Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-08-03


ed in relation to the new land district, C.
in letters written by Judge Thomas dur
ing the late session oil Congress Why
Were other letters and certificates pro-
cured there, which, for many weeks, were
sneakiagty circulated in manuscript CO.
pics Why have all the attacks in the
Shawnectown paper written by the
Judges partizan, aud Mr.. M'Lean's part
ner, been predicated upon tales and in
formation brought from Washington
Why has the Judge incorporated his
charges, letters, and certificates into a
' hand bill, printed at so late period, and
circulated 50 clandestinely, as to elude
the possibility Of an answer from Mr..
Cook
Before single line of the discussions
alluded to, was written on the side OF Mr..
Cook, Judge Thomas had been engaged,
for weeks, in circulating his charges pri
vately i'll manuscript, cautiously conceal
ing them from M. Cook, and declining
TO afford him any opportunity of meeting
them. Arrangements had been made
for 7vriting him DOM. The Shawnee
town paper had been teeming with the
most vulgar rlbaldry, virulent invectives,
' and false accusations against him. The
third numbered" Brutus" Mr.. MsLean'S
partner) had made lis appearance. A
hand bill composed oftwn ofthose essays
had been lndustrlousy and extensively
circulated. The terms shallow pated
fool" designing knave," E" demagogue
and hypocric," had been applied 10 Nj.
Cook in those publications.
But, the following charges contained
in the essays referred to, are more par
ticularly deserving of notice.
|. That Mr.. Cook had voted against
an important provision in the bill " Tor
the relief of the purchasers OF public
lands" which has been proved to be
false by the journals.
.. That he was opposed to the reduc-
ton OF the price of public land from 81
TO 81 IS per acre, from The basest OF
motives, while the journal itself, exhibits
his own motion, for that very reduction.
8. That he was opposed to the esta-
blishment of the new land district, which
has been completely disproved, TO the
entire satisfaction of every one.
4. That in reference TO land Offices, he
was influenced by undue partially to his
side OF the state, while the only offices
which have been proposed or establish
ed, since he has been in Congress, are
one al Palestine on the east side, one al
Vandalia, and the late one for the San
gamo country, all OF which he advocated.
IN y IN MI to
bllshed give two to each side of the state,
and two TO the interior.
$. That he was opposed to granting
the people of Sangamo the right of pre-
emptlon in the purchase OF their improve
ments, without the shadow OF proof TO
establish it, and in direct opposition to
his uniform conduct in Congress on tins
subject.
These, and other charges and insinua-
tons, equally base and groundess, had
been propagated against him before any
defence or retort on his side was attempt
ed. They were OF serious import. Ii
not oontradcted, they would have been
believed, especially in a new state, con-
stantiy filling upwith strangers. Ifbeliev-
must have been the inevitable conse-
.qnence. What then, was he to do !?
What would any other man have done,
under similar circumstances Instead
ofone competitor only, be seems to have
to run against three, Mr.. Crawford,
Judge Thomas, and Mr. M'Lean. Ii
any man doubt that Mr.. Crawtord's
lid III l..
against him, let it be remembered thai
aboutlwo years ago, Mr.. M LEAN WROTE
TO MIR. CRAWFORD FOR A CERTAIN GEN
TLEMAN's ACCOUNT IN THE TREASURY
DEPARTMENT. WHICH WAS INTENDED TO
BE USED IN AN ELECTION THEN PEND
ING, AND THAT THE ACCOUNT WAS RE
cEIvED BY Mr.. M.LEAN, AND USED
AGAINST THE GENTLEMAN REFERRED TO.
AS TO Judge Thomas, he has not only III
written address, appealed TO the peo-
pie, and invoked their aid to avenge him
self of Mr.. Cook, but he is constantly
riding about to enlist partizans. Whether
many have taken the bounty, know not
Mr.. M'Lean is the candidae.-about
him, | have nothing to say If the peo-
pie think they will be benefited by eX
changing Mr.. Cook, for him, it is their
duty to do so. But it is certain that, the
adherents and partizans ofthose gentle
men have assaulted Mr.. Cook with the
most malicious falsehoods, 8neakingiy
circulated, and intended to gull and de-
ceive the people. And yet, they have
the hardihood to raise a clamor agains,
him and his friends, for repelling those
tl,o