Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-01-18
From the State Register
The Canal. 2''e

lOn di'O NldtS ASS5iShSA'
The Canal. g.
The hireling press in the interest ofthe
foreign trustees, the chief engineers, his
satellites and lickspittles, who live upon
the crumbs dispensed by his hand, still
defend the rotten corruption their mas.
tiers and owners. OF them nothing better
was to be expected, but we regret to see
the Journal of this city lending itself to
the vindicaton of a set Of men who have
robbed the state, wronged the stockhold-
ers, retarded the completion of the canal,
deprived our citizens of an avenue to
market, and the public treasure of its rev.
enue. When the Journal first alluded to
the subject we hoped that an examination
of the evidence which was within its reach
would work a change ofopinion,and that
retraction would follow; but we fear that
the editors had rather be governed by the
misrepresentation of interested men than
take the trouble to investigate the matter
for themselves. We are certain that if
they were to look into it they would be.
come convinced of their error.
We have, in former numbers, called
public attention to the abuses which have
been coming to light for several months
past, and we rejoice to find that several
papers along the canal lire have taken up
the subject. For two or three weeks we
have been awaiting the denouement of
further Investigations, which are now
making, the result of which we shall soon
be able 10 lay before our readers. The
subject is one which has no relation what
ever to parties or politics. 1t is one in
volviDg the pecuniary interest of our peo-
pie and the state. 1t affects the honor of
both, and the state credit especially. The
early completion of the canal and the re.
demption of state credit, by beginning to
pay our public debt Is subject which
lays near the heart of every true Illinoan.
There is but one party upon this subject,
AID the party comprises almost every
voter in the state. There is no division.
All agree that the dept must be paid as
fast as our resources and energies will
permit. 1t matters not to what political
party the individuals implicated in these
abuses belong. Whether democrats or
wings, they deserve to be held up to the
public indignation, and any press that
will prostitute its columns to their defence
merely because they belong to the same
party with ITSELF 10 particeps criminis and
more guilty than the parties accused.
We have in former numbers exposed
the neglect of Messrs. Leavitt and Swift
(the trustees ofthe boidholders)in regard
to the great work committed to their
management. The former resides in
Washington and the other in New York,
and neither visits the line for the purpose
of directing operations, though each claims
for his services the sum of $4,000 per
annum. They did, indeed. visit Chicago
last summer, not however for the purpose
of expediting the work, which their agents
had retarded for the purpose ofprolonging
their term of service and enabling them.
selves and their retainer to carry out
their scheems of speculation, but to white
wash Mr.. Gooding, the chief engineer,
against whom the state trustee had enter
ed complaints to the board in New York.
During their few days stay in the state
they were not known to have devoted
more than Ole day to an examination of
the line, and as to the investigation of the
charges against Mr.. Gooding, about
which so much has been said, they did
not give the state trustee an opportunity
to collect his testimony. but proceeded
summarily to an erpdrte trial, which, of
course, resulted in the exculpation oftheir
agent and PETITE chief engineer. Upon
this acquittal their friends contend that
the public should be satisfied of the falsity
OF the state trustees charges. Notwith-
standing this assumption public inquiry
has not been stifed, nor the Ubiquitous
conduct of the canal functionaries suffered
to remain sub rosa. A portion of it has
been brought into the light of day, and
ere many weeks elapse further develop
ments will expose the most heartless OBJ.
preston and the most infamous corrup.
tion ever heard of in Illinois,
The course pursued by the chief engi.
neer was not unexpected by these who
were acquainted with the man at the time
of his appointment. His conduct when
in office under the old internal improve.
ment system outraged the public mind, as
the achieves of the state fully show. So
aggravated were the abuses complained
of that between fourteen hundred and
fifteen hundred individuals, conversant
with his conduct, brought them to the no.
tice of the Legislature in the form of
petition for reform. When his name was
suggested for the Office of Engineer under
the new establishment, many ofthe bond
holders protested against his appointment,
but the board, maugre their pledges, gave
him the place.
Since his appointment under the pres.
ent regime he has been guilty of prevent |
ing completion at the lettings. in order 10 |