Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-10-12

from the state Of Mr.. Coles, the Regis
ter, and the death of Col. STEPHENSON,
the Receiver, no sales of public land will
take place at the Land Office in this
town, On Monday next, as advertised by
proc lamation Of the President of the
United States.
The following petition is circulating for sig
mattress and intended to be presented to the
legislature at the next session. 1t is published
by request.
10 the honorable the General assembly
oftAe state # Illinois, sitting at Van-
duha, II. d. 1925:
The Memorial of the undersigned Free Per-
sons of Color (for themselves and others)
OF the state aforesaid, HuMBLY SHEwETn--
That, Notwithstanding the Father of
Mercies moved the hearts of the citizens
OF this state, and actuated them to throw
off the shacsles of slavery from our sa-
Bile race yet, wolul TO relate (and in a
free country !oo) we are the objects oil
rapine, plumber, and devastation to free
hooters. Our property, dear as it is to
US, which some OF US have acquired to
competency for our support, by our
industry, is as dust, and trash, when put
in competition with carrying us away by
i'rce OF arms, into perpetual slavery, us
AMI our CIspr,ag, that we have raised
so enJcrly by the sweat OF our brows.
That the above should not be thought
sanc.iul, we appeal TO many if such at
tempts have iot been lately made in diff
ferent parts Of this state, and often put in
practice, not only by COLLISION, but by
open Violencc-sone with pretensions
OF ownership, and others without the
least color OF claim.
And also, when either male or female
of us, SHOULD be SO unfortunate as to ex-
pericncc insult and aggression, even if
! II should be OF the most dlssrace!ul kind,
the door OF justice is barred against US,
| (nnless there Cauid be evidence Of the
white population obta'ned) and no alter
native for the unhappy victims but to
pour their complaints TO that Supreme
Being, who gave life to all colors on the
globe.
| notwithstanding the members of this
republic are collected from the different
divisions AID Subdivisions of the globe,
they enjoy Unparalleled harmony, ease,
and afluencc, IN a far greater degree
than any people ar government that have
hitherto shone on earth. But we, poor
we, the Fiee Negroes" are the 4" for
lorn hone" although it is well known,
that neither cur iorciathers, or their off
spring. now your memorialIsts, have
originally been intrujcrs. But here we
are, and here we intend to rem aiu--and
would be happy in case We could par
take OF the blessings of your incompdra-
| Die representative government; for which
favor, We now supplicate your honorable
bod that all iree,ncn OF us, twenty -one
years OF age and upwards, may be ena-
bled 10 vote for, and in the same manner,
that the law allows your white popula-
ton to do.
(, We have better opinion Of your ho-
norable body, than to presume the above
viii be received by you, win either con-
tempt or sHrprize, seeing that liberty is
the object Of all men, even slaves to des-
potic governments. Bat We, who have
been rock ii me cradle OF liberty and.
equal rights, taking our ideas of liberty
from you, troDi the time you were able
to lisp, it is no wonder, when we are now
of full age, we should zeaously wish
and lan,n!sh TO participate in that bless
ing, which, few as we be, would give us
that consequence SO necessary to make
useful citizeDs, ard enable us 10 obtain
that protection 10 our persons and pro-
| perry, so we'll Lard down IN your Consti
tuition aud laws, which We are now stran-
gers to, those OF you who can only turn
the scale, and sup, csc yourselves in our
situation, viii certainly be IN favor OF our
request. We would ask pardon for the
comparison, which is dictated by the
asonies of distress. II is true, we are
black, and il is as true yon are 7vhite.
/ We have not made ourselves, but have
been put into existence by the Supre ne
| Roller Of the universe, like all of other
colofs. which compose the human fani-
ly. % such description we are, we hope
Income viii deny. Some may allege ar
rosance to US, for the appica ion OF the
right OF sutfrage-lhat we wish to put
ourselves on level With the white DO
pulalion. We assure your honorable
body, that we have no such pretensions.
We ask nothing bat the righ, oi suffrage.