Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-08-17


in a short time he becomes proprie
tor.
Here we have houses which we can
call our own we have orchards OF our
own planting, and fields of our own in
closing; and no privileged order in
church or state can touch an atom ofthe
fruits of these orchards and these fields,
without our consent.
But supposng US to have been of the
more fortunate class ;-supposing US
10 have been the owners of the land
we titled, what was our title to this land
1t was little more than nominal, because
the produce was at the mercy OF others
The Clergy take their tenth, the poor
come upon it with an irresistible and
ever-incrcasing demand. Government
takes what it pleases, that is to say, as
much as can be got. These various
claims have, at this time, as l learn
from unquestionable authority, absorbed
all that remains of the produce, after the
expense OF cultivation is betrayed.
Such was our position in England, or
such i, would now have been, had we
remained there, and retained our stand
ing in society. But many whom we
left behind us, in state of afiluence,
have been reduced to poverty since our
departure; and il is probable that some
Of us who were born to better expecta-
| tons, might have been compelled, e'cr
this, to take our station among the wretch
ed multitude who wait upon the over
seer of the poor for their daily susie
nance, or have been consigned to the
horrors of a prison. So far, in regard
property,-but, in apoliticai view how
great is our advancement
In the formation of the British legis-
latures, many of US had no concern -
| his, however was of small consequence.
| The majority of that assembly on all
questions of importance, voted regular
~ on the side of the executive, over
which The electors themselves have no
| legal control whatever.
Here, the entire government, legis-
'ative and executive, from the base to
the summit, has been built up by the
people and is continually repaired and
amended by them. II it were to fall, it
would be instantly restored, because i,
is essential to our well being, Every
citizen has his share in the benefits of
this editicq, as he has in its construction.
And let every citizen do his duty. 1t is
on lhe>upright performance of our part,
AS individuals, that the aggregate Of
good government depends. The pri-
vate man who in the exercise of his cleo
live function, is BIASED by unworthy or
nnpatriotic motives is betrayer of his
rust; and does his part towards the
ruin OF his country: Two qualifications
ior Office are indispensable ;-virtue and
talents. He who gives his suffrage to a
candidate, destitute Of these is not agood
citizen or sound republican.
| The citizens Of this great republic
have proved (and it is discovery of the
first importance in political science,)
that true liberty has no atiinity--nothing
IN common with RIGHTEOUSNESS. We can
nave no disposition to rise in tumut to
destroy government of our own crea-
ion, and Of which the agents will in lit
| lie space be resolved INTO the common
mass, surrendering to US the power of
remedying their abuses, or correcting
their mistakes, by the ready means of a
better appointment.
| In the redress OF grievances, Gor such
may occur under every human ins,i,u-
ton, at best itnpertec) there is this diff
ference between republic aud tyran-
ny, between government of election
| and government by prescription; in
the former they are corrected, deliberate
| y, by the collective wisdom of the peo-
| pie; in the latter, rashly, by popula.
fury.
Allow me, now, to recall your atten-
ton to the instrument which was read
before the commencement of this adj
dress. The Declaration of Indepen-
dence embodies, not only our rights but
our duties, as men and citizens. Let the
| enjoyment of our rights stimulate us to
the performance Of our duties. This
! Dec aration is document of sublime
importance, if the term sublime may be
applied to any earthly transaction. The
principles there proclaimed to the world
are the basis Of all that is good and great
| in the structure OF human society. All
the bright theories ofGovernment, form
ed by the wise Of other ages, and other
nations, are founded on these principles,
viewed by them with rapture, though in
the distant perspective; whilst to you,
who were born in this land of freedom,
their practical effect is as familiar as the
light OF heaven: you inhaled them with
the breath Of light: they have become,