Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-04-24
TOR THE SPECTATOR.
TO OLD RUSTIC.

III that county nor in the counties ada
cent, 10 locate the county seat in The CEN
tire OF population, should, on account OF
its apparent fairness, obtain majority
OF inhabitants, who would otherwise ne
yer have signed it. If this petition
should then be carried to the legislature
by the very men who while circulating
it were opposed to its ayowed object, but
considered this species of deception me-
cessary TO favor particular to7vn shecu-
iqtion of their own; and if by continued
ntrigues during long stay, an act was
obtained, appointing commissioners. from
counties adjacent, who were old friends,
or acquaintance, or fellow sectarians oi
the persons principally interested in, and
about the town-is there no remedy, can
there be no redress for this outrage upon
the feelings Of the petitioners ?
Surprising, further, that after the ap
pointment of the commissioners, their
favor was 50 calculated upon by the
friends of the tom as to inspire them
with a degree Of confidence amounting
to Boosting; and SO generally dreaded
by the opponents to the place, as % make
their hopes of justice prevailing very
faint, and create nearly universal belief
that the centre Of population would be.
sacrificed for the benefit oil individuals
on one of the extreme limits of the ha-
bitable parts OF the county: ana suppose
also, thai one OF those very friends un-
dertook journey to make purchase
OF one OF the commissioners, call on u
second, sc. with the express exhectation
OF thus obtaining more favor, while mo-
ney was loaned for the express hurfose
of enabling him to do Sou, ii any
commissioner whose pari ality could
thus be suspected aad crfecte3, oulhc
he 70 fill a commission where his feel
ings would be called upon to prpponde-
rate to confirm the worst suspIcIons
alloat
+ But supposing, nevertheless, that Tho
day appointed having arrived, part Of the
commissioners should meet, and mime
diately repair TO that petty village OR one
extreme boundary of the population, in
which, and about which their old ac-
quaintance, sc. were peculiarly inter-
ested; and there continue the whoie day
listening to the representations and mis-
representations OF that particular party,
and viewing the map Of the same, back
ed by the claims to belief and favor be-
tore alludedto; suppose the ncxt day
the remaining commissioners should ar
rive, and then a hasty superficial view
OF some spots should be made, attended
by person principally interested III the
village, from whom eren in formutton
concerning those shots zvaS ottained .
person too who had previously express
ed his determination 10 stick by the COM
missioners 40 the last; suppose also, that
even the formally of visiting The sites,
around zvhat can b. hroued 10 be the,
centre Of hofufation, would not have
been gone into, had It not been urged
by some OF the townsmen, probably as
due for appearance sake; suppose that
at any OF these sites their stay did not
exceed Ave or ten minutes; that even
during this shorl stay, (Which rendered
it impossible TO obtain the nee essary IN
formation from persons thereabouts, had
even the questions, necessary to test the
accuracy OF their preyiou, impressions
made by spectators, been 4skod) the
offer OF information relative to th- centre
Of population, and connected VITA great
benefit to the county, was determlnediy
refused; that the tesfis,ony Of dis.
interested men 7uas not sougAt after
and yet suppose, these very commission
ers return straightway to the town be-
loved; ; aud those who had been all the
previous day and night there, decide in
Iavor of that very place, wanting most
IF the local and relative advantages for
a village, and opposed to the petition
as well as the wishes Of a great majority
IF the county. say, then, if men who
we're selected with circumstances apper-
aiming contrary to the petition of the
inhabitants, and the probable intention
Of the legislature; interested by feelings
IF friendship, &c. if not by pecuniary
concerns, for the success OF particular
place; whose services were not only
cared by the opponents of that specula-
ion, but calculated upon by its friends
who staid long time on that very place
where they ought not to have staid, re-
sewing information from those from
whom they ought not to receive it; but
Who, on the contrary, staid a mirhtyt
'hort time in places where they ought
o have tarried much longer; and took
10 pains to obtain unnecessary informa-
ion from those from whom they ought to
rave obtained it; who refused even to
sear any particulars ofoffers for the pub
ic good, though ~unconnec,ed with pri-
rate or definite speculation and then
inally, in decided opposition to the in
crest of the county, and the wishes of a
great majority Of its inhabitants, should
hat number. of the commissioners (say