The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-15
Gubcrnu,oriaL.. Iernand---sIcCon"cii


south, where the people appear determined 10
have hand in the matter, instead of leaving il
oil to the management Of politicians and clques.
Two letters on the subject from distinguished de-
mocrais have been brought out, one by Mn Kin
ncy, of the ST. Clair Banner from the Hon. JouN
A. M'CLERSAND, and the other by citizens OF
Pike county, from MuHRAV McCoNSELL, Esq,
These letters, to publish them at length, would
take up more room than we have at our disposal,
and can therefore receive but general notice OF
their contents at our hunds.
Mr.. McCernand simply s'a;rs tina: he has no
wish to assume the honors and wcighiy response.
hlitics of the gubernatolial Office. and thinks he
can do the state better service 10y attending faith.
fully TO his duties as a neaber Of congress But
while he dccl mes 10 be candidate himself, he
thinks the south clearly entitled To the governor,
and that harmony snl good feeling can only be
secured by taking tho candidate IRON that part Of
The state.
10 Mr.. Mcdonnell, sunjry questions were pro-
pounded. Taking il FOR granted that he will be
brought before the convention by his friends as
candidate for nomination, the citizens of Pike
county deem il their right to know his views On
al important questions of state policy, aud there
fore ask him to give them, |. AS TO the policy OF
creating bank in this state, with power to issue
paper to be used as a circulating medium; q AS
to using the paper Of banks Of other states, risk
ing their solvency, rather than the rorcr of an
institution of our own creating; and 3. As to dis
couraging by legislative enactment, and by eve
~ other means within our power, the use Of all
kinds of bank paper, aud inducing our citizens to
use nothing bu, gold and silver coin Tor money.
Mr.. Nee. however says he "must be permitted,
under presen! circumstances, 10 decline all pre-
tensions Whatsoever" 10 the Office of governor;
nevertheless he has no objection 10 letting them
know his views on the subject they have referred
to, and proceeds to give them a, considerable
length. Tho substance Of his views is contained
in the following paragraph:
"Frsi, am opposed TO the creation Of bank
ofissue in the state Of Illinois, that shall have
power to create bank paper to be used as money.
Secondly, am opposed TO the use of bank paper
Of other state banks; and thirdly, am opposed
to all banks, and against the use Of all bnnk pa
per us a circulating medium for common use as
money! am in favor of using gold and silver
coin only for all ordinary business OF electing cx
changes among the people, as that is the only
constitutional currency Of the nation.
Mr.. Nee, would, however, not forbid by legs-
lnlivc enactment the circulation Of foreign bank
paper in our state. The power to prevent an ins
unda,on Of this trash is already in the hands q
the people, who have only to refuse taking itQnl
in all cases to demand gold and silver, to seCiie'
10 the state sound and healthy currency.
Tho letter concludes with some private ioih 10
the borders, who Mr.. Nee. understands shave
united against whatthcy call ee1froihtiaence,"
and determined tina, no democrat from around
the seat of government shall have Office. He is
unable TO divine what the democrats Of that part
of the state have done that they should be thus
prescribed, unless il DO that they arc believed TO
approve of the article in the State Register in fa-
yor Of the creation Of another slate bank. in which
case he admits they would richly merit to be
doomed but no democrats in the state, he as
serts arc sounjer upon the subjec, Of banks than
those Of tho central district, maugre the ohliqui'y
ofthcir supposed organ, the State Register.
Thus have VIC given the reader the substance
of these letters. The views of Mr.. McConnel in
reference TO creating new banks arc sound, aud
such as arc entertained by tho great body Of the
democratic party, and he deserves credit for being
thus prompt to express them.
In reference to the dccnatons TO run for the
office of Governor which these letters contain, il
is almost needless to say that they amount to no
more than to show becoming modcsty IN their
authors. Public men Of talent and worth are
public property, and il the good Of this state and
the harmony of the democratic party should re-
qure that either of the above gentlemen should
be the candidate for governor, they would hardly
be allowed, and would have no right, to consult
their private inclinations in the matter.
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