davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25
Warehouse Law.

The Supreme Court Of Illinois, at is late ses-
sion at Springfield, rendered couple OF de-
cisons in reference to the great warehouse
question that are of general Importance. The
substance is that railroads are common car
rers, and ss such owe important duties to the
public, frsm which they cannot release them.
selves Among these duties, as we'll defined
and settled as anything in the law is the sbll-
CATION to receive and carry goods for all per
sons alike, without ingenious determinations
as to terms, and to deliver them ia safety to
the consiguee, unless prevented by the act of
God or the public enemy. Regarded merely
as common carrier, the court says railroad
cannot be permitted to say it will deliver
goods at the warehouse of A and b, but will
not deliver at the warehouse of c, the latter
presenting equal facilities for the discharge OF
freight, and being accessible on the line CT
such railroad.
The decision will 90 far to break up the
warehouse monopoly in Chicago, under which
country dealers could send their grain only
to such warehouses as the railroads should
select, and pay any gouge the wareseusemen
chose to ln1ict ON them.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25
Salt.

There was no point, during the election
contest last fall, on which there was q more
perfect agreement among all parties, than that
the tariff imposition on salt was sheer rob.
berry and ought at once to be removed. No
political speaker anywhere undertook to de-
fend this imposition. 1t was conceded on all
hands that it was levied soley for the benefit
of the onondaga Salt Company of New York,
who, by reason OF the monopoly it gave them,
had not only quadrupled the price of salt in
the |. s., but broken down all the other salt
works in the country. Salt In no part of the
world outside fthe U. S. costs, at the point
where it is manufactured, over eight cents q
bushel, and before the Onondags Company
got its monopoly through congressional favor,
it was made at hundred points in this coun.
try at from to 10 cents bushel and was q
profitable business. Now, when company
in Michigan, Virginia, southern Illinois, or
anywhere else throughout the U. S. under
takes to erect salt works and make salt ut :
to 10 cts. bushel, the Onondaga Company
floods the neighborhood with salt at lower
price, and breaks up the works Salt is sold
at the works in Cheshire, England, at four
cents bushel, and is often brought by ships
TO this country AS ballast and laid down in
New York where it can be sacked or barreled
and sold at from 0 to u cts. a bushel Turks
Island salt the best in the world, sells at the
island for cts. bushe, and can be imported
and sold at 10 cents in New York at a profit.
Yet in the last five years our people have
never paid less than from "A to 81 cts a bush
e for salt. Here is clear tax from 20 to 20
cts bushel which our people pay on this ar.
tlcse OF prime necessity. Why, Does i. pro.
mote the erection of salt works throughou,
the country 1t mas been the death ofdozens
that did profitable business before th, tariff
hiquity enabled the Onontaya M,nopoly 10
crush thcm. The estimated annual consump.
ton ot salt in the T. ) is 80 UOO, OOO b,,.h.l.
On this the people pay ~ tax of not lc,, than
$lOOO0,OOO year, OF which. during ls7n hu.
Sl,l9s,473 went into the treasury. and ,l,c
other nine millions went to the Onondu,o SI,
Company, of Syracuse, \. T.. TO enaSl, tina,
monopoly to crash out all the other salt work
IN the country. Can any sane man rive r.a
son, except that the members Of congress nrc
boughtn mp, why this tariff on salt has no,
long ago been repealed
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25

BIGAMoUs BOwEN.-Bowen, the carpet bag
ger member Of congress from South Carolina
whose trial on tue charge Of bigAmy WAS con-
cluded at Washington last week. escaped the
penitentisry by one of the II jurymen (hav.
ing doubtless been bought up for the purpose)
standing out against the ether eleven and re-
fusing his assent to verdict OF guilty. Be.
sides deserving the penitentiary for the crime
tor which he was tried, and of his guilt of
which the proof was clear, this man Bowen
deserves ten additional years for the means
he resorted to to escape conviction. Among
other witnesses he had bought up was a noto-
rious blackleg and scoundrel, who swore that
he had been on familiar terms with the wife
whom Bowen seeks to discard, and that tho
two were in league in bringing this suit to
blackmail Bowen. The scoundrel was an
utter stranger to the woman, and would have
been arrested an hour after giving his testi-
mony for perjury, only he had flown, and has
not yet been found. Bowen is to have anoth.
or trial. .....s. n...
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25
Another Radical Governor in Trouble,

The radical reconstruction Of the south has
been glorifed in nothing more signaly than
in the officers it has placed over the recon-
structed states. The Governor of North Car
olna is on the eve of impeachment the Gov
ernor of South Carolina is accused of stealing
Z million Of state funds and ought to be i'm
peached; Governor Bullock, of Georgia. is
a notorus scoundrel; and SO the list could be
extended nd infaitum ct all nau.eum. The
latest wretch on this dirty list who is in a
fair way to te brought up standing, is Gov.
ernor Clayton, of Arkansas. A good loyal
radical member of the legislature of that state,
named Padnett, preferred, a week ago, arti-
Giles Of impeachment against hun, accusing
him of crimes enough to send dozen Of COM
mon scoundres to the penitentiary for life,
and the house adopted the articles by a vote
of AZ to SO, and Gov. Clayton has been put
upon his trial. The hopeful feature about it
is, that the whole Is radical family quarrel,
and promises = deal Of good results on the
principle that when rogues fall out" &c.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25
Safety Of the Tennessee.

Mondays telegraph dispatches from the
east relieve all anxiety with reference to the
U. S. Steamer Tennessee, which had sailed
from New York six weeks ago with the San
Domingo Commission, by announcing its safe
arrival in the bay of SANTANA. The voyage
from New York had occupied but seven days,
and the trip was a delightful one. As to
Why Information of the safe arrival Of the eX-
pedition was not transmitted home any sooner
noexplanation is vouchsafed.
The newspaper correspondents, of whom
shoals accompanied the expedition, engaged
to write up the country and manufacture pub
lie opinion in favor of annexation, agree in
saying that the first impression on approach
ing the land was unfavorable, but on going
further up the bay disgust was displaced
by enthusiasm, as terrace upon terrace, green
As the Tyrol, presented themselves before
the eye"
Baez was on hand to receive the commits.
sion and was all politeness In regard to
Summers speech, he said it consisted of the
most shameful misrepresentation ever heard
in Legislative body. Of course, according
to these correspondents and Baez, everybody
is In favor of annexation. In reply to ques-
lions whether any L. S. officials had been
dabbling in real estate around the bay in an
tlcipaton of annexation, President Bacz de-
MED Indignantly that there had been any
such transactions, but admitted that about
all the available water front around the bay
was held under a perpetual lease by the no.
FERROUS Fabens, of Nicaragua notoriety, and
one OSullivan, his associate. What under
standing grant had with these has not trans.
PRED.
The impression Of the commission thus far
seems to be, that the San Domingans are
generally favorable to annexation, but that
Hsyti Is bitterly opposed to it, and that Ca.
bral has his main strength and support from
Hayt. Baez offers safe conduct to Cabrsl
and the chief men Of his gang to come to
SANTANA and have an interview with the com.
missioners, in the event of the acceptance of
which, it is hoped he can be persuaded Tor
bought up, to fall in with the project. Sum-
ner's prediction, however, seems to be borne
out by these correspondents, that the annexa-
ton of San Domingo will be almost certain to
involve the L. S. in a war with Hsyti.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25
Illinois Legislature.

Fuller's railroad bill, fixing the rate of fare
on al railroads in the state at 3 cents a mile,
and which had passed the senate. is meeting
with plenty Of opposition in the house. There
is good deal of railroad influence becoming
perceptible, and it is questionable whether all
the proposed Legislation in reference to freights
and fares will not fail. At best, the house
will insist on some sort of sliding scale, in.
stead of the fixed rates in the Fuller bill.
Casey's bill for taxing the unsold lands of
! the Illinois Central Railroad Company has
passed the house. The bill was vehemcntly
opposed on the ground that it was AN in.
tringement of the charter OF the company,
while to this was opposed the allegation that
the company itself had violated its charter
Under the charter the companys lands are
not to be taxed until sold and deed given
The company, to dodge this clause, sells its
lands on long time, and puts off the last pay
ment twenty or thirty years. This is an eva.
sion which the bill proposes to head off.
A bill to repeal the registry law, except in
cities having over 10000 inhabitants, has
been tavoraby received in the house and will
doubtless pass.
The bill to allow women Of proper age, &C.,
to hold any office under the local or general
school laws OF this state has passed the senate
and will doubtless pass the house.
The penitentiary seems to be the source of
q good deal of perplexity to the Legislature.
The present system is admitted to be out
rageously expensive and vicious, but it won't
do to lease the penitsntiary, on the old plan
Of years ago, as that is q democratic scheme,
and what else to do is the puzzle. The only
bill now before the house that receives any
favor is that of Mr.. Brooks, requiring that all
labor shall be done within the walls of the
penitentary; that all goods manufactured by
the convicts shall be sold at wholesale ; and
that the labor shall be SO managed as not to
come in competition with the free labor in
the surrounding country.
very ugly steal has been unearthcd in the
matter vi leasing half mile of the canal front
ut Bridgeport. The lease was made by the
present trustees to ono Adam Smith, in per-
pctuity, for mere song, while the property is
said to he worth millions. The attempt now
is TO annul this rascaly lease. 1t is Of u piece
with the lease OF the water power ut Lock.
port to Norton, and of other similar transac-
tons 10y the old trustees. These gentlemen
are about to become .functus o6icio, and they
seem to have been utterly reckless Of what
they did with the property under their con.
troll in their officially expiring moments.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25

Senator 1edA1ek and Temperance.
The following remarks were made by Mr..
Reddiek, IN the state senate ON the 18th, ON
resolution offered BY Mr.. Whiting, of Bureau,
THAT public iaterest and sentiment demanded
better protection against the evils of the liquor
traffic" 1t will be seen that Mr.. II. has not
gone back on the Temperance principles which
he so valiantly upheld during the canvas.
Mr.. 2eddiok said that throughout the district
which he had the honor to represent, his determ.
ined opposition 70 the liqaor business was veil
known. It was we'll known shat he would be
willing to Do and Wa anxious to do saythi.x
that he could to restrain and utterly destroy the
oasilssa This position he tosk boldly befere
the election. Hb Dsnoesatic Friends his Re-
publican friends. - we'll - his Temperance
friends, we'll understood it. He had declar.
Cd on one occasion, while surrounded by mix.
cd audience, among whom were many Of bis
Irish frisadA that rather THAI b eoosectsd with
the business in the way Of giving il encourage.
ment Ok character in the least degree, he would
prefer to be beaten, and when he made the de.
clarstion OF that sentiment, instead of meeting
with disspprOvsl, it had besn received With loud
and sincere applause. =.
For long tine he had been satisfied that the
evils from this esurce were above all others in
the land, and before this iesus tho tariff and
other merely political questions ssak into ins.g.
Aihcsnce. his business supervisor in tho
town in which be lived had show him that the
houses of correction were supplied mainly from
this source. He was ready, aud at the same time
knew be WA representing the sentiments Of his
colleague, to take any necessary responsibility to
secure the purpose in view. He would not 20
out of his own family to find proof to his mind
of the necessity of q reform. Men of talent and
promise were stricken down and ruined BY this
evil trade, and he would like. not only to re.
strain but utterly destroy. From the time bis
Honor in the chair Mr. Fuller and himself had
occupied seats together in the same body on the
other side Of the building. he had seen the evil,
and that its works were evil continually.
1t had seemed proper to say 40 much in sup
port OF tho resolution offered by the gentlemen
from Bureau Mr. Whitins) with whom he WAS
ready to cooperate ss far possible to utterly
destroy the liquor traffic.
The resolution was adopted.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25
FROM EUROPE.
France,

The French Government was organized pro.
visionally by the Assembly at Bordeaux by the
election, on the 18th, of II. Theirs as President
Of the republic, with power to form his own
cabinet N. Thiers in accepting, announce.
his choice Of Favre minister Of foreign affairs,
Ledor as minister of war, Buffet q. presiden. Of
council, &c. His programme for the conclusion
of peace is said.ro be. to ascep, the ul.i,na.um
of Prussia, clear France Of the Germans; bring
back the French army, giving the command 10
Gen. Changarnier; induce the national assem-.
bly, to proclaim the charter of 1880 the supreme
law, and to provide for plsbisci,c whether
Count de Paris shall be kiHg.
On the 2l.t Theirs and F.vre proceeded 70
Versailles aud it is believed treaty Of pesse
will be concluded in time 70 be communicated
to the assembly on Saturday to-day
Paris ia resamiuy its natural appearance. Tho
river boats have commenced runniny AZ ain, and
on the Gath the lighting of the city with gas WIS
IN be resumed. Under more aud better provi.
sions tho sanitary condition of tie city is rap
idly improving.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25
Important Decision.


An important opinion has lately been filed in
the Supreme Court Clerks Office here, relative
to greenbacks being legal tender on gold con-
tracts, and following in the wake Of decision
of the United States Supreme Court. that gold
contracts must be paid in gold, greenbacks
being legal tender by law to the contrary
notwithstanding.
This case is that of AcGOvn es. Shirk.
Judge Breese, in delivering the opinion of the
Supreme Court, says in substance:
The question presented by the record in the
case is, can . promissory note payable in terms
United States treasury notes, the prOmissory
note having been executed subsequent to the
passage Of the act of February 9th, 1862, called
the legal tender act? This court has had COCA
sion as far back as 1864 to examine cases involv.
ing this question. The court has not hitherto
enforced payment in gold, but the United States
Supreme Court has determined this point. This
question was fully argued BY the Chief Justice,
in delivering the opinion of the ma jority of the
court On Q reasonable construction OF the legal
tender act, compared with other acts of congress-
express contracts to pay ooined dollars can oaly
be satisfied BY the payment Of ooiued dollars
They are not "debss" which may be satisfied by
the tesder of United States notes.
In the subsequent case Of Batter rs. Horwitz
supryt, which was an action upoa . contract pay.
able in gold aad silver entered into prior to the
passage of the legal tender act, tho maiority of
the court, referring to the case of Bowen rs.
Rhodes, supra, that under the existing Laws, Of
which in respect to legal tender the coustitu.
tiouaity is assumed damages may be properly
assessed and Judgment rendered 30 as to give
full effect to the intention of the parties as to
the rendition of judgment, and when it appears
to b. the clear latent Of contract that payment
or satisfaction shall be made in gold and silver,
damages should be assessed and judgment rem.
dered accordingly.
No distinction 10 made % to the time when
such contract may have been entered into. The
intent of the parties is to govern, and il it clear.
~ appears the intention Was to pay in gold, the
court will enforce the contract.
In considering the act of con gress its force and
effect the Supreme Court of the United States
is the highest and most authoritative tribunal
known to our laws, and to which other courts
habitually defer. Decisions of that court on the
meaning of An act of congress must override
those OF the Supreme Court of State on the
same subject. Ia this case the note was payable
in American gold. and in that medium alone,
without the consent Of the payee, could it be
paid and satisfied. The court below erred in
holding the tender of Treasury notes sufficient
and compliance with the contract, and for this
error the case must be reversed.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25
PROM WA8HIHofow
CONGRHss.

CONGRESS.
betA hoasss a soagrsas are hard At vorl n,
~ appropriation bills. which must be passed b..
fore the adjournment, and leave little tim. q,
anything else. The house has, however. duri,.
the vesk, found time to pass the
ENFORCEMENT BILL,
Which extends the provisions of the bill of the
last session, intssdsd exclusively for New Yorl
and Philadelphis) to all cities and .tow,.r AZ
over 10000 inhabitants. The bill was CORRECTLY
characterized BY Mr.. Voorhees, as "a Law 70 mt
a army Of oticisls oil over the land a. thick as
loousts and y mean ss the lice Of Egypt to arrest
without warrant, free born citizsns."
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL.
The house has also found time to pas the giant
land grab known as the Southern Pacific Rail.
road bill. which had previously passed the sen.
ate. The house struck out all the branches. and
provided simply for railroad from Ell Paso to
San Diego 1t il the old Fremont road. 1. in.
wolves grant of about $4,000, 900 acres of pub.
lie land, and $4,000, 900 of guaranteed bonds.
KUKLUx BILL.
The house will also find time TO pass the 90.
called kukiux bill, which proposes to appoint .
federal commissioner in every county i. the
south about 900 with power to issue warrants
hold to bail and commit fer trial all persons
whom the commissioners may be pleased to re.
gard a. suspected of kukluxism. The bill, in all
masters relative to elections. virtually supereds
the state governments and turns their power over
to these commissioners.
THE JOINT HIGH COMMISSION.
The members from England of the Joint hiRh
to settle the fishery difficulties and
Alabama claims arrived a. New York on Tues.
day, and it is uuderstood the commission will
meet the first week in March, in the state depart.
mens at Washington. The president authorizes
a denial of the rumor that the subjec. of the
purchase OF the CAnadas would be one of the
propositions brought before the commissioners.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25

Nearly NIL the city daillcs employ "para.
g'aphis',' whose duty is TO look over the
country exchanges and give items of news,
t" which tue country papers often devote
columns, in brief paragraphs. The country
press has its own fun in noticing how
bunglngly this work is always done. The
pafasraphst in nine cases out of ten ut
country editor.IIcre lisa specimen:
Forty cases on tho docke. OF tho Circuit Court
at Ottawa involving 800, 900 insurance on mill
u, M"rseille- are to be sent 10 Chicago for trial.
upon the prayer Of NJ. A. Howell, Jr., plaintiff,
WHO represents that there il undue prejudice
against him in la Sale county arising from
charpes, Of which he has been acquitted, Of
firing the mill himself.
The Free TRADER, from which this news
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25

STATE Unconstitutional the item of $40, 900
paid 10 The architect OF the new state hou... -,
Springfield, looked suspicious, we have had n
general impression tina, the commissioners were
striving in the main to expeud the hs,yy .pnro.
priasioh' placed in their hands for the pro-ecu.
ton of the work on the building honestly. We
shall soon, however, begin to have serious ,usn e.
ion- on that score il they procure the insertion Of
many more article. ia the Springfield. paper. e..
ssor,tsly attempting to prove their houes,y.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25

the marriage Of the princess Louise is fixed
for the 2l,t OF March
The ministry feel sorely the rebuff Of Prussia
in refusing to receive officially the letter Of Earl
Granville urging the conclusion Of peace. In
the commons, on Friday evening. the tone of the
debate was, tina, England's weak hesitancy had
lost her the respec, OF the belligsren,s and in.
vitsd war for her own existence.
The London conference on the Black Sea
question is understood u have agreed to open
the Black Sea to foreign men.of-war aud to au.
thorize the ports to admit of the passage through
the Dar6anelles Of all armed vessels, the Rus.
SLAMS and Roumanians alone excepted. Russia
is not opposed to this settlement Of the question,
but Turkey hesitstes to agree to it.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-25

LEGISLATIVE DIGNITY.--The lower house of
day morning without II quorum, undertook to
make some fun.
When the order for the introduction of bills
was called, the following bills we're presented,
according to the 'ofticial report"
By Mr.. Barnes. OF Morgan-a bill for an act
providing that no regular drinker shall take any.
thing between drinks
BY Mr.. Armstrony-bill for an act defining the
loestion of the democratic members of the house.
That's all. Mr.. Speaker"
BY Mr.. Haines-bill for an act defining the
views of the members OF the constitutional con.
vention.
By Mr.. Robsrts-a bill for an act making it
0ptsondry to discuss any question or play any
game 'he did not understand"
Mr.. Murray at this point made II "sug-gesta-
hOn," which was declared out Of order, as gesta-
tion il not the order Of business.
BY Mr.. Root, Of Cook-a bill for an act to up.
Root the LIST congressional district of this state,
and to Root out all aspirants for congressional
honors except the author Of this bill.
BY DR.. Powell-bili for an act making appro.
pristions to secure fifty thousand bottles of
of the members otithis house:
BY Mr.. Phelps, of Cook--bll for an act to va.
cate r..iocate and establish the seats of suburban
members OF this house, aud repair the same.
by Mr.. M"rritt-bil ;ur All act to determine
the mertto'iOuS merits OF the serious members of
this house.
BY Mr.. King, of Couk-Bill for an act to fur.
nsh the "lshm;elite OF the Chicago press with a
copy of Phillips st. James translation of the
Bible, and to admOnisn them that "there il God
in Israel"
BY Mr.. Morrison, of Monroe--bll for an net to
provide for the regulation of rats and rat pits,
and for printing nils for the exhibition thereof.
Mr.. Dixon inquired for the location of the rats
and the pits
Mr.. Morrison replied that the information was
contained Ia the body of the bill, which would DO
printed on its second reddAa
BY Mr.. Morrison. of CoOk--bll for an act to
annex Ireland to the United States, sud to build
bridge for that purpose, according to the plans