Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-07-12

'oh AZ 'hO oidfSuuillIb Statos 10 very
considerably less than in those states
where it is excluded. 1t may also be dis
covered by comparisot. of the census
for series Of years that the increase of
population has been much more rapid
in the non-slaveholding than the slave
holding sections of our country. If our
premises be correct, and we feel conf
dent they cannot be controverted, the
necessary inference is, that we have
much more reason to expect an Access
sion OF inhabitants from those states
whose citizens are averse to slavery than
from those where it is allowed.
We believe it is conceded that manu-
features would tend materially 10 our
prosperity. The citizens of the North
Eastern states, including Pennsylvania,
are enterprising and industrious to pro-
verb. Manufactures of the various
kinds most required by us, are common
amongst them, and we have already en-
joyed some benefit from their introduce
lion here, and would soon become in a
good degree independent of foreign sup
plies, besides enjoying home market
for our produce, if they were extended
and fos.ered as our best interests demand.
The state of Illinois presents an i'll
viting field to the enterprising manu!ac-
turer, and the industrious farmer, who
depends on bis own personal exertions
for his subsistence and wealth. The
fertile soil of her prairies, with little la
| how mill y,rrl,,ca otNnpI antIu IF ba
cessaries of life. Bread stuffs, beef, and
pork, with all the variety of esculent
vegetables and fruits of temperate
cline may be had in profusion.
But it will be found too preoarious TO
risk the employment of large mum bers
of slaves in cultlvating those articles OF
extensive commerce, which are naturally
confined to the neighborhood of The tor
rid zone, and which so strongly attract
the southern planter. While the new
states and territories in the more southern
parts of our country possess clim ate
coDgenial with the habits and constitu-
tons of the negroes, and in which not
only cotton and tobacco, but in some OF
them sugar, coffee, rice and indigo are
staple articles, and are equally open with
ourselves for the reception of emigranls,
few opulent Shareholders would chuse a
climate inimical to negroes, where they
would be confined to the cultivation oil
Cumbrous and comparatively unprolita-
Lle produce.
But il illinois offered equal agricultu-
raj and commercial inducements with
the new states and territories of the
south TO slaveholding emigrants, there
would still remain strong barrier to
oppose their settlement here. What
ever may be the opinion of some with
regard to the force and effect Of the com
pact of 1887, we know that many OF the
first civilians in our country pronounce j,
to be binding on this state. This opinion
is not confined to the opponents OF the
convention. Some of those who are &C
tive in their efforts in its favor have open
ly expressed their belief, of the perpe-
tual obligation of that compact. We
would submit it to you, fellow-citizens,
whether the owners of slaves would ha-
card their property, by bringing it to a
state where judicial decision might
sweep it from them. Whatever might
be the final decision on the subject, i,
would necessarily deter emgrants from
mourning the risk while other more
brilliant and more certain prospects
were held out to them. In the mean
time emigrants from the north, who are
unwilling to take up their abode where
their labor would be put in competition
with that of slaves, would turn theil
course to other states and territories
whose laws and principles forbid the in.
production of slavery.
Seeing then, that in every point of view
the establishment of slavery would inc.
vitality relard our growth and prosperity
| by closing the door against the reception
of emigrants from the only quarter
whence we can reasonably expect them
in any considerable number, VIC think il
would be suicidal policy to alter our
constitution in that respect.
But if, from motives of interest alone,
we find such strong and sufficient reasons
to oppose a change in this most impor
tant feature Of our constitution, how are
our objections increased by considera
ton of the moral bearing of the question
1t is true that we have frequently heard
the opinion advanced, that in opening the
state Illinois for the reception of slaves
we should add none to their number
This may possibly be true Of the pre-
sent generation. But we know that there
are men to be found, so base as to tram.