Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-03-13


Of personal njury from the desperation
of detected maletactors, or looking to
particular quarter for iavors to them
selves or connexions. Under these cir
cumstances it would be impossible for
any department of the government, even
If armed with the power oil compelling
testimony, to attain full knowledge OF
the abuses complained of in the present
case, it was rendered still more difficult
from the want of official authority to take
cognizance of the investigation. And
when it was instituted with view to the
obtainment of documentary testimony,
the offenders were forewarned, and had
ample time to take measures for the
suppression Of the truth.
1t is, conceive, impossible to resist
the unfavorable conclusions which must
be drawn from the body of testimony
now submitted to you, making full al
lowances for eXaggeration or error, for
the influence of prejudice and the ope-
ration OF improper motives. And adj
hitting that considerable portion ofth
allegations may be successfully reiutcd,
yet still there will remain sufficient
number of strong and established facts,
to prove concert OF eXertonS on the
part of the officers OF the national gov
erument-in the navy-yard, the custom
bauso, the general pos, -of1ice, and III the
judicial and some other Institutions Of
that government operating in our local
elections and which demonstrates the
existence of an organized and disciplined
corps, and the obtrusion OF eXtraneous
influence for the purpose OF promoting
the aspirations of ambiton-ot securing
the possession of authority, or OF break
encouragement of intestine divisions
And this is case in which the maxim
He orders the commission Of q crime
svho does not forbid il, zvhen it is in his
fozcer, may be justly and emphatically
applied. The least intimatlon from the
proper quarter, would have effectually
prevented these notorious and alarming
evils.
To ali sincere friends of republican
government, and such, gentlemen, be-
Heve you all to be, this statement must
present subjects for serious reflection.
Without the existence of state govern
ments, it is impossible for us 10 enjoy
the blessings of free government. And
without anational governp ent, we would
be involved in wars at home, and have !
but feeble security against attacks from !
abroad. Both are essential to the free
dom, the safety, the prosperity, and the !
honor of our country. The national
government is from the necessity of the
case, armed with controlling authority
over the revenues and physical force of
the country. In its military and naval
estsblishments--in the arrangement OF
the national domains-in the disposition
Of its diplomatic intercourse-in the col |
lection of taXes-in the immense pa
tronage which it derives from the nu- /
merQus and lucrative offices in its gift
and in the alurements which are conse-
quentiy held forth to ambition and cupi- I,
dity, we perceive the foundation OF an
influence which may be arrayed with |
force almost irresistible, against the in
dependence and stability of the state !
governments. 1t may be truly observ-
ed, that in proportion to the population |
OF the U. States, no government has more t
numerous and efficient means of direct
ing and controlling public opinion. And
when we consider that few of the states
have any funds or resources, except what
ar deriy ed from taxation; that the COM
pensation of their public officers is COM
paratively small; and that the heads of |
their executive and Judicial departments
have been even sometimes induced to |
accept offices under the national govern
ment, subordinate in importance, but
superior in emoluments we must at
once perceive the difficulties which the
state authorities might have in opposing
the improper influence OF the national
government. And when we further con-
slider, that in all probability there would
be no unity of views or coincidence of
cxertions operating at the same time, in
the states, while the national authority
might make its approaches by sing Cling
out particular states, and advancing
against them with its combined and con-
solidated force, we have every reason to
exercise the utmost vigilance, and to in
terpose all proper barriers against un-
due encroachments. A government of
influence and corruption, is the worst
possible shape which republican gov
ernment can assume, because under the
forms of freedom, it combines the es-
sence of tyranny. And, although l am
far from saying, that this is now the
case, yet the first attempts to give a