Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-04-24
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
NOMINAL BANKS-NO. II.
81 II nest orguel que de gueux revetu.
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nn'est orguel que de gueux revetu.
Old .Marim.
Those most conversant with human
nature, agree, that man cannot be per-
feet in every art and science. Hence,
it does not follow, that those, best &C
qnainted with the wolf chace, are the
best legislators. Suffice it to say, that
it cannot be expected that men, who ne
yer even heard Of the first principles of
national law, should mistake in the APP
plication of such bardarous term as
"Ex post facto." Some have defined
this phrase in the constitution to mean,
that this state should not export factious
laws. Each state has guaranteed to them
the privilege of making laws for their
own government, provided they are not
contrary to the constitution of the Unit
cd States. But neither of the states are
authorized by any inherent, or granted
right, to legislate for another state, or to
interfere with contracts already formed
between their DUN citizens, much less
betweenthose formed by citizens of their
own, with foreigners.
With the few decisions on this point,
made in the United States courts, legal
men are Tor should beg acquainted, and
every man, possessed of even mode
rate share of common sense, acknow-
Lodges their equitable principles. A
merchant IN an eastern seaport credits
the Illinois merchant, knowing he could
legally obtain land-office paper, which
OF course, has par value. Afterwards,
the Illinois merchant obtains seat in the
legislature, with others in the same, or
worse predicament, and makes swine,
or pictures, or g no bills of credit" le-
gal tender for two years; for in effect,
the pictured parallelograms are legal
tender for that time. This contravenes
another item of the constitution, which
says, nothing but gold and silver shall
be legal tender" Notwithstanding the
nefarious principles Of the law, pre-
sumo no foreigner will have the hardi-
hood to object, that it is ex post facto,
for common law is bundle of long esta-
blished precedents, and as half our laws,
ever since the establishment of the state
government have been ex post facto, the
precedent is, surely, strongly establish
, cd. l am willing to admit, that were
this state Botany Bay, or Barataria,
having no connection, nor dealings with
out its dominions, that our legislature
might resolve itself into Sancho Panza,
and make what laws they thought pro-
per, to affect future agreements between
its own citizens. Then those who con-
tracted, would know on what grounds
their contracts stood-how, and in what
materials, they were to receive payment.
But every age grows wiser, and this
young sister state, has, it seems, reached
the achme Of Legislation and politeness.
She says to the foreign creditors of her
citizens" Gentlemen, you we're SO
ebIiging as to credit US for even the ne
cessaries of life, to large amount. ex-'
pecting to receive land-office paper, but
we will look to that, we will rear pic
fure shop, and unless you will take the
contents, you shaH zvait until We see
cause to pay you !" @ tempora! O nsores
7Etie glow of shame would redden the
countenance Of any illinois gentleman,