The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-02-14
FROM SPRINGFIELD.
Correspondence Of the Free Trader.
SrnISeFIELn, Feb. II h, 1915

subject, fOid La Sale will therefore remain un-
shora Of any of h,r fair proportions for this ses-
sion.
4 bill has been rushed through both houses re-
ducng the salaries Of the three judges to be cleo
ted, to SlCO0 which. in AUDITORS warrants, will
be equal to about $500. This will unqucstiona-
bly, command the hes, legal italcnt in the country.
Judge can make the rounds Of the circuit twice
year, travel to Springfield, and spend months :;
pay his house rent, suppor.shis family, educate
his children, and acquire wealth enough To retire
in few years on such a salary. 1t is really ex-
orb,tsnt. W ho would not be a judge? An ef-
fort is also making and may succeed, to address
out all the old Judges, SO to reduce their saa-
ries to 5000 II there is any justice in the one,
there is certainly in the other. The oh circuit
PAYS more than twice the amount Of taxes that is
paid by some of the southern circuits In fact
some OF the counties in the south actually draw
more money from the treasury than they pay in.
And yet they want to keep up the salaries Of their
Judges, and cut down those circuits that pay the
greatest proportion oitaxcs A reck less spin! Of
destruction seems 10 prevail. To triile with the
judiciary, to render it odous with the people; TO
destroy the supremacy of the laws; to throw oil
the restraints Of justice, appear to be the sole end
and aim of portion of the Legislature. The con
stituon cannot be carried by assault, and now
an effort is made to reduce it by famine. Where
will this effort end fear that we are tending
rapidly towards facous discord. A spirit as
desperate and agrarian in its tendencies, PIE
walls, that, | have no doubt, would carry these
Jewelers. SO far, as did the Jacobin spirit in the
French revolution, if they had the courage TO
venture the same lengths. Fortunately for the
country, they have not. But the effect of their
example, hereafter may he most disastrous. A
fictious turbulent passion does not spring up at
once among the people. 1t is only when they
are maddencd, deceived excited, 10y acts of vo-
ence, they lose all restraint and self control,
become reckless and desperate; and though at
this time, it will be considered little less than
Legislature portends any serious evil still have
perfect forcboding Of dire and fatal consequence
es. If healthy body can imhihe poison, and
not die if virtue can mngle with vice and not
be contaminated if piety can make the Devil a
bosom companion and still remain pure, then
admit, that Illinois may escape from the present
danger unscaihod.
The discussion upon the revenue hill has been
suspended for the arrival Of Mcssrs. Lca,itt and
Oakley. They will probably reach here tonight.
The terms upon which the subscription has been
filled up are not known, but | presume they are
the same as the old agreement. The great diff
Gully in the way of complying with this agree
mcnt seems to be, III providing for n prospective
increase in the rate Of taxation. Many members
say that they will go for one MILL but will not.
agree that it shall be increased hereafter. This
ofcourse, would be useless. Our creditors will
never place the least confidence in our action. un-
I'll we show that we intend TO pay as fast as our
means will permit. TO pay one mill and refuse
to pay any more hereafter, would be saving to
onr creditors, we will consent topay you 500 900
per annum if you will loan US s1,G0O,0OO, and
when you have loaned US that, we will stop paw
lug. We owe a large debt. viii we pay il (!
Our interest is accumuatng rapidly. viii we
provide for the payment Of part now, and IN
time the full amount These are the questions
which we are to decide VIII we act like bust
ness men, or will we continue to tfille with grave,
momcn,ous questions A business man, to sus.
tain himself among business men, must conform
to certain acknowledged principles of right He
must show by his conduct that he acts from pure
aud honest motives, and not from lase and sordid
ones. And i, is the height of folly to suppose
that a sovereign state, that has lost credit and cha
raotor can regain them by puerile, chill dish vas
cillation, and weak and Inefficient legislation.
II we ever expect to pay til c debt, why not show
at once how and when? If we intend seriously
to increase the tax two years from this time, con
IL do any harm to pass a law to that effect now 4!
When by doing SO we satisfy our creditors and
and the world. that we are honest and serious in
our effort to pay our debt. If we refuse this, the
only inference to be drawn from it is that we in.
tend to repeal 1t as soon as they advance the 81
GOO, 900, and don't want TO comm. ourselves.
But those who are weak and dishonest enough
TO propose such a scheme to deirsud our creditors
of more money, will come to learn and know the
truth of the old adage that liar is not believed
even when he speaks the truth We are already
suspected, and will be closely watched, and if we
have not principle enough 10 be honest, we had
better be honest from policy.
SpRINGFiELn, Feb. I, 1915.
Both branches Of the general assembly
have resolved TO adjourn on the first Mon
day of March next, and they have also
determined to receive no new business al
ter the 18th inst.
! The bill of Mr., Hicks. of Jefferson