The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-07-23
IL u PL Y
or the American IsoUdhoiders "a the card
OF the Foreign Canal Trustees.

nolS bondnolders, have received
your reply TO their letter of the 25th
ult., and it has to regret that you
have not given more attention to the
complaints of the people of Illinois, -
of the almost universal existence OF
which, you were informed by the
letter from the members of the Leg
islaturc of that State to the Cover
nor, and by the letter of the Cover
nor to this committee; with both of
which You were furnished by us,
and to which communications yon
have made no ailusion in your reply
to the Committee.
Whether these expressions OF dis
satisfaction appear to you well or i'll
founded, the people have right to
respectful attention from those, who
stand in relation to them, almost as
their own elected servants--and
who, at least, are taking their mon
ey in annual salaries, to much larg-
er amount than the most of them can
afford 10 apply to their own support,
and that too, for services which
do not interfere with engagements
each of you has to fulfil, where your
whole time is or may be required by
your employers; and for which each
of you receives from those employ
ers also, large annual compensation.
You are too well acquainted with
the American character, to suppose
for moment, that the people of any
State will quietly submit to what
they consider an injustice TO them.
They may not be able to manifest to
You their disapprobation of your
conduct in the usual mode of popu.
lar expression, as you hold your Of
fees irrespective of their will but
il is TO be feared and expected, that
their resentment will be the IN ore
signally visited upon your constitu-
ents, by an omission to provide for
the payment of the interest and bebt
due them from the State-proyision
for which, the creditors of the State
arc anxiously looking and have been
expe citing to grow out of its future
legislation.
The resolutions Of the meeting we
have the honor to represent, alluded
I 10 butt causes of dissatisfaction
the absence of the Bondholder Trus-
tees, and the cxhorbitant charges
for their services. These we con-
ccive are sell-evident, and do not
admit Of two opinions. The other
subjects of discomfort alluded TO in
the preamble to the resolutions 3
some are established by undoubtcd
authority, and all are believed by
the Committee to be substantially
true.
The Committee is advised and has
no doubt that the injury to the State
of Illinois, from the excessive saIa-
res voted to the Bondholder Trus-
tees, is of very minor importance to
that growing out Of their absence
during the progress Of the work /;
and believing that the Cancellation
of the people is all-important to the
interest of the Bondhelders, We have
again earnestly to urge upon the two
Trustees, such attention and action
in reference to the complaints from
that State, as will prevent any FL
ture cause for repetition of them.
The Committee believes that this is
indispensably necessary, to secure a
proper action of the Legislature in
favor of the creditors.
In obedience to the wishes OF the
Bondholder meeting, the Committee
has obtained legal advice from one
of our most eminent counsels, which
fully confer in the opinion we have
entertained in relation to the salaries
Of the two Trustees which is, that
they cannot legally take, nor a ma
Ij3rity Of the Bondholders give, from
the joint fund, anything in the shape
of compensation FOR salaries, which
is excessive or unusual in amount
for the time and talent employed A.;
and should the two Trustees have a
doubton the subject, the Committee
now proposes, and begs of you to
unite with us in selecting individu-
ais of standing and talents, one by
each party, to decide what, under
the circumstances of the case, is a
proper sum for you to receive.
Should this request be declined by
the two Trustees, and should they
in other way continue to disregard
the wishes of the people of Illinois,
the consequences to the interest Of
the creditors Of the State, it is con-
Sdently believed viii be very disas-
The Committee will ~ AXE lluSion
to only one Of the special remarks
in the Bondholder Trustees reply Go