Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-05-29

of Christianity in every quarter Of the
globe. You behold them legisiating TO
secarc the ignorance and stupidity of
their own slaves You behold them
prescribing by law, penalties against tie
man that dares teach a negro TO read.
Such, Sir, Is the statute law oil the state
of Virginia. lIr. BaSSett and Mr.. 7y-
Ter said that there zgas no Sach laz0 in
VirginiQ. No, sir, said Mr.. L. have
misspoben myself; l ought to have said,
such is the statute law of the state of
Georgia. Yes, sir, while we hear of
liberality which ciyilizes the savages of
all countries, and carriesthe gospel alike
been reserved for the republican state of
Georgia, not content with the care of its
overseers, to legislate TO secure the oP-
preston * the ignorance OF their slaves.
The man who there teaches negro to
read Is liable to criminal prosecution.
The dark benighted beings of all crea-
ton profit by cur liberality-save these
On our own plantations. Where is the
missionary who possesses sufficient har-
dihood to venture residence to teach
the slaves Of a plantation Here is the
stain Here is the stigma (which fas-
tens upon the character OF our country
and which, in tie appropriate language
of the gentleman from Georgia. (Mr.
Cobb all tie zvaterS Of tie ocean can
MOI 7vash oQt; which seas Of blood can
only take. a7pay.
Sir, there is vet another, and an I'M
portant point Of view in which this sub
iect ought to be considered. We have
been told by those who advocate the ex-
tension of slavery into Missouri, that
any attempt TO control this subject by
legislation is violation of that faith and
mutual confidence upon which ourunion
was formed and our constitution adopt
ed. This argument might be consider
ed plausible, if the restriction was at
tempted to be enforced against any of
the slave holding states, which had been
party in the adoption OF the constitu-
ton. But it can have no reference or
application to new district of country
recently acquired, and never contcmpla-
ted in the formation of the government,
and not embraced in the mutual conces-
sions and declared faith upon which the
constitution Yves adopted. The consti-
tuition provides, that tie representatives
Of the several states to this house shall
be according to their numbers, includ-
ing mreeJJ1hS Of the slaves in the res
peCtiyc states. This is an important ben
eft yielded to the slave holding states,
as one OF the mutual sacrifices of the
union. On this subject, consider the
faith Of the union pledged, and never
would attempt coercive manumission in
slave holding state.
But none OF the causes which induced
the sacrifice Of this principle and which
now produce such an unequal represen-
tation OF the free popu lation of the coun-
Try, exist as between Us and the newly
acquired territory across the Mississippi
That portion of country has no claims to
such an unequal representation, unjus
in its results upon the other states. Are
tie Nun erous slaves in extensive coun-
tries, whichwe may acquire by purchase,
and admit as states into the union, at
once 10 be represented onthis floor, I'M
der a clause OF the constitution, granted
as compromise and benefit to the
southern states which had borne part in
TIE revolution /? Such an extension of
that clause in the constitution would be
unjust in its operators, unequal in its
results, and a violation OF its original in
tention. Abstract from the moral effects
of slavery, its political consequences in
the representation under this clause of
the constitution, demonstrate the in por-
lance OF the proposed amendment.
SIR, | shall bow in silence to the will
Of the majority, on which ever side it
shall be expressed; yet | confidently
hope that majority will be found On the
SIDE OF an am 5ndmcnt SO repiete with
moral consequences, SO pregnant with
important political results.
-~s.zss =: cs,z.---
NETWORK, APRIL S.
On Saturday afternoon, the remarkably