Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-03-19


lind, he "eyes askance" thar virtue he
aespairs to initiate, We will disllain TO
respond infinitely to the absurd and in
definite charges he has endeavored to
subs,antiate against Judge Phillips. That
Sentleman's character occupies TOO Gle
waited ground to be easily obscured by
the clouds of envy or detraction, and
has been too long before the public to
require an apologist; his plain, upright,
honest integrity has spoken directly to
the heart and understanding of every
thinking man in the community: nor
could polumes Of slang zyhang from the
pen Of Old Moses, stain the fair escut-
cheon ofhis life. Even his very enemies
awed by his undertaking rectitude, have
(however unwilingly) yielded their ap.
probation of his Judicial proceedings
Nor has ialshood herself dared to allege
single charge that could Withstand re-
futation, nor one which, when applied to
the touchstone of truth, has not invariably
shrunk into insignifcance and " hid its
diminutive head" Corruption is strong
ly limited at iii the despicabIe tissue oil
talshood he has woven to ensnare as he
supposes) the minimizing part of,he COM
munity, he may perhaps be caught in his
own tolls, as " the net which he spread
is his own foot taken" But question
much if there is another mind malignant
enough in our government to ascribe to
Judge Phillips corruption in his judicial
capacity, or a heart " wrestling iudg-
ment." On the contrary, the unanimous
sentiment has been, that he was a man
upright in his course, and incorruptibie
in his judicial as well as his political con-
duct. Charges are easily made, but truth
rests upon basis too imperishable to be
easily shaken, or to be "made the sport
of every wind of doctrine," nor would
she lend her countenance to palm upon
the public allegations without probabii-
ty, and charges without substanciatlon.
Fit were enough to accuse, who should
be found innocent! But we live, we
trust, in too enlightened and liberal an
age, for falshood and ma!ignity TO rear
their structures in the air, and decorate
them with the sun-beams Of public APP
probation. Judge Phillips character IN
vites investigation, nor will IL shrink from
the torch OF scrutiny, however closely
applied, or intense may be its light. As
on the one hand we challenge any man
to boast Of an advantage obtained through
the peculiar situation in which the Judge
happens 10 be placed; so on the other,
we equally defy complaint founded inI
truth, that shall make it manifest that in
Justice has been done, or that any one
has suffered from his opposition to the
Judges political wishes or sentiments.
On the contrary, we know that justice
has presided on the same bench with
Phillips, her bandage bound upon her
eyes, and her scales inpartially sus-
pended in her hand :. That equal and in
discriminate right has been accorded to
every maa-a ,uitlina1zsihe- .interventinn- of
private feeling, or the qualification OF am
bilious revenge. With respect to the
vastly significant insauations with which
Old Moses has interlarded his precious
communications to the public, we hold
them scarce worthy of moments atten-
ton. We will merely observe, we are
happy he has taken the precaution TO
enclose them within the strong lines Of
a tarenthesis, otherwise they might have
made their escahe auithout. observation
from their subtle nature, and their strong
affinity to air, Of which element they
were originally composed, and separated
by some demonaic arts of-chemistry, we
neither understand nor approve. Stra-
tagem is ever the resort OF The feeble.
"A powerful enemy assumes position at
once strong and imposing, not relying on
a ruse-de-guerre for success, nora mask
ed battery for victory. lnsinuations
against Judge Phillips are like pebbles
thrown against a rock. Be upon your
guard, Moses, perhaps the recoH may
prove more fatal than the dischargc.-
The mighty man of Gath was killed by
a smooth pebble from the brook, and who
can be surety that another mighty man
osacevsdin place (dos'ttake Old Moses)
may not have his Precious breath stop
ped by f,itiful instruction enclosed
auithin the lines Ola forensbesis.
But we disdain to dwell longer en- these
contemplate fabrications of brain preg-
nant with falshood, and pass on to ano-
Their charge with which the demon OF
calumny has closed her infamous cata-
zogue, and contaminated her own dis
grace. We allude to the imputation OF
immortality and in6delity, charges than
which nothing engendered in the @eetess
he'll were ever devised more false and
nsoAssrous. Who that is at all aoquaint-
ed with the character of Judge Phillips
needs refutation of this ! Is he not pro-
I. >~al, temperate, just, charlta-
EcrOiaIIy nlo. :, reprehension OF