The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-11-12

y! "i 'ne greatest interest IN the successful
and economical completion of that enterprise
ana while the state by the majority of the
trustees being appointed by subscribers to
tne ,0OO,OOO loan may have no control over
the action OF the board and no effective in
iuence in the management of the business
OF the canal, she still has rights and inter
esfs that justify and in my opinion require
some wachfulncss.
have the honor TO be entrusted with this
duty by the state of Illinois, and hold nv
sell responsible TO IFS government and pec-
pie Tor the manner in which shall discharge
hyseif, diSclaiming with all due respect anv
responsibility to you, gentlemen, or the very
respectable persons whom you represent.
much less to your appointees OH the line of
the canal with some Of whose conduct as
such there has been much and believe lust
complaint.
Being in the city of New York on busi-
ness OF the State | was called upon by some
q the subscribers to the canal loan and in
FORMED that meeting had been called, for
the purpose OF inquring with regard TO the
work, and ITS progress. and | was desired to
oc present and communicate any Informal
uoh might possess in relation to the mat
Yer. consented, and attended, not certain
" Tor the purpose of preierring charges and
arralgnlng either yourselves or other gen.
tleinen Tor trial, but for the purpose of COM
municating what understood then. and still
understand and believe TO be substantial
lacts. Since my return to this city many
other charges Of no less grave and serious
nature against the chief engineer have come
To my knowledge, all Of which I should feel
Al y
cations OF my oath, to take official notice of.
Ny communication TO that meeting, con-
tanned some matters of complaint urged We
ry generally by the people of the State of H.
Inois against yourselves, and it might see IN
rather anomalous that this communication
should have been referred to the Trustees
OF whom you constitute majority. making
you a committee to report as to complaints
against yourselves. This, however. was
done at late hour of the meeting, after
number OF the persons present at its opening
had retired, tie immediate friends and as.
socrates OF the foreign subscribers, among
others, several of the directors of his bank,
remaining as supposed for that purpose.
But with this have found no fault; on
the contrary have been willing and dcsir-
Gus to embody the information that would
establish the justice Of these complaints in n
tangible form for the information of all in.
tefeSted, ana ! have taken occasion to rX-
press tins disposition TO yourselves.
had not learned, until yours Of this eve.
hing, that You had come out here expressly
10 collect this information. l knew that
there was much ofimportant business apart
from tins investigation that required atten- |
ton here, and supposed that this was not
overlooked, but Of course YOU must be the !
exponent Of your own designs and motives.
II may not be necessary to say to you that !
until yesterday afternoon no intimatiop Of
any thing like a trial " the Chief Engineer, |
iad been suggested TO me from any quarter,
or 10 say to You that such being the fact. | |
was somewhat surprised on being invited
IN" the Office OF the Secretary of the Board |
on yesterday afternoon, at finding You sit |
ing as a board Of trial. Mr. Cooling. the |
ShIei Engineer before you, rather as
accuser than accused with members of the |
court and bar present, upon due notice Civ |
en- there as spectator at n trial in which |
part equally uncertain and equally conspic-
nous with that of Mr.. Gooding had been as
signed to me without intma.on. and alto.
cethcr withoGt my knowledge or consent. !
was iOr some time at loss in determining |
wfat 10 think Of this malicious trifing, but |
having no interest 10 consult in this matter
Dut That OF the public, and being willing and
ieSirous to afford the board fair oppuItu-
MY OF investigating the conduct and capac-
ny OF the Chief Engineer if they were so
disposed, and also of ailording Mr.. Goodiug
4 lalr opportunity for defence before YOU.
whom no one would suspect Of having bias
against HIM, did on yesterday evening.
propose to you that these charges concern.
ng Mr.. Gooding should lie separated from
The general communication, and presented
10 Mr.. Gooding 10 be answered separately
N writing, and that upon his answer being
made, would make all possible dispatch TO
collect the witnesses and testimony: that
would name the time when could be pre-
pared, and proceed with regular invcsti-
CATION, and trial such as is customary in like
asses. not only made this proposition but
suggested 1t as the proper and legitimate
'our>e to pursue and the one was DESTROYS
d pursuing for the purpose of cliciting the
ruth as member.
You, gentlemen, declined this proposition.
md III doing so the gentleman who repre-
'en'S the foreign subscribers manifested
such disposition as satisfied me beyond all
ionbt that there could be no fair investiga-
ION before him, or before any court which
nc could have voice or influence. The of
ice OF chief engineer is one of great respon-
lhiiity, and the foreign bondhodcrs from
heir local position must necessarily feel
great sollcitude as to the integrity and abil-
ty OF the incumbent. His integrity and
lbility after due examination and mature
'eilection have felt it my duty TO impeach,
md some of the charges which have pre-
erred Mr.. Gooding was disposed to admit.
yet the representative Of the foreign bond 4;
holders in this board, whose duty il is, as
nch, toinquire into the mal-practiccs charC
ID upon Mr.. Cooling, forgot his station and
Obligations as his Judge and volunteered 10
Ict as his unScllor-cautionin him against
making any admissions but instructed him
o give general denial to all the charges.
When the proposition made by me was ,
elected, suggested that on the morning /,
would communicate further with you as to !
What course would pursue. You have had g.;
eiore you my communication of this morn ,
ne containing my further proposition. mod I;
he'd for the reasons stated. | have now !
made two distinct propositions to prefer {
hargcs against the chief engineer before /
he Board OF Trustees. here state that !,
id so Ms n trliStcp m tho wait ,,l q, Lal alcl