Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-07-18
Ja1y 8, 1890.
8aagqmo, Ja''3 6, 1920.

are attached to the county. One Of my
neighbors was down the other day buy
ing corn, and he overheard some Of the
EdwardsviIlc people say that now is the
time for the courthouse, or wc shall
loose all the assistance from the Sanga-
mo and Macoupin; for they will shortly
separate from us, and have one of their
own to build. Now we sec no injustice
likely to result to any one, from accept
ing the offer made to build the court
house, and will oppose the election OF
any candidate who will not agree 10 ac-
cept the offer.
70 the Adchendeat Electors q hudson
County.
FELLow CITIZENS,
The time draws near when YOU will
have an opportunity to exercise your in
valuable privilege, and indispensable du-
Y, to elect several important officers
among which / consider the most i'm
portant Of any, that even representative
to congress. or members of either branch
Of our legislature, ought not to be placed
in competition with them, whcn wc inquire
into their power and the authority vested
in them by law nc 4 the commission
ers; for they share Jurisdiction in all
matters and things concerning the coun-
ty repenue, end regulating and iasftoa-
ing co@nty toe; granting licenses for
ferries, tavcras, and all other licenses
and things that n;ay bring in a county
rerenue, and jurisdiction in ell hubAc
roadS, canals, turnhikee, tcH-5riGge8,"
&c. And indeed, fellow citizens, they
have the entire control of our purse
strings; and by their uncontroyertcd acts
they can authorize and require a coIlec-
tor to thrust his hand into the very bot
tom of your pockets for taxes, and from
which there Is no appeal. Besides, they
are clothed with the important power of
proving and approving wills and tesla
mcnts, and granting administration there
on, and on the property of such as die in
testate. But before I enter into the prin-
ciples and motives which ought to 60
vern your choice of those officers, beg
leave to premise, that it is an acknow-
lodged sentiment that mank ind are prn-
cipally governed by and under the inAu-
ence of aelf-interest--tiiat many deny
there does exist in the human heart such
a principle as disintercsted benevolence.
If so. what powerful influence is self
interest Therefore, in selecting the
candidates of those offered to your choice,
you ought to consider how self-intcrcst
would probably operate on the person,
if elected, in the exercise of the Office.
1t is the general opinion that it is neces.
sary courthouse and Jail should soon
be built in this county; and it is natural
to suppose that person would be desi-
rous of being elected a county commits
sioner, if he could thereby have it in his
power to order or direct courthouse
to be built near his house or property,
thereby greatly enhancing the value
thereof, even at the expense of heavy
tax on the county, if it could not be effect
ed in any other way, to promote his in
terest; and are not some two of the can
didates thus particularly situated, whose
exertions, and their friends for them, will
be strenuous and vigilant, and who are
actuated by the same all-powerful motive,
self, and to increase the value Of their
contiguous property at the public ex-
pense !. on whose professions and pre-
tentions you ought to look with a jealous
eye.
1t is we'll known that the county is con-
siderably in debt, which must be paid by
tax on us; and it is also we'll known,
that generous and unexceptionable Of
fer has been made to build courthouse
and Jail without any expense to the coun-
ty, besides giving other valuable pro-
perty,) at place in the town of Edwards
Vile, in every point Of view as eligible
and convenient to the people of this coun-
ty, as if built near the houses of those
self-intcrested candidates.
Now, fellow electors, it is at your op-
ton to electcounty commissioners whose