Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-03-01


the force OF reason, we. should acquitsce
in the decision with silence. But know
;nbg it to be otherwise, we feel ii our duty
as.honest Legislators publicly o proclaim
our disapprobation Of such conduct.
No time can be less propitious for al
.terng and amending constitution than
time OF great parry hea, and political
excitement. 1t should be the work on
dispassionate reasop and sober Judgment
But we verify believe that to call con-
vention under circumstances like the pre-
sent, will be throwing fireorsnd among
combnstible ma erals.
Our constitution may be susceptible
of amendment bur We are strong IN the
opinion that no convention which may
be assembled, will leave it with SO few
defects, as 1t has al present. Tbs sege
raj departments OF government ere ar
ranged with admirable skill, and lei the
legislature make saIutary laws, We arc
bold to say, that not murmur Of
well-iounded complain, will be heard
against it. If it have defects, they are
perfectly harmless in their operation;
aDd ii seems tous that to attempt 10 amend
them IN the state OF agitsted feeling To
which this question Of "a convention will
give rise, is ike a man, furious with pas
sion and anger, attempting 10 teach the
lamb innocence aud midncss.
Is the Council of Revision an obiec-
tional feature IN the constitution ! To say
the worst Of il, il does DO harm, and we
think, is calculated to correct the errors
oflhe legislature. Bm the County Com
uissioners' Court, say some, must be
abolished. Bet ii SO. We are not tena-
cious Of retaining ii in its present form ::
But let it be remembered thar under the
constitution as il now stands, he legisla
ture have the power to organize any Other
county court they please, aud 10 vest it
with such jurisdiction as they choose.
We hardly think there is citizen of
Illinois, who under all circumstances
deems il advisable 10 remove the sea, Of
government. If Vandaia be not the
most desirable place, is tbere any Other
to which our citizens would agree TO take
it We think not.
There may be other parts Of the con-
stituiion TO which some may have oblec-
lions, but let il be remembered, that no
convention will ever make constitution,
which all Of US will think perfect. But
admit that some trivial Improvements
might be made. Is il wise IN the pre-
sent stale OF our finances 10 incar The
great expense of convention lilo eei-
tate the public ,niad ~ tire discuss ~ 81
useless questions Ito throw the commo-
nity inlo lermen.--lo break our har-
moAy--to SOW the seeds Of nmult and
faction---to engender disunion--and, per-
haps, 10 learn by bitter experience, thai
!" a house divided against Itself cannot
stand !"--AS moderate and prudent men,
we fear, that we see some ofthcse things
in prospective. We hope that none OF
our apprebensions may be realized.
So far as the subject of slavery is con-
cerned, we believe that the heohie will
do right but We tear that convention
may do 7orong. AS rood citizens, it is
our duty always to submit to the voice
of the majority, and we indulge the be
lief that. that voice nay be much more
distinctly expressed with regard to slave
ny, against the convention, than by tho
convention itself. With thcpeoplc, the
voice Of Freedom zviH be heard but in
a convention our experience has taught
Us it may be hushed 20 silence. Are
you opposed, Fellow Citizens, to the IN
PRODUCTION Of slavery among Us? Il is
your day for the same reasons to be OPP
posed TO a convention. Oae may not
follow the other, but depend upon it,
lhis convention is relied upon as the en-
tering wedge to siavery--the great en-
CINE which is TO move +" the wooden
horse within our walls" As rejecting
cit;zens will you jeopardlze the equal
freedom of your state, by permitting a
measure which may hazard it upon the
uncertain cast Of die ?-Lct the watch
word then a'n7ns" toe keeper, Of Israel"
be, CONVENTION AND 5LAyERY! No Con
vENTIoN AND FaEEDoM
As to the establishment of slavery
among us, as part OF our civil polly,
we entertain but one opinion, an opinion
as imlkovable as the foundations of the
earth. 1t is foreign to our purpose to