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


the canal, would not complete it in
less than sixteen years and if offer
ed as a security for the payment of
the interest on a new loan, the very
uncertainty of the existence OF such
law, being liable at all times to be
repealed, or continued at the plea
sure of congress, together with the
certainty that the amount to be de-
rived therctrom, must annually di-
minish, will render the offer of no
avail. 1t cannot be imagined that
capitalists would lend money on such
security.
There are also objections to a d.
rect appropriation of money, by con-
grcSs. 1t is true that congress is
bound, by compact with the state, to
make the national road, and if mo-
ncy could be appropriated to this,
and some few other objects of great
national Importance, such as the IL
linois and Michigan canal, harbors
on the great northern lakes, the
Mississippi river, and its great tribu-
tary streams ; if every other portion
of the Union would not call for sim
liar and greater appropriations if
no log-rolling should be introduced !;
if no recklcssncss and cXtravagant
expenditures should be made, mere
ly to secure the local popularity of
members of congress, the principal
objections would be obviatcd. But
if there be any thing to be feared,
more than another, it is that con-
gress, some time or other, will enter
into a general, wild, and extrava-
giant system Of internal improve
ments, by means of which, if the log
rolling system of some of the states
shall be introduced, the general go
vernmcnt would soon be as much
crippled with debt as are those I'M
fortunate states. We may rely upon
it that whenever this system shall be
again revived in congress, the mem
bcrs there will be as much devoted
to its diffusion all over the country,
as were the members of our own le-
gisiature. Each one will desire to
do as much for his constituents as
he can, not only as an act of patri-
otto devotion to their interests, but
more frequently to enhance his own
popularity. Each one would append
his own little neighborhood river OF
road, and all would be ashamed tc
return to their constituents without
a share in the general scramble.
During the administration of one
of our presidents, a survey was or
dered, and system projected, in
volving an expenditure of upwards
of one hundred millions of dollars
If this had succeeded, it would have
been added to, from time to time
until the whole United States would
have been as irretrievablv ruined as
our own state is supposed to be-
Fortunately, however, for the coun-
try, this most dangerous system was
successfully encountered and over
thrown by a succeeding administra-
ton. | call it dangerous because il
manifestly tends to the creation of g
large national debt; a debt which
whenever contracted, will PROSTATE
the financial energy of the whole ma,
ton, and throw it manaclcd ant
hand cufed, at the mercy of foreign
powers.
In forming an opinion on this sub
iect, it is all the time to be remem.
bered, that the confederacy alone
is charged with the war making
power, and with the general defence
against foreign aggression. The
states, separately, cannot make war
nor defend the country. They may
all be solvent, but their financial
ability cannot be used for genera
defence. The common government
is our only reliance for this, and i
this government, being alone charg
ed with the common defence, is t(
{ be crippled and ruined with debt
whether by squandering its reve.
nues, by distribution of the pro.
ceeds of the public lands, by assum'
ing the state debts, or by ruinou'
system Of internal improvements, We
will make ourselves the easy victim!
of the nations of Europe and We
will be sure to see them, on every
occasion of difference, sending theil
fleets to our coasts, to lombard oul
cities, and drive us into dishonora
bic treaties, as they have often done
with the weak government of Msxi
co, and the imbecile republics o
, South America.
a