
this important question; and one of them
will not eilectually do it. The one mode
is, by direct reputation. BY adopting
this mode, we hold ourselves up as wor-
thy of the meriled scorn and contempt Of
the civilized world. We defy the eter-
nal principles of sacred Justice; and es-
tabish for ourselves, among all men,
reputation, az odiOus and detestable, as
that of nest of pirates. As have al
ready said before, mankind will never
forget that we have had the money that
we owe it; that our creditors have lost
that much and that with a Heaven-da-
ring impotence, and scorniul defiance Of
the moral sense Of the world, we deny
the debt and refuse to pay it.
Suppose that the question could be set
tied in this manner, what better would
we be off! 1t is true, that the fear of
high taxes would be removed. But
would this invite emigration. Would it
enable US to sell our property. Men with
means sufficient to buy would never come
10 Illinois. Such persons would never
venture themselves among us. They
might justly fear that they would be
swindled out of what they already pos
sessed. If we received any accession TO
our numbers, they would, most probably,
be the mos, worthless of mankind; such
as we ought to desire to keep away. Our
Stale would become catchall for passing
rogues Of every description. We would
soon lose our own self respects and all
respect for the character of the Sisle. 1t
would become place where swindlers.
horse thieves, and counterlei,ers, might
resort, TO be received and treated as gen.
llemen.
Who Of our present population, would
desire to see such state Of things
Who would desire to raise family OF
children, in the atmosphere Of dishonor,
and leave them at his death, an inheri-
lance of in(amy! None Of us. am
satisfied that all of us, and you in parlic.
ular, duly appreciate the advantages to E
State, Of character for honor and integ
rlp. We look to Tennessee. to Ken,uc.
Ky, to the old dominion Of Virginia, tc
New York, and Massachusetts, and why
are they great and honorable among man
kind. 1t is their integrity, their sense
f of honor, their intelligence, and jus
and all consoling State pride, in TIT
minds of their people. 1t is :his feel
ing which wish TO see cultivate,
here. Let our people be proud o
their State; but let them have some,hin,
to be proud Of Let us vindicate, in on
, own eyes, our character for justice. Ur
| I'll we do this, we cannot be proud Of on
N nx,,lt II. al