Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-05-09
To the Electors
OF TIE COUNTY OF .1LaDLsoN.
FELLow-CITIzENs,

BILE citizens, have become a candidate
for your suffrages, at the approaching
election, as one of the representatives
of this county in the General Assembly
of this state.
In making this annuntiation, respect
tor the public opinion, and Just sense
of propriety, require from me frank
avowal of my political principles, and
candid delineation of the course which
| intend to pursue, if honored with ma
jority of your votes.
A republican by birth, by principle,
and by practice, l have never adopted
the opinion that, in order to constitute
freeman, he should have liberty to rob
his fellow man of his freedom. Consi-
dering slavery as derogatory to our ma
tional character-as inconsistent with the
political principles which we all profess
to belleve-as a curse not only to the
SLAVE, but the shareholder also-and as
highly dangerous to the public tranquil
lily, have deemed it my duty, whenever
occasion has required, to exert my best
abilities in opposition to the progress and
extension of a system of injustice SO de-
grading to the character of our country,
and portending the most ibaleful conse-
quences.
The most difficult task to be per-
formed by the next Legislature, is the
correction of the errors of their prede-
cessors. These are so numerous that
only small proportion of them can be
glanced at in the limits of an address.
The Tax Law l consider extremely
unjust and oppressive in its operation, as
it lays as high tax on the poor mans
uncultivated land for which only one
instalment has been paid, as upon the
rich mans improved farm for which the
payment has been completed. The re-
pugnance of this law to the constitution
and to the compact between the United
States and t.iis state, is too palpable to re-
Quire calculation.
The injustice of the Road Law is, per-
haps, still more glazing. That "a mocha
mic or iaborer who possesses no interest in
the soil, should be required to pay a road
tax of FIVE dollars per annum, while the
wealthy owner Of extensive domains is
exempted, on account of being fifty years
of age, from paying any road tax whate-
yer, is, in my opinion, equally contrary
to the constitution, to justice, and to
sound policy. The power Of impress
ment, given to the supervisors of high
ways, though perhaps never carried into
execution, ought not to be suffered to
disgrace the statue book.
Sherilfs are not, by our present laws,
allowed any compensation forthe Hercu-
lean task of collecting the taxes. This
and many other circumstances of a ST.
inilar nature, call loudly for reform.
Another question is likely to be agitat-
cd, of great local importance, and which
in its consequences will deeply affect the
interests ofthe state. AS my sentiments
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 Oh which they
are founded.
1t will be reeollected that, at the last
session OF the General Assembly, petit
ton was presented for the erection Of a
narrow strip Of land from the western
edge OF this county into a separate coun-
| ty, with the view of locating a county seat
at some one of the towns on the Missis-
sippi, and thus accelerating the growth
ofsuch town; and with the further view
Of removing the seat OF justice from Ed
wardsville, and of locating it at some
town now laid of, or hereafter to be laid
off, in the eastern part o. 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 am decidedly opposed to the con-
templated 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
ing population in that quarter shall rem
der it necessary, leaving this county in
a convenient form, and with respecta-
bic portion of territory.
i am opposed to the contemplated di-
vision, because ! conceive that the re-
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 countyseat was per-
manently to remain at that own. TO re-
move it, therefore, wol nd destroy,
the confidence of the people in the