The Ottawa Free Trader

THE FREE TRADER.
Ottawa, Ill., Friday, January 19, 1844

The Canal—Convening of the Legislature.

We have seen the proposition urged from various quarters of late that Gov. Ford should, as speedily as possible, convene the legislature of this state, for the purpose of acting on the arrangement with the foreign bondholders to complete our canal, and in relation to the proposed tax. By New York papers we observe that a paper urging such a course upon our governor, has been extensively circulated in that city, and signed by persons holding land in Illinois, who express their willingness to submit to any tax that may be required to restore the credit and honor of the state and secure the completion of the canal. Now with due deference to the many respectable individuals who have urged this course, we must be permitted to express our opposition to it in toto. Besides that it is not asked nor expected by the bondholders, we think the proposition objectionable on many other grounds. It would be subjecting the people to a great and useless expense, which they are at present little able to bear. But we find in a late number of the New York Herald the objections to the proposition so fully and clearly stated, that we at once copy the remarks of the Herald as expressing our views exactly, and in a much abler manner than we could do it ourselves. The Herald says: "There exists quite a difference in the opinion of those friendly to the successful termination of the Illinois & Michigan canal, as to the policy of calling the assembly together for this purpose. The regular session of the legislature comes round next winter, and that will be the proper time to introduce the subject to the representatives of the people. It would also be good policy to commence the work; bring on the hundreds of laborers; settle them on the canal; create a market for the produce of the farmers on the spot; give the people the best proof that there is some earnestness about the business; give them time to think over the business, and receive the first fruits of the enterprise even in the sale of a bushel of wheat or a peck of potatoes, and there will not be much doubt of the ultimate success of the whole undertaking. Obtain all the money the bondholders are willing to advance; go on the ground and go to work, commence in the middle and work both ways, as Clinton did on the Erie canal, make your money go as far as possible, and the people of Illinois will see the work finished. There is not sufficient cause to induce the governor to call a special session of the legislature, and we trust he will not do so. The second sober thought of the people is invariably the wisest. The people have no evidence at present that the bondholders of Europe will actually carry out the conditions required. Before they are saddled with an additional tax, with their present heavy expenses, they demand ocular demonstration that they will not be taxed without a consideration. The amount of taxable property in the state reaches nearly ninety millions of dollars. A very trifling tax on this will produce the amount necessary to finish the canal, with what the bondholders advance. The citizens of Illinois know their own interest sufficiently well to do all in their power to protect it. They only require sufficient time to inform themselves of the why and wherefore. Governor Ford knows the resources of his state, and if left to his own good judgment, and not harassed and run down by a host of land speculators, whose advice is governed by the wants of their pockets, will in good time act as the emergency of the case requires. There has been circulated quite extensively in this city a circular for the signatures of those owning land in Illinois, to Governor Ford, calling on him to convene the legislature as speedily as possible, so as to settle the question at the earliest moment. This document will pass for what it is worth in the opinion of the executive of the State, and we feel confident he will not be swayed by its tenor. A premature, hasty step at this moment may destroy the whole business, and annul the efforts of the commissioners, who have spent months in bringing to perfection their instructions. Col. Oakley is at present in this city, devoting his whole time to this subject, and furthering the best interest of the State in every possible manner. The arguments used in favor of an immediate session of the legislature are, that the present members are more intimately acquainted with the history of the question, and the plan to complete the canal, and pay off the public debt, which was introduced by the members that would compose any assembly called before next winter. This view of the subject is sound, but the population of Illinois are alone the judges of what is expedient and what is not; if they err the consequences fall on their heads. They have laid before them the most feasible and economical plan, to enable them to pay off the bulk of their public debt, and to receive the full benefit of their internal improvements."