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

of March, 1928, al Bellevlle, in said
county, to take into consideration the
best means TO prevent the extension OF
slavery in This slate-JoHN MESSENGER
was sppolntsd chairman. and EDMUND
7. WILKINSON, secretary.
The loiiualng articles OF association
were adopted.
Constitution Of the 81. Clair Society for
HE hrepentioa Of Slavery IN the state
ofIliaois.
Arr. /. The society shall be called
fhf. 81 Gi-il ouciely to prevent the fur
Their extension OF Slavery in the state of
Illinois.
Art Q. The officers OF the society shall
be President, Vice President, Cor
responding and Recording Secretaries,
and Treasurer, which, VIA two other
persons, shall constitute Board OF Ma.
nagers.
Art 8. The principal means to be
used to accomplish the objects OF the So
ciety, Shall be, by disseminating light and
knowledge ontne subject o.. slavery, by
cool and dispassonate reasoning, by Cir
culatlng pamphlets, handbills, and other
publications; or by such other means as
the society or board of managers shall
from time 10 time agree upon.
Art. a The funds necessary to effect
the object OF the society are TO be raised
by voluntary contribution, from time to
time, when the members are convened.
And when any member makes a contri-
button. his name and the sum thus con
tribnted, Sail be entered on the rDurnal
Art. S. Subjects moi embraceds'n the
foregoing artieles shall be regulated
by code of bye-laws, TO be established
by the board of managers.
Art. s. The election of officers, and
annual meetings shall be 90 he fourth
Saturday in March in each year.
Ar. 7 TINS constitution may be al
tered or amended, by majority Of two
.thl'tsi Of the menbers present, at the
annual meeting
Woereupon, John Messinger was ap-
pointed President; DQvid Blackwell,
Vice President; Charles Wosdzyorth,
Corresponding Secretary; Edmund p.
Wkkiasoa, Recarling Secretary Ed
vard fNitcheH sen'r. Treasurer; and
James Lemen and Samuel Mitchell, Ma
Nag r
Ordered, That the Board of Managers
publish TIE proceedings Of this meeting,
with an address 70 the public.
The Soeietv thea adjourned.
JOHN MESSENGER, Ch'm.
RDMUND p. WILKINsoN, Sec'y.
.4ddress Of the Board Managers Of the
Sr GAR SociErr 10 hrepent The
Jurther Introduction Of SlaDery in The
state Of Illinois.
Fellow CITIZENS,
NVete W. address you on ordinary
concerns, il would demand an apology
Blu considering as we do that some Of
the vital interests Of the state will be de
ternined bs your votes in few months,
we ought not to hold our peace.
The resolution from majority Of the
late legislature, directing The people a
the next election 10 vote for Or against a
convention, would present subject oil
importance under ordinary circumstan-
ces, the expediency of which would re
49, So'is @HS,liDV'dtCt EIohvICttUn.sfs ID |
4 when II IS know, that the object OF most
oil those VINO adopted the resolution, is
the introduction of involuntary slavery,
with all lis train OF consequences, the |
subject becomes great and momentous,
and calls loudly to every friend to g the |
unalienabe rights Of man, 10 stand on his
watch-tower.
That the real design ola convention,
is, 10 open the state Tor the introduction]
Of slavery, tue following circumstances
but too clearly evince.
We need not acre adduce proofs, that
For mqce than two years past the intro.
ductlon OF slavery has been the theme
Of conversation IN Washington city and
through the slave states. We might
show that designing men out fthe STATE
have deliberately formed the design TO
revolutionize the state and bring about a
policy favorable TO slavery, that the ba-
lance Of power may be thrown ON the
scale of the south: and that designing
men in the state have entered upon these
measures TO gain the ascendancy amongst
US. We need not advert to measures
pursued for months before the last cleo
ton to Secure such persons in The legis-
latnre as we're disposed Cor slavery. All Il
this and much more. we will mass