Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-11-23

marked by a single monument OF dis.
f,ineuished talent or extraordinary yea!
in the cause OF his country; a man in
deed who has not discharged with COM
mon credit the ordinary duties OF the
station he now occupies, and is scarcely
known to the people, but by the Offices
through which he has passed; should be
held up as a candidate for the first Office
in their gilt. We have repeatedly ask
ed the friends of Mr.. Crawford, what
evidence he has given either OF extraor-
cinary patriotism, or extraordinary ia
tents What has he done? How has
he managed to maintain so long course
of elevated obscurity? What bench
cial measures has be ever Effected or
been eninenlly instrumental IN etfecting
What are his political principles, and
where shall We look for practical ex-
position Of them To these and similar
! questions, we have never found man
who could give satisfactory answer.
In fact no satisfactory answer can be
given. All Mr.. Crawtord's distinctions
have been deris ed from the Offices which
have been conferred upon him; the
offices have derived no iustre from the
talents of the Incumbent. ~
But let US consider the arguments and
assertions, such as they are, by which his
advocates attempt TO sustain his prcten-
stems. And in the first place, we have
heard it urged, that he has been a senator
in Congress, foreign minister, secreta-
ny of war, and is now secretary ofthe trca-
sury and that a man who has attained
| to such high stations, must possess ex-
traordinary talents. Now it is unfortu-
nate for this argument, that our own
history furnishes proof that senator in
Congress may want both talents and IN
tegrity, secretary of war may be utter
~ incompetent to discharge his official
lidu'es, and secretary of the treasury
may be the dupe and the sport Of every
waggish specula,or. Indeed it is bold
ground for a statesman to assume, that
because he has been honored with ma
ny Offices, therefore he ought to receive
still higher promotion. This is giving
10 the old adgs, that "one good turn
deserves another" very novel and ex-
traordinary application. The inquiry
should be, not what offices he has filled,
bat how has he illed them And sub
iecting his pre,snsions to this test, we
fearlcssly asser, that they are inferior to
those Of eng other candidate non before
the hutHc. We challenge his advocates
to point out the acts which establish his
title to The character Of an able statesman,
or an ardent, fearless and independent
patriot. He was in the Senate OF the
United States when the late war was de-
clared against Great Britain. 1t was a
pcr,entous crisis in our history The
character and happiness of the country
hung upon the issue. We have been
informed that there was, at one time,
during The rendency OF the war question,
majority OF the senate against IT; and
to the very last the event was doubtful
What field was here presented tor the
| indignant eloqnence OF the patriot states
man How did the accumulated wrongs
Of his country call upon him, to vinti-
cate the cause Of the suined merchants,
and agriculturists and Of those suffer-
! ing captives. who were the victims OF
| British maritime tyranny, and thereby
,urn the doubtful and trembling scale
that was TO decide the most important
question ever agiiated in our councils
| since the establishment of this govern
meat Vet we can find no 80 s,;3s Of
ary speech delivered BY MIR. Crawford
| On that occasion. Ii was a "timc that
| tried mems souls; for the downfall q
The Republican party, an! disgrace and
defeat Of the country, ware confidently
predicted ~ the ablest men in the te-
Iaeral ranks. Way did no, Mr.. Craw-
ford come out in all his power! The
Occasion loudly demanded ii; and in
1.-THE then state Of the senate, we main
tain that no nan Of distinguished talents,
who had voted for the war, can justify
himself to his country, for not support
| ing it with all his energy. Yet tits GER
Etain tina, Mr.. Crawford did not speak al
all, or his speech was Of so little impor-
lance as never to be seen or heard OF by
the nation We have always esteemed
him timid and selfish politician, look.
ing more to his own safety, than to that
Of the repub'ic-and his conduct in the
| crisis Of which we are speaking, seems
to be strikmg!y Illustrative ofthis part Of
his character.
From the Washington Republican.
. Incur former numbers, we conclusive.
" established tsyo points. We have de.
monstra,ed--