Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-05-10
LOOKER-ON.
FOR THE SPECTATOR,
10 THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.

| Having heard great deal said on the
subject OF convention, and observing
that this question will finally turn on the
subject of slavery, am led into the fol-
lowing reflections 80
What advantages can we, as people,
expect to derive from the introduction of
slavery into this state Some say it will
make money plenty among US. This
think is entirely imaginary, for the fol-
lowing reasons We find the present
scarcity OF money, and hard times, which
are so much complained OF, from the
best information that we can obtain, pre-
vail throughout the United States. Sup
pose, then, we make constitution for
the admission of slavery into this state,
would it follow of course that men OF
large fortunes from the slave states would
| immediately become residents among
US! | think not. The wealth of those
'oen consists chiefly of land and slaves,
and as the scarcity of money prevails in
the slave states, as we'll as here, these
men could not sell their property for
ready money, unless they would sacri-
fice great deal. This is contrary TO
their disposiiion-they would not do il.
They must then remain where the, are,
or sell on credit, which they would be
loath to do, as they know very well the
uncertainty of collection. Ifthey should
do so, think they would not make mo-
ney any plentler among US. We cannot
then expect men whose capital consists
of money 10 come into this state. Our
population then, will chiefly consist of
those men who have very little interest
iii the slave states, except few negroes,
who have had to steal for their living, or
starve. We must acknowledge, then,
that they will not fetch money with them,
nor can we reasonably expect they VIII
make i, plenty after they get here. The
shareholders are generally an agricultu-
raj people. Suppose, then, they settle
among us, and raise corn and wheat, &c.
would this make money plenty among
us think not. Must not every candid
man acknowledge that we have more
produce now than we can sell Tor price
that we are willing to take. Manufac-
lures, then, appear TO be what we want,
to consume the produce of our state with
in the same. This would keep all the
money within our own state, which we
send to other markets to purchase those
ARTICLES which we could make ourselves.
| hat a slave state is not necessary for
the Introduction of manufactures, we
must acknowledge when we see how far
the Tree states exceed the slave states in
manufactures. From this short view Of
he. ct,h H., ri
expect any advantage from the introduce
ton OF slavery among us.
1t is said by some that humanity to the
slaves demands their introduction into
this state, as their situation would be SO
much better. can hardly think those
persons believe their own argument.--
We know that some shareholders in the
slave states use their slaves tolerably
well, as it respects food and clothing,
while others use them in the most wretch
ed manner. Why do they SO ? Because
1t Is their disposition to do so; and if
they were in the store houses of Egypt
their voracious disposition would not
suffer them to share with their slaves
and it they were in illinois, their negroes
''O"'N 'o'N " ot"iVCt VI StCdI from inc
laboring poor. But admit the case Of
few individuals should be bettered for
the present, how many cases would oc-
cur at which humanity would shudderr
How many husbands, and wives sepa-
rated forever the husband or wife in
Illinois, while their companion is left in
some other state, to mourn their absence
forever, whilst parents and children are
parted no more to meet in this world.
What reasonable man in the possession
OF social affection, would not rather live
in the embraces of his family, with the
most scanty allowance, than be deprived
OF that blessing, and live in the midst o.
plenty!
AS to the, policy oil Introducing slavery
into this state, it certainly has not reason
on its side. The wisest of our politicians
acknowledge slavery to be a great politl-'
cal evil, which disgraces our happy go
vernment; while we are ready on all oc-
casions to acknowledge it to be the great
est moral, as well as political evil, that
ever disgraced nation. FIVE admit this
statement to be correct, ask how we
can clear our consciences before our
God, ourselves, and our posteri,y, in
lending our aid to the extension of this
evil +! The day is certainly coming, when
happy will be the state that is free from,
Al = L.