Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-10-11

70 ana The Suppression OF these lawiess
expectations. Fndisg themselves rather
roughly handkd IN that quarter, lhose
Villains seemed to have suspended their
operations there, only to ronew them
with increased sigor in other parts, where
ihey nave been fortunate enough To fad
some ready associates, and niore coun-
tehance, encourage cement, and support
from nIen occupying llule higher grade
IL society, who, 4 ash they may not
steal themselves, 49, not very consclen-
tiously scrupul9us about "hid!ng."
And hence il is hat we have lately heard
oil SO much STEALING Oh the Wabash, and
other paris OF the state, including our
own neighborhood, which seems now
becoming the very focus CT those ope-
ralions.
Independent OF the influence of such
extensive considerations, II must be oO-
vious 10 every rejecting mind, that he
impunry with which repeated instances
OF The above enumerated Oft have
been daringly perpetrlted, has en- bolden
ed wicked avarice 10 such an extent,
that, nothing less than the most ener
gctic measures can prevent our proper
" from daily becoming more and more
insecure.
Wnnln very short time considera-
bic number oi first rate horses have been
stolen from Edwardsvii!c and lis vicinl-
ty, some from S.. CAR county, and three
or four nights ago he bes, horse N Bond
couoty was stolen by some Of the same
gang of thieves, whose head men reside
in he mids, OF us.
tn he disgrace of the country, free
negroes, at several ;iilf2renl times, both
in this county, and S.. Clair, have been
kidnapped, and the vilianous perpetra-
tors OF his abonlinab!e offence, glory
inc in their shame," have been permit
ted 10 pass with impunity
Not 10 mention other cases. the house
breakinss and robberies in Greene coun-
V, il C.rrolItop, 10 Edwards.iile, III
VandaIia. Sc. and repeated attempts
upon the Bank OF Eawardsv lilc, which
have all passed with IMMUNITY, are fresh
in the recollection Of the citizens gene
rally, OF TINS part of the state.
Severa! attempts have been made TO
break into, and rob The house of Mrs.
Stephenson, in which has been kept, ill
within short time past, the public
money that was in the hands ri Col 5 e.
pbenson, (the late Receiver al his death;
and the very night after the money was
removed, during last week, ito Mr.
Lookwood's Office, the villains succeed
cd in opening hole through the brick
wall Of her house, and doubtless were
alone prevented from entering ii, by
some accidental circumstance.
The instances OF passing, and attempt
ing 10 pass counterfeit money, are SO
numerous, common, and we'll known, as
TO require no detail
Now, would ask the homes, men OF
this, aud the neishborinE counties whe-
Their such things are TO be endured The
confcderacy consists of two classes -
First those who do the actual stealing
and secondly, those VINO receive at their
own houses, countenance, and supper;
the roeues; IN other words, those who
hide Secure as the latter may think
themselves, they are pretty generally
known, and merit nothing less than the
villains with whom they associate. The
maxim is not more trile than true, tina
"birtls of feather, 1ock together" and
these men will never have credit for
pretending not TO suspect those to be
dishonest, whom every honest man, OF
common SENSE, cannot believe to be
otherwise.
Energetic measures FOR the punish
menl OF the rngues, and Tor the disgrace
OF their supporters, are imperions'y re-
Quired. Those who think otherwise, il
they have any thing TO be stolen, will
most probably, soon find cause 10 change
their opinion, if something is not done.
A, present, con,en, myself with sug-
ses,ing the ,xpedlency oil the honest men
OF the neighborin2 counties forming Sc
parate associations, and appointing com
mlilees TO meet a, some central point. to
confer upon the measures that ought TO
be adopted. Among which measures
! have no hesitation in recommendinp
that these associations should solemnly
pledge themselves to stand by, and sup
port each other; that common fund
should be provided for; that individuals
should he selected who should hold
themselves in readiness TO pursue the
fslon, in all cases of theft, and bring him
TO condign punishment; that every mem
Der of the respective asso la'ions should
openly, aud on all public occasions, de-
nounce every man, whoever lie may be,
that shall have rendered himself justiy