The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-11-10
Hon. =, A. McClcrnand.

The Hon. JOHN A. McCLERNAND, mem.
Der of congress from this state, addressed
the democracy at the court house in Ottawa
on Saturday evening. As the election is
now over, it would be supernuous to give
any further account Of his speech, than to
say that it was able aud well delivered, and
that while the democrats were greatly pleas
ed with it, tho wings were as much displeas-
ell with it, at which we are however not
surprised, for he handled them without
gloves.
We might not have said even this much
in reference 10 Mr.McC., had not the occa-
sion his arrival in this part oftle state been
seized upon by the wing press in Chicago
to make an unjust and uugenllemanly at.
tack upon him. The Chicago Journal has
the following in reference to Mr.. Nee:
UouIdai let him speak.-Col. Nc Cler-
maud has been silenced by the Castles
themselves. TWAS the intention to have him
address the democracy, but we understand
they demurred.
A man who has sigualized his political
course, by voting against our harbor bill SO
often, and who, by his influence alone, de-
teated the bill for the grant Of land for the
Illinois Central Railroad to this city, would
be received cordially, of course, by those
upon whose neck he has placed his foot.
The CasSltes acted wisely, however. No
one viii dispute the right Of any ore choos-
ing, who shall read their funeral service.
Now there is scarcely a word Of truth in
the above. Col. McClernand did speak
in Chicago, although we are informed tie
barnburnerS aud wings there made an eff.
or to prevent him. Aud he explained to
the democrats his course in reference TO the
river and harbor bill, and to the bill to make
grant of land TO complete the central Rail
Road in such way that they acknowledged
that he was right and applauded him.
Col Nc Clernand does not oppose the inn
provement of lake harbors. Onthe contra :
ry, his vote will be found on the journals in
favor of every lake harbor worth improv-
lug. But where it is undertaken TO get
through the house appropriations for $50
such objects as Duck Run, Coon river, Lit
tie Bay, sc. &c., by attaching them to bill
TO improve some important harbor, why
then he will vote against the whole Of them.
And this is the right doctrine. There is no
state in the Union that has not felt the evils
of log rolling legislation, and ia the nation
al Legislature the evi! is greater in proper
ton TO the larger area it affects; and pa,r.
otism demands that every member, who
would not plunge the nation into hopeless
bankruptcy, shall oppose this giantcvil, and
five never get a lake harbor. Let every
measure stand on its own merits, is Col.
McCss motto, and it should be that Of every
democrat.
The charge that Col. Nee. voted against
the grant of land to complete the Central
rail Road, is totally unfoundcd. The bill
was go. through the senate hear the close
of the session, AMI was not brought up in
the house until the day before adjournment.
Every effort was made by the Illinois mem
bers that could have been made, as the
journals will show, 10 save the bill, but il
was lost by majority of . or 3, because it
had to be hurried to a vote without consd.
GRAFTON, and when not hall the members un-
derstood its objects. So far from opposing
the bill, Col. McClernand cndeavorcd Ia call
the attention Of the house in q brief speech