Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-07-19


dom, and plenty, and affluence through
every dwelling of lis extensive territory.
1t Is much to be regretted that you peo-
pie OF Ohio furnish such living exam
pie against slavery, and that your vigor-
Gus ald rapid prosperity speak so loud in
favor OF the equal freedom of your insti-
tutions. The heart of industry among
you is cheerful, and its arm strong and
muscular, tho not made up OF the sinews
of the slave.
We can not imagine by what means
you have been able in so short time to
place yourselves upon the very same
SUBMITS of prosperity. Had slaves toiled
Tor you at the crack of the whip, we
could easily account for it.
1t has likewise been lately discovered
among us that when Virginia sold your
territory to Uncle Sam, every citizen
of the country became joint owner
with him in the soil, and of course en-
titled TO live upon and occupy it with
slaves if he chose; and so far as your
constitution prohibits the exercise of this
| right, you do injustice to to the citizens
Of the slave holding states. Perhaps
this idea never occurred to you, or you
would, before this, have altered your
constitution So as TO permit slavery. We
have Iust come to this knowledge in H.
linois, and it is now mentioned as rea-
son why we should introduce slavery
among us. Virginia was very unwiso
when she overlooked this circumstance
Surely she never would have provided
that there should be neither slavery nor
involuntary seryiiude among you, if she
had once reflected that her own citizens
could not go among you with their OWE
slaves. What injustice she did to her
neighbors, the Carolinians /! What sci
her own territory upon such terms as
she chose. This stupid error of the
parent ought to be corrected by her
more knowing sons. Her wise po!ili-
clans were governed by mistaken con
sideraions of policy They did wrong
TO circumscribe the limits Of slavery,
and not spreaditpyerthis extensive regiop
OF the north western territory. They
had an immense tract OF country to dis
pose of for the common good, and they
chose to dispose OF it in such way, as to
make it in all future time the birthplace
and residence of freemen ard not oil
slaves. What foolish prejudice in
favor OF freedom and equal rights What
business have you, or we, with republi
canism, without the alloy of slavery +?
Our ancestors have no right to entail
upon US the blessings Of free govern
ment without mixture of ron-hear,ed
despo,ism. What a strange inconsis-
lency to raise the standard of freedom
upon these most fertile regions of the
earth, and unfurl its banners to " the OPP
pressed of all nation," and not also
plant the root Of perpetual slavery! II
is understood among Us, that the citizens
of Virginia are restrained from settling
among you with their slaves, and though
they were the first TO impose this re-
straint upon themselves, does it not be-
come you to remove it Il seems to US it
shouldbe done, andlorth ispurpose we pro-
pose to send among you, some of our right
knowing politicians to learn you the du-
ties you owe your neighbors Of he slave
holding states. A portion of your soil
is owned by Uncle Sam at this time, and
the citizens OF those states have right TO
purchase il, and have you any right TO
prohibit them from occupying it with
their slaves This matter, perhaps bad
better be looked into. 1t is true, their
exclusion is the work of their own choice,
bu, as you are now wiser than they were,
ought you not TO shew them the FOLLY OF
that choice? They voluntarily closed
the door against their own slaves, but is
it not meet you should open il for them!
Some Of the citizens Of Illinois.
FOR THE SPECTATOR.