Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-05-31
STATE POLITICS.
Communicated for Che Spectator. J

AT meeting of respectable num-
Der of the inhabitants of the county of
Monroe, state of Illinois, held on the
Oh May, 1923, at Waterloo, agreeab!y
to public notice given, Gen. JAMES B.
MooRE was called to the chair. Where
upon, the citizens present formed them
selves into a society, for the purpose
OF opposing the further introduction OF
slavery in he state of Illinois. And, on
motion of Mr.. Seth Converse, il unani
mously resolved that the following re-
solution and address be published in
some newspaper ofthe state, as the senti-
ments of the society.
RESOLVED, That the address of the mi
nority of our last legislature, meets our
appreciation; and that we Join with them,
and most solemnly protest against the
means used to procure constitutional
majority of that body upon the resolution
recommending to the people of this state
to vote for or against a convention; and
that such meaEs are anli-republican, and
very far from COMFORTING with those very
plausible professions of republicanism,
held forth by the majority, in their late
address to the people, recommending a
convention.
ADDRESS OF THE MONROE SOCIETY
To The People ofthe STATE Of Illinois.
FELLOW CITIZENS,
The present momentous crisis calls
upon every man, who duly appreciates
the blessings that flow from free govern
ment, to rise, and with firmness assert
the rights of man. We hold it to be the
imperious duty of an enlightened and
virtuous people, enjoying the privileges
offree government, TO usethe best means
in their power to transmit to poste-
rity their free Institutions uncontaml-
mated. So long as the people know
and exercise their rights III virtuous
manner, SO long will their institutions be
free, and themselves happy. But when
they cease to be the sentinels OF their
own rights, they have virtually surren-
dered them to the mercy OF their ru lers;
whose AMBITIOUS views will seldom ac-
cord with their happiness. 1t is, there
fore, not onl, the right OF free people,
but their duty, as honest citizens, to eX-
press freely their adherence and detesta-
ton of those fathless public servants,
who, forgetiul of the responsibility OF
their stations, unblushin,ly triile with
the high confidence reposed in them by
their fellow citizens.
If ever, a, any lime, in any state OF this
Union derelictions of duty on the part OF
public servants required the people to
enter their solemn disapprobation, the
present Is that time to the people OF H.
linois. 1t is time we should wake from
the lethargy of former days, and attend
to our own business We, therefore, in
order TO cooperate with our fellow citi-
zens in other parts OF the state, have
formed ourselves into society, the
principal object of which is to oppose the
further extension of slavery among us,and
to contribute our mite to check the
mighty and alarming strides which cor
ruption is making in this infant state.
This is to be done by the people only,
who are the only regenerators OF corrupt
government. Then, fellow citizens, if
we will with firrnness and independence
express freely our unqualified disappro-
baton of the improper conduct of public
men, it will preserve the purity of our
institutions, and hold in check those
abandoned men who at present darken
the political horizon of Illinois. But if
we should continue to preserve servile
silence through fear Of offending some
intriguing and unprincipled demagogue,
whom we despise in our hearts, we are
destitute of the main ingredients offree-
men. We should, however, when ex-
amining the conduct of public men, be
careful to discriminate between the err
rors of the head and Of the heart; to the
the former we should extend the mantle
Of charity, but to the latter give no quar-
tiers. This will guard US against fac
tious and unsteady spirit among our
selves, which societies of this kind are
in danger of producing. We are to
prove ourselves cool and determined
people, rallying round our free institu-
lions, not in the spirit Of political fanati-