Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-07-13
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION


attacks
Let The plain-dealing, candid, honest,
and independent citizens OF this state
dispassionately review, and bear in mind,
the nature, and character of the opposi-
ton to Mr.. Cook, since last fall, to-
gether with several recent publications
against him, IN the Shawneetown paper
and let them seriously ask themselves
the above question. They can, then, be
at no loss to decide who are the unre-
lenting persecutors--the ambitious in
triguers, who stop at nothing TO carry
their point--nor upon whom, the re-
sponsiblity ought TO rest, Tor those angry
discussions, and that unpleasant aglta-
ton of the public mind which wanton,
false and malicious attacks" are calcu-
lated to produce. Sell-delence is law
of our nature, not denied even to the
vilest reptiles, or the mos, insignificant
insects. 1t therefore, cannot be blan ed
Pi,iful and unprincipled must be the
ambition of those who, declining to rest
the prctensions of their favorite upon his
own merit, seek his elevation only, by
the prostration of his rival; and for that
| purpose, have recourse to wicked mis-
representations, and unblushing false
hoods. An honorable man would indig-
nantly reset all such aid, and disdan to
owe his success to such odious articles.
They are insulting to free, virtuous,
and enlightened people; since all calcu-
lations upon success, by such disgrace
iul means, must be predicated upon the
supposition that, the people are corrupt
enough to cooperate in them, or weak
enough to be duped by them. The
pride of Independent, men must revolt at
a supposition so degrading--their virtue
viii recoil from cooperation SO base,
wicked, aud abominable. The people
OF Illinois, thank God, are not yet, SO de-
! generate and depraved as to be ready I"
sanction falshood and Acknowledgement
many OF them would sooner lorego the
right of suffrage itself, than be identified
in cause supported by such means.
For many months past it has been un-
dcrs,ood by Mr.. Leans friends, in diff
.erant parts of the state, that he would
be candidatc--during all which time /,
every stratagem, and all the nachina
tons OF intrigue, have been industrieusiy
employed to undermine, and totally sub
vert Mr.. Cooks popularity, with hope
Of demonstrating the necessity, or ad-
vantage OF taking up some other person,
merely for the sake Of getting rid OF him.
Why did moi Mr.. MLcan declare his
intentions openly, as soon as he deter
mined 10 be candidate F.? The reasons
are obvious. His own professions as
we'll as Mr. Cooks would then have
been fairly before the pubic, and the lat
ter could not have been assailed, with
the same prospects Of success, or with
the same appearance OF candor and dis
interestedncss, as when he seemed to
have no competition.
Many gentlemen OF the FIRST respecta-
biity (now however, fully convinced oil
their error not suspecting this plan, be-
ing little too creduous in listening TO
The many false reports in circulation, and
yielding to some very honest preJudices,
were upon the point of abandoning Mr..
Cook, without regard to any of the
grounds upon which they had formerly
supported him, and without dolly consi-
dering, aAa: they zoere 10 gain, by ex-
changing him for MIR. Mclean, whom
they had formerly, unhesitallngIy reject
ed, for reasons very satisfactory to them-
selves. This delusion however, is now
entirely at an end, without promising the
slightest equivalent for the pains that
have been taken to produce it, and with
some of the most Important dsadyanta-
ges that usually attend disappointed in
trigue.
Without however, dwelling upon cases
nearer home, pass on TO the publlca-
tons III the Shawneetown paper, which
probably aay claim the merit Of Gaping
the Climax Of all the mean contrivances
that have been publicly resorled to, for
the purpose of defeating Nh. Cook S
election.
Has the writer in that paper publish
cd wanton and malicious falsehoods
against Mr. Cook, with view to aid the
election OF Mr.. Mclean? This is the
question. Hear his words, speaking OF
the passage OF the bill! for the relief OF
the purchasers OF public land, at the ses-
sion of Congress before. the last, this
scandaIous defamer says in his address
to Mr.. Cook, iter a fair and full dis
cussion law was passed highly advan-
tageons to us, and honorable to those
from whom it emanaled. Our repre-
scntatives IN both houses OF Congress
were praised to the skies for their exer-
tons in favor Of this bill; and with re-
gard TO Mr.. Cook in particular, his con-
stltuents were ready TO exclaim "what