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

ton during the discussion OF the Nilsson
ri question, but left there before rs de-
termination, and who was and | believe
still is decidedly hostile to Mr.. Cook
This letter, however, was procured Tor a
very different purpose-and regret that
Mr.. Kane's ungenerous attack upon me
has rendered it necessary for me to use
it on the present occasion, or to make
any remarks whatever upon the SUBJECT
NINIAN EDWARDS.
.Edward8ville, Juty "a, 1920.
EXTRACT.
"St. Louis, June 81, 1920.
"Irecollect offrequently hearing it said, and
perhaps while in Washington made the re-
mark mqgelf that it "would be doing nothing
more than Justice to Illinois, (as its citizens
were SO violently opposed to Missouri as state
without restriction) to create reaction by
engaging your side of the river in contest at
home, which would prevent them from so par
ncultt3y interesting themselves in our concerns
and that to effect this, it would only be ncces-
sary to establish press at Edwardsvllle that
would admit and favor a free discussion OF the
advantages that would result to the state by
portion of the state was inhabited by emf
grants from the southern states, who would be
favorable to such state of things.
also understood that gentleman highly
distinguished on former occasions for his edi-
torial talents, might be prevailed onto establish
press in Edwardsville, and if SO, from his
sentiments on the subject of slavery, (Which
was then debating at large in Congress,) he
would most certainly advocate such course.
| afterwards understood that the gentleman
alluded to did intend to visit Edwartlsvlle
preparatory to such step, bnt neOer umder-
stood that you had any knO1pledge cfit or in any
1vay couitenanced it,
IT Editors who have published Mr.. Kane's
address, are requested to insert the above.
"Falsehood may serve temporary purpose,
but it is sure one day to be discovered and OPP
posed, and those who condescend to practise
it are involved in ruin and disgrace"
M. Kdne's address to Tie people Of Illinois
alias
Mrssns. BLACKWELL & BERRY,
Gentlemen-One of the minions Of a
party, whose lust OF power, is only equal
led by the baseness of the means which
they constantly employ to acquire it, has
charged me in your paper of the 18th
inst. with having been opposed to the
reduction of the price of public land,
and imputing to me, the same sordld and
dishonorable motives, which would have
governed himself, pretends to believe,
6 that | was influenced by an apprehen-
sion, that it would lessen the value OF
my own lands which had been entered
at two dollars an acre."
Certain as might have been this ef-
feet, did not in that instance permit,
and my enemies are challenged to point
out any other case, in which have ever
permitted my private interest to inter-
fere with my public duties. And while
those malignant defamers, wishing to de-
grade me to a level with themselves,
would deny me any merit whatever, for
single act of my life, freely submit it
to the candor, and intelligence Of the
honest, and impartial portion of my fell
low citizens, who have witnessed my
public conduct for the last eleven years,
to decide whether have not as often
risqued my private interest, for the pub
lie good-given as many proofs of zeal
and disinterestedness, in support of their
interest-and been as successful as
could reasonably have been expected
from public officer who had the same
difficulties to encounter, and no greater
capacities to overcome them (?
I have doubtless committed many err
rors, which no one can regret more than
myself-but fatter myself that my fell
low citizens, making due allowances for
the inhrmities of human nature, may find
in review of my whole conduct, some
thing more to applaud, than censurc.
And humble as are my pretensions, and
limited as has been my usefulness, l
trust have no cause to shrink from a
comparison of my services, with those
of the party, whose unprincipled oppo-
sition to me, has at all times, been in
creased by every successful effort on my
part to serve those, whose interest has
been confided to my care.
The truth is that my greatest offence
with those calumniators is, not that |
have neglected, or violated my public
duty, but, that l have performed it too
well for their purposes, for conscious OF
their own want of merit, and finding me
an obstacle to the qualification of their
ambitious views, their whole hopes OF
elevation have been made to rest ex-
clusively, upon setting their understrap-
ners to bark at nv heels, and otherwise