Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-05-10
Communicated for the spectator.)

of Al ton and its vicinity, convened at
the house Of Z. Marsh, agreeably to
previous notice, for the purpose of
expressing their sentiments on the
subject of calling a convention--when,
the Rev. BENNETT MAxEy was called
to the chair, and Isaac WATERS APP
pointed secretary
Resolved by the meeting, that a COM
mittee of FIVE be appointed to inquire in
to the xpediency--aGd devise and dI'' fl
resolutions expressive ofthe sense of this
!, meeting Oh the propriety of alling con-
vention, and report the same to this
meeting on the third Saturday of April
next. Whereupon. George Smith, Ben
jsinin Spencer, II. H. Snow, Alexander
Hart, and Isaac Waters were appointed
that committee.
iourn to the third Saturday in April next,
TO meet at this place, a, 2 O'Clock, p. NJ.
.AhrI 1911. 1928.
The citizens of Alton and its vicinity
having met pursuant to adjournment. the
meeting was opened by Rev. BENNETT
MAxEy taking the chair, and ENocH
LONG, Esq. being appointed Secretary
pro TEN.
The committee appointed agreeably
to resolution adopted at meeting OF
the citizens Of Alton and its vicinity, OH
the 20th ult. to inquire into the expe-
diency, and devise and draft resolutions
expressive of the sense of this meeting
on The propriety of calling a convention,
made the following report:
Your committee appointed in pursu-
ance Of resolution adopted at meet
ing of the citizens of Alton and its vicini-
ty on the 2eth ult. and to whom was re-
ferred the subject of inquiring into the
ekped;ency of measures to be adopted,
and to draft resolutions expressive OF
the sense of this meeting OH the subjecr
OF the resolution of the last legislature
authorizing the people to vote for or
against convention, beg leave 10 re-
port:
That they cannot feel insensible ofthe
great importance that an early discussion
of this subject will be to every friend of
freedom, and the unalieDable rights Of
man-and while they attend 10 the evil
dence that is before the world, without
examining the conduct of our last Iegis-
lature through protracted session to
bring this resolution to pass, they are
constrained TO say that they believe the
object intended to be accomplished BY a
convention is any thing rather than lauda-
u II ~ in, b,r iptr
slavery into this stare, in defiance of the
fundamental laws of the land, and contra
ny to every principle of justice and hu-
manly; such being their object, your
committee believe that the people can
not too soon set their faces against it, and
oppose it by every fair and honorable
measure in their power--good policy
demands il; for that class of emigrants
who wish to avoid slavery, will avoid
( our state, while we are endeavoring to
introduce slavery, that bitter curse.
While those who hold slaves and would
migrate to Illinois, were it slave slate,
will not venture here with their slaves
while there is chance of their being
SCI at liberty by the United States courts.
Besides, the expense attending the con-
ventlon, and the session of the legsla-
ture that will precede and Immediately
follow the convention, will exhaust the
Treasury and credit of the state and
leave the grand object of internal i'm
provement for after generations, when
Illinois shall have outlived the effects of
the shock. Our unequal representation
is another weIghty reason why we ought
to oppose the convention, for until the
Northwest, and Northern sections ofthe
state, have their equal quota of represen-
tation, we cannot safely submit so impor-
,ant subject, one fraught with such
weighty consequences, to convention.
Your committee, therefore, recon-
mend the adoption Of the following pre-
amble and resolutions
Whereas, several persons, Inhabitants
of Alton and its vicinity, through in
trigue and misrepresentation, wereinduc-
ed to, and in conjunction with other citi-
1ens of Madison county, did subscribe
letter Of instructions to our representa-
tives in the late legislature, to vote for a
resolution, authorizing the people to vote
for or against convention--which in
structions not having been signed by
majority of all their constituents,
Messrs. Brakeman and Churchill had
the courage, the fortitude, and virtue to
disobey
Therefore, RESOLVED, That the said