Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-05-16

| interests Oh the STATE. ms my SSllliuChlo
on this subject differ from those of many
for whom have the highest respect,
deem it necessary to make them known,
together with the reasons on which they
are founded.
1t will be recollected that, at the last
session of the General Assembly, peti-
ton was presented for the erection of a
narrow strip of land from the western
edge of this county into separate coun-
ty, with the view OF locating county seat
at some one Of the towns on the Missis-
sippi, and of thus accelerating the growth
of such town; and with the further view
of removing the seat of justice from Ed
wardsvile, and of locating 1t at some
town now laid off, or hereafter to be laid
of, in the eastern part of the county
AS it is expected that an attempt will be
made, at the next session, to effect the
same objects, deem it proper to state
that l am decidedly opposed to the con-
jtemplated division of the county, and to
any alteration of its eastern, southern, or
western boundaries. The county of Ma
Olson extending to the northern limits Of
the state, there can be no objection to the
erection of new counties in the north part
of this county, whenever the increasing
population in that quarter shall rem
der it necessary, leaving this county in
a convenient form, and with respecta-
Bile portion of territory.
| am opposed to the contemplated di-
La..,,oo that tho
moval of the seat of justice from the
place where it has been located by law,
would be violation of the public faith
The owners ofproperty in Edwardsville
have purchased it at high prices, in the
full reliance that the county seat was per-
manently to remain at that town. To re-
move it, therefore, would destroy
the confidence of the people in the
good faith of the government and
would furnish precedent productive OF
the most alarming consequences. Once
admit that county may be divided, or a
county seat removed, not for the greater
accommodation of the public, but mere
ly to promote the growth of particular
towns, and you give the signal for town.
makers and spectators to involve the
state in disorder and confusion to pro-
mote their own aggrandizement. As
self-interest is the ruling principle OF
mankind, each one who might think that
his own interest would be promoted by
the measure, would insist upon having
county seat located upon his own land
The towns which might be selected as
county seats would derive no solid adj
vantage from that measure. Very few
will purchase property or make i'm
provements in such towns, when they are
conscious that the county seat will be re-
| moved whenever an adverse faction may
| obtain the ascendancy. Let the propos-
ed measure be adopted, and the legisla-
turc will have no time to devote to the
enactment of wholesome laws for the be-
nefit of the great mass of their constltu-
ents, but will find continual employment
in carving out new counties for the &C
commodation ofpetty villages, and in ad-
| usting the claims and settling the dis
putes of warning spectators. The cleo
ton of candidates for representative Off
ces will be made to depend, notupon their
ability and integrity, but upon their
places of residence, and their predilec-
tons for, or antipathies against, particular
towns and villages. Ignorance and i'm
becility will become the sole passports to
the legislative hall; for men possessed
of higher qualifications will disdam to
become the catspaws of avaricious spe-
culators. In this manner the people will
become divided into petty factions, the
most bitter animosities will be engender-
ed, and the general harmony of the state
will be destroyed. This is not chime
rical. Who that reflects on the nature
of that spirit of speculation which has
unfortunately taken such deep root
among us, is not constrained to acknow-
ledge that all these consequences, and
many others still more to be dreaded,
will inevitably follow the establishment
of the principle against which | con-
tend Similar questions are this year
agitated in many other counties OF this
state, and similar means are resorted to
for the promotion of the same grand OBJ
ect of all spectators, viz. self-aggran-
dizement. Does it not, therefore, be-
hove the independent farmers and me-
chanics, the efficient population of the
state, to place their sovereign veto upon
all attempts to promote the interests of
the fen at the expense of the many, and
to build up private fortunes upon the
ruins of the public tranquility and of the
general welfare