The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-06-13

views of an honest democratic bond holder o
chat scheme, the general understanding being
that Mr. T.. is quite wealthy and the holder o
a considerable amount of government bonds
We give below another letter from the same
source, addressed to 4 committee at Bedford
Ia, in reply to 81 invitation to address DEM
ocratic convention AZ that place.
GENTLEMEN: have received your favor of
the 2ls! instant. can not be in your county on
the 30.A Of May, as have an engagement for
another county on that day.
My intention is to commence the canvass at
the earliest day possible consistent with my bust
ness duties and obligations, and to keep it up I'M
til the election. There is work to be done every
where, and it should be timely and judicious
work. certainly will be with you some time
during the summer, end Il can do any good,
perhaps more .han once.
The position of the Democratic party of the
Northwest is now true and strong enough to en-
able IL 60 carry every state whose people are not
given up to believe lie eternally. The man
that believes that the Radicals "by the expert
menG OF war;" have saved the country and the
Constitution, is certainly one of that class. The
war, Us a war in military point Of view, was
a success, and has ended; but the Union is Meth
er restored nor reconstructed. Thousands of
lives and millions of money have been lost, but
the country is in transition state to consolida-
ton and despotism. Constitutional phraseology
is preserved to mislcad the credulous and confd-
ing of the Radical party; but constitutional
rights ALG liberties have existence. fear, but
III ilee ballot and and fair count out at the
next election. The liberties of the people are
not generally violently wrested from them, but
nsurled by stealth, as ours are now being usurp-
ed. II Tho Roman territory absolute monarchy
was established long before republican phraseo-
logy was abolished. 1t will be 80 here if we do
not watch and work.
1t is wonderful that the nan who labors-who
rroduoes-who owns anything-does not see that
nc is laboling for something he has not obtained.
There is no war, yet peace has No victory, no
triumphs for him. He has no more exemption
from labor, more tools, no more machinery.
40 moro lands, nothing increased but taxes and
they come to him in every conceivable form
Which the ingenuity of the untaxed can invent.
taxes direct, taxes indirect; taxes incidental to
encourage domestic industry; and duties prohib-
itory, Tor protection to New England manu-
lecturers to secure them higher prices; taxes
shat
Nanacc freedom babes TO liberate the sturdy slave"
We'll may the thinking man ask, are these tax.
IS never 10 cease? Must they continue to in.
crease? Why not? IS it net the Radical de-
cree That we mast DO Natien-not the United
otatos-and nations must tax vigorously, for
their strength is in standing armies and prvil-
eyed classes, not in equally taxed and prosper
Gus and coHtaHtae4 people. And then, is not the
proporty--tho productive industry of the coun-
acknowledged in perpetuity TO pay debt
which represents nothing but what the war has
1cStroyec: The Government debt, which is
mortgage GA all industry, represents nothing
that can earn dollar! 1t is neither an arm nor
leg, horse or an OK, plow or hoe an acre
OF land, or the bare seed which shall, in time,
bring grain. 1t is war debt. which, in all ma
tons, represents destruction and an oppressed
and impoverished people. Yet industry is to be
annually taxed beyond its profits to maintain
1AIs dobt, to make Its money; and its untaxed
and gold eZacting holders are to "eat our sub
stant ," without labor. These bond .holders say
thls debt is just, because it has been incurred to
save the life OF the nation, and must. therefore,
be paid interest and principal in gold. TO save
the Gte of the nation? Daniel Webster said,
The Constitution Of the United States is writ
ten instrument, q recorded fundamental law. Il
IS the bond, and the only lond, OF the union OF
tho states. Il is I'll that gives us n national
character Is tAat Constitution saved? But
VINO is to pay this debt which now makes taxa
non in every form necessary? Not the bond
holders! They say they are exempt by the law
by the contract. Who made a contract to ex-
emptWealth, or the ability to live without labor
from taxation? Such contract is void, in every
element, from the beginning. 1t is against pub
tic policy, an outrage upon equal and exact JUS
nee ana no law for any people. The greatest
good OF the greatest number demands that there
should be no such law. There is no binding
iorce In any unj ust law upon a people whose
Constitution is not inviolate But the MONEY!
lenders, Che bondholdcrs, made this law to en-
able thom to convert deprecated Indebtedness.
and therefore EQudatod TO the extent of the de-
probation for depreciation was payment into
mortgage debt TO he paid by the nations indus
ny, dollar for dollar, in gold It's spirit is, 'et
the people work Tor us bondholders, and our
bonds shall tell us how much work thew owe
as
When the people understand these things full.
~, know thor rights and their strength, they
will say Let rs work for ourselves and remove
shese burdens; there shall be no untaxeo man
among lis no man shall take our labor our gold,
and withhold his own. We will pay what we
honestly owe notwhat is dishonesty held against
u.s. The bondholdcgs must accept payment rs
we propose, AMI must help pay the debt, inter-
est and principal, end must be taxed as we are,
I"' al otAc. purposes, or the debt can never be
F'ii' - our ia" makers nave dishonestly ana
unjustly sought to bind us, we will not be part.
les to tic unjust contract, nor shall it be enforc.
cd against as. ii what was done because of an
imagined niece 'ity, and at the time, accepted by
tho money lenders, is nov 20 be repudated by
them, because we, in good faith, tender to them
what they contracted to receive we, say stop the
supplies, land let our labor BE- for ourselves
only
1t is thus the people think, and when they
shall act, .hey will be free again.
With declaration of principles by eur Ma
tionel Convention in favor of the whole people,
our apooosSis rs certain it is necessary to the