The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-04-07

I
ing his services as representative in the MT NJ
Congress, with assurances of the utmost de-
} voiion To their business aud interests-and
withall, a synopsis OF his general political
, views may be due TO them in the present,
communication, and
} lSt. deem it to be n manifest truth that
; men are governed too much, and that the
people of these States, both III their federal
: aud state government, have too much legls-
lation and too mach intimacy ~ all the forms
oi administration IN the several departments,
and thatit would be worthy the effort of bet
termcn than myself to effect reform ~ this
capital error, aud my influence shall not be-
/ wanting either a. a citizen or legislator for
ats accomplishment.
-. That all civil government was iusti-
ihted only 10 remedy the Weaknesses aud
consequent vices of men, and that with zen
eral intelligence and a virtuuu> purpose IN
all, no government would be necessary: and
therefore, it's one of the first objects aud du-
ties of all associations aud especially that oi
ciNIi government, To- encourage and promote
| political aud moral science so essential To
the prosperity and happiness of nation.
81. That the condition OF this country diff
trrS from that OF the countries of Europe, by
is receiving ST many emigrants from the old
~,
place must and ought 10 be given, as welliu
the political as ia the agricultural and mer.
camille transactions OF the country aud as
few, If any OF such emigrantS, come and set
tie here with any other object than to MAKE
1.-THE country Of their adoption and the home
. OF themselves and their pU>terity they have
the same interests and are entitled TO all the
: rights OF citizenship aS soon rs they become
/ informed IN the theory of our governments
and deem two years sufficient that; and
therefore, 10 longer time should be required
for their naturalization.
It'll. That all men are created equal and
have rights which il is despo,ism 10 invade
or prescribe and while some of the States
OF this Union have by social compact Sc
cured to themselves the legal right To hold
slaves, no power can control them but their
voluntary action, but we may, and we should
see that 1t extends to no territory or people
now free.
9th. That war is great national calam. f.
~ and should be avoided As long as negotia- /
lions will avail or forbearanco continue TO be /
virtue, but when, as in the late war with
Mexico, we are driven by repeated agsres.
sion and wrongs and final invasion and she'd
ding our blood, war becomes necessary and
honorable; for indemnity and the taking aud
retaining o! territory becomes justihable. but
no unprovoked war for conquest, merely to
govern.
9th. That the federal government pos
scNSeS no Just or constitutional power to
make internal Improvements which are of
character entirely local in their object and
use; but may, where ia any cXigency the
national want may be equal to the expense
and may exercise prospective economy in
the case, aud none the less for the incidental
benefits that may result to the State or place
where called for; but every such nc; should
be separate and distinct and based upon It's
own merits.
18th. That it is amongst the necessary I'm.
provcmcnts o! the age and consistent with
that progressive democracy which seeks 10
remedy every evil that may appear in the
relations OF a great people with their govern.
ment, that most of the places OF trust undcr
the patronage Of any of the departments
should be in the gift of the people
18th. That no government, state or nation.
al, has any authority, control or legitimate
action in any matter relating tothc currency
e OF ihs a9Hi ay A & federal soy
law the value thereof, and the value Of for.
eIgn copS.
9th. Thattra between nations should be
unrestricted, and that the United States by
the position they hold in supplying the world
with food, can control the terms of trade
which should be reciprocally free; and no
duty should be paid OH our exports or i'm
ports in this or any other country, aud we
can and ought 10 exercise 4 sovereign CON
troll in the matter.
10Th. That an adequate revenue must be
collected by soine species Of taxation TO sup.
port the institutions of government, aud
wealth being the oaly proper basis Of taxa
, ton the property of the country should be
taxed directly for all revenues; and it APP
pears 10 me evident that no course could be
more equitable, as he who had mos, 10 pro-
tect woud pay most for protection, wealth
should be taxed, not wants, property, not
persons.
llth. That the treaty proposed 10y MeN-
co for the termination Of the war j. not Just
and should not have been accepted by this
government.
18th. That a general land reform is nee
c>>aIy, and each and every actual settler
. Should be entitled 10 50 acres Of the public
; land IN one entire lot with the privilege Of
pre- exemption on one more Catirc 30 acre lot
, for three years, and for which he should pay
, one hundred dollars in three years, and the
d
for the payment uf the same, and tlat the IT,
, tie Of said first 80 acres should not be alien
atcd forauy cause but the debt due the Uni.
i ted States, aud but half Tor that; and that 10
. individual should be permitted to purchase
. more than 6i0 acre, of the pablo lands, and
% ary person ,u possession Of W1Ir iEan that
q should pc compelled to Surrender his title To
. lUc 9vcIpiu> 10 any person wIo might enter
on aud cultivate sad land, by his paying or
rendering the owner the original Irlce, with
. interest and cost Of impro, ements if any.
II No evil can be greater, more complicated u
f easier remedied than that of wealthy per-
). sons buying up the public domain aud TX
+ acting four or perhaps ten times the govern
!, ment price from the settler, the only useful
man in the transaction, or keepitto increase
in value by the industry of those around it,
and therefore should be taxed from time Of
entry.
81, 18th. No Imprisonment for debt or capita
# or corporeal punishment for crime, debt be-
~, ing no crime, and crime restrained by i'm
= prisonmen, or fine, or both, according TO the
- nature of the offence