Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-04-17
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
NO. III.
Mr.. PRINTER,
Washington CHy,}
NIarch 4, 1872 s

AMIR. / RlNTERy
Considering the strength of the slave
party lii this state, we must look on
whatever eXertions that are made by
them to hull those of the opposite way OF
thinking, into security, as a snare laid.
by which to subvort The liberties of the
state. 1t is no, great while since you
noticed in your paper, party formed at
Washington, whose obT was, through
the fundamentally of some of our lead
ing citizens, to get slavery introduced
into our state. Your early sounding the
tocsin of alarm, have reason to believe,
frustrated, for the time, their diabolical
plan; but TO suppose that they have en-
lirely given it up, would be paying but
sorry compliment TO their ingenuity and
perseve rance. 1t was only postponed
for time, to rally their forces, and the
more eHectually 10 lay their plans. The
next general election seems to be the
time fixed upon to make the desperate
effort.
am sorry to see such an apathy ex
listing among the citizens at large on this
subject. Although large maj 81 ity of
them are evidently opposed to slavery,
they seem to think it no ways danger
Gus to place over themselves rulers, who
are of quite opposite way Of thinking
presuming, no doubt, that these rulers
will not dare to act contrary to the wish
cs Of their constituents. But this is
fatal error, and the experience of last
winter might have taught them that it is
dangerous to trust men without first test
ing their political principles.
Had the censufing OF our senators
been made criterion before the last
election, no doubt, before this, they
would have had an invitation to resign,
and man of more consequence than
Mr.. Blackwell would have been the
mover of the resolution. But his con-
slider as secondary consideration, to the
deep game, which, l have reason to be-
lieve, is intended to be played on US after
the next election. The vote of our
senators, with respect to the admission
Of Missouri, did not materially injure
the state of Illinois, but it degraded her
standing as free state; yet am willing
that we should bear with lesser, in or
der 10 evade greater evil. A combi-
nation now seems to be formed, and that
in the opposite party, to renew their eff
forts to introduce slavery into this state
itself. 1t may not be known to all your
readers, that previous to the close of the
last session of the legislature, treaty
offensive and defensive was duly entered
into between the prime leader ofthe slave
party Judge P on the one side, and the
ministerial officers Of the state, including
,ne contemplate jdggler from Crawford,
and several other members OF the legls-
lature, on the other side. The object
Of this treaty is, that the whole power OF
the ministry, and their adherents, is to
support the judge, at the next election
for governor. So much for log rotiing-
and so much can opinion bend to inter-
est. 1t is we'll known that the judge al
ways affected to, and no doubt really did,
deshtse from his heart, the very men he
is now connected with. But any thing
to effect his two favorite objects: sitting
in the governors chair, and introducing
slavery into this state
But it may be asked, "can the eXer
tons of one man accomplish this OBJ
iect! :" Take this in the abstract, 1t nigh
be answered, No. But then it must b
remembered that considerable party
in this state are really in favor Of slavery