Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-04-12


luton and change.
An organized plan is now on foot 10
Introduce slavery into Illinois. The wis
dom OF the wise is confounded at this
project. Calculation is baflled when it
attempts 10 measure the wldness of the
the scheme. Reason cannot compre-
bend the policy which dictated it. lima
| gination cai.nol imagethe monsterwhich
conceived it. Patriotism cannot count
ii among her works. That free speo-
lple should wish to be so free asto be
| able to make slaves OF others, has some
thing in il indicative Of delirium in the
public mind. Had slavery obtained a
footing among US with the gradual SET
Element OF The country, and without any
particular expression of he public will
on the subject, as it has done in she
slave-holding states--had our instlIu-
lions been modelled upon The recognition
| ct its existence anicGg us, it would ex-
| cite no surprlze that an earnest soiciiute
should be fell for It's Continuance. But
since we have settled the character Of
cur policy after the mos. mature delibe-
'"'iNA's 'aioNa wv Piiiaio VI Ohl SotcTb
bent upon the pedestal OF equal lreeaom,
and published to the world hat all Ipen
are equally entltled 70 its blessings
that all men have certain sihdefeasibie
rights among which are those of ac-
| q'Fir'"B, possessing, and pretee tins pro-
perry and REPUTATION, and OF pursuing
their own happiness ito. wish 10 abo-
| iISt fh.4Ir tnpfiA .tr,Ir
make kno@nlo the world that we choose
0 have among us class of men y no
shall have no rights watch are not tie
ieasible-men who shall neither acquire,
possess, or ENJOY properly orrepulaaon,
and whose pursuit Of happiness shall be.
dictated by q n,aster--,o wish, / say, to
effect such change in our political IN
sli.u!ions, indicates disease in tie body
poli,ic, which eludes the skill OF he
most intelligent.
1t would seem to be sufficient answer
to the proposed change 10 say, that not
a state in The Union has done the ike.
In this work of slavery we shall surpass
our sister republics. In those states
where it is tolerated, il was extensively
amoae them al the. formation OF their
constitutions, and they were under the
necessity uf modelling them according
tothe existing state oflhings; and though
they couldnot cure, they iek the proptla-
~, of pallialing the evil. We go fur
ihcr--We make the evil--we seek its
| exis ence among us, and alter our con-
|stIlution that we may introduce it, in open
defiance OF our boosted liberties and
equal rights. The history Of slavery
|may safely be challenged 10 afford ann-
ther such Instance Of outrage upon the
principle Of free government, and the
fights Of man.
Our civil institutions, as we now en-
10y them, are cause Of gratitude to hea-
en-; and will not God, as the moral go-
vernon OF the world, ayenge his abuaed
goodnHss. II We nav charge them, for
the purpose of withholding their biss-
sings from part OF The human iariiy,s
whose residence among US viii be hat
ter, not Of choice, but Of compusion?
+ | doubt not, Sir, this question sill
present itselfto'yon as one Of great mag
ni,ude and importance. But il is cot
for me TO EXHIBIT il 10 you in dc all.
Your enlarged views will embrace the
various bearings ii lseap bic of ASSUME
ing, and the momeDtous resuits which
may grow out eff. The contemplated
change is of no common Description.
II is big with Unreasonable consc-
quences. Il may stamp the character
OF or state for centuries to come. lis
not to bedeoided by the narrow calcltla-
lions of seIf-interest, but on the broad
basis of lis own merits, as il shall effect,
permanently the solid interests Of this
state and the nation. Posteritysbaye a
stake in this question; and the present
,ctors upon the political stage should
remember, that the policy Of all govern
imcnts should be prospective, and that
their measures should be calculated, in
part, at least, for the benefit OF the gene
rations who willscomc after Them. We
shall soon retire to give place TO our
successors; and With what sentiment Of
self-congratuia,ion, can we hail posierity
70 participate IN the republican ins,ltu-
Mons. when we forgea cham 10 bind one
halt of them in bondage
The present age is a new era in the
history Of the rights ofman The dark
ness Of despotis,n which has SO long
shrouded The nations, is RAPIDLY disap-