Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-06-14
ron THE SPECTATOR.
ILLINOIS STATE PAPER.

Mn. WARREN,
1t was my intention, agreeably to the
notice l gave, in your paper of the last
week, to have attempted a full develop
ment of the unworthy, and eculating
stratagems which have, so successfully,
produced the depreciation of our state
haher and TO have shown the deep in
terest, which vast majority of our po-
pulation have in disappointing the avari-
cious hopes of those, who are engaged in
that abominable scheme. The want of
time however, compels me to limit my
view of the subject, and will only permit
me, at present, to notice one of the means
which has, SO far, proved the most sue
cessiul IN calculating a scheme, so in
furious to the interest of our fellow citi-
zens, and disreputable to the state.
This, is nothing less, than an impress
sion which has been, artfally, made upon
the public mind, too generally, that the
good faith, and honor of our state is not
to be conhded in. 1t must be doubly re-
voting to the just pride of the state, if it
shall be ascertained that any portion of
its own, hitherto, respectable citizens have
contributed 10 give to it, this hunic cha
racter.
Two statements have been principally
relied upon to establish this most de-
grading charge against the state. One
of which, is known to be utterly destitute
of truth, and the other must presume
to be equally SO.
The lst is, "that the members of our
late legislature caused 10 be re-issued,
in payments to themselves, for their SER
vices, the one-tenth part of the notes oil
the State Bank, which by law was re-
quired to be, Internationally, Withdrawn
from circulation"
This statement is VIGOROUSLY false,
The subject was brought before, and full
ly discussed by the Legislature, which
positively refused to permit those notes
to be re- issued, nor did single member
l receive any portion of them, in conside.
$ ration of his services.
) The I'd statement is, "that, notwith
$ standing this solemn refusal on the par
, of the Leg stature, the President and Di
rectors of the State Bank, have deter.
, mined to reissue those notes, uhon then
cum authority, for the purpose Of re-
building a bank house." Were thi:
statement true, | should neither be sur
priced at the present, nor future depre
citation of our paper, to twenty-five cents
in the dollar, and even less, on accoun
, of the necessary prostration of that pub
I lie confidence which alone can sustai
f the circulation of the paper of any bank
whatever. But such charge, agans
the high-ninded, and honorable gentle
men to whom the management OF on
State Bank has been SO Justly conided
I. | deem altogether improbable, from tn
following considerations.
: BY the 26Ih section of the act establish
y ing this bank, it is declared" that befor'
: any of the said Directors, Cashiers, O
: Clerks, shall enter on the duties oftbei
E respective Offices, they shall take ant
! subscribe the following oath, or aftirma
ton, viz. 81 do solemnly swear Cor af
firm) that l will, IN ALL THINGS
faithfully demean myself as President,
&c.
No one can doubt, that, by taking thi.
oath, those officers imposed upon them
, selves, the most sacred obligation to per
l form the duties prescribed to, and en-
: joined upon, them, by law. They there
t fore can neither omit those duties, moi
4 do that, which is forbidden by law, with
out palpabe violation of their oaths
For no officer can " faithfully demea,
himself" in Office, who either neglects
or violates the duties legally required o
him. He could do neither, wilfully, with
out proving himself utterly regardless o
: the moral, and religious obligations o
an oath, in any case Expediency ne
: yer can Justify violation of such obi
cations. They are registered in Heaven
t The Almighty is invoked as witness l.
them, and he who disregards them, offers
contempt and insult to God himself
Any one who could manifest such indil
ference for the opinion of the world, ant
thus, impiously, challenge the wrath o
Heaven, is not only, not to be trusted
but, ought to be made the subject Of {
: great moral example.
BY the 29th section of the before re
cited act, it is expressly declared =" tina
the said Bank that is, its President AM
Directors shall be required to withdra7s
annually, the one-tenlh part of the whole
amount of notes and bills issued by vir
tue of this act; which tenth part 80 with
drawn, SHALL. NEVER AGAIN.
BY ANY MEANS WHATEVER
be thrown into circulation"
Nou / unnll aSk anu man Of n Lii