Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-07-27

that whatever is calculated to promote
its prosperity, or add to its wealth and
power, is the duty as well as the interest
OF every citizen to accelerate, private IN
terest yielding to the paramount interest
oil the people.
Having no other than common IN
terest in the state, equally DESTROYS Tor
its growth and prosperity, and feeling
common solicitude with you all in the
promotion of measures calculated 10 pro-
duce SO desirable an object; alike affect
ed by whatever measures may be adopt
ed, and subject with you all to the same
results, you will do me the justice to
believe that my interest is identified with
yours. 1t is not possible within the IL
mits of this address, to take review of
the causes, which have had so great a
tendency during past years to produce
the general embarrassment, which has
been so universally felt and complained
ofthroughout every section OF the union !;
nor to advert to all the means which
have been, or oueh, to be pursued, to
produce the relief SO much sought; nor
The effect of those measures which have
been pursued.
To obtain lasting advantages we must
| look to our own efforts, in rigid system
of economy and industry, adapting our
habits and views to the times and their
accompanying circumstances, and gra-
duatine our expenditures by our IN
comes; relying on the resources which
nature and art has placed within our
means, and calling into action the whole
of our energies and enterprise.
While it must be conceded that the re-
lief laws, adopted at the last session oil
our Legislature, have in great variety
of instances prevented vast sacrifices OF
property, whether in the aggregate they
nave produced the general good, thai
was anticipated by their advocates, or
nave been productive of a different re-
suit, you are the proper judges. 1t is
well known to you all that an alternativ e
was presented to the Legislature, in the
question of property law, or bank
lava majority thought it proper to
adopt the latter. The objects for which
the Bank was established, having been
accomp lished, by ailording currency
for the liquidation of the then existing
debts, and the important crisis, so much
dreaded by all, having passed, it is pre-
sumed that i, now only remains to &C
complish the redemption Of the paper in
good faith, and as early as practicable, re-
sisting any further issue Of its capital
which it is presumed would pc in perfcc
| consonance with the original intention o
the advocates ofthe Bank; and fpossible
to add to its credit and increase its value
| AS it seems to be conceded that every
additional issue must have contrary et-
feet, it would be most irrational con-
clusion to believe, that a farther issue
could by any possible means be accom-.
plished, when the effect to be produced
thereby, would be SO utterly repugnant tc
the clear and just policy Of the sys.
tenn.
While a revision of our code of law:
seems to be called for, and many points
may require the attention of those to
whom you shall confide that duty, there
are other objects, which seem to de
nand the attention of every friend to this
state.
| The state of Illinois, formed as it sc
peculiarly is by nature, for a great ant
productive agricultural country, ough
to embrace the earliest opportunity o
opening every communication, which
can afford an expeditions and cheap
means for the transportation Of its pro
duce to foreign markets; while every
state in the union seems to be turning
its attention to internal water commu
nication, and some bending the whole q
their energies to this important object
let it not be said of this state, that with
her great natural advantages and the IA
cilities afforded her for connecting The
Illinois river with lake Michigan, she
has neither capacity to discern, nor ener
gy to avail herself of one of the creates
means of improving her wealth and re
sources, and of adding to her growth
power and happiness, which could be at
iordcd to any state in the union.
The law passed at the last session Of
Congress, granting to this state certain
lands on the Illinois river to the southern
bend of lake Michigan, and reservine
others from sale, will doubtless present
this question to the next Legislature
1t will be perceived by that act, thai
three years are allowed for the surveying
and marking the route, and twelve years
for the completion Of the canal. 1t will
be for this state to determine, whether
she will commence work, which the
experiehce of all Europe has for CEN
fury proven to be of incalculable adj
vantage which recently in one of the