The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-03-20

A Crowded House and I'M
menSe Enthusiasm.
Representatives Present from the
whole Canal h River Region.

clark T.. Carr, Carer Harrison. &C.. &c.
Whatever anticipations had been iudulged OF a
large and enthusiastic attendance at the great
canal meeting at Ottawa on Thursday were more
than realized. Not only was there large at
tendance OF the best men from all parts OF La
Sale county, but the whole canal and river re-
yion from Chicago to ST. Louis had its rcprcsen-
taliycs there. Among those from abroad we were
able 10 catch the names Of the following only,
though there were many others: Gov ;. NJ.
Culom. Jac Wheeler, Col. John Pierce, Spring
field; Hon. Clark 4. Carr, Galcsburg; b. f..
Shaw. II. D. Dement,. Dixon; r. w. McClaugh.
cry, {. b. Hayward, DR.. G. A Williams, NJ. f..
Hand. e. II. Monroe, u. Mark, NJ. A. Strong +.
Phelps, w 5. Brooks and ABOUT 20 others from
Joliet; +. A. Slichett, N. c. Quinn, Peoria; H..
w Hippen T.. 5. Shurman, d. Sapp, Pckin; Jas.
Shaw, Mt Carroll; John Hamilton, Blooming
ton; j. Bernhard De Pue; Cadet Taylor, Weno-
no Ind.r: A. Wclch, J. r. Marshall, lorkyillc
Record. i. H. Goodrich Braidwood; c. II. Goold,
Judge Hopkins, Morris; ID. c. JENNIE, Sterling;
j. NJ. Gale, Bristol; J. II. Holder Aurora Bea-
con; jeff Durlcy, A. G. Purwan, P. w. Durley,
WIN. Eddy, Hcnnepin; w. T. Stackpolc, Fair
bury; J. $ Thompson, g. NJ. Bane l.acon; Z. NJ
Stevens, Tiskilwa; John Wentworth, Carter lIar-
rison, j. Y. Scammon, j. c. Shumway, j. o.
Glover A. &. Galloway, W. p Bross, Moses
Wentworth, W. n Brainard, o. s. Mann, A.,
Nash and about 80 others from Chicago.
OF course the Opera House was crowded to its
utmost tension, although comparatively few citi-
zens of Ottawa were able to crowd their way to
the inside, the preference having been given to
attendants from abroad.
The meeting was called 10 order by the Hon.
f. s. Leland, upon which the Hon. S. Nicholson,
Mayor of Ottawa, greeted the audience with the
following
ADDRESS or WELCOME:
Mr.. Governor OF the great state of Illinois and
honorable gentlemen visiting our city to-day, on
behalf of the city of Ottawa, have the pleasure
of extending to YOU our cordial welcome, and on
behalf Of my brethren ] invite you to join in this
convention that is now about to organize Tor the
purpose ofdevelopng plan for improving the
Ills. river and for uniting the waters of the great
lakes with the waters Of the Illinois and Missssp-
pi rivers. invite you to join with us In wise coun
sci and calm delberation for the purpose of de-
veoping the grandest commercial and agricul.
tural improvement that has ever been proposed
since the beginning of our republic and trust
that the utmost cordially, kindness and unanimty
will distinguish your deliberations and your coun-
sells to-day. | have no desire to talk or consume
any of your time In discussing the questions that
will come before the convention, but simply say
in conclusion that have the honor of bidding
YOU welcome AS our guests and co.workers in
the great work that | have already indicated.
| Loud applause.
Judge Leland stated that general desire hay-
ing been expressed that this meeting should be
presided over by citizen OF Chicago, he would
name one with whom all were mere or less &C.
quanted and whose nomination he had no doubt
would be enthusiastically endorsed, He pro-
posed the name of the Hon John Wentworth,
and the vote unanimous At the same time
the following vice presidents and secretaries
were appointed; Vice presidents-John NJ Ham
ilton, Mclean; II. ID. Dement,, Lee; James Shaw
Carroll; John 8. Armstrong, Jostph Hart A. c.
Mcintyre, Ralph Plumb La Sale county;J. War
rem, NJ. C. Quinn, PEORIA f. F. Phelps, Knox;
p. s. Perey, Marshall; Jacob Wheeler, Mason;
VIM Bross, Gen. o. L. Mann, Vim. n Brainard,
H. N. Singer J. Y. scammon, j. II. Clough,
Cook; w. 8. Brooks, s. W. Mum, l.. II. Good
rich, viii; John Barr, c. II. Goold, p. A. Arm
strong, Grurdy; J. r. Marshall, D. r. Ballou,
Lot NJ. Scofeld, Kendall; NJ. ID. Castle, A. Adams,
De Kalb. ecretaries--Cadet Taylor, Of Mar
shall; Is. Fletcher, Grundy; |. II. Hobbs, Will;
J. Armstrong, La Sale. On taking the chair
Mr. Wentworth spoke substantially as follows:
JOHN wENTwoRTH's SPEECH
We have met to-day for the purpose Of build
ing ship canal to unite the Gulf and the great
lakes! There is steamboat laden at Chicago
for New Orleans and another at New Orleans Ia
den for Chicago. 1t is our duty to-day to see
that those steamers shall pass one another on
their passage. We have met to-day to act and
not to talk. Next after 4th OF July orations,
speeches in favor of the ship canal have been the
most abundant in the state Of Illinois. We want
no arguments for the necessity or practcabiity
of this ship canal, for the work must and shall
be completed Loud applause.J The wealth OF
the state of Illinois is fully equal to what was
the wealth of the nation when your canal was
begun. |, myself, after II years of active service
in congress- have come to the conclusion that we
can expect nothing from that quarter. Unpopu-
lar as il may seem ! am for Illinois stepping to
the front and completing this great work.
somehow or other sec the spirit breathing in my
Utmost soul that shall live to see IT, Applause
And will YOU 20 with me, fellow citizens, into
this great enterprise? ! AN In favor Of low tax
cs and the strictest economy, yet stand here to-
day in favor OF the state of Illinois issuing bonds
to the full amount to build this work, and If you
don't do it In that way ! don't know how you can
do it. But, gentlemen, we have got Of course to
alter our constitution, and when an amendment
is submitted to the people Of this state then will
be the time for men who want to make canal
speeches to X out and make them before the
people.
Speaking about stagnant waters and the often
sive odors the speaker announced that they had
not vet gone to the extent he wished to have
them want them, he said, to extend to the
Wabash on the one side and to the Mississippi
on the other, until the people shall rise up and
abate the nuisance. want to see 1t SO that on
the Sabbath the minister in the church shall
have to put his hand on his nose, and want
him to preach about it, and have no doubt that