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

| w est. We believed that many poor
men of industry and enterprise would
come to the country, with the means OF
paying the first instament on a half
quarter section, who would not be able
to pay dozvn the whole, and that they
would be anle, from their industry, to
raise from the land, so purchased, the
means OF paying the other instalments.
But it was also said, the Credit System
were entirely abolished, and the price re-
duced, that relief ought to be given to
those who had already purchased, and
! that both measures ought to go together.
This doctrine, however, did not prevail,
but every man knows, that, at the next
session, that relief was given, and no
man more earnestly supported the mea-
sure than myself. My conduct, in rela-
ton to these sub was so we'll I'M
derstood two years ago, that ] cannot
think 1t necessary now 10 say more about
it. But this writer attempts to excite the
prejudices of the people against me, by
referring to letter which he says wrote
to a gentleman in ST. Genevieve, who
owned large body of land in partner
ship with me in this state. This letter
mus! have been written, of course, be-
fore the passage of the Bill TO which he
| alludes, and YET have shown that, after
that, myself proposed an amendment,
by which the price was 10 be reduced to
81 IS per acre.
But, fellow citizens, l owned land with
I'm liv;nr in Mipc,,o wi M IL
liam Shannon and John ID. Cook and,
nreIation to the letter alluded to by Bru-
tus, l therefore beg leave to ask the
earnest attention Of every candid man to
the following statements made by them
81. Ceneuiere, July 18Th, 1929.
Dean SIR-l have seen printed piece,
signed Brutus, and headed "two letters to
Daniel Pope Cook" wherein it is stated that
whilst the law, reducing the price of public
land, was under consideration, YOU wrote to
gentleman of st. Geneyeve, with whom YOU
were concerned in the purchase of LAM in
Illinois, that you are attempting to sell said
land to some English gentleman, that if the
price of land is not reduced you will make
handsome speculation, but if it is reduced
you'll lose money.
was concerned with Mr.. Cook, in the pur-
chase of land in the state of Illinois, but never
received any such letter, nor any other, from
Washington City, on the subject of our land
purchase. If MIR. Cook ever wrote such let
ter, it must be come at unfairly-and farther,
believe (indeed Pm certain) MIR. Cook never
was concerned with any person i'll this place,
but myself and Judge Cook, his BROTHER in the
purchase of land. Signed, VIM. SHANNON.
Ste. Genemeve, 14th J,uy, 1922.
how ha nanIl,iII ON {. -
alluded to by Mr.. Shannon. l never received
from Daniel p. Cook such a letter that
mentioned in said hand bil-nor do know OF
any person in Ste. Genevieye, or i'll the state
of Missouri, conc erned with him in the pur-
chase of land in the state of Illinois, except
Mr. Shannon and myself. JOHN d. COOK.
That may have written letter to Mr..
Shannon, in relation to our lands, is en-
tirely probable, and my impression is,
that l did, but it was three years ago,
and what the letter contains cannot pre-
tend 10 say: But knowing | was not OPP
posed to reducing the price of the public
land, and believing, therefore, that l ne
yer wrote to that effect, and seeing that is
the impression made by Brulus, from
the reference he has made to that letter,
I demanded a copy of it from Mr.. Eddy,
one of the Editors of the Illinois Gazette,
for the purpose of publishing it myself,
but could not obtain it. He informed
me that he had never seen ii, and that il
there were such letter, it must be in
the hands of Mr.. Hall, the other Editor,
who was absent in Kentucky. But, fell
low citizens, neither John d. Cook, nor
William Shannon, ever received any
such letter, nor any other, upon that sub
iect, and if ever wrote any such letter,
which l think did, it must have been
"unfairly" obtained-I therefore demand
of Brutus, under his ozvn troher name,
to publish the letter itself-to state
zvhether he has the original-and also to
state the manner in which HE became
Possessed oft.
If there be men who Turk in the post
Offices to purloin communications which
l make during the sessions of Congress
to my friends, or constituents, for the pur-
pose of getting the means of attacking
me-if it be Brutus-let US know it,
if it be the tools of Brutus, or any other
person-let US know it.
Brutus next proceeds to speak of my
conduct in relation to the business of the
people Of Sangamo. He says l was OPP
posed to a Land Office in that quarter.
demand of Brutus, and the public have
right to demand, where he obtained
his information. 1t is known that l
zealously supported the bill to establish
that Office against violent opposition, and
obtained its passage. He next speaks
of my being opposed to granting right
of pre-emption to the settlers in that