Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-12-07

common concern as widely yarlcnt as
The several states and countries which
Providence had appointed for their birth
and education were apart from each
other, have been felt and in measure
sarmounted. 1t was an object Of the
hrsi importance TO redeem the Treasury
rom state Of bankruptcy into which ii
mad fallen under the territorial govern
ment, and TO provide for new aid addi-
tional expenses.
The General Assembly at their secnnd
session prescribed a mode of raising a
revenue, in strict accordance it is beliey-
ed with the intent and spirit ofthc cons
lifniion. Ii was just, because taxes were
proportioned to tie amount Of property
and tie ability Of the citizen to pay. 1t
was judicious, because the improve
ments of hard labor, and the inventions
OF art were exempted from imposition.
The amount o!moncys to DO raised was
large when compared to ,ha, to which
the people had been accustomed, and
the spirit OF emily h'cnedpa,rolism which
led our fellow citizens to submit with
cbeerialness to the necessities OF their
new condition cannot be too much APP
psau del. The people OF other countries
are compelled 10 surrender their private
property for public uses by the force OF
arms, or are induced thereto hg the force
OF long continued habits. That which
We surrender is freely given; q voIunia-
ry sacrifice to a love Of order, TO a glow
ing attachment for that liberty which a
benevolent Deity permits us to enjoy.
The authority given by law to the
Coanty Commissioners to impose taxes
for cona,y purposes, is too unlimited to
secure the citizen from Inconvenience,
Or protect the magistrate from uHdescrv-
ed rcproach.
The paper money authorised to be is.
sued al the las, session, j, is understood
has al! heen cslti.ied As the time has
passed by ~hen it would be useful To
discuss the policy OF the measure, has it
noi become a duty Of moral obligation
upon the parl oEthose entrusted with the
public welfare, to enhance ard preserve
the valae OF this medium 81 ali such
measures as az enlightened prudence
shall suggest Connected with this sub
Ject are enactments which compel the
creditar in certain cases to receive this
paper, or wait three years Tor the pay
nent OF his judgment. This alteration
of the rem edy besorc provided for the IN
forcement of individual cngag emenis
sprang lrosa deep sense Of those en-
barraesments into which our tcllow CHI,
1ras were thrown, and agains, which
common foresight could not praYido.
When the causes which led to this mate
rial change shall have subsidized, the pc
icy of justice TO individuals, will doubt
less be replaced upon its accustomed
foundations.
In the first message which had the
honor to deliver to the General Assem-
bly,, ventured to point the attention Of
that honorable body to Some Of the adj
van,ages which would arise to the state
from connexion of the waters OF The
Michigan with the Illinois river. It is
believed that the public sentimep, has
been ascertained in relation to this sub
lect, and that our fellow citizens are pre-
pared to sustain their Representatives in
the adoption OF measures subservient to
its commencement. The spirit of pa
,riotism, and the feelings OF good fellow
ship which animate that portion of our
population located upon the waters ofthe
Ohio and Wabash, will lead them 10 par
iicipate with their brethren of the north
in leryid desire to accelerate by all pro-
den. means plan of mprovtment which
promises SO much 10 our commerce, and
such aciiities of intercourse with our
sister states. The henctils primarily fei,
10 the vicinity OF the canal, viii tind theis
way through the connecting channels OF
communication, enlivenlng the enter
prize, invigorating the industry, and re-
warding The labor of our citizens, as on
ward they How to the extreme sections
q! the state. The act Of Congress in aid
Of tie plan, renders the speedy adoption
Of soma auxiliary measures indispensa-
BILE, if it is intended to avail ourselves of
its provisions. BY some, the general
government has been condemned for not
yielding more OF the national domain to
our FIRST application, although no prac.i-
cal evidence of a serious determination
on our part had been given to undertake
the work. II ought rather to be a sub
ject of congratulation that illinois is the
first state in the Union to which any like
grant was ever made. The zeal and
ability with which our Legislative memo
rial was supported by our delegation in
Congress, deserve our u'Tesuained COM
menda,ions. As connected with plans
of internal improvement, may be per-
mittcd to remark that the opening and