Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-12-21


terrain Of the dignity OF the Senate, and
when they reflect on the liberal comoro-
mise offered by them, do otherwise than
TO recommend to the Senate not to re-
cede from The vote they have already
sanctioned
| Rehort Of the Committee on Slavery
and Kadaafhiag free Negroes.
The committee to whom was referred
so much Of the Governors Message as
relates to the Kidnapping of Tree blacks
and the total abolition of slavery within
this state, have had those highly interest
| ing subjects under their consideration,
and beg leave to
REPORT:
That holding in full adherence, as
we do, the practice OF fraudulently en-
ticing and iorcibIy dragging free blacks
from thisstate and selling them in distant
markets, in violation OF every sentiment
OF humanity and every precept oireligon
and morality; your committee have care
fully examined the laws upon the sub
ject, and with deep regre, announce their
incapabiiiy Of devising more etfectual
plan than the one already prescribed by
law for the suppression OF such infamous
crimes. 1t Is believed that the benevo-
lent views of the Executive and the be-
ngn purposes OF the statutes, can only
be realized by the redoubied diligence
Of our grand Jurors and our magistrates,
aided by the well directed support OF all
Just and good men.
More difficulty has occurred in the
consideration OF that portion OF the Mes
sage which recommends 'he iinal exlinc-
ton Of slavery within the state. The
powers of the General Assembly in this
regard have been examined with al! the
attention they arc capable of giving SO
important a subject. Ii appears that all
those who can properly be termed slaves
within the state, were the property OF
citizens of Virginia, Or are now the de-
scendants OF such slaves, and continue so
by the compact entered into between the
state of Virginia and the General Co
vernmen,. When the country north
slaves "a species ofproperty well known
10 tue laws Of Virginia. were secured to
the then citizens OF Virginia Inhablting
The ceded country, by language too plain
and forcible to be misunderstood or
evaded. This compact between the con-
tracing parties was solefnn'y made, and
was binding upon both, upon every pTin-
cipie of universal law. In tina, spirit o!
good faith which has ever characterized
the acts of the American Government,
the Congress Of the United States Oh the
day of A. d. 1887, passed an
ordinance for the government OF the
north western territory, securing therein
to the people of the newly acquired
country al! those ndiviilal rights con-
tempia.ed by the compact.
In further obedience 10 the solemn OBJ
legations Of public faith and parental re-
sponsibili,y, the Congress Of the United
States by an act providing for the adj
mission of The Iiincs Territory into the
Union, aud for the formation ola state
government, passed the 18Th April,
1918, declared that the constitution 10 be
formed was not TO be rcpugnant to the
ordinance OF 1887.
The Convention which assembled by
virtue OF that act carefully avoided an
Interference with this species OF proper
| ty, and left it in the same state o! securi-
y that the ordinance had placed it, pro-
badly under the full conviction that their
authority was not sufficient to enable
them to do otherwise that constitution,
| as made, was ratified by Congress, 10
doubt upon the ground that no condition
contained in the ordnance OF 1897, Or in
the act of 1918 had been violated, and
tina. the RICH, 10 property acquired under
the laws OF Vagina and secured by the
compact, remained entire.
| Your committee have now arrived al
the period when Illinois was admitted in
to the Union upon an equal footing with
he original states, in ali respects that
ever; and whatever causes OF regret
were experienced by the restrictions i'm
posed upon the first Convention, your
committee are clearly ofthe opinion that
the people Of Illinois have nowthe same
RIGHT to alter her constitution as the poo
pie of the state Of Virginia, or any of the
original states, and may by an alteration
of that instrument make any disposition
of negro slaves they choose, without any
breach of faith or violation OF compact,
ordinances or acts of Congress; and if
the reasoning employed by the commit
tee be correct, there is no other course
left by WHICH to accomplish the object Of
this portion of the Governors message,
than to call a Convention to alter the
Constitution.