Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-07-25

the man OF fny CHOICE Shall be gwen on
his own merits, and not for the sake OF
supporting any party whatever. Most
likely the peace and repose of the state
would be best consulted by dropping all
the leading men of both the present par.
ties till their contentious are forgotten,
and in the mean time taking up new
ones in their places.
Both the present candidates are men
of good abilities. In that respect there
is no great odds between them but /
think Mr.. Cook ought to be preferred
for the following reasons, that is to say:
/. He served in different public sta
tons in the state before he went to con-
gress, and in all of them he performed
his part with acknowledged integrity and
ability, and gave general satisfaction.
2. His actions have proved him good
republic an in practice as we'll as pro-
LESSONS.
3. He has showed more political hon
esty, because he did not wait to discover
which was the strongest side upon the
question of introducing slavery into this
| state, before he took his stand-but like
an honest man, and good member ef
society, he felt that he was bound, with
out regard to consequences, to oppose
great moral and political evil; and he
did manfully oppose SO great an abomi-
nation among us.
4. He despised neutrality upon such
a subject-he did not wait TO be acted
upon, but he acted as man ought to do.
lie did not court, but refused to be
placed in situation to receive and obey
instructions to do what he thought wrong,
and against the interest and happiness
OF his country, as Mr.. Kane did. He
risked his first election, and lost it too,
most probably, by declaring that if elect
ed he would even oppose the constitution
itself, if slavery were tolerated.
S. Because he has performed his duty
in congress, and by his vote and speech
on the Missouri question, has falsifed
the charge of his being under particu-
lar influence; and by variety OF other
acts has shown himself too independent
to be influenced by any man or set of men.
6. Because he has been reproached,
reviled, and prosecuted, for his acting
agrecably to the wishes of his constitu-
ents, on which account their supporting
him is only defending themselves.
7. Because, among other frivolous
charges, designed to break him down,
it has been falsely and industriously re-
ported that he had no influence in con-
gress, and could do nothing for the state,
when he did much more than could have
been expected,
8. Because, having done much good,
and no wrong, there is no good reason
for changing him for any other man;
much less for Mr.. Kane.
g. have heard that MIR. Kane says
that he would sacrifice his interest by
going to congress, and as | can imagine
nothing that Mr.. Cook has done to render
such sacrifice necessary in Mr.. Kane's
view, except his vote upon the Missouri
question, which Mr.. Kane was opposed
to, l must suppose he wishes to put
Cook down for that vote.
10. l have seen Mr.. Kane's apology
for wishing to introduce slavery into this
state, which amounts to no more nor less
than this, that although all his habits
of thought and education were opposed
to slavery" he was restrained by motives
of policy from doing or saying any one
thing, with view to prevent SO great
an abomination from being introduced
among US but, to secure his election,
he promised to take either side, and ac-
tually took an active part in favor of
slavery, against the strongest convictions
of his own judgement and conscience,
thereby showing that he was one of those
men "who Gas he says) could cry
freedom and slavery at the same in
stant of time, as it might serve the
purposes of intrigue and ambition" In
vain may he :" whine from the rising to
the setting OF the sun" about the right of
instruction, which no one denies. No
such right existed till he was elected.
There was nothing then to absolve him
from the obligation of every good citizen
to lend his assistance in preventing what
he believed to be unjust in itself-con-
trafy to the Divine will, and most vitality
injurious to the best interests of his
country. Yet he silently waited, with
frigid Indifference, to ascertain whether
right or zvrong would prevail, pledging
himself, in the mean time, to advocate
whichever should prove to be most po-
pular. What an apology.!! Whatever
may be the right of instruction, after one
is elected, whether the representative
should obey, or resign if directed to do