The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-02-07
FROM SPRINGFIELD.
Correspondence OF The Free Trader.


SPElNugIELp, Feb. 3 ], 1878.
have waited a long time with the hope that
when | wrote you again, could communicate
of importance. Alas have waited
in vain. If the Legislature have yet done any
thing which will be productive Of any general or
permanent good, it has been conceived with such
profound wisdom and executed with such consum-
mate skill, that nobody has discovered ii. The
mountuin has been in labor, aud has brought
forth d. * revenue bill has at lat been
brought i,rwa,d. VIII it pass, aye, there is he
rub. We mus! watch AMI pray and trust the rest
to Providence. Had simple proposition been
brought forward, proposing simply TO increase the
taxes one mill, at the carly part of tho session.
some hopes might DO entertained that ii would
yet pass, but the revenue bill which has been re-
ported is Of such extreme length, and conflicts
with such variety of interests, that have but lii,
tie hope of its passing. If it does pass, it will be
SO altered and amended, that i; will be as ncom-
prehensibIe, as the Egyptian hicroglypbics. 1t
has been under discussion in the house this after
noon, and they have only reached the 9Th section.
which they have very properly stricken out. The
intention was n, doub, good in proposing to tax
lawyers and doctors, but it savours to much OF
Buncom. What is the use in taxing man :
profession From whom does he get his sun.
port, and who would in the end pay the tax. and
ten times its amount! Evidently the farmers
and mechanics, who employ them. /. would be
the excuse for the lawyers aud doctors to charge
more Tor all their services, aud probably for the
Slo, received from each of them in taxes, the peO-
pie would pay them hundred. ~ these shifts
to eSadc the burthcn of taxation, are only so r.a.
ny evidences OF a want Of confidence in the hon.
or ana Integrity of the people. Let the expert
ment be made, let us decide the qucsi n at ono,
and forever, and proclaim to the world our true
characterize it infamous, or honest. Let In,
property of the state bear the burlhen Of taxation
see no cause yet to change my opinion tina,
expressed at the commencement of the session
that no useful measure would be passed by III,
present legislature. | hope may prove falls,
prophet do not wish TO discrcdit the character
OF the present Legislature, particularly as discov
er that hired correspondents ars putting their en-
ployers. But | do believe that many of the mem
bers woful'y belle their Constituent, or there il
more necessity for missionaries in this state thar
liindostan or China. For care not how reasona
bic or just measure may be- il it does not sui, til,
IF Of,
they at once say that their constituents will neve
sanction such 3 measure. Ask them TO supper
revenue bill to restore the credit Of the state an,
they cnrench themselves behind their Buncon
breast work, and say that their dear constituent
are oppressed, borne down, and ruined now b,
heavy taxation. Ask them to allow capital I.
come to the state, and be loaned at such rates a
to ensure its being obtained when required, an,
again they recount their poverty privatlons, an,
misery of their constituents. Let what " i'll com,
up, that has any useful tendency, they at ono,
bring into reluis,ion these hacknyed phrases
had supposed that n representative was chosen {,
do right to &C. on principle, to take responsibility
to lead the public mind, and when he returned /,
his constituents, to use his influence and talents
IN explaining the necessity and propriety of tn,
measures he had supported; and if he iailel il
convincing them that his cause had been the pro
per one, rather sacrifice bis seat than do violence
to his own conscience; but the order Of things il
reversed in this state. Instead of leading, and di
rccilng public opinion upon important measures
that the member may have studied, and therefore
understands better than his constituents; tn,
members listen or fegn to obey, the crude, ill-di
gesed, and obscure notions of men who no doub
would be capable of judging the merits of a sub
Ject, il they had given it due iclberaton, but who
from their occupations and habits Of thought, dc
no. give the closest and most mature debcra,ior
10 subject, but rather form their opinion from
prcjudices or one sided ysss.