The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-03-12
For the Free Trader
The Leading Policy Of IiIiusIs.
NJ. E9'i5r .
\ L " AR l..

la introducing this question to the eve OF the
People OF this State, through the columns Of
your paper, fell the gTestness and importance
Of the subject, aud also the greatest difiidence OF
my own ability To handle it. For nearly three
years have dwelt ,houeh,ful'y up, n this IN,
crossing subject and partially awaited in expec.
'aiion of sone ADLER pens presenting 1t ior the
consideration "f nay ieuw.cilizens.
! Once aud once ouly, at that critical hour ior
"ur great Canal, WHEN the Ii l,inatum Of the cap
itasis, comprising the ,hen imposing question
ii the one per cent sp'cie tax, was under the
consideration Of the Ltgs lature, did press this
matter upon the Executive of this State, it'll the
hope that at that important hour. | might he OF
some service to my country. That hour has pass
ed 10y, and in return Ter the sacrifice OF few
dollars of annual additional tax, we are now on
The FU'pt Of t, jrNing VI, ncalo uloble adNanta-
ges Of that imp"rtou, work. But the question
should now suggest itself Ia the prud, Mt citizen
and pro,drnt etatcsman, what is % become Of
that work and the vast debt now resting upon
the shoulder. Of our State, aud contracted !oI
the construction of that Canal and for other pur-
poses a, the tine cousIj,reJ julicious.
Is that Canal forever 10 remain in it's present
hand, Is that deb, forever to remain in It's
prrseu, dscrsdta le pos'tiou'
The solution Of the first qnes tion | leave to
others. The later is the important question 10
winch desire To draw attention.
The prose- nj debt # this State, including the
Canal debt, is vlrnusly estimated, but now it
Amo UNITS Ia not less than fourteen nations IF
dollars, hich is drawing its interest as steadily
aud surely as we draw DOR breath. It. DISPOSE
ton is the question. Reputation has been
charged upon Us from across the waters in such
repeated and voclcrous / mes, that even some Of
our own Gil iz,us have, il he dark hour Of our
States adversely, feared that necessity would
reach that point. Bot tie dsy has Enlightened (;
and all now eNPec, the ul innate repayment Of
the deb, without, however, any definite idea from
what particular source the means are to be der.
we'd. The Canal may or may not meet its share
Of the Jsbt: the proyid, statesman would pro-
vide Cor the emergency Of a deficiency.
Is the amount Of yearly interest 10 be allowed
still to acrumui ate Ia mountain of burden for
future generations 10 bear aud contend with
No! We have done the whole Of the deed
which has caused his debt let us do something
Cor 10 liquidation. Now is the proper season
too, to nsi,ae this question, Now, are about
TO be elected by the people, Delegates TO reform
The fundamental law Of the laui. Shall this op.
poriuniiy he allowed 10 pass hy and no provision
be- made CIR this impnrtlnt matter Shall the
r.rre question Of State spporlionment he the On.
ly subject for these remodelers of the Consiilu-
ton TO agia,e' 4 i eper--nore imgortant--
vital que stion is a, hand and mus, be provided
for. Che honor, the dignity, the character of
our Stats sm.ng 7ations cannot be disregaEded
Who is there an,o,..g 2s loves the name Of de-
Euher, for the land Of h.s a.. '''0h
Who Of us, visiting couu,iios h.ore "''C'u' u
their reputation can feel that he is regi'deN y!
those who there surround him, as the citizen. ct
an honorable Government For one, cannot.