Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-07-27


persons who investigate, which must ul-
timately turn out TO their own injury.
To keep the onu8 hro6endi from falling
on themselves, Investigations Of the prl-,
vate and public characters of candidates
are generally put off till the eve OF the
election, and then the ostensible inyesti-
gator is commonly person who has no
character to lose.
This is exactly the case at the present
time. The friends of Mr.. MsLean OBJ
served a dead silence with regard to our
representative in congress till the very
eve of the election. Then secure in the
want of time for contradiction, they let
loose all their artillery of ialsehood and
abuse; the materials for which they had
been laying up since before the last ses-
sion of congress. Runners have been
sent to all parts of the state, with false
statements, not only of the probable re-
suit OF the election, but likewise OF facts
said to have transpred at Washington.
The influence OF senator, whose con-
duct underwent pretty severe scrutiny
at The seat OF government, has been rea-
Oily enlisted, 10 put out OF Office man
who had the iirmness not only to doubt
the lnialilbiiity OF the secretary OF the
treasury, but likewise 10 institute an
investigation into his conduct. AS
our senator's conduct received the half
appreciation of committee of con-
gress, which placed bis standing On
equally as good grounds as twas beiyre
the investigation took place, think pru-
dence, at least, ought to keep him silent,
particularly as ere long he will have an
election On his own hands, in which his
conduct may be looked into with as much
severity, as is now that of Mr.. Cooks,
for touching the halowed shrine of Mr..
Crawford. Why should our senator
shrink from an investigation, if he was
innocent And why should he bear ma
lice after being acquitted. A man may
sometimes lose his own friends by striv-
ing 10 make them the enemies of those
they conceive to be worthy, and innocent
of the tritling charges alleged against
them. To thus pursue and persecute
Mr.. c. after returning home, may be con-
strued, by some, and not without signs OF
reason, predetermined malice, with
which would be sorry to accuse our Sc
nator.
That a host of disappointed Office
hunters have now arraigned themselve
in opposition to Mr.. Cook, is as certain
as that he is prosecuted with envy and
malice. | know of dozens who had
aspred 10 places they were incapable of
filling and although they had never got
ten the least encouragement from our
member to Congress, yet fed themselves
up with the vain hopes Of being one day
registers or receivers of land Offices
On finding themselves disappointed they
have now become the bitter enemies of
Mr.. Cook, and look to Mr.. Mica as
the man who is to reward their political
apostacy.
MOI among the most contemplate op-
posers of MIR. Cook, is writer in the
Shawneetown paper, who signs himself
" BrptUS." 1t makes no difference
whether this be the broken officer or the
runageoy Printer, neither can have their
characters injured, even if falsehood is
pro, en- in their teeth. Suffice TO say that
the paper in which these numbers ap-
pear is edited by Mr.. M'Lean's partner
in the practice of law. i hat through
the medium Of so contemplate tool as
his partner, he should take these unfair
advantages OF his opponent, argues no.
thing very favorable to the honor of our
Shawneetown candidate for Congress.
Yet desperate deeds require desperate
actions. To turn out of Office man
who has always been the tavorite of the
people, and has always served them with
the most punctual integrity, is task
which would require ali the eXertions Of
the whole party, even could every one Of
them lie with the same facility of g" Bru-
tus." Every exeriion is 10 be made, and
every engine put to work, TO put out the
man who has served his country faithful
ly. Could this be done without better
grounds than they have to go on-we
might well say, 80 the gratitude Of re-
publics !"
And who is this MIR. MsLean, who
wishes so much to succeed him, and
what claims has ne to the sufErages of
the people? I'll tell you.---Ii is the self
same John Mclean who during one ses.
sion, after we became state, held seat
in Congress. | could never learn that
he did any thing while there, for the
benefit OF the state. He never spoke on
any sublect-he was never appointed on
any committee, nor did he ever draft
bill. He ycted contrary to the interests
and wishes of his constituents on tho
Miccouri r,,ecfiop and The crph him