The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-11-21
ron rus OTTAWA FREE TRADER.
Leading Cnanl I.nnd-.

whom better things were TO be expected, were ell
ther shivering in the wind, or absolutely justify
ing the attempt to collect rent from those who
bringing into a state of cultivation and max
lns vauabls the canal lands.
The pioneers that press forward into the unset.
tied or sparscy settled, regions and cncounteralI
the privaions aud pcriis attendant thereon and
make smooth aud easy the way for those who
have more money and less inclination to meet
hadships, have always. both 10y the state ana
naional governments, been respected ia their
claims and little homes, and they have been held
sacred To them ill they brought into market,
when they have always been allowed 10 buy them
u, the lowest price for which the government own.
ing the lands sells them. Laws upon laws, both
state aud national, have bcca passed to protect
the settlers upon public or unsettled lands; and,
indeed, so sacred is this right considered, that
public opinion is perfect guaranty, even in ca
ses where the law does not protect; as for in
stance, where lands have been brought into Mar-
kei and some of the settlers have not been able
to pay for them. Frequently, in such cases,
lands worth from five TO ten dollars per acre lie
a year or two, subject to entry by any person for
81 % per acre, ye, so sacred are the settlers
rights considered, that no man dares to encOun-
ter the strong arm of public opinion by entering
them; and believe the attempt TO make the set
tiers on canal lands pay rent for their own i'm
provements, is the first attempt Of the kind ever
made.
! Bu, setting aside the law and custom on the
subject, lie, US look ut the justice of the case
I Here is man who has gone on pieceof pal.
RE hclunging to the state worth two dollars an
acre. lie has built house upon it and fenced
it, with timber oil the state land # you please, yet
! his labor is added to tic timber. lie goes on
aud breaks up The land at cost Of two dollars
per acre. and after eNp,nIing in fencing, &c, &C.,
two ur three dollars more an acres on land ori-
ginally worth from two to five dollars, and made
i, valuable and salcabIc, he is called upon to pay
rent. Rent on what Not the raw ptIirie, sure
IT, for there millions of acres of II open to all
the world. Mott is upon his own improve
menls-his own property; for the state by her
( laws has declared tina, this Is his property, and
tina, he shall be protected in it.
/ The aucmp, TO lease these lands is certainly
to say the least Of 1t, an unfortunate one on the
Z part Of the canal trustees. Certainly nothing is
more desirable than that good feeling should ex-
h., -. ,,k. 4 a..
in charge the lands upon which they live. That
this renting operation was first suggested by the
European bondholders, there can be lille doubt
aud it may be attributed to their entire ignorance
Of the state OF things here, aud their familiarity
with the system of landlord and tenant at home,
which goes far 10 excuse them. Messrs. Leaytt
the true state Of affairs here, and from their desire
TO do what the boudholdcrs wished TO have Gone
were led into the same error | wish as mucl
could be said to Justify the governor and the stat
! trustee. But with them there is an entirely diff
| ferent accoun, 10 settle They are men VIII,
pride themselves on being western men, thorough
, " acquainted with all these things, and who
from their position, are expected to guard an,
protect the interests Of the inhabitants Of thu
state. That the trustees elected by the bondhol
: Jers should look after their interests is no NOR
. than YVES TO be expected, and we have a right {,
expect that the state trustee, who has been up
! pointed for the purpose, and the governor, who's
duty 1t was to appoint the right sort OF man L
/ the rus,eeship, and who was present with til,
=. boar during much of the time spent in getting VI
the framework of these renting operations, wou,
look after our interests. But 10 these men, higl
in Office, whom the people are paying high sala
ries to guard their rights GENE out and object l.
this breaking through all law aud custom, an,
the strong force of public opinion, in attemplin.
TO take from the settler his rights Was it no
to he expected that they would he the first mel
in the state to take the stand for the settler But
sir, am sorry 10 say, such is not the case. Th
state trustee who is the creature of the governor
and doubtless acting in accordance with his " i'll
is To all appearances acquiescing and aiding il
carrying out this renting operation. lithe.e mel
can exhoneraie themselves from censure in th
matter, for one should he very much pleased /,
see them do 50. will wait to hear whether they
have any thing TO say, and in due time you may
hear from me again on this subject, OP.Q