Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-03-15
Communicated for the Spectator)
TO THE PEOPLE OF MADISON
COUNTY.

FELLOW CITIZENS,
On ordinary occasions it would per-
haps be the duty of a representative of
which they might pronounce on the me-
ri,s of his offic ial conduct. But the i'm
portanoe OF question which was acted
on near the close of the late session of
thu General Assembly-the great public
excitement W hich il occasoned--and the
fac, ,lla, your Representatives received
instruG tons of an opposite nature from
different portions Of their constituents
seem 10 lastisy, il not to invite, an expo
sition of the reasons which governed
their votes on this occasion.
A resolution recommending conven-
ton for the purpose OF altering the con-
stitution. was three times acted upon in
the House of Representatives, and at the
last trial il was passed by constitutional
majority. On this question my vote was
uniformly given in the negative. In
giving this vote was not actuated by a
belief that the constitution possessed no
imperfeciions on the Contrary it con.
taIns several provisions which dislike.
But the open and avowed object Of the
majority of those who advocated con-
ven,ion, was one which could not con-
sent to promote, without violating those
principles which were instiled into my
mind in my early years, and which have
grown with my growth and strengthen
ed with my strength" Ii was an object
which vast majority of my constituents
{if l may Judge from former elections and
from personal observatory would deep
iy lament TO see effected. This objectis
the Introduction ofsiaUery into the State
of Illinois. OF The strength oithe party
in favor ofthis project, and the possIbili-
ty of carrying it into execution by dint OF
great and persevering exerlions, it will
doubtless be admitted that the represent
tatives by means of their daily inter-
course with persons from every part OF
the state, had better opportunities oil
Judging, than were possessed by their
constituents.
But it has been argued by some that
the admission of slavery is impossible,
because the ordinance of 1897 prohibits
it. This idea appears TO be conveyed IN
the following extract from letter OF ill.,
structions from some of the citizens OF
this county TO their representatives
ave are convinced that the attempts
TO represent the voting for such resoiu-
ton, as being directly calculated to in
troduce SLAVERY into this state, both as
absurd and deceptive; absurd, because
it cannot possibly have the least tenden-
cy to produce such an object, when it is
recollected that the courts of the United
States would declare any clause. IN the
new constitution, which might be adopt
ed for such purpose, both illegal and IN
OPERATIVE"
l readily admit that the introduction Of
slavery into this State, by an amendment
TO the constitution, would be illegal
that it would be a gross violation OF pub
lie faith, and 9th rights OF those who
have settled in this state, or have pur-
chased lands therein. But that the
courts of the United States" would de-
clare such amendment 6 both illegal and
temperatures" admits of some doubt.-
Those courts are composed Of men-
men subject to like predictions and
prejndices as others And it cannot be
Forgotten that when the Missouri ques-
ton was agisated, il was contended by all
who were opposed to the restriction, that
whenever territory became state, it
had right to adopt whatever policy it
might think proper, unfettered by pre-
vious ordinances or stipulations. But on
this point let us hear the opinion of the
friends of the convention in our own
legislature. In the Report Of the mi
nority Of the committee on that part OF
The Governors speech relating to slave
ry, we find the following -" Nor can
the minority of your committee enter
tain doubt, that il such should be the
sense of a majority Of the people, they
might so alter or amend The constitu-
eion as to admit Of slavery, as it erists
elsewhere in the United States, notwith-
sfanding the ordinance. "-s' The pro-
hibition in the ordinance, on any other
view Of the question, is wholly iirrccon-
cilcablc with that clause in the federal
constitution which placed US, immediate
" on our admission into the Union, on