Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-10-11

| create market Tor produce ana IN que
time they will all become, with their
children after them, as you are, Ameri-
can Citizens. A numerous class of pur-
chasers from the eastern states, who are
beginning to form just estimate Of the
advantages of our prairie country, would
also be excluded, as well as the friends
Of freedom in the slave states, numbers
of whom would be likely to settle here
if we retain our integrity.
J Thus it is clear that the admission Of
slavery would operate most powerfully
against that very interest which is the
leading object with majorny OF its ad-
vocates. Ii would throw many more
farms on the market, and diminish, in
stead of increasing the number OF buyers.
But you, who have at heart the future
prosperity of the stale, as we'll as the in
terest of the present hour, let me inreaj
you to pause, and direct your views a
! little forward, before you allow teupn-
rary motives TO bias your judgment to-
wards any measure which may favor the
| admission OF slavery into our republic.
| Consider, dat however small IN num-
Der and contemplate in moral aud phy-
seal power the negroes nigh be al
her FIRST Introduction, they would IN
crease in the natural course of popnla-
lion, and by the accession Of fresh SAP
plies, in a much higher ratio than the
whites SO ;aai in limited period they
would become in our republican, Hi
nois, the many who are doomed 10 labor
for The fezo
Between these two classes, under th e
most despoilc government, excluding
slavery, there may and do exist variyu5
strong ties of political and social ma
ture. They slide mo each other by in.
sensible grsdaiions, forming no llae OF
absolute demaikation They have
sundry common interests. They have
family connexions. Individuals arr
pcrpetualy changing positions the
high are reduced by extravaganza OF
misfortune the low advance themselves
by industry and enterprise. Therefore
these classes are not naturally, and O
necessity hostile to each other. II
peace they are friends, and fellow sol.
ders in war.
But in nation composed of fret
zvhites and negro SLAVES, society, ii i
may Do called such, IS in most de
i plorable condition. One portion OF tin
people is separated from the olher b.
an impossible barrier, in regard to al
thai binds man to man, IN social fellow
ship. They must no, eat together, o.
pray together There are no inter-mar
riagcs. There Is no change OF position
producing common sympathy. OK
class possesses-all; the other, nothing
Tie laws are made by one class and on
ly known to the olher by their par,s
severity Ii is not republic--thls i
is conIederacy of tyran's, pure aristo
cratical despotlsm
We may transfer the la5ors of cUlG
walton to negroes, but there Is a toll fal
more severe than the cultivation OF tht
soil, commencing from the moment o
their Introduction, from which slavery
cannot relieve us-the toll of protecting
the morals OF our youth from CONTAINING
ton, and our persons and property tron
natural and deadly foes, whom We adj
nit into the heart of our concerns. W.
can transfer no part OF this 10 the nc'
groes. 1t will. be all orr own Il viii
grow with their growth, and strengthen
with their Strength" until "a. length ever
their condition may be enyiable IN com.
parison with ours. These are evils we
cannot escape or mitigate; an incurable
and increasing plague, in exchange foi
virtue, peace, and security, which nc
accumulation OF property can ever com
pensae.
Consider the actual condition of the
older slave states. South Carolina ba,
Just escaped dreadful catastrophe
| Virginia lew years ago also escapes
But the fire is still there, though smo.
thered for time under TIE ashes oil
former conAagra,ions. The sword re-
mains over their heads suspended by a
single hair or this they are sensible
witness their painful precautions; tae
laws against the education OF slaves ;
| the arms and the barricadoed dwellings,
witness the nightly patroles, pervading
the country like an immense camp. A
dreadful Inheritance is slavery--even
for those who intlict it
| There is no need to expatiate or ,he
evils Of slavery; they are too yell un-
! derstood in this country to require de-
scrption. We all knsw--its adyoc ates
themselves know---that it comprehends
every shxdc Of crime, every degree Of
misery! And shall we the free citizens
Of Illinois, hold forth our arms TO en-