Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-08-01
A CITIZEN.
FROM THE ILLINOIS ISTELLIGENCEn.
TO ELIAS K. KANE, ESQ.

FROM THE ILLINOIS ISTELLIsEScER.
TO ELIAS X. KANE, ESQ.
You have come before us as candi-
date for the 18th Congress, and in thus
offering US your services, your charac
ter, political sentiments, and opinions
become the property of the public, and
in discussing them honestly and freely,
we only exercise a right which none will
dare to deny. The people of this state
having but recently formed a state
government, and by struggle long and
laborious, excluded the article of slave
ry from their constitution, are yet pecu-
liarly jealous upon that subject, and with
a vigilence becoming free state watch
narrowly those men, who at its formation,
were its most jealous supporters. Per-
NIT me to ask you sir, which side of this
imp ortant question you then supported
and under what circumstances and pro-
LESSONS you became a candidate for the
Convention 1t is not yet forgotten that
there were two besides yourself, before
the people, the one slave, the other
free candidate. 1t was not unknown to
you at that time that the most vigorous
eSertions were made by men, who, with
yourself, had emigrated from states
where slavery was not permitted, and
who were opposed to it both through
principle and education, to elect Judge
M'Ferron, and by election to declare to
the state at large that this county at least
was opposed to the introduction Of an
evil that goes to sap the foundations of
society, and to establish by legal right
moral zvrong. These men looked to
you, to each other, for union, perseye-
renee, exertion to arrest the baneful in
fluences ofslavery, and am happy to say,
that by using every honorable means in
their power, they were successful. Did
they find in you as they had reason to ex-
pect, champion of freedom, friend of
liberty Had they the pleasure to see
you take decided and honorable stand
to come out openly and honestly advo-
catet the principles in which you had been
educated? No sir, they were disappoint-
ed--they saw you wavering-undecided
ready to set adrift your political boat
into the popular current, and trim its sails
to popular breezes.-Doubtfu as you
then was of the strength of the con-
tending parties, and unwilling. to risk
your popularity with either, you offered
US your services as member of the
Convention, leaving US uncertain what
course you would eventually pursue, and
with what party you would eventually
nrt Of thnrn AoJ 81
upon great and important questions, the
decisions of which involves the best in
terests Of society, and the dearest rights
of men, it is the duty of every man to
make up, upon his mature consideration
decided opinion; and having made UP
that opinion, to express it publicly and
act promptly /; more especially SO, he
who seeks our suffrages, our confidence,
and our Offices. Did you sir, as every
independent man would have done, de-
clare your sentiments !? Did you say to
the electors of this county, if you will
elect me l will, in Convention, vote for
slavery, or will vote for liberty l will
support the slave question with every
talent possess--or will use my best
eXertions TO give this state a moral and
political standing in the union by the ex-
clusion of slavery Far different was
your course. You told us if Doctor
Fisher was elected you should then
know that the majority of the citizens of
this county was in favor Of slayery-if
Judge M'Ferron was elected, majority
for lberty---and tina, (ike wise, though
cannot say honest politician) you
would lay aside principles and con-
science and quietly fall in with the ma
lorlty. cannot deny but that you took
very safe course, for you would GER
tainly loose but little if you gained no.
thing. Your opinion, it seems, was, as
the lawyers say, in abeyance--asce rtain-
able by addition and subtraction-waitiI,g
the decision of Doctor Fishers election !;
and as that election terminated, you
would be either warm advocate for a
slave state, or a sincere friend for free
one. Doctor Fishers election by ma
lority of NINE, enabled you to fix a
mind before variable and unsettled and
you went into the Convention as one of
the warmest and most Jealous Of the
slave party" How man possessing
the least independence, or placing the
least reliance upon his own judgment,
could pursue the course you did, am at
a loss to determinc-You had or had
not, as we say, mind ofyour own; you
had the ability TO do right or wrong.
That the question in your mind was set