The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-12-17
To William G0odinc,
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE ILLINOIS
AND MICHIGAN CANAL.


nal Investigations" you have placed before
the public what you are pleased to call a
vindica,ion of your character-but which
might more appropriately be called an as
sault upon mine-an assault not tempered
with candor, fairness, or prudence.
shall, in my notice Of it, avoid immita-
ting your unworthy example. have few
er personal feelings to crafty in this matter,
than you would have the public to suppose.
If you can successfully defend your conduct
against public censure, although may re-
gret that have caused that conduct to have
been suspected, shall nevertheless be graf
flied at your cxculpation from blame. Yet
you must be informed, though the informa-
ton should reach you long after every other
citizen is aware of the fact, that the public
mind has for years been agiiated in relation
to this very matter, which seems TO have
so stunned your ears by the suddenness OF
its recital-your ignorance was altogether
exclusive. A petition signed by over li0O
persons was presented to the Legislature
some six years since, complaining of your
self among others-and yet you affect sur
prise that complaints Of your conduct exist.
Why sir, many Of the bondholders in New
York, so notorious were these complaints
were opposed to your being appointed TO the
place you now hold; and even exacted a
promise Gas they have informed mel that
you should not be appointed. Therefore.
you may see if You will, that these COM
plants have not originated with me, and that
all have done in the premises has been
done in the performance of what conscien-
tiously believed to be public duty.
The public agents of the State would long
since have gone for your removal, had it not
been for the apprehension in their minds
that the excitement and the exposure grow
ing out of it, might have prevented the OBJ
tanning OF appropriations from the Lcgisla
turc for the completion Of the canal. Cir
cumsiances, rather than your merits. have
kept you in the receipt Of large salary.
which you have bu. poorly deserved. While
yon take such credit to yourself 'sfnr eifec.
tually watching over the interests of the
State" many are panied to know, that youI
delays and laundering have cost the State
an immense sum. You are the dupe Of your
own self conceit, if you believe the public
hold you in half the estimation you place
upon yourself.
Your manifestations Of i'll nature, youl
vapid efforts at sarcasm, all your bitterness
OF temper, shall d!sregard with the ex-
preston OF regret, that my colleagues should
have permitted you to make pretended re.
port to them, the vehicle of conveying to the
public so much personal violence. They
make, or permit, its publication, in cthe
event they encourage or tolerate the abuse
you practice. Before men possessing sucl
feelings and having such notions of proprie
ty, an investigation into the conduct of any
person would be bootlesS waste of time
and money.
You charge that came TO the line Of ca.
nal, predisposcd TO condemn you and YOU
associate engineers.
This may be to some extent correct.
had for years resided in portion of the state
decidedly interested in the speedy compile.
ton of the cana, and there there have beer
fora long time. complaints of the ,ardy man.
ner in which the work has been prosecuted
And many believe, whether that belief was
well or i'll founded, that the canal was moi
more industriously prosecuted, because the
persons who had the management of it were
DESTROYS of continuing to receive the emolu
ments of their stations. Many believed
moreover, that favoritism, if not corruption
existed; and that q change in the men who
were Immediately conducting the work
would be advantageous to the public inter
eStS.
But let us suppose for moment that
was prsjudiced; how were my prejudice,
met, or sought to be overcome? When
came into the Canal Office. was regarded
MS an intruder--every incumbent, from tn,
| highest to the lowest, studiousy avoided me
Communications properly belonging to my
department, instead of being made to me
were made to others who took the response
bilty facting without any consultation will
myself. All information was as far as pos.
sible withheld from me, and could not bu
see that all parties were banded together
and acting Systematically against me; as i
the State, her agents, and interests, were tC
be condemned and set aside. If information
was desired | had to seek it without aid o,
ABILITIES. and for that reason ! may some
times have been misled. Although | wa:
the sole representative of the interests Of tn,
State in this important matter, yet TO avoi,
me, To conceal from me. to treat through IN,
the interests Of the State with disregard
seemed to be the most jealous duty of tht
officers Of the canal, II. after this, felt dis
satisfied and suspected that all might not b,
properly conducted, will not seem strange tc
the public though it should TO you.
| You charge ''that was greatly displease,
at not having been appointed by Gov. Fore
to the place | now hold, and that hav,
never forgiven those who preferred Gen
Fry TO myself" This conjecture fyour j.
presented as fact. Permit me to say it j.
in every particular incorrect, rs never wa
an applicant to Gov. Ford for the station.
/ You say that lent willing ear to tn,
complaints of the ''unScrupulous and dsaf
fected:" this is easily said. But might no
even the INSCRIPTIONS have Just cause q
complaint? And might it not so happen
that you would call every man unscrupulou
who should complain Of yourself and as
sociatcs? All complaints are from dissntis
fled men, and these you call disafiectcd, n
if it were q species of treason to murmur n
your conduct. did listen to complaints a
an act Of duty. would have investigate,
those complaints had opportunity been al
lowed me. fear some of them are wei
founded; had it been otherwise inveStaa
ton would not have been so much dreaded
Investigation into complaints made agaia,
the conduct of public scrvants,i. strikes me
is not n subject for rcproAch; and publ
servants if they nrc without blame, ough