The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-01-17
THE FREE TRADER.
ottawa, all, friday, Snnuury ~, tsIJ.
VIZ. E.nmborn'- speech in she G.obby.


Most Of our readers, doubtless, know very well
what is meant by the Lobby" 1t is a mock
legislature, that hold It's sessions in the represent
tltvc hall at Springfield, after the house has adj.
Journed. The leading measures before the lcgis-
lture are here generally first taken up and discus
scd and often speeches are made that are not sur
passed. if equalled, i'll either branch Of the regu-
lar legislature. OF this class certainly was the
speech of Mr.. Lannon'S, Of which we give an alb
stract below. 1t was made on a resolution intro
duGcd in the Lobby in favor Of tax to pay inter
est on our state debt. The speech is spoken of
in the highest terms by oil the letter writers and
papers that have mentioned it. In justice to Mir
! H., however we must state that our reporter has
attempted only to give his leading positions and
ideas, without attempting to initiate his style or
language, or to give single one of the happy il
Iustraons aud flashes of wit by which his speech
was so richly embeshcd.
Mr.. LAMBoRN said, the position he oc-
cuped in relation TO this question was pc
culiar TO himself. He had no particular
interest TO promotc--no personal object
to effect lie was not an Office holder,
dependent upon tho popular current to
bear him up; nor was he an Office seek
er. He looked for no promotion of any
kind and was not, therefore, subject to
the caprice of any man or set Of men, but
was left to himself to think and act as he
pleased. He was not influenced by tie
men who filled the stations Of honor in our
state, for he was not particularly favored
by their confidence ; and he belonged to
no clique or junto of politicians, nor was
he identified with any local or sectional
interests. What he might say upon this
subject. then, would be the honest express
sion Of his convictions, not restrained by
any fear Of popular prejudice, nor elected
by any prospect of public favor
This was not (Mr. l.. continued)
question that interested us alone, or that
belonged entirely to our present legsla-
ture, or that interested exclusively the
people of this state, or country. No, the
whole world was deeply interested in the
issue. The credit, the honor, and future
well being Of our common country dc.
manded speedy action at our hands, and
we could not expec, or desire more IA
vorable time 10 effect the great object in
view than the present. The political con-
llc, which had ragged throughout the
length and bredlh of our land, bearing up
on the pillows of party spirit the better
interests of the people, had passed over,
political animostles had ceased to agitate
the public mind, and sober reflection
would once more direct the deliberations
of our public assemblies.
In this state more particularly was this
an important time TO attend 10 our matters
of great and pressing interest. The de.
mocratic party had the entire asccndancy.
There was no party influence to counter
act no party prejudice to overcome and
men could come up at once and attend TO
lhe general good
This was not, however, a party ques-
tIon. BY revcrting TO the causes which
had led to our present embarrassment, i,
would be found that all parties had been
equally engaged in those wild schemes
which had led to such disastrous reverses
IN our public as well as private affairs.
II could be charged upon no party in par
tlcuar. Men had once been proud to claim
the honor Of such bold conceptions--such
vast plans of future aggrandizemon', and
all were alike accountable for their uulor.
tunale failure. Neither were our cxces-
ses chargeablc upon any particular Sec
uon Of our state. In one portion there
had been canal, in another rail road,
in another bank, and so on--all equally
and generously distributed; and even, il
few instances, money had bCCn borrow