Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-02-05

/ last general assembly there was but one
who could draft a bill with any kind of
accuracy, and bui three or four who could
do it at all. Ills poor member, (who
had the misfortune TO possess some ia
lents,) had no rest either day or nipht !:
for the ignoramgse5, who had pushed
themselves there, and formed the BODY
of the house, pesered him incessentIy to
draft something for them which would be
of benefit to their Own particular county,
and for which they would get TIE credit.
These men WHO can say nothing in the
house but yes and no, and seldom put
these words in their right places, claim
and receive as much pay as those Who
labor day and night for the good of the
state, and whose talents render their la
Dor useful.
This plentiful stock Of Ignorance was
not confined solely to the last lcgisla-
ture; for at the previous one which set
at kaskaskia, the members who could
spare little TIM from cards andthe chase.
and who thought that they were in duty
bound to do something, were continual
| ly looking out Tor men whom they
thought capable of drafting a bill, and
Fostering them to do them that service.
| After eXbaustins the patience of all who
could write English and lived in the
town, have kno@A them frequently 10
send 100 miles 10 have a bill drafted.
| This extreme ignorance in our public
councils, Mr.. Primer, is melancholy
picture; but it is d true one, and mus
be attributed to the. people themselves
AS long as they send men out OF friend.
ship, and to get rid Of their opportunities
they may expect to have miserable codes
OF laws, and contemplate legislatures
Were they to spurn with just contempt
the incapable man, who offers his SER
vices, and make their choice for meril
and virtue alone, we might have legis.
lature which would vie in intelligence
with most ofthe eastern states. But un.
I'll his principle can be impressed upon
their minds, we must expect, as hereto.
fore, TO have our public bodies ignorant
and contemptible---neither doing credit
to themselves nor benefit to the state.
As this piece is intended for the peo-
pie at large, hope such OF them as may
see it will give the subject that conside-
ration which its Importance merits. Il
is a subject in which their credit, and
even their property is conccrned--a sub.
Ject too, simple in Itself, and on which
most OF them could draw the same or
more happy conclusions than are done
here. l conceive it to be every man's
duty, who has the good Of the state al
heart, to raise the hue and cry against
putting ignorance into power, and to put
down the political bcggars who poster
them Tor their votes. 1t may be said
that all which have written was known
before--so it may be; yet 40 injury c~n
result from putting the people in mind
OF the duty they owe to themselves, and
the duty they owe TO the public. No
! subject is more scil-cvident, and yet none
has been less followed in this state, than
that wise man is more fitting for pub
lie Office than fool'! | do not expect
this or any other production to have
any effect on the candidates already ont !;
tor none of them, that know OF, are in
the habit Of reading newspapers, much
less of being converted to a doctrine SO
uncongenial to their natures aud interest.
hope the question throughout the state
hereafter will not be g who has lived
| longest in the state 2" or who treats
bis friends with the greatest lberality?'
but +" who is best qualified for the Office I"
/ As told you before, have not the
\ highest opinion Of caucus nominations.
To self nominations could have no OBJ
jeetions, did the candidates do nothing
more than nominate theinselves, and stay
quietly at home, aud let the people
choose Cor themselves Would it no, be
well for the next legislature (if ii be
possible to get one not interested to the
contrary to pass a law restricting can
didates from treating previous to an cleo
ton, getting their fichds to do ii forthen,
or appearing on the election ground
longer than is necessary to give their
votes ; ARlSTIDES.
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
o TEMPORA! O MORES!.
Mn. WARREN,