Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-02-29


strike for higher wages. An individual
called upon me and stated that the men
doubted that ! had sent their petition to
Messrs. Leavitt and Swift, and wished me
to state that fact in writing, that he might
read it to the men this did, and this
was the extent of my written correspond.
ence. AS 10 the tampering with the meu,
never saw them but twice--the first time
was in company with Mr.. Stuart the Sec.
rotary of the Board, who did all the talk
ing on that oecasion-the second time L
saw the men, was on my way to Spring
field, when I induced them Gas appears
by Patrick Doyle's testimony. see Appen-
dix ~ to resume their work, at the old
wages. This tampering was certainly
not pernicious.
(Col. Oakley here enters into an ex-
animation Of the evidence in relation to
the matter, and refers to the affidavits
which accompanies his Report, which We
are compelled to omit for want of space.
Yet we will publish some of the Affidavlts.
so that the public may judge ofthe nature
of the evidence produced.
Mr.. Leavitt, in his letter marked o. il
the appendix to the published pamphlet,
attempts to deny, or explain away, his
expressions of disregard, II might more
properly say contemplation the people of
this State. Fortunately for myself, you
were witness to what passed on the &C.
casion alluded to, and believe you will
fully sustain me. l say fortunately for
me that you were a. witness, because
have learned from business associations
with MIR. Leavitt, that where interest or
convenience prompts, his memory is ex-
ceedingly loose, uncertain and cratic.
Mr.. Leavitt, in this same letter marked
O., states that the office of Trustee was
not one Of his seeking. Here his mem
DRY is again at fault. | will endeavor to
convince him of his mistake by few re-
miniscences of the past. Mr.. L. fire..
quently said to me, in presence. Of others,
pending the negotiations in relation to the
Canal fund, that if those "Bostonians''
meaning the Boston Committed intend
ed to take the Canal matter into their
own hands and Leave him out, he would
break up the negotiation, by annulling the
subscription of the Bank, (of which he is
President.) He also said that he would
induce his friends TO withdraw their sub.
scriptions. .........
While in London he requested me to
speak to Mr.. Barring and Mr.. Smith, 10
secure his appointment. After we return
ed from Europe and were on our way to
Illinois, in company with Gov. Davis, on
the Ohio river. he had several converse.
tons with me on the subject of his ap-
pointment. He often complained of the
non-committal character of the Boston
Committee, especially of Mr.. Ward, who
he said was in that particular, to use his
own words, ''equal to my friend Mr.. Van
Buren," He also enquired of me if |
knew how Gov. Davis felt towards him.
On one occasion be requested me to ',teel''
Of Gov. Davis and added that if the Bos
tonians, who had not subscribed one dol.
lar to the loan, intended to keep this mat.
ter in their own hands, although the ne.
gotiation had gone so far, he would then
break it up
Two gentlemen of New York are ready
to testify that they heard Mr.. Leavitt say,
eff he was not made Trustee, he would
break up the loan.''
This is not matter of very grave i'm.
portance in itself but | make these few
remarks, and cite these instances. that the
public may know how very careless Mr..
Leavitt is. and that his statements are
often made at random, and without any
very punctilious regard for the truth.
In so far as concerns the question of
dissatisfaction. Messrs. Swift and Leavitt
attribute all that matter to newspaper
paragraphs, made up Of wholesale allega-
tons. but unsupported 0y a particle of
proof circulated with perseverng indus
try, &c. This is very retail manner OF
! dispo>ing of wholesale dissatisfaction.
hope shall not be considered arrogant if
| assert that | am better judge of this
matter than either OF my associates. |
in Illinois, and in the neighborhood of
the Canal, and within reach of the people
nearly all the time. My associates are
here but seldom. They get all their in
formation from this State, through the
parties complained Of, and Ills not to be
expected that those parties will either
sanction or give currency to complaints
against themselves.
On their recent visit they reached Chi
cago on the 9th October, and remained
here about eight days, and during all that
time were surrounded by the parties com.
planned Of How could they expect to
hear complaints under such circumstan-
ces? People were not to rush to them
for hundreds Of miles to make complaints,
when it is doubtful if they would have
been heard had they como for the pur-
pose. fsa '- f5aIg1 llE5Ia aB