Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-09-20

al evils in slavery, but those already
and the shutting the door
against emigration, should be opposed
10 calling a conventitn at this time. Ii
there was no opposition TO the introduce
lion of slavery among US, would still
be opposed to it, for he very reasons lis
advocates assign fori. II is said many
would move to this state from the south
with large droves o. negroes, and this
would be an advantage to us. But how
an advantage They would net be ours
unless we pay our cash for them, and
then our stock Of human flesh would be
increased, and orr cash diminished But
it is said we can raise more produce
Can we find market for what we now
raise But then i, is said we should
have a market. | ask where from Or
will not the slave raise sufficient for
their masters. But say they we could
then export our produce. l reply, why
not now Are negroes only made boat
men of except when sent by kldnappers
out of the state? Query, Are. there not
many concerned in kidnapping, and ma.
ny who are concerned in lawsuits, in at
tempting to reduce to servitude and es-
tablish their claims TO negroes who are
free by the constitution and laws of this
state. But continue they, we could es-
tablish manufactures. ! answer, are
slaves SO cnterprizing Why then does
not Kentucky excel OHIO, or Virginia,
New.York. Again, slavery tends TO de-
siroy not only the rights which all men
are equally entitled by the declaration
of independence, bu,the equality which
now exists between tie free zohites. Sui
fer me 10 state an urdeniable fact which
pervades those states where slavery al
ready exists, (and introduced here the
same distinctions would be kept up.)
You who live by your labor would be
considered inferior to those who live by
the gain of oppression. And some of
the prolgate sprigs of vanity would
scarcely turn their heads to speak 10 you
unless an election was pending, at which
they could not prevent your voting, and
then possibly you might get gentle
squeeze Of their soft hands.
But if the many slaves are brought
here that some Of the advocates for call
ing convention promise US, we shall
soon find it necessary to keep watch and
ward, and patrol as they now do in the
slave holding states.
Who will do this Will not the task
fall on the free white male citizens
Will the slave holder who will no,
guard his slaves by day, attempt to
guard them by night? What an evil
alter you have labored hard through the
day, you must in your turn be called to
watch through the night and keep the
slaves from acts Of outrage. And il
these slaves attempt theft, will they not
be more apt to steal from the weary labor
ing man, who having retired would sleep
more sound than those who sleep and
rest through the day, are seeking graft
ications part of the night?
Again, in case ol an invasion, who
out the free white males will defend our
state The owners of negroes where
he slaves are numerous, must Ofneces-
,ity be with the negroes, lest the slaves
axe advantage of their masters absence
and abuse and insult our wives and
1sughters.-A mournful fact of the muir
der and brutal treatment of a woman,
COX place in one of the southern coun-
les OF Missouri by negro man. l will
add an evil that might take place in cleo
ions. For example, STAKEHOLDER and
q Republican become candidates for the
office of governor, the friends of both
display as much mad zeal as the friends
IF slavery did last winter in our Capital.
Il the slave party should find tina, ma
ori'y OF the people would support the
nan of integrity, the Republican, but
oeing determined to carry their their
slave candidate by fraud or force, how
Easy it would be to arm a slave and send
lin to murder the republican candidate,
IL his principal supporter, and as re-
ward to the slave give him his freedom
What ignorant slave could Withstand the
emptation ! Would he not as bravely
murder the man for the sake Of his liber-
y, as the master would burn his effigv
or the sake Of slavery But should the
De caught, convicted and hung for this
offence, by the laws Of some OF the states,
he master must be paid for him; there
ore put it no, in the power Of men (who
are so garrul0us for slavery as to ex-
lain through the stseets Of Vandalia-
slavery or death !") to destroy others
Without endangering their own lives, but
'nly endangering the life Of the slave for
whom they have sure market through
he ssllows, and we are taxed to pay his