Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-05-30

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
population in that quarter shall rem
der it necessary, leaving this county in
convenient form, and with a respecta-
BILE portion of territory.
/ am opposed to the contemplated di-
vision, because l conceive that the re-
moyal 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 county seat was per-
manently to remain at that town. To re-
move it, therefore, would destroy
the confidence of the people in the
good faith of the government, and
would furnish precedent productive OF
the most alarming consequences. Once
admit that county may be divided, or
county seat removed, not for the greater
accommodation of the public, but mere
ly TO promote the growth Of particular
towns, and you give the signal for town
makers and spectators to involve the
state in disorder and confusion to pro-
mote their own ACKNOWLEDGMENT. AS
self-interest is the ruling principle of
mankind, each one who might think that
his own interest would be promoted by
the measure, would insist upon having
county seat located upon his own land.
The towns which might be selected as
county seats would derive no solid adj
vantage from that measure. Very few
will purchase property or make i'm
provements in such towns, when they are
conscious that the county seat viii be re-
moved whenever an adverse faction may
obtain the ascendancy. Let the propos-
ed measure be adopted, and the leglsla-
| ture will have no time to devote to the
enactment of wholesome laws for the be-
nefit of the great mass OF their constitu-
ents, but will find continual employment
in carving out new counties for the &C
commodalion Of petty villages, and in adj
justng the claims and settling the dis
putes warning spectators. The cleo
ton OF candidates for representative Off
ces will be made to depend, notupon their
ability and integrity, but upon their
places of residence, and their Predilec-
tons for, or antipathies against, particular
towns and villages. Ignorance and I'M
becility will become the sole passports to
the legislative hall; for men possessed
of higher qualifications will disdain to
become the catspaws of avaricious spe-
culators. In this manner the people will
become divided into petty factions, the
most bitter anmosities will be e:igender-
ed, and the general harmony of the state
will be destroyed. This is not chime
ricaI. Who that reflects on the nature
of that spirit Of speculation which has
unfortunately taken such deep root
among us, is not constrained to acknow-
ledge that all these consequences, and
many others still more to be dreaded,
will inevitably follow the establishment
of the principle against which | con-
tend Similar questions are this year
agitated in many other counties OF this
state, and similar means are resorted to
for the promotion of the same grand OBJ
ject of all spectators, viz. self-aggran-
dizement. Does it not, therefore, be-
hove the independent farmers and me-
chanics, the efficient population OF the
state, to place their sovereign veto upon
all attempts to promote the interests of
the fezv at the expense OF the ma''y, and
to build up private fortunes upon the
ruins of the public tranquility and fthc
general welfare
Unjust as the proposed division would
be to the owners of property at the
present county seat-perncious as its
consequences would be to the communi-
ty at large--t is not less inexpedient as
it regards this county, and | may add, as
it regards the inhabitants even OF that
part which is proposed to be erected into
a new county. A reference to the map
is sufficient to show that many of the
citizens of the proposed new county re-
side nearer to the town of Edwardsville
than to either of the places in contem-
plation as the seat of justice of the new
county. This inconvenience would
soon be greatly increased, as the rapid
growth Of the settlements north of the
contemplated county seat, would, in a
short time, require its removal further
north--thus leaving the inhabitants of
the south part of the proposed new coun-
ty at great distance from their seat of
Justice, although the same inhabitants
reside but small distance from the
present county seat. The announcement
; shape of the proposed county (being in
some places less than five miles wide)