The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-09-12
TO THE PUBLIC.
Reply Of NE Hon. Michael Ryan TO
Cor. DariS' P0mphief.


pose and severely censure the con-
duet of the Boston Committee and
Gov. Davis, in relation to the Hi
nois and Michigan Canal negotia-
ton. | was not inSensible, at the
time, of the great disparity between
these men and myself, nor was Is
norant of the vipdictive, arrogant.
and proscriptive character of those
whose ire | was about to kindle,
and whose wrath | was about to
call down upon my humble head ;
they were old, influential, and
wealthy citizens; | was young.
comparatively unknown, and poor.
But had the odds against me, been a
thousand times greater, | should not
have hcsitated one moment in dis
charging, what | conceived to be,
an imperative duty. was repre-
= scnting the interests of the state OF
Illinois, and was resolved to guard
and protect those interests, despite
the chicanery and cabals of specula-
tors and ambitious politicians. Had
| consulted only my own interests, |
would have remained silent, and
then | might have retained the good
opinion of Gov. Davis and his inhu-
entail friends; but higher interests
than my own were at stake, and |
preferred to obey sense of duty,
rather than
"Crook the pregnant hinges of the knee
Where thrift may follow iawnng,"
and secure favor and patronage,
from the wealthy, by silent acqui-
escencc in their selfish and ambi-
tious schemes, which | knew must
prove detrimental 20 the prosperity
of Illinois. 1t is true, that in so do
ing, have subjected myself to the
fierce invcctives of Gov. Davis, and
the bitter dcnunciations of the wing
press but the impotent spleen OF
the one and the vindictive malice OF
the other ware alike mheeded.
have the approval of my own con-
cience for my conduct, which to
me is far more satisfactory than the
plaudits or censure of John Davis,
and all the servile of the party press.
who
"Awed by no shame, by no rcsPcc, control'd
In scandal busy, in rcproaches bold"
seek to do him homage by pander-
ing to prejudices the most unworthy
and endorsing, without enquiry,
conduct the most reprehensble.
Prior to my exposure of Gov, Da-
Wis and his compeers, | discovered
that much dissatisfaction was mani
tested in Illinois towards the bond
holders. The people were begin
ming to believe that the creditors of
the state were acting in bad faith ;
and strong feelings began to be man
ifested against them. The Illinois
papers were filled with propositions
to complete the canal in some other
way and all were recommending
. the state to break off all further ne
gotiation with the bondholdcrs, and
rely upon her own resources to COM
pletc the canal. | feared, if this
state of feeling was allowed to con-
tinue until the approaching session
of the legislature, it would become
so intense that all our hopes of an
amicable arrangement between the
state and her creditors would be
blasted. 1t was to allay this preiu-
dice against the bondholders, that
/ published my letter, and charged
the blame of delay on the Boston
Committee and Gov. Davis where it
properly belonged.
stated to Mr.. Levitt, Mr.. Young,
and several other heavy bondhold-
ers in New York, prior to my pub
LEGATION, that | felt called upon to
expose Gov. Davis and his Boston
compeers, and that | should do il
with view to quiet the murmers in
Illinois against the bondholders. /
cast no blame or ccnSure upon the
bondholders, but distinctly stated that
the delay was caused by the coli
cious intermeddling" of the Boston
Committee.
am well satisfied, from subse-
quent observation, that my publica,
ton had the desired effect. Nc
further complaints against the bond
holders were published in the Hi
nois papers, after the appearance o
my letter. They charged the blame
where it belonged /; and we were
enabled to renew the friendly feel
ing towards the bondholders, and
finally, to pass the desired tax law
which secured the advance of tn,
money to complete the canal. This
we could not have done, had the
legislature continued to believe tina
the delay in the negotiation was tho
fault of the hondholders. there.
fore have no cause to regret the
publication fmy letter; and were
it not for the glazing misrepresenta
:, tions and gross perversions in the
N-letter of Gov. Davis. I would sto,