Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-02-27
FOR THE SPECTATOR,
SLAVERY.


SLAVERY.
a brief TieTy Of its Origin, Progress Effects, &c.
When madd'ning Ambition the erth had in
volv'd
In the gloom of despair and confusion,
The demons of Av'rice in council resoly'd
To create new scene of deluion.
THE glitter of arms and clangorf war,
The battles rude onset and fry:
TIL explosion of mines-the tremendous jar,
With victims all mangled and CORY:
Though long yiew'd as scenes of exquisite de-
light,
Now satiate, those Gends of aggression,
Possessing of power-disdaining of right,
Invented the chaias cfopbre'sioa.
Through each tribe and nation the minons
were sent,
(The heralds iron regions infernaD
Proclaiming the ma,date wherever they went,
That bondage sha.ld hence be eteinalt
Yetfearing they SON would experience acheok
From the Protein strides of Opinion,
Bywhich theiryas power light suAerawreck,
And Freedom contest their dominion,
The bright sun ofscience whose genial rays
Give light to the soul, Was Gerclouded;
Mans mind, left to grope through wilderns
maze,
The mantle of ignorance sln,uded.
Thus knowledge was hid or cQhn'd to a few
Whom nature had form d foItlscerning,
And the homage Of nortals declr'd to be due
To these, for their wisdom and learning!
Now blind superstition arose frun the dark,
AT the head of a numerous ltgion
OF Eell's fiery spirits, to turtle the work,
find she aren't IN the Cruise Of RILiGIoN!M
Whips, msnacles, letters, to someNcre assign'd,
An engine Of torture to Others;
And men became tigers, destroying their kind,
Instead OF esteeming as brothers.
(Ah! where was the Genius of Liberty them
And where was the angel Of rsason'
BY demons pursued, and neglected BY men,
They Red from The earth for a sesson)
Stern justice was silenc'd, and hurld from his
throne,
Morality sentenced and banishd;
And cruelty reign'd, unmolested, alone,
Fen the semblance of mercy had vanished.
Religion and virtue, ALAS were no more;
Affection was suffered to languish
Niisanthrope strobe on the stage, and before
Him lay Happiness groanng in anguish.
Such then, was the state of mankind, and had
Decreed it for endless duration,
Fen Nature had sicken'd, SO many and great
Were the evils of woe and vexation!
But 10! in the west shines Beautiful stars
Hence the dawn of glorious morning:
Its light shall illamine the regions afar--
Its radiance the heavens adjoining.
Already the mists of a dark gloomy night
Retreat from its besmy eaugcnce,
And reason, resuming her empire fright,
Shall cheer with the smile of INDULGENCE.
Thy garden, Hesperia, with iowersshall bloom,
Which the sweets OF Arabia excel;
The tribes OF the earth shall innale their per-
finne,
And prejudice throw off her spell
The Nations shall rise in the pride Of their
strength,
And Ayarce shall bow to the laws;
Then Freedom shall triumph, and justice, at
length,
Be permitted to aid in her cause.
Americans! plead the rights of mankind
OF the bondinan, as well as The free;
Unrivet the letters Of body and mind,
Meath the shade CT your Liberty Tree.
Wash, wash out The stain that raAectsa disgrace
On the page ofyour nationai story,
Nor longer let tyranny mar a,d deface
The print of American g,orr.
IT'S Natures decree Git was N,ture's own plan,
Though demons strove to ,reventit)
That freedoms the birthrish and privilege of
of man,
.9,.d fieenien should eOer aSSiv ii.
Let the world be convinced (o many yet doubt
The purify of our intention)
That republicans are from their infancy taught