Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-03-13
LEGISLATURE OF NETWORK
GoyEaNoR's MESSAGE.
To the honorubie the assembly :

To the honorable the assembly:
GENrLEMEN-The resolution Of your
honorable house, of the 10th of Novcm-
Der, relative to an intimation in my
speech, at the opening OF the session,
has been respectfully considered, and
duly appreciated--and | shall now COM
municate to you, agreeably to your re-
quest, the evidence in my possession, re-
laiive to the improper interference oil the
officers of the general government in the
. FOCAL concerns of this state.
That many ofthe oilieers ofthe United
States have, for number OF years acted,
vmy improperly, by interfering in the
elections of this state, must be known to
every man in the community who has
had opportunity for inform alton, and
whose mind is not steeled by prejudice
against the admission of truth: At the
last election this influence was mani
Tested in such a variety OF shapes. and in
such very exceptionable manner, that
considered it my duty to refer to it !:
And in performing this duty as a ma
gistrate, and in availing myself OF a right
possessed by every citizen, to express
his opinion of the conduct OF pu e. = men,
did not consider it necessary that
should be provided with docum cntary
testimony, nor did l suppose that al an
extraordinary session OF the legislature,
held for special purpose, it would be
deemed advisable to deliberate on any
of the matters indicated in my speech.
And | was confirmed in this impression,
so far as it respects this subject, when 1
adverted to the resolution of the senate
then before you, proposing to adjourn
Or the next day-and to a resolution OF
your house, passed on the 18Th day of
November, for adjourning on the 2oth.
Under these circumstances, | thought
proper to delay this communication I'M
ill the present session. And when
make this observation, must be per-
mitted to state, that whenever am called
on for information, by any branch of the
legislature, in proper manner and in a
proper case, shall always attend to the
request with pleasure; but shall re-
serve to myself sufficient time to prepare
satisfactory answer. And the unver-
sal understanding, in parliame ntary prac-
tice, has been, that if the information re-
quested is afforded in time for flu! legis-
lative deliberation and decision, no eX-
eeption ought to be taken.
In animadvcrting on the obtrusion OF
cxtraneous influence in the politics OF
this state, was DESTROYS of arres'ing the
progress OF a great evil, by attracting
the public attention to its predominance.
And I was not without hopes, that the
national legislature would consider it a
fit case for the salutary exercise of its
high authorities. In the inquiry, which
has been recently instituted into the con-
duct of one Of the departm of the ma
fional administration, some of the abuses
which will be developed in this message
may be deemed fit subject for cogni-
2ance; and ! am persuaded, that the
general investigation which has been
made, will have beneficial ten
dency, even if it be not.followed by any
measures of punishment.
Considering the immense patronage
which must be necessarily entrusted to
che executive government of the union,
f,,e constitution of the United States has
wisely declared that no senator or re-
preventative shall, during the time FOR
which he was elected, be appointed to
anv civil Office under the authority of the
United States, which shall have been
.reated. or the snoltments whereof shall
have been INCREASED during such time ;
and no person holding any Office under
the United States, shall be member o.
either house during his continuance If
office !" and that no senator or repre-
sentative or person holding an office o
trust or profit under the United States
shall be appointed an elector OF presl
dent and vice-president." The objec
Of these provisions is to preserve the in
dependence of the national Legislature
and of the electoral colleges and to main
tain the purity of republican govern
ment, The same salutary provisions
for analogous beneficial objects hav'
been extended to the state legislatures
and all the state constitutions torme'
since the proposal of the national consti
tution in i7s7, declare in substance, tina
no member Of congress, or officer OF tn
United States shall have seat in tn
state legislature. There are in som
constitutions. variations in the provision